A Test of Differences

Ding…dong…

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have now begun our descent into Escanor and should be landing in ten minutes. As you can see the weather seems to have cleared for us. We hope you enjoyed your flight with us here today on Linden Airlines 757 and we hope to see you flying with us again soon. On behalf of myself and the rest of the crew here on board with you today, we wish you a pleasant day here in Escanor.”

Daryl, Zoey, Kirsten, Viktor, Jin-Ho, Mikaere, Adrianne and Edry readied themselves for the landing.

Ssccccrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeccccccchhhhhhh…………..!!!

The tires of the Linden Airlines 757 screeched on the landing runway of Escanor International Airport.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed at Escanor International Airport.”

“Whew! Danken sie Gott für die glatte landung!” said Zoey, while opening the luggage compartment.

“What was that?” asked Viktor, turning his head back towards Zoey.

“Thank God for the smooth landing,” explained Zoey, smiling.

It was 9.35 a.m. on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning.

Hákan Snörri, Peeter Andrés, and Jön Sindrï, officials from the Lyamriech Environmental Office await the arrival of the eight young adults coming from eight different countries. They are participants of the “Global Environmental Awareness Challenge.”

The “Global Environmental Awareness Challenge” is a series of a weeklong challenge of doing different conservation missions required in each places. One hundred and sixty young people from around the world and divided into groups of eight and then placed in different countries around the world. This challenge goes on for seven weeks. It is important for each group to show that they are capable to work with different people and complete the first challenge because at the end of each week, they will have the chance to evaluate each person in their group and the group leader will then decide one person that will have to go. Two weeks before the final challenge, no one will be sent home. This series of challenges aims to give each participant an awareness sense of environmental and conservation issues across the globe.

Peeter holds up a board displaying the names of the eight young people - Daryl Lashawn, Young Shin Jin-Ho, Viktor Dmitrii, Mikaere Tane Petera, Zoey Ava Swanhild, Kirsten Hallbjörn, Adrianne Lauressa Arden and Edry Khairy Mohammad.

“Oh, there they are!” said Hákan, waving at the group. Hand shakes and smiles greeted them as the three officials introduced themselves.

“How was the trip?” Peeter asked.

“It was okay, but it was a bit too long for me,” Edry replied.

“I know all of you are tired from that long trip, but be reminded that it’s just the beginning,” Jön said, before they entered the van.

It took them seventeen hours to arrive at EIA, and it will take them another six hours to arrive at Keeckura, before being transported by boat to Pukapuka, the place where they are assigned to stay for a week and complete their challenge. Pukapuka is a forest that is home to one of the most endangered animals of the world which is the Golden Lion Tamarin. They are to observe this animal in the wild – what they eat, what eats them, their habitat, their social behaviour, etc. – for a week while working on creating a brochure that is to be presented to the officials at the end of the week.

On the way to Keeckura, Hákan reminded them, “All of you know that it is vital for this group, any group, to complete the brochure at the end of the week because that is part of the challenge. It is also important that you show your capabilities to work with each other, if you want to stay for next challenge.” They just smiled and nodded.

Six hours later, they arrived at Pukapuka. They spent their night at the lodge. The group leader was chosen in the presence of the three officials, and everyone voted Daryl Lashawn as the group leader. After some socializing, fatigue from the long journey overcame them which resulted in early sleeping.

The next morning, everyone was up and ready to go at 8 a.m. A half-an-hour boat ride will take them to the place and from then on, they will be alone in the forest for a week.

Hákan, Peeter, and Jön wished each person good luck before they left for the boat. “Daryl, make sure they don’t kill each other out there!” shouted Peeter, a smile etched on his lips, before the boat driver revved the engine up.

“Are you guys ready for this challenge?” asked Daryl, when everyone was settled on the boat.

“I am a music teacher. I don’t go well with living in the forest, but I am really excited about it! I hope that we’ll be able to complete this first challenge,” said Zoey. “Gott, ist mit mir,” she added quietly.

“How about you Adrianne?” asked Daryl, noticing the look on her face.

“Hmm. I don’t know. I was so sure about this before, but now I’m not so sure after all. Do you realize that we are going to literally live in a forest?! What about the loo? Where do we take a bath?” asked Adrianne, with a tinge of fear in her voice.

“Hmmph, typical English people…” whispered Viktor to himself, under his breath. Mikaere, who was sitting beside him, nudged his arm. “Don’t start,” he reminded him.

“Well, you got yourself into this. You should have expected it to be done this way,” reminded Daryl.

The rest just kept quiet while enjoying the boat ride before reality sets in.

Kristján Hjörtur, their guide, was already waiting for them on the river bank at their station. After brief introductions, they pitch their tents up and started to explore the place and get familiar with their surroundings. A makeshift toilet and bathroom was built at the far corner of the campsite.

“Oh, lookie what we’ve got here, a loo and a bathroom,” said Viktor, in his made-up English accent.

“What is that suppose to mean, Viktor?” asked Adrianne, sensing something from the tone of Viktor’s voice.

Everyone chuckled at Viktor’s failed attempt.

While some of them were pitching their tents, Viktor began exploring their “workplace” which was just a small shed. There was a long table, and a bench on each side. A small electric generator was on the table, and so were a laptop and a printer.

