Trying something
Dear readers,
I am just trying my hand on a short story here, which by the looks of it hardly short. Sure the grammar and tenses are pretty off, that’s my weakest point but I do hope there’s enough plot to keep all the boys and girls entertained disregard to how you interpret it.
Anyway, I hope you all will enjoy it.
Tong and Pong
Tong is not convinced at all. He has always believed himself to be sensible man of reasons but reasoning is beyond him right this moment. He lighted up a cigarette and inhaled the fumes deeply before letting it all go with a sigh. His signature sigh. The same sigh when he’s bored or totally at his wits end. “I just don’t know what is wrong anymore. You would think that after months and even years of doing this, I would have gotten right. But noooo” he said to Pong.
Poor Pong is Tong’s childhood friend and he has endured Tong over the years and has been there for him through the ups and downs. This will be just another episode, thinks Pong as he consoles himself and stared at the distance passing traffic. They were sitting outside a small café, a place where people these days call al fresco dining or some shit. He was certainly not impressed with people these days. A cow is still a cow and a coffee joint is still one no matter how you dress it or call it. But that’s irrelevant. Well, then again so is this conversation, thinks Pong again before he said “ Well, you are not giving up are you?”. Tong doesn’t know how to answer that question.
Things have not always been this way, true it was never easy to begin with but he believed himself. So much so that he thought that selling durian chocolate noodles would be a hit. People who doesn’t know Tong thinks that he’s a dreamer and sometimes could come across hard and unfriendly. People who know him would admire him because he seemed to know what he wants – to be the best and he is certainly far from that right now. Tong don’t know if he really knows what he wants. Maybe Pong would know. Pong always know everything except for when it comes his own problems.
“I just think that it’s time to just wrap the whole thing up. It’s not like people want something like a durian chocolate noodle. They are just happy with their curry laksa or wanton noodles. Hey, I am cool with that, not everyone appreciates what I cook but still, I guess it was just wishful thinking that perhaps some people out there would” said Tong as he lights up another cigarette. Pong quickly fanned away the smoke and said in an irritated manner “Would you mind?” before continuing “You know how people are, they just need time to warm up to erm..erm…exotic cuisines. I bet it took them forever before they actually developed a taste for raw fishes and sushi. I am sure it wasn’t easy to distract them away from nasi lemak”. Tong knows nasi lemak well. It is easily the official staple for people around here. It’s nothing but boring and yet people can’t stop having them. Sure, it looks and taste good but underneath those warm sweet coconut rice and hot spicy sauces, it’s nothing but a health disaster waiting to happen. Anyone would think he’s a sour grape for thinking that way but he wasn’t and he is not about to tell anyone and waste his energy to explain himself.
“Some might come in and give your noodles some try and who knows, they will learn to like it somehow?” said Pong to console. “Sure, do you know what happened the other day? Someone just came in and I was beyond overjoyed. But after some time looking at the menu and what I offered, he apologized politely and asked for a bowl of fishball noodle. Can you believe it? FUCKING fishball noodle!!! You don’t fucking order that from a place that reads DURIAN CHOCOLATE on their signboard!!!” said Tong in a dismay. “I can’t decide what I hate more – people who doesn’t even care to try something different or people who thinks that they are daring enough but in actual fact just wants boring food”. Pong can tell that Tong is about to give up and so he said “ Well, you have two choices. One is to keep on trying – after all the hard work you put into setting that joint, why not give it one last try before calling it quits. Then you can resign to the fact that you have done your best. The other is to just close it down, once and for all. For good. No more cooking. Can you do that?”. As soon as Pong finished his sentence, he picked up the cup and sipped the coffee while looking at the distance traffic again. He’s not expecting any answers.
Tong is unsure if he can do that. He’s not even sure or knows that if he has the strength to continue. It’s so much easier to just wrap up and go back home to help his dad instead. He’s not closer to knowing even after talking to Pong. And he’s not going to get any closer. Tong sighed again as he stubbed out his cigarette.
