~BOOK SEVEN~

~BOOK SEVEN~
(28/2 12.58am)

Lavender.

     "So Zoe, for this party, you will be bringing two songs. The ones that Mr Hoffman wrote for you. At least singing the songs he wrote to you for his birthday party would delight him," Miss Zara said with the pointy pencil ticking on the clipboard.

She was staring hard at the pile of papers stacked on it. And at each time she flipped down and then back to the first and then to the back and back to the first again. It was the schedule and other preparations for the party for Mr Hoffman, the multi talented song writer, producer and director. Miss Zara was Zoe's manager. She had a keen sense of fashion. She has this thing for pencil skirts and flare blouses with matching stilettos. Her red spectacles are pointed at the end. Her hair always in a bun. She does at times look like a discipline teacher in kindergartens. But here she is managing one of the country's most wanted pop princesses. 

Zoe was not keen of listening to whatever her manager was saying. She only either shook or nod her head, resembling no and yes. She just sat on the chair and looked outside at the lake. They were at a garden cafe nearby Zoe's residence. She was a little disturbed and Miss Zara noticed it. 

     "Zoe? Are you alright?"

     "Zoe...?"

     "Zo!"

Zoe startled, burst out in words.

     "Erm yes I will sing it. No, I prefer 'Me and You' for the opening. I want tea, erm with a few tarts. But I don't feel like eating....and er...you know..." 

"Sshhh-sshh-sshh...." Miss Zara, who calls herself as Mama said, calming down the little girl.

"What's wrong dear? Is something bothering you? Lately, you seldom talked and all of a sudden, you blurt out all your responses. It's freaky you know. Mama's scared. Are you alright?" Miss Zara asked.

She poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zoe. Zoe took it and sipped it. Her eyes told the thing thats been bothering her, but her mouth articulated something different.

"Er, Mama, lately I have not been sleeping well. I can't focus. I keep losing my concentration. I guess its lack of sleep and rest. I'm sorry Mama, I think I have to go now. Just prepare my schedule and twinkle me if there's anything. I need to get some rest..." Zoe put the tea cup down and stood up getting her purse. 

     "So, its the sleep that you're not getting enough off huh? Let Mama do the trick for you,"

Miss Zara took out a small bottle of dried lavender petals. She passed it to Zoe.

"A pinch of it in your tea before bedtime will send you to dreamland, that's what I do when I think too much and lose my sleeping hours," Miss Zara told with a smile.

Zoe took it, She thanked her manager. She put it in her purse and left.

Miss Zara knew something was wrong. The bottle contained merely a flower petal for tea fragrance. And not for sleeping disorders. Yet, Miss Zara knew that time will expose all that Zoe is keeping form her.

She drank her cup of tea. Left a tip on the table and left.

~BOOK SIX~

~BOOK SIX~

(22/2 9.24pm)

Two keys to two locks

And so they met. And then they talked. And they had tea and tarts, And then they said good byes and then they left.

     "Did you notice his hair? It was like some wig! So thick and lush!" Zoe, out of the blue blurted out.

Sarah was just by her side walking back to their home. She spotted this difference in Zoe. A star singer with a background fresh in mind and an aim in mind, and now all head over hills with this new guy. Brandon did really look like those guys girls actually stop and get a second look. He was those type of guys that simply love attention and yet keeps it to himself. A player? Not quite. Brandon has had a different past though he seems not to have one. Perhaps looks are indeed deceiving.

* * * * *

The small cottage at the end of the road was a little to shaggy to live in. A boy lived there with his dad. His mom was away. Away for good. She left them for another man. All for the sake of the lures of wealth and lust. So, this boy at the age of 3 missed the nipples of his mother. He was given bottle milk. That was what his father could do. He was a farmer. Living only with barely enough to meet ends meet, Joseph was a man of honour. He knew his job and role, both as a mother and as a father.

And everyday, the same old thing goes on. The little boy wakes up. He is washed, given milk and then brought out to the lawn where his father will work the land. At noon, the man takes a break and have some bread. The little child is also given some milk too. His diapers are changed if they are wet. Soon, the man begins his job and the little boy watches his father. When the doves start returning to their nests knowing its going to get dark soon, the father stops. He carries his son in and washes him up. He is fed again. And the old man have his dinner. Later, they settle themselves down and get a good rest for another day head. And this goes on and on.

After 15 years, the old man got really sick. This time it was the son who was doing all the work. Luck had hit them some time ago. The government bought over their farm and land for some development project. They were given a brand new home near the town. The welfare aid came to his problems and provided them enough allowances, giving the small boy education and visiting them every now and then. And so the man was delighted with his new life. The boy who is now a young man learned the hardships in life and he had a mission; to track the woman who abandoned her son for another man.