“Hey guys come and have a look at this! We have a laptop…and a printer!!” shouted Viktor.

“Of course silly, we need them to do our work, remember?” replied Adrianne in a teasing tone, getting back at Viktor.

“Oh, shut up Miss Ad-ree-uhn, can’t I be excited? And don’t call me silly,” replied Viktor.

“Whatever you say, kiddo,” said Adrianne, giggling to herself.

Before Viktor could reply Daryl interrupted their conversation saying, “Hey, hey, you guys, enough already! It’s not even the first day and you two are already arguing!”

That evening Mikaere suggested that they have a “barbie.”

“A what?” asked Jin-Ho. “There no Barbie here. We in middle of jungle!”

“I meant a ‘barbeque’, not the doll,” answered Mikaere, smiling at Jin-Ho’s facial expression. “So, what do you say?”

“Hey, that’s a good idea. We have some meat, some corn and some potatoes that we could roast as well,” Edry chipped in.

“Perfect!” Mikaere said, “I’ll set up the fire soon!”

While they were eating, they got the chance to get to know each other better. Each person was indeed different in profession. Daryl is an English teacher at a high school in Australia. Jin-Ho is a finance officer working in a bank in Seoul. Viktor is a graphic designer in Volga, Russia. Mikaere is a tour guide in Auckland. Zoey is a music teacher at a music school in Niederlauzsitz, Germany. Kirsten is a dentist and owns a dental clinic in Aastrup, Denmark. Adrianne is a businesswoman in Devonshire and Edry is a professional photographer from Malaysia.

More talk. More eating. More laughter. Time passed. Slowly, one by one, they entered their tents.

The next morning came too soon. It was officially the first day of work. Kirsten, Zoey and Edry were already awake at 7 a.m. to prepare breakfast.

“Get up guys! Get up, get up! It’s time for breakfast,” said Daryl as he shook the four remaining tents. “We have work to do today!”

“Zoey, Mikaere, Jin-Ho and I will be the first group to go to the lookout after breakfast today,” Daryl informed the group while having breakfast. “Viktor, you should start working on the first phase of the brochure. Kirsten, maybe you could prepare lunch for this afternoon. Edry, why don’t you and Kristján go around and stock up wood for fire tonight and Adrianne, maybe you could help Viktor in the starting phase of the brochure,” ordered the newly appointed leader.

About ten minutes from their camp site, a lookout had been set up where they could observe the Golden Lion Tamarin.

“Hey Daryl, can I have a different partner?” Viktor asked. “I don’t want to be working Miss English here!” he added.

“Excuse me? Is this about yesterday? Oh come on, I was just joking. Don’t tell me you’re offended by that!” said Adrianne, in her English accent.

“Whatever. First impressions are always important to me,” said Viktor.

“What a sprog,” said Adrianne, in a whisper-like voice.

“What was that?” inquired Viktor.

“Okay, okay, enough. Kirsten, you work with Viktor and Adrianne, you prepare lunch for us,” said Daryl, irritated by their silly little argument.

The morning went well for the group who stayed at the station. Viktor and Kristen came up with really good ideas for the brochure. Kristján went with Edry to gather wood and looking for edible fruits. Adrianne prepared a simple but delicious meal for everyone. But the observation returned with no results. There was no sighting of the Tamarins that morning.

“Don’t worry, the Tamarins will come out of their tree holes tomorrow,” Daryl assured his group.

The second day came, not many improvements were done. Still no sighting of the Tamarins, and the brochure couldn’t get anywhere without pictures of the animal. All they did was swim in the river and lazed around. Adrianne’s pettiness was starting to annoy and irritate the others, especially Viktor.

“Look at them. Viktor twenty-five, Adrianne twenty-nine. Both act like kids. How be a businesswoman like that?” Jin-Ho whispered to Mikaere and Zoey from a safe distance.

“Right. I thought I was going to work with a box of birds, not with a sook and a stirrer. Don’t worry about them, worry about our work. We know what we came here for,” said Mikaere.

Zoey just nodded in agreement.

The third day came. Then the fourth. Still no sighting of the Tamarins. The pressure could already be felt in the air. Everyone’s moods were going down. Viktor just slept on the hammock. Kirsten kept herself busy by reading Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. Adrianne’s pettiness was making others uncomfortable. Mikaere and Edry spent their afternoons swimming in the river. Zoey and Jin-Ho asked Kristján to bring them explore the forest. Daryl tried to keep his cool for the sake of the group members, trying to keep the group motivated.

The fifth day arrived. Finally after a long wait, their almost-gone-patience was rewarded.

“Look!” Kirsten shouted in a whisper. She was the first to spot the Tamarins.

“What? Where?” Edry asked.

“There! Do you see that?”

“I see it! I see it!” Daryl and Adrianne said in a chorus.

“Ssshhh, guys! Don’t chase them away now,” shushed Kirsten.

“Finally! It’s about time they came out of their tree holes!” Daryl said in relief.

Daryl, Kirsten, and Adrianne, who were at the lookout, wasted no time in fishing their small notebooks from their pockets and scribbled their notes. Edry took out his Canon EOS-1D and snapped photos of the Tamarins.

