頁二第張四第日四初月七年西巴屣夏 WAH KIU YAT PO
報日橋
六期星日六十月八年九六九一圈公年八十五國民華中 育敦僑華
中學同学科生活知識進修
生活趣味
The Adventures of Diok Ngad
Part 6
He got up and walked to one of the girls at the Far) end of the room, for he was afraid of inviting the first girl to dance, again, for somehow her perfume had a great dispelling effect on him, apart from the miserable fact that she had short stature.
It was a slow-waltz which Dick found rather enjoyable, for it was definitely much easier than the Cha-oba, As far as he was concerned, the slow-waltz was a matter of walking in a triangle according to the rhythm of the music. He looked at his partner, and found that she was quite charming although not half as attractive as Fidelia; but definitely prettier than the first girl.
"I don't suppose we have been properly introduced, My name is Dick Ngan, What's yours?" Dick tried to break the silence.
"He, eh, I apaak," she tried to
quickly apoke Cantonene instead, A
* meaning that she could not speak
English well,
*唔緊要,你可以带啦 1. Tou can alwa
(learn," explained Dick first in Cantonsse for he, too,]
was a Cantonese except that he seldom had the chance
to sperk Cantonese since his classmaten were of
different nationalities, and even with his parents,›
| Dick #poke English,
子啦,但係點解你唔講中文呢?你
ekk taxes she replied, in Cantonese, meaning
the she agreed to speak in English but she asked if Diok was a "Chinesa.
哦像中國人,但低好多外國人喺哎啊
Diok explained he was a Chinese but for the
convenienos of those who were at the party and who N
vere not: Chinese, it was customary to speak English,
"So what's your name?"
Aky name is Wong Laylay,"
*In English your name is Lily Wong, isn't it?" She nodded her head and smiled modestly. Wind, where do you study?" Diok asked, and to make sure that she understood the question he said. again, "What is your school called?"
"Eh, Troo Lie-ght Middle School, Jour?" AAMI study in La Salle at Boundary Street.",
Aw Dick- was about to ask her about her mohool life the dance was over. He senorted her back to her seat and thanked her in Cantonese, whereupon she replied in English, "No, thank me," Dick could have burst into laughter but being a gentlenen that he was, he resisted that, but smiled warmly at her and walked back to his seat.
"Did you find out her name?” he asked Don as he
sat down.
"Oh, JOE. Her nanë 18 Brenda."
| "But Brenda what?”
"Oh, stupid ne, now I forget her surnama)"
! "You are suffering fron amnesia, Don."
"I know, girls always make me nervous. Oh, 'stupid me,” and as he cursed himself, he hit his
VAMI vitk his right hand, and again murmured, "Oh,
a
#tapid mo! I'd better write down her name before I forget that too, and he actually wrote down her
name in his small pocket-book. As if to illuminate his writing, the light was suddenly switched on bringing
** out gasps of surprise from the audience. The drawing-roOR WEB NOW flooded with light, and
everybody could be seen clearly, Dick cast" a quiok glance at Fidelia but she was nowhere in sight. Dick realised too that Alice was not in the room.
in the Before he could ask Don where Alice was, angelina spoke, “Ladies and gentlemen, it's dinner time, So get yourself a plate, a spoon and a fork from the table here and please serve yourself. The girls bringing out the food,"
"The ladies should be serving us,” someone shouted.
echoed the voices of the boys in
agreement.
"You" boys are not handicapped in any way, so you should serve yourselves. In fact, if your are true gentlemen you should serve us,” said Angelina. A girl onze up to Angelina and said something into her ear.. Angelina then spoke, "Now, boys, before you collect your plates, please present your tickets. Agatha and Catherine will collect your tickets. If you have lost your tickets, you can still buy one Tròn ne." The food was brought out, and there was a great rush for it. Befors long Dick, Don, Bill and Jose found themselves in one group, sitting at a corner, eating salad, home-made cookies, sandwiches, roast beer and purk, cream cakes and ginger bread,
It was Bill who spoke first, "The food isn't had at all; it makes me feel like a gourmet," *The girüs aren't bad, too!" Jose addéd, "What d'you mean?" Don asked,
"I mean they are good looking and quite
"That I agree too. The first girl with whom danced has a very sympathetic nature.
