Chapter 6 One Kiss Then Good - bye

I joined the plantation without waiting for the School Certificate Examination results.

The results finally was out in March 1960 and I was saddened  by it,because I failed  to obtained any good grading.I failed because I got an F8 for my English Language.Failing that penalized me and thus failed the Examination.

My grading in all other subjects were good.In fact I got an A1 for History.Of course that was my favorite subject while all others  credits.Had I passed English I would have attained a second grade.That of course would had surprised many.

Having seen the results I went back to work and re-applied from there to repeat the test again as a private candidate.I sat the Examination once again as a private candidate in Nov.1960.

The result was a repeat were identical.I never yielded and repeated again for the Examination  in 1961.This was to be my third trail..Once beaten twice shy therefore I went in this time slightly better prepared .

For that I applied for an English course.The course were from Singapore.Come to think of it,it was no big deal.They just gave me some simple lessons.They made sure I learned those simple,simple mistakes by having to write and re-write those mistakes over and over again.

Making me to correct my errors in writing and thereafter  I went in for the test and passed.It was like teaching a small boy and that small boy apparently - was me.

I was elated when I finally got a second grade for those extra effort.All the other detailed results were as identical as previously.My A1 in History stood as it was,firm and formidable for three consecutive years.I received my full detailed of my results in early 1962 while I was transferred to Gunong Inas Estate,Selama,Perak.

In Hurst Estate,the labor force consisted of some 80% Indian and the rest Chinese.Chinese were mostly rubber tappers while the Indian served in tapping as well as weeding.All were residential workers.All amenities supplied by the plantation.

Within the plantation was also an Indian Temple where the Hindus worshiped and a sundry shop.I rarely go into the labor lines but all were maintained by a sweeper.On the whole the workers there were an obedient lot although marred by a bad incidence of protest.

Initially I was the only young recruit at that plantation later they added in a few one at a time but none could stayed thee long before leaving. The thought the plantation life wee beds of roses only to disheartened by the throngs of mosquitoes.The absolute solitude of estate life too boring for them.

The other staffs consisted of a clerk and an old conductor.I at times went to their bungalow for a chit chat.These old staffs had many tales to tell.The old conductor should had retired but stayed on as he had no where to go.The Boss provided sometime to do,even though there was no much he could do.

This conductor and the clerk were old staffs from the old company.We had another senior conductor and he had a bungalow at the entrance of the plantation.He resided there with his wife and small daughter.

For entertainment had to go to town which was miles away.We ventured out together with the Manager once in a week or once in two weeks.As we were residing with the Manager our food problem were taken care of.Having not many friends to talk to could be lonely.

Once during my stay I came to befriend a lovely girl.Initially I was infatuated by  her beauty and charm.We had a date where we became quite closed  and I kissed her sweet lips passionately.It was our first kiss in our dear lives. 

The kiss made me extremely confused for I felt having betrayed her and the one I always had in mind.You cannot be loving one while kissing another,that was utterly wrong.I felt very ashamed of myself and was definitely cheating that nice little beauty.

So I stopped seeing her because I could not faced her.I feared should that happened I might had compassion and pity for her  and repeat what I should not do all over again.It would therefore be more disastrous.So it was one kiss and then goodbye.I never meant to hurt her any further.Did I do the right thing?.

To her a big "no" for she loved me dearly.She was obviously very hurt.To prolong the affair would had caused her more harm which I do not want.There was nothing I could do to rectify our dilemma..

She may cursed me as she had every right to so.I dared not blame her nor processed the guts to face her ever again.So I just lied low and shy away from all for sometime.No one would understand my feelings or could accept my explanation.Soon I got a transfer away from Taiping.

This was however not the only girl that had come into my life those days.There were others but none more serious as that.It was difficult to fall deeply in love with another when there was some one in the mind.The some one that always lingered within my memory.

It was then my beginning of my career and I was far off target.The Examination which mean so much to my advancing my career was still hanging on a thin string.Without it I cannot advance any further that was for sure .

A pass would mean a lot as applying for a better job in the same field. That was why I kept my fingers crossed,even I had to repeat that Examination ten times  I would had carried until I really got the passed.

Our Plantation Manager was transferred off to Bentong Estate,Bentong,Pahang.He was replaced by  a big fat man,said to be a relative of the Boss.He was never a Plantation Manager at anytime just walked in from some failed business.

Just because he was a gutton and likes to eat chicken he forced all the rest to share his ego.Had he paid for the chicken would be alright but he forced all to work for teir meal.Of all thing he made them load RSS sheets to a lorry,directly in front of all our laborers.

I refused to follow that instruction and stayed away as they loaded the lorry.Neither did I joined them when they were enjoying their chicken although invited to.I just simply replied them that I did not worked for it therefore not entitled to join them.That Manager never liked me anyway..

When I was transferred to Gunong Inas, Selama, I left with a heavy heart.I had hurt some one badly and to run away from that seemingly cowardly.What should she had done something foolish?. Then my heart would forever bear that guilty conscious.

Anyway I was glad she did nothing of that sort and got along fine with her life.May God keep her and bless her.I hold no grudge should she continued to curse me.