Music and Love

Chapter Two

      Inside the bus, Mary and Melba felt awkward. They were sitting beside the choirmaster and Mme. Magalona. By listening to one of the many conversations going about, they learned that one of the members of ‘The Flock’ was celebrating his birthday.

      “Aye, Nathan. Yer sixteen, chum!”

      “Och, that means yer one of us!”

      “What do you mean by ‘one of us’?”

      “You know, the ‘alto’ part of the choir...”

      “Blimey! Heavens, nay! I’ll always be in the ‘contralto’ part – “

      “Aye, aye, but you can’t be a contralto forever – “

      “Oi, not even a treble!” The group laughed loudly.

      “Cheer up, chap. It is yer birthday.”

      Melba thought of trying to have a light conversation with the choirmaster of ‘The Flock’.

      “Uhmm... Excuse me, sir – “

      “You can call me Mr. Ben. Yer Melba, right?”

      “Uhuh. Uhmm... Mr. Ben, could I ask you a question?”

      “Go ahead, lassie.”

      That was quite weird, Melba thought. “I was wondering. What restaurant are you planning to go to tonight?”

      “We always like to try something new for every country that we visit. In this case, I have made a reservation in a native restaurant – you don’t mind, do you?”

      “Oh, no. I love to eat native food!”

      “That’s wonderful. YOU know, I thought you’d get fed up eating the same kind of food everyday!”

      “That’s just a misconception, Mr. Ben.”

      Inside the restaurant, Mary and Melba were seated once again with the ‘authorities’: Mme. Magalona and Mr. Ben. They were all seated in one very long table. Most of the diners inside the restaurant were wondering what the occasion was all about.

      Some of the big’uns was being sent to sit beside the littl’uns. Nathan was asked to sit beside Mr. Ben, being the birthday celebrant. Mary kept on laughing to herself whenever the choirmaster would ask Melba regarding about the food.

      Poor, poor Melba! Mary kept her thoughts to herself.

      Mme. Magalona took notice and asked Mary to explain what the different kinds of food were being placed on the table, especially to the young ‘chap’ right across her.

      A plate full of food was placed directly in front of them.

      “Hullo, what’s this?” He asked, looking curiously at the food.

      Mme. Magalona looked at Mary. Mary looked at the young lad in front of her. He was poking the food with his fork.

      Mary finally spoke. “That’s beef stewed in soy sauce.”

      “Oh... I see...” He saw leaves by the side of the plate and pointed them with his fork. “An’ these?”

      “That’s deep-fried watercress.”

      The young lad picked up a piece of fried watercress and placed it in his mouth.

      “This is good...” He slowly chewed, trying to feel the food in his mouth. “It’s light an’ crispy.”