"Minah"

It's five in the morning.

I've just reached home barely an hour ago, and usually I'd have gotten hell from Pa at this ungodly hour.

But nooo... I escaped scot-free tonight. All thanks to the old man himself.


I was sipping on my last Hoe, getting ready to head home at half-past-two when my phone rang.

It was Pa - calling from his mobile. Somehow then, I knew it wasn't going to be a nagging phone-call. Phew.

Still, it was so unusual of him to be calling me from his mobile at this hour. He should still be at his mahjong game - why the hell would he be nagging at me when he wasn't home himself yet?

Pa: Mei ah, are you still out?
Mei: Yes.
Pa: Are you going home soon?
Mei: Yes.
Pa: Can you come and pick me when you're going home?
Mei: ?!?!?! ... Er, ok. What time?
Pa: Er... what time are you leaving?
Mei: Soon. Pick you in about half an hour's time?
Pa: Er... ... ok. You give me a call when you're here.

!!!!!
I must go and buy 4D tomorrow liao!

My Pa plays mahjong regularly and almost every Sunday. But he has never done this - that is, asking me to pick him up on my way home, and on such 'friendly' terms. My phone conversations with him at such hours would usually be a much more hostile one:

Pa: Mei ah!!! Still not coming back?!?!
Mei: Ha na... out with friend lah.
Pa: You ah!!! Tomorrow no need to work ah?!?! Every night sleep so late!!!
Mei: ... ... (dying to hang up on him) ... Ok ok. Coming home soon.
*clicks*

And I'd hang up on him before he could yell another word. The timing is always just so right - he'd call everytime just when I'd have already parked my car, but just before I could step into the house.

It was so weird tonight, I almost freaked out.

I figured. He must have lost quite a bit at his mahjong game tonight - and he'd no money to take a cab home.

Yeah, that must be it.


I sensed the uncertainty in his voice anyway, and I knew he wouldn't be ready by the time I reached where he was.

I ended up arriving a little too early at a quarter to three, and then the phonecall came - as expected:

Pa: *sounding a tad sheepish* Er, Mei ah, I still cannot finish the game leh. You wait for me until I call you, ok.
Mei: *rolling my eyes and throwing a dirty look* Ok...

And I ended up drinking kopi-o alone at this dodgy kopitiam along Craig Road at three in the morning. I was simply inviting stares from all the dirty old men and foreign workers, who eyed me and then the Thai girls standing outside the kopitiam.

And trust me, I wouldn't know where the hell Craig Road is as well, if not for my old man.

I couldn't stay at the kopitiam for long. I ended up reading my book in the car. Which, by the way, is a very bad idea, after three Hoes and a quick kopi-o rushed down your throat.

By the time my old man appeared, I realized I had been waiting for almost an hour, almost stuffed to death in my car.

I didn't talk much on the way home; he was just nagging at the speed I was driving at. As usual, I ignored by keeping my mouth shut and keeping my foot on the accelerator.

I would never figure out if he really had no more money for a cab ride, or if he was just saving himself that cab money.

Sigh.

I don't mind picking you up, Pa.

Just that, if you'd like me to fetch you home again, please stop nagging at my late nights - ALL THE TIME.


*****

Now it's almost six.

The kopitiam downstairs has started operation - I can hear the glasses clanking away.

Time to snooze. I have barely a couple of hours left.

Of all things to do, I have to make myself a breakfast appointment at nine in the morning - on the last day of my 'holiday' before I hurl myself back into the throes of work.

Sigh. One bad decision already.