Another Blackout!

It was the center wooden pillar of a village house.

Many village houses had it.

There was a switch on it.

It controlled the lighting of the living room.

A small boy was leaning against it, rubbing his back against the pillar.

It was sweating hot and his back felt very itchy.

The boy then looked at the light, deeply in thought.

It was the only light in the living room.

And there were many insects on it....

His father was reading the newspapers, slowly checking the lottery numbers with his broken spectacles, and speaking softly to himself. Beside him, there was a nice cup of tea....

His mother and granny were sitting on a rattan mat with their sarong on (A piece of clothing consists of a long piece of cloth wrapped round the body), watching tv while massaging his little brother and sisters.

The small boy returned to his homework, biting his short pencil, blinking his eyes, and rubbing his forehead.

The light was really dim and flickering.

Everyone was getting more restless and edgy.

In a distance, a nearby village's musical band was playing their favorite songs....

The small boy hummed along.

The light was getting dimmer.

More houses had many lights switched on.

It was the harvesting festival.... Many of those who lived and worked in the town or city had returned home.

The small boy read closer to his books.

*******

The night was really warm and humid.

The window panes were wide opened, so was the front door.

But the fan was not turned on....

His daddy said to conserve the use of electricity to RM20, the rate subsidized by the government.

It was a windless night....

The air was still and warm....

"A quick shower or a dip in the river will be nice." The little boy said to himself.

Then he looked outside the front door.

The cicadas were humming and singing loudly.

"It is so warm that even the frogs are sweating." The boy chuckled miserably.

He then looked at the father puffing his cigarette and sipping his tea...

The boy scratched his legs.

The pesky mosquitoes were out for blood and he was one of the targets.

Angrily he turned his attention to the mosquitoes....

Frenziedly looking around, he scrutinized every corner....

The small boy was getting excited!

"Spot and kill," he spoke to his heart.

Then the sound of claps and slaps.

Everyone looked around and saw what he was doing, then back to their game and fun.

Then came the sudden blackout!

Everyone shouted and cried in frustration!

The electric circuit was overloaded and the fuse had blown again.

The mother grumbled and quickly looked for candles.

The little ones cried....

In the distance, someone rode on a motorbike to the substation to check on the problem, most probably he would switch or replace the fuse....

A moment passed.

The light was turned on again.

Wow! Everyone was shouting and jeering like in a soccer match for gooooal!

The village was alive and busy again.

The light was very bright...

Then it slowly began to dim.... again.

"It's overloaded.... overloaded...." the father said audibly, shaking his head.

Then....

...... Another blackout!

Half an half had passed......

More motorbikes to the substation.

Then they heard some shouting and jeering from a nearby village.

The small boy rushed out the front door....

The lights of the nearby village were turned on because of wedding celebration....

His father also rushed out.

Then a neighbor walking with a torchlight grumblingy told them, "There is not enough power supply to our village...."

Sadly and reluctantly the boy and his father returned to their house and told everyone to set up for bed....

The children went into their room and began to make noise.

The little ones started to cry....

Then the father and mother shouted and screamed!

....... The candle lights were put off.

The children became quiet.... and tired..... and dozed off.......

The snoring session began....

Louder and louder....

More and more people joined in....

*******

The teenagers of the village began to complain....

Some just rushed to the nearby village and joined the fun....

"Oh mine! This is crazy. Blackout for a week now!" Some said among themselves.

The wind slowly blew.....

Getting stronger and stronger....

Then the rain came down....

Heavier and heavier....

Then the lightnings flashed....

The thunders roared....

Suddenly all the villages became silent!

It was total blackout!

Another miserable night.... Another blackout!

It was time to sleep.

The window panes and the doors were finally closed....

And the snoring session continued..........