My Wildest Moment

Jaymes was 5. It was nearing Chinese New Year. A retailer owed me money for 7 months and he was avoiding me. I needed the money to pay my creditors. I had to clear my debts by a certain date. I made several trips to his office, but he avoided me.

One day before CNY, one of his clerks took pity on me and called me that her boss was in the office. And I was to go down asap. I grabbed Jaymes who didn't have time to wear his shoes and took a cab down.

There he was with his friends drinking and celebrating the close of an old year. I asked for my money and he curtly replied that he didn't have any and would pay me when CNY was over. I told him I needed to pay my creditors and begged him to have pity on me and it being CNY Eve, could he please pay me half of it. He started using abusive language on me and belittled me.
Accusing me of all sorts of things and his friends started mocking me too. I pleaded and begged. He suddenly grabbed me and I didn't know where I got the strength to push him hard. He was mad and started spewing vulgarities.

That was when I lost my cool and I overturned the whole table of beer and food onto his laughing friends. Then I grabbed a chair and started swinging it wildly at them. I was amazed I could use a more colourful language than the men. I practically turned mad and suddenly I heard my son sobbing loudly and calling out.

"Mummy! Mummy!"

He was truly frightened by all this. There was broken glass and food everywhere. I was bleeding from the cuts of the broken glasses. I put the chair down and ran to carry Jaymes. I was also crying as I tried to pacify him. The man wanted to come at me but was stopped by one of his friends who chided him for bullying a woman and a child. He ordered my debtor to pay me or else he would tell everybody in the business about his bullying ways.

My debtor reluctantly took the money from his safe and instead of handing it to me, he threw it hard in my face. The notes were scattered all over the floor because of a blowing fan. I put Jaymes down and just gingerly picked up the notes. My debtor was laughing at me and remarked,"Take and get yourself a coffin la!"

Jaymes saw me picking the money and he came forward to help. I grabbed his tiny hand and snapped at him,"Stand near the door! I forbid you to touch this money!"

I knelt on the floor and picked up every single piece of the notes with the debtor still taunting me. I tried hard to contain my grief and tears. I kept glancing at Jaymes to see if he's ok. He just stared blankly with his teary face. The man who came to my rescue earlier, helped me to pick up the notes too. I counted the money, it was correct and I picked up Jaymes to leave the premise.

Halfway through the door, the debtor said,"You don't need to supply me any more. I will tell every one about your lousy products. You bitch!"

I wanted to turn round and confront him but was grabbed by his friend and steered out of the door. "I send you two home." Then he bundled us into his car and asked me for my address. He turned to Jaymes and asked,"didi (little boy), are you ok? Don't be afraid. Uncle will protect you. Let's go home."

The man was Chong. And he came to my help, yet another time.........