They observed in silence, listening to the sounds made by the Tamarins and the rustling of leaves.

Click…click…click…click…click…

Daryl, Kirsten and Adrianne continued jotting down their notes. There were four young Tamarins who were making rasping noises, as they try to take the food from the other Tamarins.

“They’re so cute!” whispered Kirsten. Their eyes were fixed at the first sighting of the Tamarins.

Back at the camp, they shared their observation to the others. The pictures turned out great. The next day was anticipated with enthusiasm.

The next day, it was Viktor, Jin-Ho, Zoey and Mikaere’s turn to be at the lookout. Edry came along with them. Their hopes were not shattered, as the same group of Tamarins was on the same spot.

After their observation that morning, they compiled their notes. With only two days of observation, they didn’t have much choice but to use whatever information they obtained from the short observations. By the end of the sixth day, the brochure was still not completed as they were still compiling all the information from each person’s notes.

The morning of the last day arrived. The officials were expected to arrive at noon sharp. Everyone was awake as early as 6.30 a.m. The pressure was now visible on their faces.

Viktor was the person in charge of the brochure. He had been behind the laptop for three hours when Adrianne came up to him, observing him from behind.

“Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? I think that picture should not be placed there, it should be here!” pointed Adrianne.

“Shut up Adrianne, don’t start with me now. I’m trying to concentrate here,” said Viktor, trying to control the tone of his voice.

“Fine, then do it yourself, Mr. know-it-all!”

“What did you say? Why don’t you do it yourself, huh? Here, it’s all yours!” Viktor shot back. With that said he walked away, saying different words in Russian when he walked by her. Adrianne’s eyes followed him. “Are you bombarding me with words I don’t know?”

“Stop it! What is wrong with you guys?!!!” exclaimed Daryl, no longer able to put up with their attitudes. “Don’t you realize that there is only two and a half hours left?”

Mikaere, Zoey and Edry tried to calm him down.

“It’s okay Daryl. It’s not your fault, let’s just do the work,” Zoey assured him.

“I know. It’s just….” Daryl replied with a sad tone.

Jin-Ho and Kirsten were tidying the place up. “Poor Daryl,” Kirsten said softly. “Yah, not be friends…very bad,” Jin-Ho said, shaking his head while glancing at Viktor and Adrianne.

Meanwhile, Mikaere took Viktor’s place and continued with the brochure.

A couple of hours before noon, Daryl assigned Edry and Kristján to keep a lookout of any signs of the arrival of the officials while Mikaere, Zoey and himself continued working on the brochure. Viktor was still lying on the hammock, with a book covering his face and Adrianne was sitting on the far side of the bench reading a book, just keeping to herself.

10.45 a.m….

The brochure was finally completed – altogether, seven pages. By then, Viktor had finally calmed down. Everyone acted as if nothing had happened.

At 11.10, they decided to print it out. But the printer wouldn’t work!

“What?! No, no, no, no, no, no, no. What’s wrong with this printer?!” said Mikaere, panic settling in.

“Let me have a look at that,” said Viktor. After ten minutes, he finally got the printer working.

First page…done.

Second page…done.

It was 11.25 a.m.

“Any signs of them yet?” Daryl shouted to Edry who was at the river bank.

“No!” Edry shouted in reply.

Third page…done.

It was 11.30 a.m.

Suddenly Edry spotted a dot from afar, which gradually turned into a form of a boat with people on it.

“Uhm, Daryl, they’re here!!” shouted Edry.

“What?! It’s just 11.30! How could they possibly be here?!! Are you sure it’s them, Ed?” Mikaere shouted back.

“Yes, yes. I’m really sure it’s them!” Edry said.

Sure enough, there was a boat heading towards their station.

“Four pages to go, Daryl. And we still need to put it in order,” said Zoey.

“Calm down. Take it easy, we can do this,” Daryl assured them.

Fourth page…done.

Fifth page…still printing...

Zoey could hear the footsteps nearing. There was a conversation going on between Edry, Hákan and Peeter, while Kristján was talking to Jön.

Sixth page…done.

They were only a few feet away now.

Seventh page…done.

Daryl, Mikaere, Viktor and Zoey smiled as they greeted Hákan, Peeter and Jön with handshakes.

Hákan sat at one corner of the table while talking to Daryl and Zoey. Peeter went over to the makeshift kitchen where Jin-Ho and Kirsten were busy preparing lunch for everyone. Jön was chatting with Edry, Kristján, and Adrianne. Mikaere and Viktor took the chance to go through the brochure one final time before presenting it to the officials. They were looking at page four when suddenly…

“Oh, nooooooo…,” gasped Mikaere and Viktor at the same time.

Seven Years Gone Down the Drain

“Suraya!! Masa untuk mandi!” Kathy yelled out to her niece in Malay. It was five p.m. and Kathy wanted to give her niece her bath but her niece was playing you-can’t-catch-me with her. “Mak Teh mandi dulu!” Suraya yelled back telling Kathy to take her bath first. While Kathy and Suraya were still playing catch, Kathy heard two cars engine outside her house. She went out to see who it was and was very happy when she knew.

