The Lock

Since the day I was unemployed, life has been rather stagnant. Instead, I should say that life has stopped. I've practically lost track of which day is it now.

Maybe I should find something to do. Wait a minute, I do have things to do. All thanks to my dad. Upon hearing that last Sat was my last day of work, he & my uncle arranged a trip to China & Hong Kong on that very same day. Two days before he left, he had a nice little man to man talk with me. Not to find out what I intend to do with my life, but to order me to finish up with his accounting work as he won't be back till 8 days later. I'm cheaper than foreign labour. I'm free...

It has been like what? 5 days? & I'm not even half done with it yet. Well what do you expect in exchange for free labour? Do a good job & get a pat on the back? What else is free in this country now? Other than the very air we breathe in, I can't think of anything else.

The weather has been rather hot lately. I can't imagine having to sleep in my room without air conditioning, which almost became a reality. Ok, the layout of the power supply for the central air conditioning unit is a little weird. The main switch (for reasons unknown) happens to be in the master bedroom. Now that my dad is away on a (business or leisure?) trip, she decides to spend her nights at my sister's place. Not that I mind staying alone at home, in fact I simply love it. But we'll skip that part. The highlight of this topic is that she left her bedroom locked, with the air conditioning power supply OFF. I flew into a frenzy when I realise there's no artificial cold air for the night. Called up my mum & guess what she says? "You can survive without aircon for 1 night lah. Turn on the fan lor". Obviously she has no idea what it is like to spend a night in my room without air condition.

Thanks to my stubborn 'will-not-take-no-for-an-answer' nature, I made a trip from Hougang to Tampines for the key to my happiness.

Returning victorious & with the key in my right hand, I approached the door that is keeping me away from my slumber. The key slid into the hole just like they were made for each other. Feeling the adrenalin rush when I know that my very happiness is jux a turn away, I turned the key. Nothing happened.

What the fuck? Wrong key? I tried the rest of the keys & none of them were able to open this god damned door! As my blood started to boil, I started to behave irrationally. I started kicking at the door & swearing out loud. Other than creating a hell lot of noise at around 11pm, the door simply did not budge.

A tool. I need something harder than my fist & feet to pry this damn lock open. As I went through the forgotten toolbox hidden somewhere in a misty dark corner of the kitchen, something caught my eye. Yes! A Hammer! The absolute problem solving tool!

Returning to The Door with the Hammer in my right hand & feeling smug about it, I let out a barbaric war cry as I raised the Hammer high above my head & smashed it right on the door knob. The loud noise of iron & re-inforced aluminium clashing together echoed through the neighbourhood. Damn it! The bloody knob held it's position although there were signs that it has already weakened. A few more smashes should finish the job well. As I mustered up every ounce of strength I have left in me, the Hammer landed on the knob again. This time it finally gave way & it flew right off into the darkness of an unoccupied room opposite it. The sweet smell of victory still lingers in my right hand as I grinned at the Hammer.

As the adrenalin rush subsided, the thought of my mum screeching like a banshee in my ear crept up my spine. I started to break cold sweat. It seems that I wasn't going to enjoy my air conditioning after all. But nonetheless, I decided to enjoy what I have now & not think about what I have to face tomorrow.