News about the woman he was seeking got him more information than he needed. This woman who left her responsibility, married another man, a wealthy one. After years, the economy downpour affected the wealthy man's business and they had to scale down their luxurious life. They had a daughter. And the daughter is now 16. The man was also heard that he got into a serious car accident, leaving him on a wheelchair. And so, the woman, whom at first left the old man and her 3 year old son, now, for the past 10 years, had to take care of a man in a wheelchair and a little girl. Fate has always been fair. God knows when to give and when to take back.

And so the little boy moved into a new neighbourhood in which the girl, whom his mother brought up lived. The old man died of old sickness. And his son now, is on a mission to take what was once was his. He changed his name. Apparently his chose Brandon.

* * * * *

And so watching the girls leave, Brandon found himself closer to his mission. The picture of a little girl, belonged to his mother, looked exactly the same as the girl who brought the marigold tea on the first meet. Zoe.

   

~BOOK FIVE~

~BOOK FIVE~

(16/2 10.43pm)

Stars on your forehead

      "Yes....?" the voice asked for a second time.

His eyes were as blue as the little stars that twinkle in the barren sky at night. His neck length, fluffy blond hair was those you never get to see everytime. Fluffy and full of lushes. The volume itself stated the richness of his thick blond hair. He had this mole on his left ear lobe making it look as if he had piercings. The complexion of his skin was as fair as the white rays from the moon. He stood about 183 centimeters high, reaching the door pane of his front door. In a glance, some say he looks like another star who chose to settle in a normal neighbourhood. Others say, he is just relaxing his mind in this sold home. 

But these girls, Zoe and Sarah said something very different. They stood there. Silent. Statue-like. Quiet. Paused.

     "Er, may I help you girls?" he asked differently this time.

Indeed, Zoe and Sarah did something truly different. They only stood there. Silent, statue-like, quiet and paused.

     "Girls? Ah, you brought tarts and tea. Welcoming your new neighbour?" he asked with a smile.

Zoe awoke from the state and cleared her throat and hit Sarah's ankle using hers.

     "Er, yes, yes, we brought marigold tarts and apricot tea as a token of welcome," Sarah said.

     "Really? Marigold tarts and apricot tea? That's two new recipes that I'd love to try! Do come in please," the guy spoke with a small laugh looking at Sarah's silliness.

     "Well, what Sarah means is the opposite. Marigold tea and apricot tarts. By the way, she's Sarah and I'm Zoe. Nice to meet you!" Zoe then corrected her pal's blunder and started the introduction.

     "Cute, cute! I'm Brandon, and certainly it is nice of meeting you both. Do come in and spend some time," Brandon who then introduced himself with another chuckle called the girls in for a short chit chat. 

The two mesmerized girls walked in right away. The star singer and the journalist of Socks tabloid.

And so, Brandon, Zoe, and Sarah met. They talked, poured marigold tea for another, offered apricot tarts to each other and individually opened themselves to get to the rest of them there in that small group better.

A tale shall unfold without a doubt. But to what extend that now both Zoe and Sarah are seeing stars at their new neighbour's forehead.

Brandon. Zoe. Sarah.

~BOOK FOUR~

~BOOK FOUR~
(11/2 10.29pm)

Mr Sneezy.

The girls, both in their middle age, got on their slippers. It was uncommon for one of them; Zoe, the artist, to see someone in just plain slippers. You see, she has this obsession for shoes all her life. Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Prada, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo's were some of  her tastes. Almost four to five of them in every colour, Zoe is the kind of woman you don't want to talk about footwear. Let alone showing yours to her.

Sarah on the other hand, the journalist, who writes for Socks every fortnight is a woman where you see at those bazaars with a list and a pen. She keeps herself as simple as possible. Sarah is the kind of woman sometimes you wonder, how is it that she lives with Zoe. 

      "You got apples right?" Zoe requested as she tidied up her quite messy blonde hair.

      "Er, there were no more apples, so I got those close to apples. Erm, appricots?" Sarah replied reading the label on the gift basket she purchased together with the tarts.

      "Apples, appricots. Appricots, apples. I guess they'll do. After all they do get along with soft marigold teas, do they?" Zoe declared.

Sarah smiled agreeing to her girl friend. Both of them were heading to their new neighbour. It was a white house with round pillars at the front. Frangipani and lilacs bedded the garden outside the house. The large tree on the right hand side of the house gave shades to the lemon grass below. The rays of sunlight too was blocked though some did cut their way in landing themselves on the little buds of the yet to bloom grass flowers. The pathway made of little wood planks, made by Mrs Valley reminded Zoe of her childhood.