"Who is she?" Bill was curious. "Brenda is her name."
"No, I don't think I know her, may be afterwardi One of my partners looks like Natalie Wood. She has a Cleopatra: hair style and sba has a pink ribbon. ** "And she wears a light blus frook," Joined in
Dick,
"That's right. How do you know?” "Elementary, my dear Watson. I can read your
thoughts."
"She danced with him too," explained Don. "I think she is gorgeous, "Bill continued. try to ask her if I can bring her home tonight.
"How do you know she hasn't come with her boy friend?" asked Dick,
"Even if she has, what's wrong with two boys bringing one girl home? The more pretty a girl la the more protection and care she needs," Bill... concluded.
What are you all talking about?" the sweet voice of Alice broke in. There are drinks, in the kitchen. You have to go and get them yourselves."
"If you have not spoken, I may have mistaken you for somebody else," said Bill laughingly..
"You are a Cinderalla tonight," spoke Joss. "Thank you," she replied. Mind you boys are all #o elegant."
Hey Angelina suddenly announced, "everybody, get your drink from the kitchen before the drinks run out." In consequence of her announcement the boys started to rush to the kitchen. On his way Dick almost bumped into Fidelia. "Could I get you something] to drink?" he asked..
"No thanks, I've here a cup of tea," she replied. politely.
Why don't you try something cold? Things go better with Coke, don't forget that!" Dick was not going to let any chance of talking with her slipped past him, "Besides you can drink both consequtively."
"All right, get me a Coke, then," she smiled. "And get me one too," added a new voice. Dick turned and discovered the voice belonged to his first partner, and out of politeness he replied,
All right, I'll get you one."
“Why can't some girls remain quiet and” speak only when spoken to?" he asked, as he made his way to the kitchen. This girl has the courage to ask me to give her a drink. All right I'll get you a drink whion you'll never forget; but if you think you can spoil the opportunity of my conversation with Fidelia, you are. going to be sadly disappointed. I'll 800 to it... YOR wait and see.....
Soon he got back holding three bottles in his hands, two on his right and one on his left. He gave the one on his left to the girl whose name he did not desire to know, and gave one on his right to Fidelim. Both girls thanked him..
"You are such a gentleman," said the girl and she began sipping her drink through the straw, but hardly bad she swallowed the first stream of coke, she started to make grimaces. "Where did you get this ooke? It tastes awful." And that was the last remark she
for she quickly disappeared into the kitchen. B made.
began to smile. Fidelia locked at him and asked'.. suspiciously, "What did you put in her drink?"
"Nothing poisonous, except a few drops of sauce, "Why did you do that for?"..
To get rid of her. Somehow I'm allergic to her kind of perfume," explained Dick, but that was only one of his reasons."
"And did you put anything into mine?" she asked staring at him.
"Of course not," assured Dick:
"You naughty boy," and both started to laugh. "I presume you are still studying?" asked Dick after their laughter had subsided,
"Quite right, I'm waiting for the School Cert. results."
"Which school have you been studying?" St. Paul's Convent. What about you?" "Just like you, I am waiting for the results.". "And what would you like to do after the School Cert. results?"
"No, I'm waiting for the Matriculation results. "I think you should pass."--
"Why?"
"You are so smart,"
"I hope you are right, and you, I'm sure, are smartër,"
Fidelia started to blush, and Dick felt that she looked more charming when she blushed. Bill came along on seeing them, by th
"Have you met my friend, Bill?" Dick asked her, "Ok, yes, we have met just now," she replied. "May I join in?"spoke Bill. "Certainly" said Dick..
"Will you all," Angelina started to declare in ' the loudest voice she could produce, "please put back your plates and the other things in the kitaben. Dancing will resume in two minutes." All personal conversations ceased. In exactly two minutes, the room became dim again, and the music started, with the Ventures album of the latest "Ago-go" beata on the turntable. Everybody was now on his or her seat. "Why don't you make a move?" asked Don when found Dick still sitting. "You want to get indigestion?" Dick
"Never dance the after eating."
#replied,
"You've got a point there," added Brian. "They should put a slow number, on, not this one."
The floor, however, was very crowded, and Diok could see that Bill and Jose were both on the floor, Jose was dancing with Alice and Bill was dancing with a girl whom he could not recognise.
