Finally tests are over although I don’t think I’ve done any good in them. I wonder if lecturers at Taylor’s appreciate “ang pows”.


Anyway, I remember posting an entry bout how most bloggers post lyrics or poems or some twisted story so that they are able to satisfy themselves with the pleasure of sharing their deepest troubles or greatest joy with the world and at the same time concealing significant details. Well, a few nights ago I couldn’t sleep and mainly because I was thinking of a ‘story’…


William is a 12 year old boy and unlike most children, his education days ended when he finished standard 1. Both his parents are illiterate and they earn their living from a business that never ever looked promising since Mr. Roger, the middle man for William’s father’s business, takes full advantage of William’s father’s ignorance for the market prices. Mr. Roger helps William’s father market the furniture he makes. Life was tough for the family, a father who rarely had any time to rest his saw, a mother who makes cakes to sell in town and of course William who helps his father from day tonight. Each day was pretty much a routine, his mother would go off to town at the crack of dawn while William and his father would saw and hammer pieces of wood until the sun sets.

Sometimes William would just stare dreamily at the children walking home from school often wondering what it would be like to go to school again and have friends and someone to actually play with. William didn’t actually have any friends since he was never really sociable and only a year in school didn’t help either. His classmates were not exactly friendly people either. Occasionally the voice of a fat boy in his class would ring in his mind, “Hey look at this boy, his shoes are all worn out! I heard your father is a carpenter. Why didn’t you get your father to make small boxes for your feet, Wooden William?!” and the class would roar with laughter.

William can’t remember how many times he would just seep through the classroom floors to avoid being called “Wooden William” or “Pinnochio” in the face and have the whole class jeering. There was only one person in his class that never took part in calling William a ‘Block Head’ was a quiet girl named Jasmine who was probably just as lonely as he is only that no one ever called her names. One day during lunch break, William tried to befriend the girl seeing as she was also eating alone. With a trembling hand, William mastered all his bravery, and offered her one of the cakes the mother had packed for him to school. The girl looked at him with the prettiest set of eyes which he thought looked like stars in the skies at night. She hesitated for a moment then reached out for a piece.

“Oh my! Would you look at that, Woody found him self a girlfriend!” croaked a voice from behind which very much sounded like the one of the fat boy’s.

A group of boys and girls gathered around both of them and started teasing them. William could feel his cheeks flush. Jasmine didn’t just flush though, pools of water formed under her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. She took a cake and threw it right at William’s face and ran off.

All those memories often bring tears to his eyes. However, 2 years has passed since that incident and William has developed a hate for people. Trusting anyone else but his parents was very hard for him.

Then one day, William’s Mum was sick so William took over in cake selling. The first person he was supposed to send cakes to was to Mr. Peter, a pet shop owner. When William entered the shop he was so amazed as he has never seen so many different kind of animals in his life!

“Hi there little one, are you looking for something? How bout a dog? A puppy just arrived yesterday. A golden retriever…” the tall dark man whom William assumed was Mr. Peter led William to the back, passing cages of mewing cats, chirping birds, swimming fish and barking dogs. A cage the size of a television box met them at the end of the alley and in it lay a golden puppy which its coat gleamed and shone like morning sunshine. It stood and wagged its tail when William approached it.

“It is one of the finest pups we have. Look at the coat! See how shi-“

“Why does it look so sad?”

Indeed the dog was clearly unhappy. Its eyes were gloomy and reflected a tragic past. It looked like it had gone through a painful experience.

“Uh…well…its mother died a few days ago. But it’s nothing to worry about. They usually get over it after a few days and start barking like mad again. Say, why are u carrying so many cakes around?”

“Oh I forgot. Here’s the cake you ordered.”

And so, William volunteered to help his mum send cakes whenever he can, especially the cake for Mr. Peter. Nearly everyday William would stay for half and hour or so talking to Binky (the name he gave the dog on his third visit) though all Binky every did to reply was wag its tail and stared gloomily at William.

“William I see how much you like the dog so-“

“It’s Binky.”

“Uh..rite..of course..Binky…so it costs a thousand dollars. How bout I’ll give you a 50% cut? You can have it for just 500?”

