Chapter 18 David and Goliath

It was nearing the days of the Examination,one fateful afternoon on Friday,Joe now his enemy sitting next to a Gorilla on Chapel day.Joe was now member of the Horse Shoe Gang.They teased Fabian and beckon him to fight.

"Scared,huh? Fabian".said Joe."Scared my foot, I take on him any time any day,understand you baboon?" shouted Fabian."Do not call your gang,one to one fight",said Joe."Anytime Joe,anytime".said Fabian."For the two of you,my self alone is sufficient". That really talking big actually because Fabian had seen Joe fighting before and was weary of his right hook.That fearful right was surely very strong and fast.

"You sure talk big,Fabian","after school we will teach you a lesson you never forget",said Joe."Stop talking rubbish,I will fight you after school or both of you,anytime any where?',replied Fabian.

The gorilla pointed his huge fist at Fabian,"I blow you out of this world today,"shouted the Gorilla."Oh yeah,your size do not bother me,we shall see who goes into orbit today",said Fabian.

Very soon it chapel service was over,as Fabian and another friend Kok Hong were going out of school.The Gorilla and Joe followed.Once on the road they rushed to over take Fabian who was pushing his bicycle. Both blocked Fabian and Kok Hong's way.Seeing that Fabian pushed his bicycle abruptly to the side of road.

He leaped on to the Gorilla who was ready with raised fists in boxing style.Fabian rushed in within his outreach fists which were punching wildly with misses.It was like a David and Goliath fight because Fabian was so small in size compared with the Ape.With Fabian so near to his body he could not delivered his punches effectively..All his punches went either wild or just whizzed passed Fabian's head.

However Fabian slipped and went off balance. Hurt his right knuckle slightly and it bled slightly when he slipped to the ground..He was quick to recover and stood up to that Gorilla and punched away at his abdomen.It did not hurt the Gorilla as they were fighting very closely .With the punches of that Ape missing its intended targets.The little droplets of blood from fist of Fabian were smeared on the shirt of the Gorilla's white shirt at the abdomen.

Fox was the Prefect of the school,he came charging in from behind and grabbed both fighters by the collars.He was so strong that he could held tightly to that Ape and pulled up Fabian with the other hand."Come with me to the school Principle's office",he shouted.So both were dragged to the School Office.

The Principle warned both boys and told them that the school's supervisor would disciplined them the following morning at an assembly.Both parties left for home without further outbursts.

Next Monday morning at 7.30 a.m.at the school assembly the school supervisor first spoke.He was Mr.Goh Kim Bah,branding a long  a long cane.Funny this man could speak without opening his mouth wide,apparently he was worried gold would dropped out from his mouth.

So he opened his mouth slightly and said,"Well.well.boys and girls.on Friday afternoon after school we had two gentlemen "cock fighters",they had a dual"."Now will the two fighters come out them selves to the front here".

Fabian waited a few seconds before moving out,followed by the Gorilla."Now I am going to punish them by canning them in public",turning to Fabian"Stretch out your hand',he called."And higher", testing the cane in the air.Then without warning he banished the cane at full strength at Fabian 's palm.

No sooner had he finished the first he administered his second stroke followed at similar intense speed.It struck Fabian, in pain yet he just stared at the supervisor."Staring at me would not help",as the third stroke came with similar force.In pain,Fabian did not show any emotions.Just simply looking straight into those angry eyes of the supervisor.

Following it was the Gorilla's turn to be caned.The canning proves that supervisor was bias because the strokes delivered on the Gorilla's palm were very tamed and weak strokes.When all over the Gorilla was smiling.Fabian in turn smiled bcak at him.

Both were forced to shake hands with Fabian looking straight at the supervisor."Why are you looking at me?Want to have some more",said the supervisor.Fabian returned a weak smile at him.Well he shook hands with that Gorilla without even looking at his face.

Fabian walked away peacefully with everyone watching but none of them ever mentioned that incidence to him ever.One thing was sure for the Gorilla dared not moved about any where in town alone or any where thereafter.

It was only two months away from the final examinations so Fabian gave second thoughts about seeking revenge.In any case the Gorilla was avoiding him and dared to move around in groups with only his Horse Shoe Gang.

Almost after the final examinations Fabian hastily moved on into the plantation sector,thus moving a distance away from many,many old friends and foes alike.Many friends were surprised at his move,but being from a poor family Fabian had to be employed fast so as to ease further burden on the family.

All other friends either had gone for further studies and admitted into other fields.Fabian knew that he could not be like others who could effort to further their studies so his immediate response was positively to grab any opportunity that came first.Since that job in the plantation was offered to him on a plate he took it without any comment.

He headed straight away to work was because he wanted to make good in life.With a better life then could he proudly safely returned  to Teluk Anson to re-stake his claim his love for the girl he had always loved His love for her was no fluke but true love..He left Teluk Anson also because he never wanted to be a bad boy anymore,thus moving from all his friends.

As it happened it turned out to be an excellent choice and he had no regrets in accepting it.Of course during that long career in planting both rubber and later Oil Palm there were many short comings he nevertheless made the best of it in later years.

Joe remained an enemy till the end but when Fabian was General Manager of Sri Jaya Oil Palm Estate, Sri Jaya,Pahang,Joe came a calling with his fishing buddies.Very often they camped as well as passed their weekends at that estate.Thus the childhood friendships were rekindled.They were great friends thereafter.