“Beverly! Valerie! I’m so happy you girls came!” Kathy said to her two best friends. She ran to them and gave each one a strong hug as if they have not seen each other for years. The three girls have been the best of friends ever since they were in high school. Beverly and Valerie are still studying in college but Kathy spends most of her time at home. She did not continue her study because her parents were afraid that if she studied far away from home, it will be hard for them to care for her since she has health problem. However, she took up a sewing course and now that she has finished her course, she works part time as a tailor down town.

“Kat, why are you breathing so hard ah?” Beverly asked her in her Chinese accent. “Suraya don’t want you to give her the evening bath again, is it?” she continued.

“I don’t know why Su wants to keep playing games with me. I’m not that young anymore you know,” Kathy said and at the same time panting her breath.

Beverly and Valerie both laughed at what Kathy had said, “You’re only 24 my dear, and so are the rest of us. That does not make you that old,” Valerie said.

“Compared to Su, of course I’m old!” Kathy said while looking at Suraya who was still in the house playing hide-and-seek with her. Suraya is only four years old but her mother, who happened to be Kathy’s eldest sister, left her with Kathy and her family because she had to work in another stated. Since Kathy was working part time as a tailor down town, she was constantly taking care of her niece and Suraya, being cared for carefully, grew closely attached to her aunt Kathy whom she also call as Mak Teh.

As the three of them entered the house, Kathy’s mom was in the living room and she greeted Beverly and Valerie with a hug as well. Suraya who was standing beside her was smiling at Kathy’s visitors. “Su, salam,” Kathy told her niece. It was a Muslim culture to greet family and especially visitors whenever they come over to the house. Beverly just smiled at Suraya when she greeted her with her two small hands brought close together to greet her two big hands. Having Christian as her religion, she finds this ‘salam’ way very interesting and valuable especially when children are doing them.

“Please make yourselves comfortable while I give this squirrel her bath,” Kathy told them with one hand holding Suraya’s arm so that she will not run away again. Beverly and Kathy just kept on laughing at Kathy’s struggle to bring her to the bathroom to take a shower.

While waiting, both girls had a conversation with Kathy’s mom. She is such a sweet person and the two girls did not mind having her talking to them. They love her a lot as their own mother because she cares for them as how she cares for her own children. She would asked how are they doing and sometimes she would even give advices to things that the girls have problems with. As they were talking, Kathy’s two younger brothers came back from school.

“Hi, Aren and Anddy,” both Beverly and Valerie said. They boys responded back with a smile and gave them their greetings before they went up to their rooms.

“Wah, both of them have grown so much already aunty!” Beverly said to Kathy’s mom. “As if they shoot up like a beanstalk in one night,” she continued.

“They are not like beanstalk Beverly,” Valerie laughed. “You must have read Jack and the Beanstalk last night before going to bed, did you?” she continued teasing Beverly.

“Haiyah, you know what I mean Val. It was just a figure of speech,” Beverly said with her face turning red. But then she also joins laughing together with Valerie and Kathy’s mom.

“Hahaha…Beverly, you really are funny!” Kathy’s mom laughed. “That is one of the few things that I like about you,” she continued with a smile. “It’s nice to know that somebody who noticed them that they are growing. That way, I don’t feel so worried.”

“Why, aunty? Why should you feel worry?” Beverly asked.

“I guess it’s because I see them everyday that I do not notice whether they are growing or not. Having other people who are not in this house, to give me good news makes me happy. That is why I don’t have to feel worry.” Kathy’s mom said.

By the time they had finished talking, Kathy came down dressed in her green Punjabi dress with her hair let down. Lots of green bangles on both hands and silver bangles on both ankles. She loved Hindi so much that she dresses like one and also sometime adds a few Hindi vocabularies while talking to anyone.

“If I did not know who you are, I really would have mistaken you for an Indian!” Valeria commented a smile to Kathy. At that moment, Kathy’s mom excused herself to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

“Kathy always likes to make a grand entrance one whenever we come and visit her,” Beverly snickered.

“Dhanyavad girls,” Kathy thanking them for their compliments. “Oh, I have prepared something for you all. I just need to go to the kitchen to get it.”

“Don’t tell me, you prepared food for us again Kat,” Beverly guessing. “You did not have to you know.”

“You girls are my best friends and we don’t see each other that often. Of course, I will prepare your favourite dish whenever you girls come,” Kathy sincerely answered.

“Kat, before you go into the kitchen, can we go up to your room first,” Valerie asked.

“What’s the matter Val?” Kathy said in her worried tone. “Is everything okay?”

“There’s just something that I need to talk about. I want to see what are you and Beverly’s opinions on it,” Valerie said with her head down.

So the three friends went up to Kathy’s room upon Valerie’s request. Once they have gone into the room, Kathy locked her door because her niece or her brothers have a tendency to come into the room to disturb her and her friends’ conversation. Seeing the worried look on Valerie’s face, she figured that it is something important.

“Val, what is it that you want to talk about?” Beverly started.

“Erm, it’s, it’s about…erm…maybe I should not say,” Valerie said. She was wearing a confused look on her. As if she was struggling hard with herself whether to say or not to say what she had in mind.

“Haiyah, you already ask Kathy to not bring out the food and then asked her whether we can go up to her room first because you have something to tell us. And now you say that maybe you shouldn’t say. Make up your mind ah!” scolded Beverly.

