Chapter 19 We Shifted To Ratanui Estate.

With our mother being the sole bread winner it was then impossible for us to continue staying at that house cum office along Immigration Road.

Tapping for small holders she was not entitled to any housing,but should she be employed by an Estate.That would have made the difference.So she applied to join Ratanui Estate,a plantation about one and a half mile to town.That was towards the end of 1957.

There she given a one room quarter.Though it was so tiny we shifted into it - we had no other alternative.  At least with that housing supplied we had a roof over our heads.Beggars were no choosers,we had to accept without condition. 

We had a bed which were to be occupied by our mother and sister a We, both brothers slept under the bed.Those old fashion bed were raised quite high.So it was quite comfortable for us to sleep beneath it..Our poor father had no where else but to sleep on a crouch at the verandah which was quite wide..

Daily I had to cycle to school on our very old bicycle while my brother went on the school bus.Our sister too cycled to school.Here at least there were no rental or electricity bills to pay all were free.Electricity was lighted until 10.00 p.m.only to be re-ignited at 5.00 a,m,. the following morning..

Even having such detrimental conditions our dear sister survived her studies and in fact did very well . When the results of the Overseas Cambridge School Certificate examination came she scored the best results for the whole of Lower Perak. Mind you she studied under the light of a kerosene lamp and yet achieved such fantastic results.That was for 1957 school certificate examination..

I was in form four then.During the week ends we would have to assist our mother in her tapping of rubber by cleaning the latex cups.This was for an extra few cents only.Without us helping she would have managed with similar results.Here we had to do other chores such as collecting firewood  from the fields.

.Residing in the rubber plantation was great fun though, for here we met with another different group of friends.The plantation type.There were some Chinese but most of the other labour force were Indians.Now I do not roamed the streets we ran wild among the rubber trees.Our activities took another drastic changed.

Now our play grounds were entirely different for in our spare time we go fishing or catch fighting fish.We stole fish from fish traps laid by some kampong folks.Simple traps with a piece of plank  in front of a man made hole which was triggered to shut once a fish (haruan or snake head) got into it.

We also learned to use a parang to slash those fish if seen hidden among the water weeds.Welll not all the time we got the target and missed because the aim went astray and glided in water.We also learn to block spots that were full of fish - on both sides of a huge drain.On  baling out all the water therein we catch the remaining fish.

Sometimes we caught a snake instead of a big fish.That really gave us a scared of our life.Before we were frightened at the very sight of snake,Not now we finished them off.Easy,first we strike the snake in its mid section curtailing its movements.Then we smashed its head.Snake would still moved even with its head smashed but that would slowly die down.

We hardly warmed up when suddenly out of no where came a relative requesting me and brother to be in Kuala Lumpur.Thus we simply packed and left. It was school holiday then so it was easy.We were actually going for a short holiday with our grandmother.Our Auntie sent for us because she found her dear mother very lonely and longing to see her grandsons.

We of course were excited with the trip. We were  anxious to see Kuala Lumpur.A thing we could hardly afford those days or dream of.Now we were going at our Auntie's expense.What a luxury?. We changed train at Tapah then straight on to Kuala Lumpur.We did not go there all by ourselves as we were went together with another,a cousin brother-in-law.

Our Auntie was at hand to at the raiolway station to take us to her home.Our grandmother was so happy to see us there and for the first time we meet our cousin sister.Their bungalow was in Setapak.

Daily we just loitered around the house,playing with our cousin.She and my brother always complained about me teasing them which send the grandmother after me just like the old days at our old house.

I remembered on occasion while she catching I accidentally hit her hand and that spot turned blue black.That was pointed out to my Uncle who gave me a stern look but without any rebuke.It was entirely an accident but the blame definitely fell flat on me.

Finding us beginning to get bored of the stay our Auntie took us together with cousin sister  to watch Cinema shows at the Rex Threatre and at time at Capitol.We were always at the reserved seats as she had complimentary tickets for all of us.

While there I also came to know of a friend named Alex.Alex was resided just the opposite of our Uncle's house.His father must be rich to stay n that huge bungalow.For the first time there I knew about toy plane flying because it was one of Alex hobby.In fact I was introduced to all his family members.Those days I think it was quite expensive for that.Well at least very expensive to me.

We were holidaying there for more than three weeks before we had to return to Teluk Anson as school was going to re-open.So we return to rags after a rich stinct holiday at our Auntie's.Similarly we traveled back by train at the guidance of that cousin brother-in-law.


Within days school was reopened and we returned to all our new friends.We went swimming at the 3rd,mile water gate.Our good friend there the Yap brothers and sisters,all children of Contractor.When we had nothing t do we listened to the yearning of an old timer.

He was most of time boasting about his earlier life as a hunter.However we all knew he was talking rubbish just plain boasting to small children,no truth whatsoever.I doubt he ever held a gun before.We just listened and later laughed over what he said.

We knew  because he bluffed everyone present that opium grew on trees.And that he was an opium leaves Cintractor.What utter nonsense? However we never challenged him but allowed be.Once 

 I had a fight with another tappers' son and was told to see the Plantation Manager.The plantation had a European Manager,I was not afraid when I faced him in is office.He asked me sternly,"'Now young man why did you punched the other boy?'.

I replied "Sir,that boy was a crook,he tried to cheat me.That was why I punched him"."Now,young man what did he do?".The Manager asked. .I explained that we went cutting wood together and agreed to divide the wood when we returned home,because he got a bigger carriage on his bicycle to transport the bigger pieces.In return I had to climb the dried up rubber tree to cut down the dried wood.My job was dangerous and we agreed to share with him" 

"But on returning he took all the wood he carried home,refusing to share with me,so in anger I punched him"."Oh I see,now you go home and do not fight again",said the Manager.The Manager scored the complainant and told them to go home in peace. Here after whenever I saw the Manager he would waved at me from his Land rover he would also showed me his thumb up.

Fate had it that we met again sometime later when he was Manager of Eagle Hurst Estate,Ulu Sapetang,Taiping.I was then working in a neighboring plantation but he could not recognized me so I allowed it be.

When I was already form iv and beginning to develop some liking for girls.Of course there were a few around in the plantation .We went around teasing them quite often.However I had no connection with any.For example there were the shop keeper's daughters.The elder of whom claimed that I was too young,so was another black beauty.Anyway I was still schooling.