My Place – New Broom re-visits the Town

The new guy had become a key part of the motivating stimulus; his celebrity style of emergence had geared up that slack and lax office atmosphere.

“New York, New York, a wonderful town. The Bronx is up but the Battery’s down,” – lines picked from the song of the 1949 MGM musical film On the Town. What would I do if I have only 24 hours on shore in a big city like New York?

I was standing at the windows in my new apartment facing Penang Bridge, which sat on the strait of Melaka, one of the most photographed places in north Malaysia. The 4th block next to mine was under construction – another project under the same developer who built the first three apartments here.

Staring down at the lights from the “palm-hut encampments” scattered in a woody village just across the street, few questions raised in my mind.

I wondered these squatters would choose to live in isolation from the development or brace themselves to the new economy plan, would they? Would they react aggressively to the intruders (developers) if their shelter were demolished to give way to skyscrapers?

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For a single lady to start a new life in this conservative town, unaccompanied, is a perilous. There is always a male figure seemingly have intimate feelings on you. But the real intention is unknown. That figure usually posed a dominant, perfect, rich and elegance character amongst his peers, with bunches of supporter and admirer behind him.

When this prominent tall and big figure first showed up in the midst of a tiresome workplace, jaws dropped, and eyes popped with amazement can be seen everywhere. Doubts about the new kid on the block and his background aroused. It appeared that he was a close alliance to the General Manager and some company top officers but his marital status remained a clue.

At a first glance, this average Malaysian is too ordinary to sprout flash and illumination. However, the perception could be a difference one when others took him in as a “Prince of charming”. The guys’ disdainful words such as no lady deserved to have him invoked imagination of a well-dressed prince on his horseback riding with lines of swordsmen matching majestically behind.

The new guy had become a key part of the motivating stimulus; his celebrity style of emergence had geared up that slack and lax office atmosphere. I could not feel the psychology behind this, but the impulse due to this cool guy was an irresistible lure for many single ladies, even the gorgeous chicks were charm. Ladies, get ready for a little cross-species dealings!

Coincidently, I bumped into him at the office’s lounge one day; I was about to enjoy my first sip that morning. All of a sudden, he threw me a hard look but in no time the situation revised as the cool face turned affectionate summoned a little whirlwind concern. No greeting or handshake, everything seems peculiar for a normal social meeting in this unconventional workplace. He left with overconfident as he has conquered his main rival in the first round of the competition.

It did less harm as I stopped thinking about that first encounter ever since no further development ensued. Thing, however, grew to be miserable when my coworkers, who were his big fans, on purpose have my name removed from the routine report if the big guy name was also in the same recipients list.

I am frequently troubled by the bizarre and suspicious looks from all corners when that guy name was mentioned presumably it was pondering on something fishy going on recently. Perhaps, these thoughtful coworkers were trying to save me from an “unscrupulous affair”. It will be the case when pigs fly. But thus far, I have not sent this new guy a welcome note, which I normally did to greet a freshman.

Whether truth or not, he was just around or somewhere nearby when problems facing me, as if he was deeply concern and had been paying attention to my well being so far. When I was about to think about the affiliation, I heard resentful voices from the other end of the office gossiping about his scandalous affairs. Later, he seemed to avoid meeting face to face in a common place, or when somebody around, also frequently disappeared from the office for days that left me an uncertainty.

He did make quite a conquest here, and had reaped the harvest of his endeavor in such a short period; gals and admirers liked to spend time chatting at his workplace. Albeit in a distance, the soft laughs and shrieks out from his cubicle were piercing. I started to question, “What the hell is that?”

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My mind suddenly flooded with mixed conceptions of a man-made tragedy and the reality behind the play. I was in the dilemma and the mind was distracting from thinking rationally. The situation can be exacerbated after a cup of coffee, omelets or spicy meal at the “Coffee Shop” earlier in the morning; the stimulants found in these stuffs can fuel thrill and buzz.

Thing could easily turn truly awful if I chose a wrong approach to restore my strength. My mind was in a whirl. I am not prepared and do not have the courage to do something to give everyone an “OUT” under such an awkward situation.

Moving around the office was restricted when I had encumbered with this rumination. In the whirlwind of activity to stabilize my emotional storm, I had to thrash about to get rid of that false feeling and stay focus to find an explanation for this dodgy play. A lot of fuss was made of the play, but it was not a success under the light of rationale. If they did (foul play), they have knocked me down with their feather, I was truly amazed.

The other day, when I bumped into the same guy again accidently, I was a bit anxious and nervous, and tried to keep my eye-sight downward, away from having a direct eye-contact with him. At a close distance, he looked rather shabby when sloppily dressed. A grey, old jacket and a pair of slacks with a pair of slippers partially wore, without stockings exposing his bare feet. We greeted each other with an uncomfortably nod and quickly passed by each other.

Maybe I was over-reacting, if I cleared up the confusion, we would have had a good laugh but I did not. He could not be part of my dream, but this tall guy, who was once everybody affection is now Russell Casse in the movie – “Independence Day”.

Russell is, a father who struggled to care for his three children, an alcoholic crop duster, a Vietnam war pilot and probably an alien abductee. For one thing, I am deeply felt was, Mr Casse ultimately making the decision to sacrifice his life to carry out a suicide mission to save the whole world. A hero for the modern time.

In the next session of recruiting, there will be another blow lit up the office place, just like a new crew of sailors heads out into the city for their leave (“New York, New York reprise”) in “On the town” movie.

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Ten years later, the “palm-hut encampments” still standing firm amid the populated townships. Not only that, the red-dyed shed is expanding giving new influence to the squatters’ already heftily-built quarter.

The 4th block next to my apartment is ready for occupation. It appears that there are still many units offered for sale despite the low prices. An economic recession once left prospective home buyers wondering about the purchase is over. It is time for renters to convert to buyers and for existing owners to grasp that dream home on the cheap sale.

At night, the sky was extremely clear and stunning with the stars sparkling under the night. I wish the shooting stars were in sight. Then, I can wish upon the star, fly on a magical carpet to a whole new world and get pleasure from all the mirages the mother of the earth has given us.

Wai Ping Lee/Jan 2011