Valerie was quiet at that time not knowing what to do or say with her head still facing down. Kathy noticed that there must be something serious that Valerie wanted to say but she just maybe didn’t know how to say it. “It’s okay Valerie, you can tell us,” Kathy said gently.

“Ya, you can tell us if you have a problem. That is why we are friends,” Beverly in her Chinese way of soothing Valerie.

“It’s just Victor. He said that I shouldn’t be hanging out with you girls anymore. He said that you girls bring nothing but bad influence to me,” Valerie blurted out. “He even asked me to make a choice. It is either him or you girls!” At that moment, Valerie was crying uncontrollably. She did not want to say it but she had and she does not know how the girls would react to what she had said.

Both Beverly and Kathy did not say anything. They were so speechless and sad at the thought of what Victor had said about them. “How can we be a bad influence to you when we hardly see each other, only once in a blue moon?” Kathy replied with confusion.

“How dare he even ask you to choose between him and us? We don’t even ask you to choose ah. You knew us longer than he,” Beverly scolding absently.

“What are you going to do now Val,” Kathy asked. “Have you made you decision?”

“I don’t know what to think Kat. I was really torn apart when he asked me that question,” Valerie replied.

“All I do know is that we won’t ask you to choose between him and us,” Beverly said with assurance. “We can’t help you that much except to think carefully of what you are going to decide.” “Before you can decide, think of all the consequences and maybe what you have gone through with us and him. You have known us like what, seven years, but Victor for only one and a half years ah. I don’t ask you to compare us with him ah, just want you to think carefully before you make your decision.”

“I agree with what Beverly said,” Kathy agreeing with a nod. “Please decide carefully. We can’t give you much opinion because we do not want you to make you more confuse.”

“Well, I think I know what to do now. Thanks for the opinions girls and thanks for not asking me to choose between you girls and him,” Valerie responded in a much better feeling.

“Is there anything else that you want to tell us?” Kathy asked.

“No. That was it,” Valerie replied.

“Are you sure?” Kathy asked because she wasn’t convinced.

“Yes, I am sure,” Valerie replied. “Now can we go and see what you have prepared for us. I know that Beverly here is very hungry,” Valerie giggled looking at Beverly who was wearing a hungry look.

“Are you sure you are done here ah Val? We can settle everything before eating. I mean my hungry stomach can wait,” Beverly replied in a tone half-hungry-and-half-understanding.

“I’m sure Beverly, let’s go eat, right Kat?” Valerie convincingly said.

“Yeah, sure why not,” Kathy replied.

So the three went down to the dining hall to have their dinner. Kathy went to the kitchen to bring out what she had prepared for them. She prepared fried noodle, rice, vegetables, and fried prawns just the way her friends like them. There was also batik cake for dessert.

“Finally, food!! Thank you Kat for preparing all these ah. You are really one of a kind you know. Wah, look at those fried prawns, I can’t wait!” Beverly who had reacted to the sight of food with her lips smacking.

“Hahaha…Beverly you really enjoy eating,” Kathy laughed. “Go on, everyone dig in!” she continued. They were all enjoying the food when Valerie’s cell phone rang. She answered the call but then she wasn’t happy anymore. When she was done, she kept silent for a while.

“Girls, I have to go first. Kat, thank you for the wonderful dinner,” Valerie said with a guilty feeling. Before Kathy and Beverly could say anything, Valerie left the house in an instance. It was seven p.m. when Valerie left. Both girls who were left confused just looked at each other, knowing understanding why Valerie had left them. They were speechless with the way Valerie acted but they knew why, it was because of Victor.

The girls didn’t finish their dinner because they had lost their appetite. Beverly then called Valerie’s cell phone to ask why she left in a hurry. “Hello, Val why you leave just like that ah?” Beverly asked.

“Val is not available at the moment. Is this Beverly?” the receiver replied.

“Yes, who is this?” Beverly feeling quite sure who it was but she pretended not to know.

“This is Victor. Don’t you ever call Valerie again, do you hear me!” Victor replied angrily. “She will no longer hear from you girls anymore!” Victor ended the call leaving Beverly in a shock situation. She didn’t know what to do or what to say. She was stunned with what Victor had said. Now she had to decide whether or not to tell Kathy or not because she does not want her health to be affected by this and Kathy is very emotional.

“What did Val said?” Kathy wondered.

“Oh, ah she said nothing ah…have family problem, that is why need to go back home,” Beverly lied. “She did not want to explain through the phone, she will tell us when she meet us again.”

“Oh, okay. I hope everything is alright,” Kathy said who was convinced.

Half an hour have past but the girls just sat quietly. Still thinking what Valerie will decide. How was Victor going to take it? Will he be mad? Will he hurt Valerie? Nobody knows. Suddenly, Beverly’s cell phone rang. It said “Valerie’s home” and she was so eager to answer it only that it wasn’t what she was expecting.

“Is this Beverly?” the caller asked.

“Yes, this is Beverly speaking. May I know who is speaking?” Beverly asked back.

“This is Valerie’s mother. What is this I hear about you and Kathy being a bad influence to my daughter?” scolded Valerie’s mom to Beverly. “Victor and Valerie said that the two of you have influenced her to learn how to smoke and drink, is that true?” “How could the two of you do like this?!” “This is so unlike the both of you!”

