Loud Indians in the side street alongside Hun Mui, a voice behind giving the woman who had passed a bit of curry. A younger, earlier Indian had helped a fumbling SUV driver into the spot immediately adjacent.
The latter had been 15-20 years senior, much of the dentistry gone. In company was a late-teen boy and younger girl.
Something was given back to the loudmouth by the older woman, and then her lad buying in. Chap out of sight continuing. Ra-ra. Ra-ra.
Soon the man reveals himself, coming along the path a few steps in the direction the others had gone. Ra-ra. Ra-ra. Motioning. Brief again.
Nonetheless, something in it the woman didn’t like, which emerged when she came back there to confront the guy.
The broom with the red plastic bristles must have been new, only just purchased and happening in hand. Perhaps the guy had discounted it as a possible weapon, to his cost, ultimately.
Drawn back and close after the offence at the last words, the woman was not about to let it go.
Like a knight in the old days, the stick was raised high and wielded with some nimbleness.
Thwack! Thwack!
3-4 times with the end of the handle across the back, the fellow bowing a little to avoid worse than what he was getting.
The woman’s strikes were not rapid; in a more lucid state the fellow might have easily escaped, especially the latter number.
Instead, oddly, the man appeared to accept the chastening; nothing for it but to submit.
…The terror of a life time ago from similar had long dissipated. Dissipated, but not forgotten.
Low through the venetians the old drunken wreck of a Pole who slept under the railway bridges and stumbled through the streets, banging on the front door and shouting menaces. Terrifying.
No! No! Don’t!…
She wouldn’t listen, completely reckless. Rushing out.
Our brooms were kept inside the door of the laundry at the back of the house. The front door of the house was almost never used.
Replay. Replica.
Thwack. Thwack.
Again the man accepting the assault and cowering, finally herded to the gate by the widow and banged shut after him.
Johor Bahru, ML
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