After Hy graduated from High school, he couldn't get into higher education. He became a cashier at Gac's father's petrol station. Because he was finally slightly richer than before, he went for supper with his buddies every night at Kallang. That was how they kept in touch, despite the fact that all of them went different ways.

  Sak had joined a political party, while Tet and Ken were still schooling. Sak'd gotten everyone involved with this political business, from sending them on newspaper errands to handing out pamphlets. Sak's Chinese was good, and he wrote letters for his father to keep in touch with relatives in China. Occasionally he would get quotes by Mao Zedong in them.

  It was during this time when the Government decided to crack down on the Communists. Sak, despite being totally devoted to the cause, had to conduct his activities when daylight was no longer broad.

  After Hy got his first pay he got a monochrome TV, and was in the seventh heaven for days. Everyone went over to his house to watch TV, and there they met Hy's siblings. Sak would bring beer, and everyone would stay over in a tiny cramped room with an entire pile of children. A few days later, Sak said that Hy's place was perfect, nobody would suspect that a gathering would go on at such a small house. And so they held their weekly meetings at Hy's place, the four of them. This information would later be dispatched to the other political leaders of the party.

  Sak said, Tomorrow the kids from Chung Cheng are going, too.

  Tet said, It's because of the goodies, really. I think the treasury's running low.

  Sak said, The more the merrier.

  Ken cut in, The police'll definitely come. Let's think of an escape route.

  Sak said, okay. He took a piece of paper and drew two parallel lines. Here, this is the street, here's the school, and there's shops here. We could run in here, couldn't we?

  Ken said, And lead the police to our headquarters.

  Tet said, Very smart indeed, Sak. Here, we go, we run down the street. All of us are pretty fit, right? We'll run two streets down.

  Here, let me, your map sucks. Hy snatched Sak's paper and pen away, and drew a street with squares for shops. Two streets down... Tet, you have any idea where this is?

  Tet said, Of course I do. It's where one Secret Society lives. They take the entire street, the police wouldn't do anything there because the street further down is the brothel's. As far as I know the police always run down to the brothels and search there.

  Sak said, It's my enemies' territority, nitwit!

  Tet said, I know someone from there, he's a childhood friend. He'll get them to give us enough face, and besides, we can bring beer along.

  Sak asked, Bring beer and run?
  Tet said, Some money will do, for the beer. For maybe about twenty bottles.

  That's alot of money! Sak exclaimed.

  Well, we got sweets for the kids, so we might as well get beer for your fellow brothers. Really, you should have run a gangster party instead of this political party.

  Yeah, it'll suit you more, or you could be a scientist and rear cockroaches, Hy bantered.

  After the entire ordeal was over, Tet and company emerged from his acquaintance's backyard. They drank and gambled on fighting cocks, lost some money, and went on their merry ways home.

  However, once the police found banned books in Sak's house and arrested him, the entire party gathered in Hy's house and wondered what to do. Once again Gac was involved in some manner of transaction. Thank Goodness Sak's a minor member, look here, if he ever goes into politics again I'll personally fire you!

  The entirety of the thing was over for them. Ken wanted to play basketball, so everyone went along. Because Hy was the shortest, he hated basketball, and became only the misc. man. He collected coins from his siblings and his siblings' friends so that a fanclub may start. He'd even printed jerseys for the team and got Tet to teach the kids basketball. After a few months, the craze was ended with the commencing of the national basketball competition-- They came in first, that is, when counted from the last.

  The kids lost their interest, but they still kept their jerseys. Everyone went back to the Band, and Band matters now included a huge following of tiny followers. They held parties and everyone brought food. The Band played a few songs at intervals and enjoyed the company of little kids running around their toes. Another few months passed by.

  As it neared the end of the year, Tet dropped out of school. His school fees were a problem, and he had to work. Neither Sak nor Ken had money to lend him, and Tet was done with Gac for ever and ever, and liked it that way. He found a job in a comic store near Hy's petrol station, and there was nothing to do but eat, read comics all day and collect coins from kids and high school boys. Tet had a very good eye for shoplifters, and business was fine, so the boss was less stingy about Tet slacking away.

  Hy thought that Tet must indeed like kids. He himself was fond of them, miniature human beings that never seem to have enough to eat and play. He mused with a chuckle what it would be like in the future when he had kids with Tet. They could adopt, or borrow kids from the neighbourhood or sneak them away, or lure them away like the Piper. He knew that he was going to be rich in the future, so he thought they'd surely have many kids.

