The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam

Author:Vincent Lam
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307367914
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Published: 2012-04-23T17:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

ON THE EVE OF TET IN 1968, Percival sat on the edge of the bathtub. With his cupped hands, he scooped water over Jacqueline’s shoulders, and watched as the rivulets traced her body. From the street below, the staccato explosions of firecrackers chased away bad ghosts of the old year and prepared the way for the Year of the Monkey. He lifted the heavy sheet of her hair with one hand, rinsed away the soap. There was singing from the streets, the revelry of soldiers who had come home to Saigon for the Tet ceasefire.

She said, “Some rich women have a maid to help them bathe. I have you, which is much better.”

A year earlier, Percival could not have imagined that he would now be in this quiet apartment in Saigon, bathing this brown-haired beauty—pregnant with his child.

“You are not angry about the Tet banquet?” Percival asked.

“No, of course not. I understand, about discretion.”

Percival wished that she could be at his side, but it was not possible under the circumstances. The banquet was to be a celebration of Mak’s achievements at the school, for Percival still hoped to win the warmth of Mak’s friendship back. Percival had decided to say nothing to his friend about this special honour until the night itself. He had hired Sheng Hing, the most expensive chef in Cholon, and told him to make the best of everything, ignoring cost. He had bought Mak a gold Rolex, to present to him at the meal.

If only Dai Jai could be there. He recalled a previous Tet. Two years ago, Dai Jai had helped him arrange a simple meal of a broth fondue and rice wine for the school staff. The whole meal had cost less than one of the courses he had ordered for this year’s feast, but he felt wistful for it. The Ministry of Education had not yet issued its memorandum concerning Vietnamese language instruction, and Dai Jai had not yet made his foolish gesture at the Teochow school. One year ago, Dai Jai had just been rescued and Percival barely noticed Tet. In the letter just arrived, Dai Jai had said nothing about the New Year, only rambled that his district cadres were rooting out the landlords and other class enemies who had oppressed the people for generations. Despite the tone of his letters, Percival hoped that Dai Jai was preparing a celebration with his classmates.

“I’m sorry you will be alone,” said Percival. “We’ll have a Tet dinner together.” He put his hands on Jacqueline’s belly. He felt a movement as subtle as a shift in the light. Then a sudden urgent kick, followed by the entire belly convulsing as the child squirmed within.

“He is clever and quick, our little monkey,” said Jacqueline.

“Are you so sure it’s a boy?”

“I hope so. It’s very hard to be a woman.”

On Tet morning, Percival returned to Cholon. He had Han Bai drive him to the Teochow temple. Great pyramids of pomelos and tangerines lined the tables along with baskets of holiday sweets.

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