I am just trying my hand on a short story here, which by the looks of it hardly short. Sure the grammar and tenses are pretty off, that’s my weakest point but I do hope there’s enough plot to keep all the boys and girls entertained disregard to how you interpret it.
Anyway, I hope you all will enjoy it.
Tong and Pong
Tong is not convinced at all. He has always believed himself to be sensible man of reasons but reasoning is beyond him right this moment. He lighted up a cigarette and inhaled the fumes deeply before letting it all go with a sigh. His signature sigh. The same sigh when he’s bored or totally at his wits end. “I just don’t know what is wrong anymore. You would think that after months and even years of doing this, I would have gotten right. But noooo” he said to Pong.
Poor Pong is Tong’s childhood friend and he has endured Tong over the years and has been there for him through the ups and downs. This will be just another episode, thinks Pong as he consoles himself and stared at the distance passing traffic. They were sitting outside a small café, a place where people these days call al fresco dining or some shit. He was certainly not impressed with people these days. A cow is still a cow and a coffee joint is still one no matter how you dress it or call it. But that’s irrelevant. Well, then again so is this conversation, thinks Pong again before he said “ Well, you are not giving up are you?”. Tong doesn’t know how to answer that question.
Things have not always been this way, true it was never easy to begin with but he believed himself. So much so that he thought that selling durian chocolate noodles would be a hit. People who doesn’t know Tong thinks that he’s a dreamer and sometimes could come across hard and unfriendly. People who know him would admire him because he seemed to know what he wants – to be the best and he is certainly far from that right now. Tong don’t know if he really knows what he wants. Maybe Pong would know. Pong always know everything except for when it comes his own problems.
“I just think that it’s time to just wrap the whole thing up. It’s not like people want something like a durian chocolate noodle. They are just happy with their curry laksa or wanton noodles. Hey, I am cool with that, not everyone appreciates what I cook but still, I guess it was just wishful thinking that perhaps some people out there would” said Tong as he lights up another cigarette. Pong quickly fanned away the smoke and said in an irritated manner “Would you mind?” before continuing “You know how people are, they just need time to warm up to erm..erm…exotic cuisines. I bet it took them forever before they actually developed a taste for raw fishes and sushi. I am sure it wasn’t easy to distract them away from nasi lemak”. Tong knows nasi lemak well. It is easily the official staple for people around here. It’s nothing but boring and yet people can’t stop having them. Sure, it looks and taste good but underneath those warm sweet coconut rice and hot spicy sauces, it’s nothing but a health disaster waiting to happen. Anyone would think he’s a sour grape for thinking that way but he wasn’t and he is not about to tell anyone and waste his energy to explain himself.
“Some might come in and give your noodles some try and who knows, they will learn to like it somehow?” said Pong to console. “Sure, do you know what happened the other day? Someone just came in and I was beyond overjoyed. But after some time looking at the menu and what I offered, he apologized politely and asked for a bowl of fishball noodle. Can you believe it? FUCKING fishball noodle!!! You don’t fucking order that from a place that reads DURIAN CHOCOLATE on their signboard!!!” said Tong in a dismay. “I can’t decide what I hate more – people who doesn’t even care to try something different or people who thinks that they are daring enough but in actual fact just wants boring food”. Pong can tell that Tong is about to give up and so he said “ Well, you have two choices. One is to keep on trying – after all the hard work you put into setting that joint, why not give it one last try before calling it quits. Then you can resign to the fact that you have done your best. The other is to just close it down, once and for all. For good. No more cooking. Can you do that?”. As soon as Pong finished his sentence, he picked up the cup and sipped the coffee while looking at the distance traffic again. He’s not expecting any answers.
Tong is unsure if he can do that. He’s not even sure or knows that if he has the strength to continue. It’s so much easier to just wrap up and go back home to help his dad instead. He’s not closer to knowing even after talking to Pong. And he’s not going to get any closer. Tong sighed again as he stubbed out his cigarette.
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