  Tet glanced at him, cocked his head, and said, If you don't want your ice sucky I'll have it. Hy exclaimed, I still want it! In the end he still gave Tet his ice sucky.

  They hardly talked to Sak and Ken after Tet dropped out of school, mainly because Sak was starting a business venture with Gac, and Ken was busy with school. Later, Tet would come to work at Sak's company, which would then be bought over by a new boss.

  That was where the end began.

  In the meantime, Tet relocated himself as Hy's neighbour. Tet said that he couldn't pay the rent for the previous house. Now Hy had more of a reason to walk home with Tet everyday, and he was able to root himself firmly to Tet's apartment without major complaints, as it was crowded in his very own room, anyway, what with all the brothers and sisters running amok the place.

  Tet's house had an old sofa. Tet said he was going to get a new one. Hy said, you have lots of books here. Tet said, they're all in English, my Unc gave them to me. Hy said, my English sucks. Tet said, I know that. Heh. Hy changed the topic, Aren't your parents coming to visit you?

  Tet replied emotionlessly, My dad caught pneumonia and died. Mom left the house after she gave my sister away two years ago.

  Only then did Hy know of it, and he said nothing.

  Tet continued, I studied because of my dad, now that he's dead I don't have to study anymore, great huh?

  Silence.

  Tet murmured, Really, parents are nothing great. They give birth whenever they want to give birth, and they leave whenever they want to leave. So adults are like this, huh. I'll don't wanna grow up anymore.

  Hy said, But we'll still grow up.

  Tet replied, I don't wanna grow up, that's much better for me. Adults are lonely, but I don't want to be alone. I don't want to have kids then leave them, that's brutal, so I'd better not have kids and I'd better not leave.

  But if there's no kids, we'll be a little lonely.

  I'll drink and go for supper with my buddies. I wouldn't be lonely that way. Really, buddies are much better, you can do anything with them. You don't have to work yourself to death and catch pneumonia for their sake.

  Tet's words rendered Hy speechless. The two of them sat side by side on the sofa, each deep in his own thoughts.
  Finally, Hy said, It's so hot, I wanna eat watermelon.

  Tet replied, it's late, they don't even sell ice sucky anymore, let's go for supper.

  Hy perked up. Satay, my treat.

 

  The reason why only summer was mentioned in Hy's story was because it had never crossed Grandpa's mind to continue.

  Hy's story only consisted of summer. Summer with Tet.

  Grandpa knew that it's a wrong way of telling stories-- there had to be an ending sometime anyway, and he'd left out bits and pieces which indeed occurred but undermined the purity of the story. For example, he'd never explained what Hy did when he thought of Tet, and he'd never mentioned the fact that Hy tried to prove he was not gay once by going after a girl called Meg.

  Hy's story was always pure. Always. There wasn't any happy ending, but Hy's story was always pure, and Grandpa would have liked to let it remain that way.

 

  After the supper both of them went to Hy's house to watch TV, until Hy's parents came back and had to administer certain ongoings with the little ones. Hy cheerfully volunteered to visit Tet's house after learning that the regime was distributing housework. Tet said, Uncle Aunty don't hesitate to come over and yell at Hy. Hy lazed on Tet's sofa, saying, I'm so full, ate too much. Tet said You're a pig. Hy said, You ate more than I did. Tet replied, I'm taller, of course I eat more than you do.

  Hy started up, It's not fair, Tet's always saying I'm short, so what if I am, I'm stronger than you are.

  You're lousy at basketball.

  You're not that good either. Tell you what, I've learnt kung-fu from the uncle at the petrol station. You'd better not make me angry, otherwise...

  Tet laughed, Wanna try?

  Hy replied, Okay. And thus they started to fight. Tet was dumped onto the ground thrice, and Hy sat on Tet's back laughing, Heh heh heh, I've won, I've won.

  Hy griped, Get up, you're heavy. Ouch...

  Hy thus climbed up, and said, Tet you're really weak, I wonder how you get by. Tet replied, When I was young Ken always saved me from the bullies. Hy said, No Shoot, Ken'll surely get beaten to death. Really, really, because he was really tall when he was young, but now he's nothing much.

  Sak's much better, he knows so many people, he can mobilise those from the church, those from the secret societies, and those from the basketball fanclub, he'll surely win.

  Tet laughed, Sak's very strong indeed.

  Hy commented, When Sak was in the hospital, you were very concerned about him.

  Tet smiled, He wouldn't eat the apple I brought.