“What? We did not teach Valerie to do anything!” Beverly responded in a higher pitch tone. Kathy who was surprised at Beverly’s respond suddenly knew that there was something bad. She just looked at Beverly to look for some signs but if there was any, Beverly wasn’t giving her any.

“Did Victor and Valerie actually say that?” Beverly asked again as if she did not believe what she was hearing. Beverly’s eyes were wide open and she was controlling herself not to cry while talking to Valerie’s mother.

“I want you girls to come over to the house and spill everything,” Valerie’s mother ordered. “Tomorrow evening at five p.m.!”

When the so-called conversation ended, Beverly just did not know what to do. She looked at Kathy who was still puzzled with everything. She badly did not want to tell Kathy but it was no use. Kathy heard what she has said and with Kathy there, she could not lie to her.

“What happened? Who called, Beverly?” Kathy asked in a worried tone.

“That was Valerie’s mother,” replied Beverly. “She wants us to go to her house tomorrow to settle some issues.”

“What issues? Why go all the way to her house? Why did she call?” Kathy said and who was getting confused.

Beverly told her what had happened during the conversation and what Victor and Valerie had said about them. She was trying to choose her words carefully so that it will not make Kathy that worry, but even that still did not make it good enough to make it sound a little better. After she had finished, Kathy was stunned. She could not believe what she was listening to. She could not believe that Valerie, her best friend, would actually say something that hurtful. She did not want to believe it but the more she denied it, the more it sounded very real. Kathy, who is an emotional person, just broke down and cried. She was crying so hard that she slowly started to feel pain in her chest and had problem breathing. Unfortunately, the time Valerie had left Kathy’s house, Kathy’s family had gone out to the supermarket. Beverly started panicking and told Kathy to take a few deep breaths and to stop crying before her health gets worse. After a few deep breaths, Kathy was finally feeling better. Beverly gave her medication for chest pain and they fell silent again. Both of them were thinking what they have to expect the next day in Valerie’s house.

It was five p.m. when Beverly and Kathy reached Valerie’s house. As they entered the house, Valerie was sitting at the dining table without even looking at them, her parent’s sitting on a couch. They looked like vultures waiting for their prey to settle down and then seize them.

“Please seat here,” Valerie’s mother showed the other couch that was in front of them.

“They must want to keep their eyes on us. Maybe they think that we would escape. Fine, Kathy and I will show them that they are wrong!” Beverly said silently to herself.

“What must you girls say for yourselves?” Valerie’s father said. “You girls have caused a lot of problems for our daughter here.”

“Where do you girls go out at night huh?” the mother said. “You, Beverly, always bringing her out at night and doing all these unhealthy habit!”

At that moment, Beverly’s eyes became so big as if her eye balls were going to pop out because she couldn’t believe that Valerie actually said untrue things about her. Kathy who was sitting beside Beverly was also shocked and looked over to Valerie for help, but there was none.

“I do not see your daughter that often, only once in a blue moon.” Beverly said who was defending herself. “As for drinking and smoking, Kathy and I are not even interested to do those things! Those things are bad for health!” “We are not that stupid, you know!”

“If that is true, then how come our daughter and Victor said that it was you and Kathy’s doing?” Valerie’s mother said in a way as if she has something to bring them down.

“Valerie! Tell your parents that this is not true! We have not seen each other for so long and we don’t even do this kind of things, you know it!” Beverly begged Valerie. “Yesterday was the first time this year we met up ah, how could we even go out at night that often!”

“Val, please tell your parents that this is all not true,” pleaded Kathy. “Is this about Victor again?” “Is he the one asking you to do all this? Kathy continued. She was pale and weak from the night before and Beverly had noticed it. Beverly told Kathy to not talk too much and she will do the talking. However, Kathy did not want to. It was a problem between the three of them and they have to solve it. She promised Beverly that she will stay calm and control herself from doing anything that will make her feel weaker.

“So, what do you say Val?” Beverly asked who was slowly losing her patience.

“Don’t be afraid Valerie, just say the truth. We are here for you,” her parent’s replied.

All eyes were on Valerie but she still did not look up or gave any answers. It is as if Valerie did not hear anything and did not even bother with what was going on around the house. She just looked down, pretending to be concentrating in her studies. Beverly and Kathy were awestruck by this. She did not even stand up for her friends.

“You see, there is no need of explanation. Our Valerie tells the truth and we believe her completely,” Valerie’s mother said in a victorious tone. “Since this is settled, we will like to tell you to not have anymore contacts with our daughter.” “Both of you please, grow up! You girls are no longer teenagers.”

Beverly and Kathy could not do anything else except to be silent and to listen to all the accusation that Valerie’s parents gave them. The two girls could not take the insult any longer and left the house. Before leaving the house, Beverly and Kathy said something to Valerie not caring if she would listen or not.

“Seven years Val! How could you do this to us ah Val! You betrayed us! Is this the way you thank us?” “I cannot believe that you actually lied to protect your skin!” Beverly shouted at Valerie.

“I really don’t know what to say Val. I never expect anything from you except your friendship. After all this had happened, I’m sorry to say, but I wished I had never known you before,” Kathy told Valerie with a hurtful tone.

