Unfortunately, I was plagued by sea-sickness the minute I was escorted on board. Nausea and queasiness were my constant companions as the sea vessel rocked and rolled during the tedious journey. It was very hot and stuffy in the cargo hold as well.
My fellow sea farers and I heaved a huge sigh of relief when the ship docked at the Port Dickson
Wharf. We could feel ourselves being hefted, unloaded from the ship and loaded none too gently onto a truck. Our destination was the
Silver Star outlet in Kuala Lumpur. After being unpacked, my comrades and I were beautifully displayed on spotless shelves in an air- conditioned shop.
One day, a young girl from a rich family came in with her mother. Her name was Katie and she stared at me for a long time. It was love at first sight for both of us, and I was sold for RM190.
She brought me home and threw out her old bag.
Katie proudly carried me to school every day. I did not mind the heavy weight of her schoolbooks as she always took tender loving care of me. One day on her way home from school, she accidentally tripped and I was flung into the muddy drain by the roadside. I was mucky and stank to high heaven. I could not even bear the stench myself.
Being ugly sucks as Katie no longer liked me. To her credit, she tried to clean me up but I did not clean up well. Thus, she dumped me outside her house to weather the scorching sun and the drenching rains. Coping with rejection and abandonment undoubtedly was the worst nightmare anyone could possibly experience. I was heartbroken and desolate. The future looked very bleak indeed.
A week of hardship went by before a