  You liked him, right? Sak.

  Tet blushed, No!

  Yo~ Really~ You're red, so it's true.

  Tet explained, You're mistaken, I've never liked Sak, really.

  So who was it you liked after parting with Gac?

  You tell me yours.

  Whoever lost tells first.

  It's unfair, I've never been good at kung-fu. Tet said wilfully, You first.

  After some bickering, neither Hy nor Tet submitted. Hy was somewhat sad; he felt that it was better for him not to know-- it wouldn't be himself, definitely couldn't be.

  That night, when both of them slept on the mat together, he heard a sobbing sound. Afraid, he thought it was a female ghost, but when he finally ascertained the direction of the sound he realised that Tet was having a nightmare. He wanted to wake him up, but decided that he hadn't any right to. Yet he had to comfort Tet.

  He'd hugged Tet and fell asleep in that position.

  Afterwards when Hy woke, Tet was still in his arms, staring at him with wide eyes.

  Tet said, You wanna know the answer for yesterday's question?

  Hy let go, replying, Anything, if you wanna tell you can tell.

  Tet was angry: Hy's insincere. So Hy replied, Alright, I'll tell first. But Tet, you must tell to, you must. Also, you mustn't laugh and you mustn't say it's disgusting or anything like that. Tet smiled, It's a girl? Hy replied, No, it's a guy. Tet said, I'm gay, so it's not disgusting. Hy emphasised, Don't laugh. Tet replied, I wouldn't laugh.

  It's you.

  Tet burst into laughters, So it's me, I was wondering who it was!

  Hy said, I said you mustn't laugh!

  After Tet sobered up, he said, It's good, really.

  Hy became frantic. You?
  Tet smiled, and said, Me too, I... like you.

  You're kidding! Me? It was Hy's turn to laugh.

  I'm serious, Tet was angry once more. You were bluffing? I shouldn't have told you, you jerk, bastard, son of a bitch, get the hell out of here! As he yelled he grabbed a broom and whacked at him while Hy ran for dear life. ~~Get lost!

  Having been swept out of the house, Hy stood by the doorway and decided that Tet wasn't lying. He began to feel guilty. His parents poked their heads out, you're quarreling? It's been really loud.

  It's nothing, I'll go and apologise. Hy felt that it was his own fault.

  Don't you have to go for work? Asked his father.

  Hy said, Later, I'd better go apologise first, he'll never forgive me if I don't. Why don't you go for work?

  His parents said, We're going. Hy said doodbye and was somewhat excited. He'd removed the shutters from Tet's window and climbed in, thanking the high heavens for the first time for his stature. He found Tet curled up on the sofa, sobbing.

  Don't cry, said Hy.

  Why're you here, Tet rubbed at his tears, Get lost, I don't wanna see you.

  Hy did an elaborate pantomime of praying, God, my future wife's angry with me, what should I do? 
  Go away.

  God, my future wife wants me to go, I want to say sorry, what should I do? He took a peek at Tet, and continued, Oh God! God said my dear wife isn't going to forgive me! I don't wanna live~~~ 
  Tet lowered his head.

  Hy said, I'm sorry, don't ignore me.

  Tet replied, You laughed at my feelings.

  Hy said, I wouldn't in the future, really. You laughed too, so it's fair, right?
  Tet broke into a smile, I can laugh at you but you can't laugh at me.

  Hey, it's unfair! Hy smiled, Can I hug you? I've always wanted to hug you.

  It's strange to be hugged by a midget.

  Hy held him anyway. Look, I'm not that short, if you say I'm short one more time the next time we're going for supper I'm wearing my mom's heels.

  You're kidding~ Tet leaned onto Hy's shoulder.

  It was warmer than sleep. The soft fragrance of two people lingered and merged in the warm weather...

 

  In summertime, sweat was unable to vapourise effectively. A bitter smell lingered in the air.

  I can't believe you drank such a disgusting thing!

  Tet smiled, I'm used to it. As he said so he buttoned his shirt, You've gotta try it one day.

  No! You have so much, I'll die from it!
  Ah, Tet seemed to suddenly remember something, You're lying! You said you don't know anything about it but you're so skilled!

  Hy blushed, Hey, I learnt it all from Sak's bull, you know, when he's boasting about Yuki...

  Tet laughed, Heh heh heh, Sak's smart, I've gotta learn from him... From now on, I'm the Sex Instructor! I'll be rich and famous!

