Read At Your Own Risk

Feel like posting this today! It was a piece i wrote for an in class exam… Its a bit short and not really perfect, but I still like it very much. It still needs improvement, but I don’t how to improve it further….

Losing Control 

Bong had just received a phone call from the police station. His son, 17 year old Joo Wei was in lock up! Although the officer said it was theft, Bong believed otherwise. He knew a mix up had occurred-his son was innocent. 

Bong alerted his family, grabbed his car keys and hopped into his old Station Wagon. His wife and other son came running after him.

“You two don’t have to come,” Bong said. His wife just stared at him and plopped her fat figure onto the front seat.

Bong looked at 15 year old Joo Chai who crawled into the back seat. “Ah Chai, you have exams tomorrow right?”

“I already finish study!” Joo Chai declared.  He was a tall, lanky teenager with acne all over his face.

“Okay, okay,” Bong said. “Let’s go.” The doors slammed shut and the engine roared to a start. The car slowly maneuvered out of the farm.

It was a fourty minute drive fro Kuching. The Bong vegetable farm was located at the 17^th mile of the Kuching-Serian road.

Bong turned onto the main road. It was about 4:15pm and traffic was good. Cars sped past and those behind Bong’s station wagon impatiently tried to overtake. Bong ignored them and maintained a steady 60 km per hour. He loved being in control.

Just a while later, Joo Chai leaned forward between the front seats.  “Pa,” Joo Chai said. “What if Ah Wei really did something bad?”

“Nonsense,” Bong assured. “Nothing like that happening in my family. Right, Ma?” His eyes kept straight on the road ahead, paying full attention to his driving.

The fat woman turned and faced her husband. “The way you treat him,” she said and added a loud “’Hmph.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bong asked. His wife kept silent and they continued their drive to Kuching.

Ten minutes later, Joo Chai asked his mother. “Ma, did Ah Cheh call?” Joo Cai asked, referring to his sister Joo Cheh.

“You know she never calls,” the woman answered.

“You know she’s so busy,” Bong said, defending his eldest child. She was an accountant working in KL.

“But she should call, at least once in a while,” Joo Chai complained. “She hasn’t been back in ages.”

“She’s so busy studying for her ACCA and working at the same time,” Bong answered. “No time to come home.”   His wife turned and stared furiously out the window.

Bong slowed the car as traffic began to slow. There was a road block up ahead. A group of police were inspecting passing vehicles.

“Pa, remember I told you about my friend in Kuching?” Joo Chai asked. “I want to stay with him, easier to go to school.” 

Bong didn’t know what to say. His son had been dropping hints for the past month.

“Then who’s going to help me on the farm?” Bong asked.  Outside, the policeman waved for them to pass. Bong saluted and drove slowly by.

“It’s only a short while,’ Joo Chai argued. “Just until I finish my PMR.”

Bong continued starring straight ahead. His wife now glared at him, awaiting his response.

“So only two months?” Bong finally said.

“Only-“ Joo Chai replied but got cut off by a loud thunderous roar from his mother.

“No!” the woman roared without warning.

Bong slammed down the brakes. The car screeched and swerved and nearly hit the car to the right.

Luckily, Bong managed to keep the car in control. Without thinking, he immediately stopped the car. The car behind screeched to a halt inches from their bumper. The driver honked loudly and waved furiously at them.

The Bong’s were stunned. Joo Chai stared blankly ahead and was in shock. He had been thrown against the back of the driver’s seat but luckily his arms had reached out in time to prevent his head from banging against the seat.

“Everyone alright?” Bong asked.

“Alright,” his wife answered softly.

“Alright, Pa,” Joo Chai answered.

A shaken Bong got his car moving again, at a snail’s pace. The car behind continued to honk and rudely overtook them. The Bong’s continued the journey in silence.

When they reached the police station, Bong got out of the car. Joo Chai quickly opened the door and hopped out.

“You need to stay,” Bong said firmly to him. Joo Chai sulked but crept back into the car.

Bong entered the police station, ready to regain control of his other son.