“Really?! Oh my!” William hugged Mr. Peter as though he had just saved his life. Suddenly, William let go of Mr. Peter as if the hug burnt his skin. His face changed. His eyes shone under the light, pools of tears were forming.

“I don’t think I will ever find that much money. My parents barely make enough to feed ourselves. I’m sorry I can’t take your offer but thank you anyway Mr. Peter. Enjoy the cake.” William made his way to the door slowly.

“Wait…I’ve never seen anyone who cares this much for a dog before. If there’s anyone that should be that do- uh..Binky’s owner, it should be you. I’ll sell it to you for 250 and I promise I won’t sell it to anyone else, knowing you’d want to buy it. Deal? ”

A small and grateful smile stretched across William’s face, “Alrite…”

For weeks William worked hard trying to finish as many chores as he can as fast as possible. He did simple chores for his neighbours to earn some pocket money which he spent on nothing. The only thing on his mind was Binky. Finally, he would have a friend. He was so busy he rarely visits the pet shop anymore. And when he did, Binky still look as gloomy as ever. William thought maybe it was just lonely like how he had been. Maybe after he takes Binky home, it’ll be happy again.

“Two hundred forty five…two hundred forty seven..TWO HUNDRED FIFTY!” William finally collected enough to bring Binky home. He rushed to the Mr. Peter’s shop first thing the very next day. He stepped into the shop and didn’t find Mr. Peter at his usual place in front of the counter.

“Mr. Peter? Hello?”

There was no reply but William could hear voices at the back of the shop. Actually it came from where Binky’s cage was. William creeped slowly and as silently as he could. Every step he took he dread that something bad has happened to Binky. He peeped from another alley and saw that Mr. Peter was talking to a fat lady right next to Binky’s cage. The lady was holding a leash which was tied to a poodle. William moved closer to catch what both of them were actually talking about.

“This pup is Beautiful! A thousand dollars you say? I’ll take it home!” the young lady spoke with a high pitched voice.

“Well, actually this dog is kind of reserved for someone already…but… curious…very curious indeed.”

“Reserved?! Now, now…I’ve been your regular customers for years. I seek no one else but you whenever I need anything for my pets but you have never reserved anything for me before. Come on, Peter. 2000 dollars. But tell me, why do you feel so curious?”

“Well, I’ve never seen Bin- I mean this dog so..uh..excited before…..”

William took a better look at Binky’s cage and indeed it looked a lot happier. It was chasing its tail and jumping up and down. Binky was barking at the poodle on the leash as if having a happy little chat. Binky never looked this happy before…

“…and I don’t think I can sell the dog Lucy, but I must say the price is…”

William caught Mr. Peter’s attention. They stared at each other for a moment and everything fell silent. The fat lady turned and saw William.

“Now is this who you are selling this dog to?”

Mr. Peter ignored the question and walked towards William. “William, I didn’t hear you come in. Don’t worry I am a man of my words. I won’t sell- is that the money? You are here to buy Binky? That’s great. I’ll just send Lucy off and-“

“No. Lucy should have Binky. I’ve never seen it so happy before.”

“But I thought..”

“No, really, she should have him. It’s okay. Go attend to her, she seems to be annoyed already. I’ll find my way out. Thank you Mr. Peter for keeping your word. Good day.” William turned and walked away towards the door. Each step towards the door, flash backs of how he had spent his time with Binky ran through his mind like a slide show. How he, for once felt that there was actually someone or at least something out there who would not throw cakes and make fun of him. For once he felt he that he had something he never had before, a friend. But little does he know that Binky didn’t exactly share what he had in mind. Binky was never happy with William.

William reached for the door. He could hear the familiar sound of Binky’s cage being unlocked. As he opened the door, a gust of cold wind hit his face like a sharp slap. He closed the door behind him drowning Binky’s joyful barks. A feeling he has not felt for quite some time came back to him, his stomach lurched, he felt a lump in his throat and his eyes burned. He took a deep breath and walked slowly, head down towards home. Something warm ran down his cheeks….


To the past, present and future.