  Noooo! I'm booking you!
  One minute? Do you have money?

  For life! I'll be rich when I grow up, so I'll pay in instalments.

  Hahaha, you're going to be in debt for the rest of your life.

  For the rest of my life, Hy sobered up, I hope it'll be like that.

  Forever. Didn't we say we're not growing up? So the rest of our life could be forever.

 

 

  The next day, Little Girl came to Grandpa with her Doll, and said, "Tell me the ending of Hy's story."

  Grandpa put the newspapers down, and fell silent. When he met Little Girl's gaze, he'd said at last, "Hy's story doesn't have an ending."

  "Every story has an ending," insisted Little Girl, "I wanna write about Hy."

  "Hy's story is special, there's no ending."

  "What about winter, Grandpa? Winter." Little Girl pointed at the window.

  Grandpa's gaze rested upon the window-- it was snowing outside, crystals of pure white. He sighed, "So it's winter now... Isn't it."

  "It's snowing," said the girl, as she hugged Doll. She said sadly, "There's gotta be an end in winter's time, there's always an end, so please tell me, Grandpa."

  Grandpa gathered her into his arms. "This isn't a happy ending... Do you still wanna hear it?"
  "I wouldn't cry, I wouldn't cry, I've grown up," Little Girl said in determination, although tears were looming in her eyes, "I want to know."

  Silence.

  After some time, Grandpa held her tighter. "Alright. I'll tell you... The story's ending."

 

  When Tet entered the room, he'd grinned, Hy, let's go celebrate!
  He'd explained that he was promoted.

  Lil said excitedly, What's that?

  Hy explained, He's graduated from eating bananas to being Banana Man!

  Tet grinned, I'm CEO now! Look, I've even bought a new suit. Let's go celebrate!
  Wah! I want western food! Lil happily pounced on Tet.

  You're growing fat, you're eating so much! Hy reprimanded her, Let's go for a movie instead.

  Anything, we'll go for both! Tet reached out to hold Lil's hand, but immediately drew back as if something had stung him.

  Are you alright?

  Nothing... It's just... I've sprained my elbow.
  Can I see? Hy asked.

  Tet's smile was brilliant. No, I've already seen a doctor, I'm fine.

  Hy's brows furrowed, but he smiled anyway, I bet you've gone fighting or something. Lemme tell you, Lil, Daddy's lost to Grandpa thrice when we were fighting!
  Yeah, yeah, Tet rolled his eyes, At least I didn't promise to provide for someone for the rest of my life and end up having him provide for me.

  Why did you bring that up. Hy felt angry; artists often had a hard time until they died, especially since Hy had was slightly colourblind and had no money to go to an art school. I've tried, didn't I?

  Sometimes trying wouldn't matter, sometimes, Tet murmured.

  Hy lowered his head. Lil glanced at Grandpa, then at Daddy, said, Sorry... And cried.

  Why're you crying, Tet smiled at her, Don't cry, we'll go and have western food.

  Hy said, When I become famous, heh heh, you can have anything you like. We could go France and have pasta...

  Idiot, pasta's from Italy, Tet laughed.

  Then let's go Italy and have Italian pasta, Hy stuck his tongue out, and glanced at Lil once more. Lil continued crying.

  So... Sorry. I'm sorry.

  Tet said, There's nothing to be sorry about. You're our daughter, and that's that.

  Lil lifted her head, and said nothing.

  Hy wiped Lil's tears away from her face, until Tet passed Hy a packet of tissue.

 

  Little Girl sobbed, "I know the story's ending, I know it now."
  Grandpa smiled, "You're... Not grown up yet, you can still cry."
  "I..." Little Girl buried her face into Doll's soft body, and continued crying.

  "Don't grow up, that's for the best," Grandpa said, and pointed at Doll, "Or else Doll will be very lonely."

 

  Little Girl knew what had happened. She'd known since a long time ago. Daddy, in her memory, was a youth with an endearing smile, older than herself by sixteen years.

  Daddy and Grandpa were both very good to her, and she'd known that this was a mistake, because she was a child that nobody wanted. She was bursting with joy and tears each moment that she was with Daddy and Grandpa.

  Yet when Daddy died, she'd finally realised that she must grow up, and never cry again, because this was what it took to be strong.

  But after hearing of Hy's story, she knwe that tears, like any spring rain, clears the memory of winter.

  Therefore, she knew that she could no longer grow up.

  With Daddy, she'd seldom cried. Doll, being Daddy's reincarnate, would have no reason to exist if it could no longer stop her tears.