By then, Valerie was already crying but her cries did not matter to Beverly and Kathy anymore. It was too late. What was done had done and there was no where to fix it. It was seven p.m. when all of this finally ended and it was her first time that evening to tilt her head up and looked at Beverly and Kathy leaving her house with a sad heart.

An Indented Quarter

A thunderous roar and the bright light of dawn explode at Padelensky as he steps out into the roof area. He quickly strides towards the helipad, extending a hand towards Mr. Bowman who is having difficulty exiting the helicopter.

“Good morning, Mr. Bowman! How was your trip?” screams Padelensky against the ear piercing chops of the helicopter rotors.

“What? Get your butt moving and have Jose Perez on the line for me!” Bowman yelps back, fumbling with his fingers an indented quarter coin “And make sure it comes with a cup of coffee!”

A blast of water and air bubbles welcome Padelesnky as he dives into the swimming pool. Being an avid swimmer, he visits the pool first thing in the morning before going to his office. “What if I can’t buy Jose Perez’s company shares? I’ll be screwed. How am I supposed to pay rent for my apartment?” Working for Bowman is a good start for any business graduates; it’s just like working with Donald Trump. But the strain of working with an erratic businessman is not always pleasant. “The money,” is all that assures Padelensky that he made the right choice of joining Mr. Bowman’s company.

“Has the logs arrive from Brazil yet?” Mr. Bowman’s voice bellows Padelensky out from his daydream. “Have you bought the shares from Perez? Come on, you’re supposed to be all over it – whatever that means, that’s what you told me yesterday!”

“Yes sir, the logs are at the docks right now and the bronze statue has also arrived, the helicopter will be picking it up this afternoon and they’re planning to install it this afternoon,” Padelensky retorts and slightly picks his nose in frustration.

“Well, you better get that Harvard hands of yours “all over it” or you’ll be “all over New York looking for a new job! And I thought that sculpture of mine was supposed to be erected already. The opening ceremony is this afternoon for goodness’ sake! Bowman bawls with his hands waving in the air, sparks of the indented quarter, as if electricity charge emitted from Bowman, zigzags with his hand motions.

“Mr. Bowman Sir, your accountant just called, you have 23% of Perez’s stock now.” Patricia winks her blue eye and flips her blonde hair, and slips a note into Padelensky’s palm as she struts by.

“Well, what are you gaping at Padelensky, are you expecting a raise now? Make sure those logs get to the factory by this afternoon, and I can see myself standing in the courtyard before five this evening okay!”

Padelensky retreats to his office, which is a glass walled. “I rather have an office in the toilet cubicle,” straining a yellow smiley face stress ball as he speed dials the number of the shipping company.

“Hello? Mark, is this Mark? Yeah, this is Padelensky, how are things going with the logs? Yes, I’ve transferred the money to your account, just get the logs to the factory by noon time and that bronze Bowman standing before five today. What time are you planning to fly the statue over? 3 pm? Don’t you think that’s a little too late? Anyhow, just make sure it’s there, I’m counting on you man.” Padelensky clicks the receiver down. His attention then shifts to the stock graphs on his computer screen. Donning his reading glass, Mr. Bowman’s furious screams penetrates Padelensky transparent office.

“What is he doing there with all those freaks, call security and chase them out from this area!” Mr. Bowman shouts at the approaching Padelensky.

Padelensky sneaks a smile, thinking about Gregory and his green clad WWF friends. They are waving anti-logging posters and have faux log trees set up at the office premises. As Padelensky fumes around with the telephone dials, Mr. Bowman is cursing at his son through an open window at the top of his voice, chorused by the anti logging slogans from down below.

Paula, with her ever fixed composure, glides towards Mr. Bowman and flashes an envelope at him. “It’s a permit from the local police” she says casually.

“Am I being sued for cursing my son now?” Mr. Bowman gasps as he shreds the envelope lid. “A friendly protest! What is this? This must be some kind of joke right? I’m getting too old for this nonsense. I’m just happy I’m still having my morning jogs or else my heart would just give away.”

“Aw, you’re not that old, Mr. Bowman!” exclaims Paula, “I find your silver hair very dashing!”

“Oh why thank you, Paula!”

Padelensky winces at Paula, and quickly dials for security.

Five uniformed security guards march right up to Gregory and his riot, gawking at them with eyes more attentive than an eagle’s. Gregory fumes about his business, ignoring the security guards eyeing them.

“That’ll keep them down,” hissed Mr. Bowman. “Padelensky, keep a watch out while I go grab something to eat!”

“Yeah sure,” heaves Padelensky as he paces back to his office. He slumps down into his oversized seat and stares blankly into the computer screen, nervous about tomorrow’s stock market. He shuts his eyes, clutches the arm rests and twirls himself around.

The seat stops abruptly and Padelesnky is revealed to a flare up of blonde hair. “I’m going over to the vegetarian restaurant down the street, you want anything? Paula gasps.

“Err, yeah maybe you could get me that asparagus stir-fried with egg tofu dish and pitch in an extra packet of rice.”

“Anything for you,” purrs Paula.

“Don’t forget extra carrot shreds!” Padelensky reminds Paula as she catwalks out from his office.

