Read House of Trembling Leaves, The for Free Online Page B
Authors: Julian Lees
middle. ââItâs obviously a boat on the sea.ââ
ââNo, itâs a picture of Edinburgh.ââ
ââIt is not.ââ
ââWhy would I lie?ââ
ââSo youâre telling me thatâs not a boat?ââ
ââNo, itâs a bus travelling down Princes Street.ââ
ââWhere are the buildings?ââ
ââI havenât done them yet, have I?ââ
ââWhy are you staring out to sea but painting pictures of Edinburgh?ââ
ââItâs a free world.ââ He paused. ââAll right if you must know, my familyâs originally from Scotland.ââ
At which point Sum Sum came forward and belted out a repertoire of Scottish sounding phrases sheâd picked up from the Glaswegian chaplain who called on the Teohs each month: ââOch, aye, the kirk roof still needs ah-mending. Milk no sugar if ye will. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, Amen. Iâll see ye in a wee while, lassie.ââ
ââFor the love of Rita! Bit of a fruitcake, isnât she? Perhaps your friend could do with a hat. The hot sun, you know. Those paper parasols donât do much good.ââ
ââOh, donât mind her. Sheâs very excitable. My nameâs Lucy, by the way. Lucy Apricot.ââ
ââStan Farrell,ââ he said, extending a hand. Lu See took it and felt his fingers close around hers.
ââWeâre off for lunch,ââ Lu See said.
ââI donât eat lunch.ââ
ââEverybody eats lunch.ââ
ââI had a big breakfast.ââ He removed a sweet from his pocket. ââFancy a gumdrop?ââ
ââYouâre a very odd man, Mr Stan Farrell. Are you getting off at Felixstowe?ââ
Stan sucked his oversized teeth, disappointed. âââFraid I get off in Bombay. Iâm finishing my senior police officer training in Colaba.ââ
ââSo youâre a bobby.ââ
ââProbationary Inspector at your service, marm.ââ He clicked his heels.
Lu See glanced at the well-groomed Indian. ââAnd who is he?ââ
ââThis is Aziz Humzaal, my orderly.ââ
ââHello, Aziz.ââ
Aziz wiggled his head and pressed his right hand to his heart.
ââWell, it was nice meeting you, Mr Farrell. Sum Sum and I are off to find some food.ââ She twirled her parasol. ââSee you later, no doubt.ââ
As she turned to leave, Stan said, ââI do, however, always partake of a midday meal on Fridays. I skip lunch every day of the week except for Friday. I saw on the bulletin board that tomorrowâs curry day. Want to join me?ââ
Lu See looked at Sum Sum and shrugged. ââYes, all right. That sounds jim-dandy.ââ
ââJim who?ââ
ââJim-dandy, oh never mind. Weâll see you Friday.ââ
The girls made their way towards the main dining room. Lu See smiled to herself.
Sum Sum glanced over her shoulder and pinched her nose. ââHe smelled of boiled prawns.ââ
ââNo, he did not.ââ
ââIâm telling you he did , lah. Made me want to fry him in ginger and sesame oil.ââ
ââHe was quite handsome all the same.ââ
ââHandsome? He looked like he was trying to eat a corncob through a tennis racquet. Teeth spilling out like prison escapees.ââ
ââAziz was nice-looking though, donât you think?ââ
ââNo.ââ
ââOh really? Well if you donât find him handsome why are you blushing?ââ she teased.
ââIâm not blushing. Just hot, lah.ââ
ââHot to trot for Mr Aziz. I can see you
ââNo, itâs a picture of Edinburgh.ââ
ââIt is not.ââ
ââWhy would I lie?ââ
ââSo youâre telling me thatâs not a boat?ââ
ââNo, itâs a bus travelling down Princes Street.ââ
ââWhere are the buildings?ââ
ââI havenât done them yet, have I?ââ
ââWhy are you staring out to sea but painting pictures of Edinburgh?ââ
ââItâs a free world.ââ He paused. ââAll right if you must know, my familyâs originally from Scotland.ââ
At which point Sum Sum came forward and belted out a repertoire of Scottish sounding phrases sheâd picked up from the Glaswegian chaplain who called on the Teohs each month: ââOch, aye, the kirk roof still needs ah-mending. Milk no sugar if ye will. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, Amen. Iâll see ye in a wee while, lassie.ââ
ââFor the love of Rita! Bit of a fruitcake, isnât she? Perhaps your friend could do with a hat. The hot sun, you know. Those paper parasols donât do much good.ââ
ââOh, donât mind her. Sheâs very excitable. My nameâs Lucy, by the way. Lucy Apricot.ââ
ââStan Farrell,ââ he said, extending a hand. Lu See took it and felt his fingers close around hers.
ââWeâre off for lunch,ââ Lu See said.
ââI donât eat lunch.ââ
ââEverybody eats lunch.ââ
ââI had a big breakfast.ââ He removed a sweet from his pocket. ââFancy a gumdrop?ââ
ââYouâre a very odd man, Mr Stan Farrell. Are you getting off at Felixstowe?ââ
Stan sucked his oversized teeth, disappointed. âââFraid I get off in Bombay. Iâm finishing my senior police officer training in Colaba.ââ
ââSo youâre a bobby.ââ
ââProbationary Inspector at your service, marm.ââ He clicked his heels.
Lu See glanced at the well-groomed Indian. ââAnd who is he?ââ
ââThis is Aziz Humzaal, my orderly.ââ
ââHello, Aziz.ââ
Aziz wiggled his head and pressed his right hand to his heart.
ââWell, it was nice meeting you, Mr Farrell. Sum Sum and I are off to find some food.ââ She twirled her parasol. ââSee you later, no doubt.ââ
As she turned to leave, Stan said, ââI do, however, always partake of a midday meal on Fridays. I skip lunch every day of the week except for Friday. I saw on the bulletin board that tomorrowâs curry day. Want to join me?ââ
Lu See looked at Sum Sum and shrugged. ââYes, all right. That sounds jim-dandy.ââ
ââJim who?ââ
ââJim-dandy, oh never mind. Weâll see you Friday.ââ
The girls made their way towards the main dining room. Lu See smiled to herself.
Sum Sum glanced over her shoulder and pinched her nose. ââHe smelled of boiled prawns.ââ
ââNo, he did not.ââ
ââIâm telling you he did , lah. Made me want to fry him in ginger and sesame oil.ââ
ââHe was quite handsome all the same.ââ
ââHandsome? He looked like he was trying to eat a corncob through a tennis racquet. Teeth spilling out like prison escapees.ââ
ââAziz was nice-looking though, donât you think?ââ
ââNo.ââ
ââOh really? Well if you donât find him handsome why are you blushing?ââ she teased.
ââIâm not blushing. Just hot, lah.ââ
ââHot to trot for Mr Aziz. I can see you
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