  Therefore, she must still cry.

  Because she couldn't leave behind memories of Daddy. She couldn't leave behind memories of Grandpa. She couldn't leave behind everything, and so, she was unable to grow.

 

  Tet grew weaker day by day, and yet his smile was as radiant as ever. Hy said, You'd better go see a doctor. Tet said, We've finally come here... Let's go to England one day, alright? Although it's expensive. Hy begged, Please, I don't want to go to England anymore, just go and see a doctor?

  Tet laughed.

  I'm serious!

  Not so loud, Lil will hear us, Tet said.

  I want to know. You can't lie to me about these sort of things...

  Come here. Tet propped himself up with both hands, and Hy stuffed a pillow behind Tet's back.
  Hy pressed close, and put his hand onto Tet's forehead. You've got fever.

  It's... Flu.

  Flu?! Will flu make you so weak? Hy hissed.

  It's flu. It's just... Serious. Tet paused, That day... Remember, when I came back... For a celebration...

  After that day you've never stopped coughing... Even the doctors couldn't do anything about it. Hy recalled, That day--

  I've been promoted a long time ago. That day, I remembered that I didn't tell you guys about it...

  I'm not asking about this!
  That day... I went to the hospital... I... I...

  Silence. Hy's voice trembled, What... What happened to you?

  H... IV.

  Silence. AIDS, this was the word that neither of them spoke of.

  I-- I might... No, will surely die. It's like pneumonia, like my father... I can't be healed anymore... I'll be like my father... At this point, Tet was already choked with sobs.

  You-- I told you! I told you never to give a shit about that damned sod, that... That son of a bitch, lecher! I told you I don't mind being poor, I told you I don't need to migrate and I'll still be famous...

  Tet lowered his head in silence.

  I told you, didn't I? I told you!! What'd happen if Sak knew that... This merger would cause...

  Sak... He wouldn't care, Tet finally said, when he lifted his head. Tears had cleansed his cheeks, had cleansed them of the blood.

  -- On impulse, Hy held Tet tightly.

 

  Little Girl heard all of it, despite Daddy's fears. She had always been unable to sleep at night, but because Daddy and Grandpa were always worrying about her, she had to pretend to sleep.

  When she heard them quarreling, she sprung from her bed and pressed her ears against the door.

  Daddy wouldn't tell her, Grandpa wouldn't tell her, but Daddy had grown weaker day by day... She daren't ask Daddy, daren't ask Daddy, because she'd already known the truth.

 

 

  Like Pneumonia, Tet began to cough up blood. When he tried to speak, his voice rasped like a dead man's... Everyday it was the same.

  Each time Hy heard this voice, Hy's heart was pricked by needles.

  One needle each day, day by day.

 

  Hy... I'm scared... I'm...

  Don't be scared, you'll be the most beautiful angel there, you will surely be. Useless words of comfort. Hy knew that it was what those words were, truly.

  Go... Home... It's not... Not your business... Anymore.

  Coughs pierced through Tet's last words.

  All the time, all Hy had ever owned was Tet. They needed each other like the Girl and the Doll-- Tet's existence, Hy's dreams--

  It's my fault... I'm useless, I'm always dreaming... Hy left the car, where frost had begun to nip at the windows. He watched as Tet closed his eyes, then the fog blurred everything.

  The valley of tears was the place where guilty people reached. It was the destination.

  Tet had always been looking after him, like the Doll. He'd sacrificed himself, his own life, to stop the tears of a little girl.

 

  You shouldn't... Hold me... There, there's still Lil... You've... Look... After her...

  I want to be with you... We've promised, forever, and we've said it's for ever. We've promised!
  Yet on Tet's pale face was a smile, encrusted there.

  That smiling face was an angel's.

 

  The wintry snow floated down. Hy trudged home in the storm, home, where Lil was waiting.

  Grandpa, how was the movie? Lil asked.

  Great... It was great. Hy replied.

  Grandpa looks tired...

  Yeah, I'm very tired. I'm going to sleep, if you want anything just get the money from my wallet...

  He returned to his room, shut the door, and collapsed onto the bed.

  Closed his eyes.

  The air surrounded him, held him, and he'd had difficulty inhaling. But this didn't even matter, because, to melt into the air wasn't quite so bad afterall...

 

  "This story doesn't have a theme," said the teacher, "I hope you wouldn't hand in such shoddy work in the future."

  There's no theme...

  Little Girl was silent.