          

* * * * *

      "Zoe?!!" 

     "Yes, mama!" the 5 year old cried form their lawn.

Her tricycle was left there lying. Mr Sneezy, her plushy elephant was also left. Zoe Miranda ran to her mother as quick as her feet took her. 

      "What is this?!!" the woman in her late 30's cried showing the kid a small scribble on a small plot of wall in the kitchen.

Crayons.

     "What have I told you about your crayons and drawing? Never bring them to my kitchen! Now see what have you done! You think you're gonna pay for the paint? In this house, I work all alone and your father only sits on his wheelchair and do nothing but stare at the black box! What do I do to deserve such a life?!" her mother yelled.

She was furious. She was annoyed. And she got fed up. She ran up the stairs and brought the belt. Zoe Miranda who had been silent and feeling guilty all this time only saw the rage of her mother. She started trembling and tearing. Her mother got her. Zoe was like a tied up puppy. Only knowing how to cry and tear, she did nothing else. Every stroke from the leather made her tear and bleed even more. Zoe could only cry asking for forgiveness.

      "Forgive me mama!! I promise I shall not do it again! Please, stop it please. Its painful," Zoe trembled in fear and pain.

Her mother never stopped. Her father could only sit there in the hall. Drops of tears damped his cheeks and as how much he tried to not to hear the cry of her own daughter, he could do nothing.  

     "Mama!!"

The tricycle was outside. Mr Sneezy too. All under a big shady tree with little frangipani and white lilacs.

* * * * * 

     "Zoe.." Sarah called softly after noticing her staring at the big tree and those flowers. Her eyes were wet and so were her cheeks.

Sarah knew. She wiped her tears. They reached the front door of the house and ranged the bell.

     "Yes?" 

~BOOK THREE~

~BOOK THREE~

(10/2 11.00pm)

Tarts and orchids.

Those old people are fond of saying, in a neighbourhood, it is best to get to know everyone. To greet everyone whenever you see them walking past you, to bring baked cakes and wines to the new neighbours, to share your basket of plucked roses with them, to play poker together, and to have tea at times together. 

     "Zoe, look!" Sarah pointed out at the window. 

The panes were blue and they had soft white laces covering them. The windows were like those that you see in old classical movies where there will be a latch in the center, which you will have to pull down and push out the window glass to let air come in. Zoe attended this to her manager who then searched all through Alaska for those old timer carpenters. I guess Mr. Chen Jacque was the man. Weird, but the he was a Chinese. About 55 years in age. And in that age, his skills were undoubtedly impressive.

     "What?" Zoe headed to the window.

She drew the white laces aside and then looked. Sarah was at her side too. Her glass of water was kept on the counter. Both of them peeked through. 

     "Where is Mrs Valley?" Zoe asked.

     "No idea girl, I guess she sold off her house. The neighbours were gossiping that she had debts all over her waist and had no one to attend to. How much you do you think the Semi-D would go for in this era?" Sarah briefly explained.

     "It will be a good cover for Socks. 'Lady in debt. House goes for sale!' What' cha think?" Sarah then continued before Zoe could speak up. 

Socks was the tabloid company Sarah worked for. Being in there for almost a decade has positioned her in a stable rank. Sarah Apples had her own office and her own desk. She even had her own mini refrigerator where she stored her daily pack of  lime soda. You see, Sarah has this weird addiction to lime soda that without it, her articles never go right. 

     "Pretty good! But look, the guy unloading his stuff. You can't be kidding me that Mrs Valley actually sold her grand home to this young chap? Not to mention, her annoyance for youngsters especially the guys!" Zoe told.

      She was quite shocked.

     "Hmmm, i guess when you're desperate, even young guys appear to be your savior!" Sarah replied.

The both of them stared at the guy. It was rather sunny and the heat was scorching. Sarah and Zoe felt they needed to do something.

     "Lets pay our neighbour a visit later!" both of the girls cried.

     "I'll get some tarts at the pastry nearby. Uncle Zee's tarts are good" Sarah volunteered.

     "Great. And, I will just stay around and make him some marigold tea...." Zoe said and then her voice went down thinking.

     "Er..do you think it sounds ok?" She said feeling a bit shy.

     "C'mon, he's new to the neighbourhood. Thats what people give. Pastries and teas!" Sarah told and zoomed upstairs to get changed.

     The car keys were already in her grip.

     Those old people used to say that it is good to get to know everyone. To greet everyone whenever you see them walking past you, to bring baked cakes and wines to the new neighbours, to share your basket of plucked roses with them, to play poker together, and to have coffee at times together. 