Padelensky relaxes into his chair, and turns to the glass wall separating him from the clear blue sky. He stretches his arms and legs, waving them leisurely to the buzzing tempo of the air conditioner. Padelensky gazes up and glimpses the cloudless sky, and feels the sand go in between his toes as he stands. “This is incredible!” he says under his breath. Padelensky starts walking towards the sea, concentrating on the thundering waves crashing into the jagged rocks of a cove on his far left. “I should’ve brought my camera,” he thinks to himself. Padelensky could never reach the shore edge and the heat seems to be penetrating his shirt. Loosening up his tie and buttons, he feels his stomach chorusing hunger. “I might as well look for something to eat.” Padenlsky turns his back to the sea and swaying coconut trees greet him. “Perfecto!” he grins and runs towards the trees. Padelensky places his hand on the trees and starts shaking them, unable to find any form of a long pole. “Come on!” Padelensky shouts as he leans on the coconut tree trunk and pushes it. “Ouch, argh!”

Padelensky raises his head to Mr. Bowman who is clutching his mobile phone over Padelensky’s head, and Paula posing right next to him, swinging lazily a transparent plastic bag.

“So how’s our dreamer boy doing?” Mr. Bowman chimes, handling now his lucky coin and flinging it in the air.

“Here’s the food, my treat!” Paula announces, and smoothly exits.

“Have you called the shipping company?” inquires Mr. Bowman, now sitting on the desk, with his back towards Padelensky.

“Yeah I did, this morning, and they said that the statue will be installed by 3 this afternoon,” replied Padelensky.

“Well, at least something permanent resembling me would remain,” Bowman eagerly says. “I myself am not sure whether any of my children would want to run this business after I retire.”

“Well, you could…”

“Sell this company? Nah, I worked from scratch to own what I have now, I pumped my own blood into it. I would never give this up. Tell you what, I’ll forget about all these for the evening and head home to change while you worry about Perez’s stocks okay!”

“Okay, see you this evening!”

Padelensky unpacks his food and sets it on the table, adjusting the plastic cutlery that came with the food. He forks in a piece of tofu with sesame sauce and notices an uneven glint on his sun-flooded table. He leans towards the glint and Mr. Bowman’s lucky coin is reflecting the rays into Padelensky’s face. He picks it up quickly and heads for the door, distracted for a while when his cellphone rang.

“Hey Padelensky, it’s Mark. We’re flying in now, we’ll be there in about 5 minutes,”

“Okay, I’ll be down there waiting for you. Be careful with that statue, there’s a riot going on down there and the florists and caterers are everywhere.”

Padelensky checks his wrist watch, “It is only five to two and Mark’s coming in already?” He rushes into the elevator and descends to the ground floor. The anticipation is nerve racking, “Bowman wouldn’t like it if he loses this.”

“Ding!” The elevator chimes as the doors open and reveal Padelensky to the reception area. A cleaning lady momentarily blocks Padelensky as he maneuvers his way through the protruding brooms and mops. “There is a service elevator, lady.” Padelensky snaps.

Padelensky sees Mr. Bowman briskly walking towards a black awaiting limo, casting angry looks at his son and juggling his fists high in the air.

“Mr Bowman! Sir, you forgot your coin!” shouts Padelensky as he clears the automated doors. Jogging towards the limo, Padelensky stretches out his hand and extends the coin towards Mr. Bowman.

“Thank you Peter, your fast hands get you all over huh? That’s why I like you!”

“Thank you, Mr. Bowman.” Padelensky replies as Bowman rolls up the tinted window. He then heads back to the office, beaming at Mr. Bowman’s compliment. A group of service people are already putting up tables and chairs for the night’s event, and a crescendo of a flying chopper obscures the shouts of the raging environmentalists.

“I’ll finish my lunch first before coming down again, I could always inspect from my office window.” Padelensky thinks to himself, already starving from waiting for Paula’s return, plus the unnecessary running to Mr. Bowman’s limo. Padelensky passes a meter deep hole which would securely bolt Mr. Bowman’s bronze statue, relieved that things are all in control.

“Specckkk.” A high pitch excruciating snap vibrates into Padelensky’s ear drums, followed a blast of twisting metal, and glass shards soaring in all directions. Padelensky hurls himself, head first, on the pavement as debris punctures into his back. Laying sideways, he could still hear the sound of the chopper, resonating from the concrete slab. Padelensky carefully rolls to his stomach and bends his torso upwards.

“Peter, Peter!” Paula shrieks as she runs towards Padelensky. “You’re back is soaked with blood!”

Padelensky sights Mr. Bowman’s bronze statue conquering the deformed limo. Limping towards the wreckage, Padelensky starts screaming at people to call for help.

“Dad! Dad!” Gregory yells hysterically as he too, sprints towards the wrecked limo.

A familiar glint catches Padelensky’s eye. Stooping down, he picks up a quarter, with a distinct indentation through the center. He stands up, and looks at Gregory who is now prying the limo door open, with Paula frantically commanding him to pull harder. Padelensky slips the coin into his pocket and feels the creased surface of a piece of paper. Taking it out, he unfolds the note and is baffled at what he sees, “I’m doing it today.”