Gamad, a young man in his early twenties, had just graduated from a local teachers college. He had applied for a post as a primary school teacher in his hometown, Kota Belud. He was going to the Education Department in Kota Kinabalu for an interview. He boarded a bus and looked around for a vacant “strategic” seat (strategic in Gamad’s term is being close to good looking girls).Two gorgeous young ladies were on the bus, one in blue baju kurung while the other wore a pair of jeans and a white blouse. They were seated side by side. A seat in front of them was empty. Quickly, Gamad took up the seat.
“I’m going to ask one of these girls for a date,” thought Gamad with a wry smile.
The bus began its journey to Kota Kinabalu. Unnoticed by neither the bus driver nor the conductor, a free-rider was on the bus – a green fly. It flew around looking for a place to land. It found Gamad, circled around him for a while then landed on his big nose. Gamad waved his hand to shoo the fly away but it kept coming back.
“You know,” said the girl in blue seated behind Gamad to her friend. “Flies like to visit shits, dung and people who don’t take a shower in the morning.”
“Fortunately I took a good shower this morning,” replied the jeans-clad girl. “But clearly, somebody on this bus did not!” The girls giggled.
Sensing that the little talk of the girls behind referred to him, Gamad’s face turned red. The romantic picture of dating one of those girls flew away from his imagination. Frantically he waved his hands to shoo away the fly yet it kept coming back. The fly landed on his face. Swiftly, Gamad captured the fly and hold it in his fist until the bus arrived at the terminal.
After disembarking from the bus Gamad held the fly with his fingers and clipped off its wings. As he laid the fly gently onto the pavement Gamad said, “Stupid inconsiderate fly, you have disgraced me so much in front of those girls. You have caused me to lose the opportunity of having a romantic date. I took off your wings as a punishment for you. Now, you have to walk on foot all the way back to Kota Belud!”
- - As told by my friend, Halid Harun of Kunak.
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