Rambo: Second Blood

The familiar smell of roti prata and murtabak greeted them as the hungry souls ,released from their confinement, made their way to a table. Tb spared not a thought for his wallet, since he was eating supper/dinner/lunch. Though $6 for a chicken cheese murtabak seemed expensive, it was actually quite economical---spread over 3 meals. The tao hui in Tb's stomach is long gone by then. To satisfy his cravings, Tb ordered a Milo dinosaur.

Like hungry wolves, Tb consumed his meal with much gusto, though he was still the slowest eater. His ravenous hunger displaced the tiny worry in his mind about his throat---it seemed to be in pain whenever he swallowed his murtabak pieces.

Satisfied in the flesh, Tb and gang made their way to the nearest 7-11 to walk around the convenience store. They ended up buying nothing. The merry gang made their way back to the lorry which they had parked beside the road.

There was an ominous foreboding. In front of the screwed up lorry, there was a middle-aged man with a potbelly staring at the vehicle, together with a woman that had eyebags outside (presumably) of her red car. Whatever jovial mood the gang experienced before instantly vanished.

They walked cautiously towards the vehicle. "Are you all the owner of this lorry?", a demanding voice queried. Tb's leader and driver affirmed meekly. The scene: the semi-d with the gate half ajar and the offending vehicle blocking the only way of traffic. "Sorry, sorry , sorry..." "Already called the police, it's best if you all do not leave."

It was a one-sided exchange. Tb and gang looked dejectedly around them.
"You all youngsters ah, dunno how to think about others...."
"You all are fortunate enough to study so high, yet after so many years of education dunno how to think. So many heads here none of you all thought whether this lorry will block the way or not."
"I shouted for 40 min like a madman across the 3 coffeeshops, nobody responded..."
"If its 5 min for a quick bite I can understand, but then 45 min...You know I dun like to do this (call police) but then..."
"You know in Christianity, do unto others what you want to do to yourself; Buddhism got this karma thing..." Tb glared at the old man. He had to bit his tongue to resist saying anything, since he knew that his group was already in the wrong; but still, it felt like an insult to his parents from a self-righteous person.

"What happen if my wife kena heart attack how? Need to rush to the hospital and find our gate block? Can cost human life you know?!" Tb looked at the semi-d. There was already one car inside. The man said that his daughter, his son and himself could not park their cars due to the lorry. So in total, they possessed four cars. Tb was SO sure that they will just not call a taxi to send the wife to the hospital and sit around the lorry.

The police indeed took their time to come. Mr Lee and his daughter, whom the gang thought was Mrs Lee, impatiently called back to the police numerous times to check their status.
"Hello, I am Mr Lee, I called the police 15 min ago...." "....1/2 hour ago, yes, 34 Clement_ Drive" "Hmm, take so long, this police, when they come I will give them a piece of their mind!"

Meanwhile, Tb and his gang waited around the lorry. While Mr Lee told his son that the police is coming, they did likewise to warn other vehicles illegally parking nearby for a quick bite. A taxi driver was just about to park behind the lorry on the single zig-zag line.
Just as the taxi driver was about to leave his vehicle:
"Eh uncle, jing cha yao lai le." Tb said with a glum face, at the same time, pointing to the lorry for the taxi driver to see.
"Zhen de..ma?" came the hesistant answer. "Zhen de" Tb's friends chipped in. There was strength in unity, in persuading people.
The taxi driver quickly drove off his taxi, leaving Tb and his gang to wallow in front of 34 Clement_ Drive. Several groups of undergraduates passed by as well for their happy supper, giving Tb's group some curious stares.

It seemed like eternity. For a moment, Tb thought that the police would not come. The slight drizzle did not help---Tb had wished for a downpour so that everyone would get wet together. "I already take photo with my camera handphone liao," said the daughter whom they mistook as Mrs Lee. Most of Tb's gang stared into space away from the commotion, leaving their leader and vehicle commander to face the music.

The police finally came. Surprisingly, the pieces of minds that the house owners promised to give to the police also vanished in thin air. Instead, all Tb heard was a soft and polite conversation.
"You must understand, Mr Lee, we have other priorities and emergencies also, we will take some time to come here." Meaning=low priority
"Yes, I understand, I understand."
From what Tb gathered in the bits and pieces of the conversation, the policeman came from the expressway to that area.
"You know, I shouted like a madman for 45 min in the three coffeeshops and no one responded." Tb could not hold back his tongue anymore. "Sorry, it was 1/2 hour only. And we could not hear you shout as well." The man did not say anything.

The policewoman wielded her power as well. She reprimanded some MATs along the way, who had parked their motorcycles on the pavement near 34 Clement_ Drive and were stunned/gawking at the scene. "You all know this is illegal parking...park here I am gonna summon you!" They hurriedly left the scene.

"If these people are gonna park here everyday, I am gonna call the police everyday you know,"said the female Lee. Tb immediately felt pity for the police personnel. Other meaningless conversation ensued, like what happened if the offending vehicle left the scene, towing charges, what measures the residents could take, etc.
"I'm sorry. There's nothing much that we can do, " was the official police reply.
"I mean, my house has just enough space to park four cars..." An invisible flying fish came out of Tb's mouth. Yeah great, who would have thought you all have F@#$#ING four cars, Tb thought. They had presumed the owner was at home because when they had first arrived, the lights in the house was off and there was already a car parked in that semi-d.

Finally, the policeman whisked Tb's leader aside and said gently. "Next time, remember, don't park in front of people's house. Don't get your driving license earn so hard then lose it just from parking....And tell your friends about this also! You can go now." Sounded to Tb like a plea from the police that they did not want future trouble/nuisance. Tb felt that the police could have been given them a heavier penalty if they wanted to. Perhaps they already knew that the resident was a regular.

Tb and co. left the scene, with the couple still talking to the police. By the time they had reached the campus, it was already 0130hr, Tuesday. 3 hours since they last had murtabak.....to be continued.