Chapter 20 the Timber Retailer

The left side of the house was converted into a small office and the land adjacent to it were rented out to a timber retailer.Looked like he had quite vast amount of capital,for when he began trading he had in stock a large quantity of sawn timber.

His business was good and he had two other brothers working for him.With the area are cleared and stacked with timber Fabian and Francis always played around there,now at least they had better place to relax in the evening.

One of the amazing thing with this retailer was he also saw his own timber according the the specifications of the buyers.In this he had in his employment two old men as sawyers.Fabian and Francis were astonished at the size of "Chengal"logs he purchased to fulfilled his obligations.

Two old men to perform that enormous job of sawing that huge logs,impossible in the minds of two small boys.In the days that followed they saw what really transpired.First these two old men fabricated a strong bench with sawn timber.

With the strong long bench made,they slowly jacked one end of one big log onto the bench.Using U-shaped angled irons they hinged up the log,rendering it unmovable.As if insufficient to secure that log they further added in angled pieces of wood to strengthen it.

Then they discussed with the Boss how to dissect that log to extract the the timber required for sales.Having done so they measured out and printed black lines their plan on the lifted end of log.

Then the sawing began,with one man on the top of the log and the other at the bottom.Their first intention was to saw that log into two half.A large hand saw was used fro the sawing.Each end of the handsaw had only one handle,thus each man had to grap the handle with both hands and saw.

The one on the top will pulled up and the one at the bottom to pull down.Thus you pulled then I pulled,they went on,it was quite tedious and slow as it was hard wood they were sawing.While resting those two old men smoked Bamboo pipes.Fabian and Francis looked astonish at that.The old men playfully asked them,"Want to smoke?".

"Oh no.not me "said Fabian,"Maybe Francis would like to try".
"Shut up,you,do not be funny""I will tell grandmother about this".
"You want to smoke,say so lah,why me?"yelled Francis.
"No.no.I thought you like to try",said Fabian.

Come evening when all the workers and the place was closed to all,the two brothers were at it again.They went to that place and made believed that they the workers sawing the half sawn logs.Of course by then the log was were tightly secured when the workers left.Both small boys could not any thing to move them neither had the strength to do it.

As the brothers were there they played sawers usyng a thin off cut of a piece of plank,pushed it throough the sawn cut and began "sawing"with Fabian on the top and Francis at the bottom.After a while Francis shouted "Alright,change places"."No,no,I am no tired yet".said Fabian.
"Why must you always get the better part,you big bully?"cried Francis.
"No,you are wrong,I am on the top to guide you",claimed Fabian.
"Oh,yes,let me be on the top I can also guide you",inssisted Francis.Just the the grandmother was coming with a cane,calling out to them."Why are you playing up there,it is dangerous".
Both brothers came out of that place and Fabian ran awat from that spot.
"It is not my fault,grandmother,it is Fabian's fault.I do not want to play but he force me to play with him".'"Yes,yes,I know it is that naughty boy,wait till I cane him"said the grandmother.
Fabian from his hiding place saw and heard what Francis said,"That is a lie",he murmured.
Francis standing with the grandmother made a bird flapping its wings sign at Fabian saying,"Very good,serve you right".