     Tarts and teas as well.

     

~BOOK TWO~

~BOOK TWO~

(9/2/11 10.50pm)

Oats, cherries and milk.

The warm rays reached her little soft rouged cheeks. It disturbed her a little but she ignored it. Zoe was already up. She's  one of those early birds. A little canary's soft tune will alert her and there she gets up. Zoe was the kind of person you think you may know. She is a person whom it is easy to judge and even suspected. The truth is, Zoe is a woman of one sees her in the opposite way. Looks can indeed be deceiving. Much of beauty and grace involved.

     "Sarah! Have you not got up?" she said looking above.

She was downstairs in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Oats, cherries, milk. They say oats do many good things to your body and Zoe is the one person you should ask about oats.

     "Yummy. Yummy. Yummy!" She once told the press of Planets magazine when they interviewed her.

     "Perhaps, it is the good that it does to you?" Ken said. Ken is one of those crazy reporters that will wait at your backyard just to get to know what do you eat based on your trash. He was also recently awarded "Most Sneaky Journalist". I guess that award boosted him to even run through Zoe's trash bins the other day before coincidently interviewing her.

     "Oats?" Sarah asked with this sleepy mode tone. 

She was still on her pink pajamas with soft tangerine hearts shapes. Her blue bunny slippers were already old but she never keeps them off her feet. It was her late mother's gift.

     "Well, if you wish to have a good thing on your body, this is what you will need," Zoe replied then closed her green eyes and stuck a spoonful of those creamy grains.

     "Eerghh! What if I don't need that good thing? Look at you! You don't look any good either!" Sarah headed for the orange juice in the refrigerator.

It was like any other days. Both friends, one an early riser with a deceiving look, and the other, a lazy one, with cranks here and there. Both friends, one an upcoming singer with a string of awards, and another, a journalist of a local tabloid. Both friends, Zoe and Sarah. 

~BOOK ONE~

~BOOK ONE~

(9/2/11 - 10.00pm)

When dawn turns day

The little green leaves were everywhere on the ground. A white dove flew past back to her nest on the huge tree.  the wind blew softly. It was warm and it was fresh. A cricket was nearby. Just as it was about to jump away, a gecko, black with little yellow spots caught it. And it disappeared into the shadows that were growing thin. Nature is just a game of checkers. You jump and eat. And you eat and jump. The chirps of the canaries were beating the eardrums. little melodious tune filled the ear. The moon has gone. Soft warm golden rays stretched and touched the leaves, the nest, the bushes, the tiny dew drops on the green grass. And a new day was born.

 

little 20 yer old~

heyya guys!!! haha~ how r u all?!! hmm...im fine. so ya! im back again to update my blog after awhile of being away. i guess when your shoulders are carrying much responsibilities and work, time do run fast and not waiting for you. xD

time is indeed precious. once it has ticked, it shall never reverse its course and neither can we. looking forward and adjusting our time to what is ahead of us is what we should be doing. lately, having enjoyed 10 sweet memorable 10 years, i finally turned 20!! i now have the TWO in front of me!! should i be sad? or happy? or just..... *winks*

knowing that you're about to venture into a world of 10 years in length after having to say goodbye for the previous 10 years of life, is something cool-not-so-cool. perhaps it is how we take it. people see it in a way now that they are in a world where most great decisions lie in this 10 year era is something serious to think about. others however regard it as well, another 10 years of life to enjoy and have fun. so in which side you're in?

to me, i guess, like time itself, it does not repeat. you shall never be in the same age twice. once it is passed, it is lost. lost and can never be found. lost and can never be owned. lost. however, being lost in sense of age and life doesnt mean it leaves your mind and your memories. life is like chewing gum. once you start chewing, you can never get the same shape, texture and colour of its original state. therefore enjoy every bite. enjoy ever chew! enjoy every bits of your life. because one day, when you wish to look back at it, it only stays in your memories and that you will never feel again. just plain blur images. 

so, having to tun 20, gifts and present are never isolated!! XD wee!!!! here are the ones that i have received so far~

a LADY GAGA STORY DVD!!! from piravin!! THNX!!!!

XD

got treated the night after my birthday (7/2)..nasi goreng kampung + telur dadar!! from rawlin!! XD

a teddy bear!! hahahaah!! from another cute friend! mogan! tq!! lol!!!!!!

the box of chocolates were from vivishree and the lovely novel from janice!! tq!! XD



i want more!!!!!! :D

guys! have to pen off! haha! i've got assignments to complete!! ahahah...that spell COLLEGE LIFE! XD 

in the mean time, look at the picture and think about it~ XD