The Voice in the Wilderness Chapter 16 & 17

Chapter Sixteen

Showdown at the Heeren Club

¡°Look who¡¯s here!¡± Chairman appeared at the Heeren Club together with Mayor James.

¡°Hello Mayor, welcome to our party.¡± Gary shakes hands while directing Mayor to the VIP room. ¡°Come greet our Mayor James, Melissa.¡± ¡°Hello Mayor James.¡±

¡°Hello Your Honorable Mayor, here¡¯s your drink and lets cheers!¡± Kelly appeared out of no where.

¡°Hello everybody, cheers!¡± Mayor took a sip of the fruit punch and continues. ¡°Charles and Gary, speaking of which I really need both your professional opinions before opening the tin shield by the Malacca River.¡±

¡°What about next Monday morning after our usual breakfast opposite the Stadthuys?¡± Charles suggested. ¡°Fine with me, nine o¡¯clock then.¡± Mayor said while Gary nodded his head.

¡°Chairman, would it be possible if I were to come along also?¡± Kelly interrupted.

¡°Bring along digital camera, remember Kelly.¡± Chairman said while Mayor looked into Gary¡¯s eyes noticing something was dead wrong between Kelly and Gary.

¡®I know your eyes in the morning ¡­.¡¯

How appropriate of the Bee Gees bestseller How Deep is Your Love; first heard during the screening of the movie Saturday Night Fever, way back in 1979 then for Gary, Charles and Mayor¡¯s generations.

Gary belted this number with deepest emotions, so happening that everyone at the clubhouse behaved with a drop dead silence. When it was finally over Gary was greeted with a standing ovation, and Melissa moved forward with a kiss on Gary¡¯s cheek; much to Kelly¡¯s disbelieve. Why? Because the fact of the matter was this song was supposed to be exclusively sung to Pat whenever they shared their intimate moments together; as Gary¡¯s promised before. How dare Gary go back on his words?

So guess whose turn to sing next? Gary¡¯s of cause; who would want to let him go?

¡®I ¡­ if living is without you,¡¯

Cruel cunning men like Gary acted as how he did with songs by first showing Pat that he has his battalion of supporters and well wishers, including Melissa. How ever he wouldn¡¯t mind going back to the good old days with Pat if only she knew how important Gary could have been for her?

Gary was destined for victory right from the beginning, so positioned to always make his presence felt that Pat would always feel that she needed Gary more than Gary ever needed her.

Note: Stadthuys ¨C The Dutch Municipal Hall in Malacca in 17^th century ( 1641-1824 ).

Heeren ¨C Gentlemen in Dutch. Heeren Street in Malacca is famous for the Baba-Nyonya Comunities.

Chapter Seventeen

Do That To Me One More Time

¡°Charming Gary, better be my resident singer ¡®cause you¡¯re great tonight.¡± Susan, the manageress of Heeren Club came over to Gary, Charles and Mayor¡¯s table; now that they¡¯re no longer in the VIP room.

¡°Certainly our company could consider lending Gary¡¯s expertise to your club, but with a transfer fees like soccer players!¡± Chairman Charles said to the amusement of everyone.

¡°Beck or Ronald?¡± Mayor James enquired.

¡°I would only sing for a living here if Susan sang with me! Ha ha!¡± Gary laughed.

¡°How dare you in front of Melissa!¡± Susan quickly held Melissa¡¯s hand as a gesture of apology while Kelly looked on with disgust. ¡°I was only joking my dear!¡± Gary said.

¡°Kelly, rather quiet whole night through, come sing a song for us then?¡± Chairman said; obviously noticing some anti-climate over here.

¡®Do that to me one more ...¡¯

Kelly sings to Charles¡¯s delight while Gary ponders what? Who? Why? So on and so forth!

¡°Guys we got to go, ¡®cause Melissa is catching a the next flight to Amsterdam at 2.30am. Thousand apology.¡± Gary pleaded.

¡°Since we could not hold you both back; what about last song for the night? Susan last song for Gary; if you could arrange?¡± Mayor said to Susan.

¡®I wonder should I go or

I had the last waltz , I fell in love.

Gary¡¯s finale to another standing ovation as he left the club half sober; with Melissa obviously elated having ¡® a star is born¡¯ Gary by her side. Sad though cause she¡®s on the way to another fortnight far away from this macho man as the fear of loneliness starts invading her souls.

Kelly must have continue pouring those wines that she¡¯s very high now and before you know it she¡¯s on the dance floor with Charles.

This cat that has just healed after swallowing the wrong fish bones must have felt cautious this time around now that this fish had just survived by a massive 8.2 degrees of earthquake cum Tsunamis on the Richter¡¯s scales.