The Corridor

This corridor has known many a laughter, joy, tears and also fear. I used to run up and down its well seasoned cement rendered floor. Chasing after a brother, a cousin, a cat or rushing to the call of breakfast, lunch or dinner. Once in awhile rushing in to gather the clothes at the drop of rain.

There were times too when we, children of the house would rush in at the command of our cigarette totting grandma. These were times when one, a couple or all of us had been naughty and we were awaiting our just punishment. These were scary times. Grandma would make us line up in front of her like troops standing in line for inspection. She would be sitting on a kopi tiam-looking chair with one leg up. She would of course have a cup of coffee nearby while she filled her cigarette paper with tobacco and while she rolled it she will be asking us to report our misdeeds one by one. My eyes would always be locked on the metre long, 1/2cm diametre rotan resting precariously at the edge of the table. Funnily all our hands would be right behind our backs safely tucked away. The illusion of safety was always a hope I treasured.

After finish rolling her cigarette, she pulls it to her tobacco seasoned lips and lights a match. There was a picture of Superman on the match box. Some superhero...he just prolonged our agony cos after the smoke settles, the punishments will be meted out. Sometimes this is followed by fu cha which was for cooling down our body system. Kinda like coolant for cars. This is not related to the punishment but for health, james would disagree tho. He just hates fu cha. I didn't mind it cause it came with a sweet at the end of it.

This corridor also serves as the route where steve and i would use to dispose of the meter long rotans. We would search the house for all the rotans while our parents were at school and while grandma was taking her nap. She used to hide them all over the place but we would find them and run towards the 'light at the end of the tunnel' which was way at the end of the corridor and throw them over the fence into mangsat yeen a Boy's Home. I'm sure they needed them more.

We thought we were pretty smart till she pulls out another one from God only knows where. There always was one more. Always.

On less eventful days especially a warm afternoon, i would nap along the cooling corridor with sweet adventures running through my head.