Piece of the Moon - Conclusion
When Doug related his and Elle’s and Fang’s (mis)adventures to his ten year old brother, Jason, he burst out laughing. For a moment, Doug was in a state of anxiety because he could not be sure if his brother was laughing or crying. Jason’s face had turned red. Tears started to stream out of the corners of his eyes. Doug remembered the same thing happening on that one occasion when he snatched Jason’s tablet and threw it back at him, hitting him flat on the face. He didn’t want to remember what followed after that.
Jason was quick to impress his latest girlfriend with the information. His girlfriend decided it was sinful not to share such juicy gossip so she posted it on her Facebook.
The next afternoon, everyone’s favourite pudgy headmaster called Mister Liang and Miss Yuet into his office. Before both teachers could finish explaining that they were just talking about some mooncakes and how expensive they had become when Doug had dropped in on them and dynamite was one of Miss Yuet’s favourite lovey dovey expression to describe her beloved sweetie pie Mister Liang, the headmaster had cut them off. He continued rambling for another hour on professionalism.
“I don’t care if you want to get married and have kids, just make sure you two act professionally during school hours and be sure as h*** don’t do anything that I wouldn’t within the school compound!” the headmaster’s voice was rising in pitch after every sentence.
Anything that I wouldn’t. Mister Liang and Miss Yuet were trying to keep a straight face. All the teachers knew of the headmaster’s naughty and playboy days before he turned in the towel and decided to become a saintly English teacher.
Doug was eavesdropping outside the headmaster’s office. He had no idea that his silly misinterpretation could turn out to be a catastrophe for both teachers. He snapped out of his guilt and hurried off as his teachers started to leave. A step quicker and Mister Liang would have missed him.
“Douglas Chan!” Mister Liang called out just as he closed the headmaster’s door.
Doug turned pale white. Through the tears that started to well up, he saw the blurry image of his teacher. Mister Liang erupted in flames as he stepped towards him. Doug knew he had had it this time. He thought he saw a pair of horns had grown on his teacher’s head. Without warning, Miss Yuet materialised next to him with a pitch fork. Doug had to squeeze his eyes shut, bracing himself for an untoward ending.
“Douglas!” Doug flinched, eyes still closed. “Gather up Elle and Fang. We have a lot to talk about.”
When Doug opened his eyes, the devil was gone. Good old Mister Liang was smiling at him. A friendly one, he hoped.
“You little chaps need a lesson,“ Mister Liang said. “I doubt your parents taught you anything about the tradition of the Mid-Autumn festival and the things that come along with it -- mooncakes, lanterns, love and the likes.“
Doug gave no response or rather, he responded with a blank look. He couldn't remember the last time his parents had spent time with him.
“We doubt kids today know much about the good old traditions, so as a ‘punishment‘,“ no one noticed the pudgy headmaster standing next to the two teachers until he spoke, “I've tasked Mister Liang and Miss Yuet here to organise a parent-teacher gathering to celebrate and educate everyone on the traditions of the Mid-Autumn festival.“
“In particular, you and your two friends, have to make amends by helping us with the preparations...“ Miss Yuet said.
- The End -
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