DCA
"Who's the girl Bill is dancing with?" he asked
"Where?"
"There, near the window.".
"It's Brenda. Bill dona know how to pick his partner!"
"Have you found anything more about Brenda?" "Oh yes. She told me she studies in Form 4 in True Light Middle School. She was about to tell me about her family, when one of her friends came along and complained that her Coke tasted awful." Dick could not help laughing.
"Yes, and then?"
"Her friend said that one of the boys had put some nasty thing into her drink."
"Did she say which boy?"
"No. She didn't know his name."
"That's a good thing," again laughed Diok. "Why?"
"Shhh...that boy was me."
"You? But why?”
"Why? She asked me to give her a drink, It was her own invitation. Just think, how could a sensible girl ask a boy whom she hadn't been properly
introduced to give her a drink? It must be the boy whề invites the girl and not vice versa. I was only teaching her a lesson. Besides, she could have interfered my conversation with Fidelia."
I see."
"What so you see?"
"I mean, I now understand,"
"You speak like one who has lots of experience, broke in Brian who had overheard what was being said.
"Like you say," added Dick, "I only speak like one who had lots of experience, but that doesn't mean
have gone through life's experiences.
"You will when you grow old"
"So does everybody."
"Is it a Soal number now?" asked Don, "Yes it is," answered
the beat for a whilej
"Shall we dance, then?" asked Brian,
All right, let's go, " quickly replied Diok. Dick walked with big strides across the room and as he reached Fidelia, Bill was just behind him. "May I, Fidelia?" Dick wasted no time to say that. Bill, though feeling a little disheartened, invited the girl who sat next to Fidelia
"Please don't laugh at me," said Fidealia, "ir
dance awkwardly."
"I won t; don't worry," said Dick, and both started to do the Soul dance.
"Why do they call it the Soul?" she asked, "I don't know exactly, but I think it was invented by Father Bartolomew of the Ethiopian monastery."
"It sounde interesting. How did he invent it?" "One evening in his bathroom he was whistling to himself while drying his body with a long dry towel. An idea suddenly struck him, and he exclaimed, 'A-ha. I've got it? According to the story, he bolted naked through the door of the bathroom and ran out into the courtyard, shouting, I've thought of a new dancei I've thought of a new dancel' The next day throughout Ethiopia, everybody was introduced to this dance, and they call it, to this day the Soul,"
Dick could see that Fidelia was laugning quietly and was enjoying herself.
"By the way do you think you can help me?" Diok -suddenly asked her.
"If I can.".
"Well, I am taking part in a debate, organizad bý the Old Boys Association next week. The motion is- girl's place is in the kitchen. I wonder if you can give në some points,"
The
"Are you for or against the notic
"I'm for the motion."
But I can't give you the points now. I've got think about it."
Can you give me tomorrow?"
**How?"
"If you don't mind, I'11 phone to you."
All right. You ring me at 642483.
Just then the music stopped and Dick walked her to her seat.
Beat.
Thanks again," he said and returned to his own
As he was sitting down, he muttered, "5 times 4 are 24 and 2 times 4 are 8 and 4 times 8 are 32. Therefore, 64-24-8-3. 642483."
What are you muttering?" asked Don.
"Oh, nothing," Dick replied, for he certainly did not want anybody to know of his latest possession. "I'm only practising my multiplication. You must know I'm extremely weak in elementary mathematica." bag Dick was too happy to dance at the next numbeng!
He suddenly felt thirsty. "Want a drink?" he asked Don. "Come with me." And both walked to the kitchen.
I must have eaten too much salad," he explained when they arrived at the kitchen.
Tell me, Dick," Don spoke, "how can find out where Brenda lives?"
"Very easy. Ask her."
"What? Ask her? It's impolite, d'you know?” "Well, bring her home then.” ...
"I've never brought any girl home. Usually people bring me home,"
"Well, you are a different person now. You are. mature now, because you are in love."
"Besides, I haven't got a car,"
"Usa a taxi."
"Now, here's your Coke." They both pulled out chairs and sat on them
"Do you think it's all right if I ask her if she will let me bring her home," asked Don after spipping his drink.
*Well, ir I were you, I wouldn't nak her. I'll just tell her I'm bringing her home, if she allows
(未完轉入第四張第三页)