Trust Me, Okay?

Happy New Year

It is a day away from the year of 1934. Just a few hours away, and a new year of the Gregorian calendar will arrive. The people of the town of Ipoh are as well never excluded from this annual event. Some might light fireworks, some might visit their relatives, some might spend time with friends, whatever they do, it is common that the activity done will bring joy, thus making up the appearance of smiles and laughters on the bright faces of theirs.

The three gentlemen, Ghaafar Lee, Ismail Wallace and Clyde Watson are included. New Year's Eve is celebrated by them at a coffee shop near Ipoh Square. Chatting and relaxing while enjoying cups not a cup of hot brewed Ipoh White Coffee.

The small-sized antique chinese porcelain cup is then slowly held up, drinking the coffee filling the space within the cup while eyes were wild looking at his surroundings. Lee sees a few British Army in their service dress uniform entering the coffee house they were sitting in. Step by step, looking at the expression on the faces of the army lads, just slight smiles are portrayed. Thinking and making some calculations, no, they do not bring storms, Ghaafar Lee thought. He then looks at the two great lads, who are too attached to their conversations thus not realising the appearance of the soldiers.

"Ismail, look," said Ghaafar Lee, almost whispering while pointing with a slight smooch of his lips to northwest from the table they are sitting at.

"Hmm?" They both wonder what it is that Ghaafar Lee is trying to tell them. Slowly turning their heads, they understood the reference that was given by him. "One, two, three, four..." Ismail Wallace counted the number of soldiers that were there at the front of the counter.

Tap, tap, tap. The sounds made by the hardened-rubber sole of their army boots with each step made meeting with the floor wood of the coffee shop. Heading towards the table at the table at the back seeing three young potential gentlemen. Looking at the soldiers heading toward their direction, in lightning speed, they face elsewhere worried that they have done something wrong, again. Can they never imagine another day in the dark cell underground at the old, rusted police station. 

"Good day, Sir," One of the soldiers greeted them. Tall, wide shoulders with the classical imperial moustache decorating his face. At first glance, he is definitely the highest rank among the rest.

"Good day. May we help you?" Replied Clyde Watson calmly, but still is worried about the soldiers' appearance at their table.

"Corporal Alan, here. We do think that you gentlemen suit the criteria for this... "

Corporal Alan hands over a pamphlet to Ghaafar Lee.

"I will make my way then. Check it out, aye?" Corporal Alan then leaves the three of them at their table leaving the coffee house.

"Malayan Brigade of the British Army is now looking for new recruits. A man, a citizen of Malaya and importantly has the gut to fight..." Ghaafar Lee reads the pamphlet out loud so the other two friends of his can also get the information from the pamphlet. Ghaafar Lee expresses a face of seriousness reading through the pamphlet.

"One week..." Ghaafar Lee mumbles in whispering form. "One week what?" Ismail Wallace is confused.

"The interview is happening in a week from now!" Ghaafar Lee explains. Now he seems quite excited as if he wants to enlist.

"So? Do you want to join the army?" Clyde Watson asked.

"It sounds like a great idea, isn't it?" Ghaafar Lee rhetorically asked them. "I mean, joining the army doesn't sound bad. The career in the military is stable and once we join, we don't have to worry about anything anymore!" Ghaafar Lee enthusiastically resumed his thoughts on joining the army.

For most of the people in Malaya, joining the British Force is the best way to make a change in their life. The military career path is not just stable, but is as well secured. People can even make progress in their military career through the ranking promotion system within the doctrine of the British Army itself. Therefore, being able to join the army is considered to be a fortune for most of the people. For Ghaafar Lee, this is a great opportunity for him to truly fulfill his potential to the fullest. Besides potential that he believes to exist within his own self, he has another objective to seek for by joining the army.

"PAPPAPPA! BOOM!" Fireworks are lit symbolizing the arrival of the first day in the new year they are all celebrating. This then stops their conversation with them going out of the coffee house to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the fireworks in the sky of Ipoh. "Happy new year, lads..." Ghaafar Lee said. "Happy new year..." Replied the two of Watson and Wallace.

"1st day of the month of January..." Said Ghaafar Lee in his mind.