Chapter 2

"Mummy!" Janice cried in excitement as Charline came. Charline gave her daughter a big huge. She had not seen Janice for two weeks as she went abroad for her final job assignment for '360'.
"I miss you, darling!" Charline held Janice in her arms tightly.
From behind, she saw Terry's parents coming out too. "Ma, Daddy...". After their divorce, Charline still addressed them as mother-father. They are her second family members beside her own parents.
"Charline, how you're doing these days?" Ma held out her arms to hug Charline. "Ma, I missed you too!" Charline said, feeling tears flowing from her eyes. "And you, Daddy!" Charline gave Daddy a huge.
"Come inside Charline! I made something for the four of us..." Ma asked Charline to come in.

"Ma, Daddy, I won't be working at '360' anymore. Starting next week, I'll be working at 'Today's Living'". Charline told Ma and Daddy about changing her work place. Charline felt that they should know about what she is really doing in her life. After all, they are her second family.
"'Today's Living'? The controversial magazine? Charline, are you sure?" Daddy's expression turned serious when he heard the name of the magazine.
"Daddy, the magazine's not controversial, it's the topics that are controversial" Charline explained. She does not want the public to have any misconception towards 'Today's'.
"Are you sure about it? Well, if you ask me, I think it's a bit risky to work in the general section"
"Daddy, don't worry at all! I'm an experienced journalist. I dealt with many controversial issues back in '360' too." Charline explained. She taught Daddy was not supporting the idea of her changing her job. But it's fine. He cannot do anything now to stop her.
"Charline, it's about time for Janice to attend pre-school. What do you think?" Ma bought up a new topic.
"Right! She's almost four..." this moment Charline was feeling hopeless. She was not giving her attention on Janice's education. Showed that she was a failure, once more.
"Send her to a good pre-school. I believe that's a lot of them her, right? I'll look for some info then"
"Yeah... Discuss with Terry when he come back next week. Both of you decide where to send Janice too..." Ma said. She reminded Charline also, Terry will be coming back from his six-months training at Australia.
"OK. Then wait for Terry to come back and we'll decide together" Charline said. She turned to Janice and asked, "Are you excited to go to school?""
"Yes!" Janice cried.

***

Charline was feeling nervous as she arrived at the office of 'Today's Living'. The magazine's editorial desk was situated on the 16th floor. She stepped out of the elevator, walked towards the office on the left side and saw 'Today's Living' name. Her hands touched the glass door handler. She deliberate for few seconds before opening the door. The receptionist at the counter saw Charline coming in.
"Yes, may I help you?"
"I'm Charline Lew. I'm looking for your editor, Ms. Laura Carlson."

Laura Carlson appeared from inside after a minute.
"Charline! Welcome to 'Today's Living'!" Laura held out her hands to Charline to shake her hands.
"Hi, good to see you again."
"I'll introduce you to the editorial staffs. There's five of us in total, now it's six since you joined" Laura tells Charline while they were walking towards the desk.
"Guys, here's a new addiction to 'Today's", the staffs looked up from their desks. "Here's Charline Lew, the new member in our team"
"Hello, I'm Charline. Nice to meet you. Well... This is my first time working at a social magazine. I heard a lot of 'Today's' since I was still studying journalism. This will be my first time working on the social related issues. I hope that we can work well as a team"
"Charline Lew! I knew you! You did investigative reports on the entertainment scenes. You're the one that exposed the corruption in TV stations and prostitution case" a young men recognize Charline by her name.
"He's Harris. Our intern. Joined last month. He'll be with us until September" Laura introduced.
"Nice to meet you Harris!" Charline said.
"I'm Chris, staff writer and photographer. I read your report on Eric Clauson's case. That was great!"
"Samantha, everyone calls me Sammy. I'm a writer too. Heard a lot of you. I think you're one of the best investigative journalist"
"Tommy. I'm doing layout and design. Photographer too. Nice meeting you"
"I'm flattered by all of you... I'm not the best investigative journalism in this field, really. Just doing my job." Anyway, great to know all of you" Charline does not expect that they gave so much compliments for her.
"I'll show you where's your seat, Charline" Laura lead Charlene to her seat, which was the table next to Sammy and opposite Harris.
"Thanks, Laura"
"Have a great day..." Laura walked away and returns to her room. So does Tommy the layout artist. He has his own room too, next to Laura.
The first day for Charline at 'Today's Living'.

Chapter 1

The last day.

Today is the last day for Charline's at 'Entertainment 360'. She will be leaving the editorial desks to another magazine, not an entertainment magazine, but a social magazine, 'Today's Living'.

After being with the editorial for almost 8 years, Charline felt it was time to swift to a whole new environment. She often told her colleagues at 'Entertainment 360', her decision was merely "just to explore other area of interest", does not related to any personal issues.

On the day Charline hand over her resignation letter to her editor-in-chief and good friend, Sylvia, she was taken aback.
"Charline, are you sure?!" Sylvia using her usual 'editor tone', holding Charline's resignation letter on her right hand.
"Yes. Sylvia. 100% sure" Charline answered firmly.
"OK... Give me a solid reason for leaving. I'm not letting you go that easily..." Sylvia was actually begging Charline to stay. As a editor, she does not show that she compromise directly. Charline knew it well. She has been working with her for 8 years, since she had graduated from university. Sylvia was the Assistant Editor when Charline first joined.
"Sylvia, I want to try out something new. I'd done entertainment investigating reports for 8 years. I gained a lot of experience throughout this period time. I treasure the moments in '360'. But... I just can't stay her until I retire. I always wanted to try new... And 'Today' offered me this job. I can't resist..." Charline explained.
Sylvia's expression turned solemn but serious, "I see... It's true. I can't keep you for 30 years at '360'. It's your choice to go..." Sylvia looking at the letter. She continued, "OK. I'll take it".
"Thanks"
"OK. Step aside the job, how's your life going on?" Sylvia began to start the topic on Charline's personal life.
"I'm... adjusting. He had moved out. And now I'm living alone" Charline explained.

Their conversation lasted for two hours.

***

Charline's personal life was a mess. She and her husband, Terry have divorced after a three years marriage. Both of them realised that they were not suitable to 'be married', better off as friends. What Charline regretted the most was her feeling of regrets towards her daughter, Janice. She had not have the guts to face Janice after her marriage breakdown. Janice was under custody of Terry. Charline only visits her once a week. Charline needs a lot of courage on meeting Janice every week. She does not dare to face Janice because she felt guilty for not giving her the proper family and not doing her best as a mother.

It's Saturday. And Charline is heading to Terry's parents home to visit Janice.
As she drive into the porch, she hears from outside her car Janice's excitement.

没有大舅的日子：第1081天

Story-writing...

From today onwards I'll be writing a fiction story on my blog. Not on any Word document.
In this way, I'll keep updating my story once in a while.
There won't be the usual title for this story. I'll name it by chapters, e.g. Chapter 1, 2 and so on...

The story I'm writing will be on an investigative journalist's personal and work life. Expect a different style of story. It's not those click flicks, for your information...

p/s: I haven't thought of a title for this story. I need your comments for the title! Thanks.

没有大舅的日子：第1076天

Going to major...

I'm back after 2 weeks since my last post on Chinese New Year!

Here was something I received during Ms. Hafizah's class yesterday, from her, of course; an enrolment form for my 3rd and final year subjects. Immediately, I was filled with surprises...

I'd never thought that I got the form so early. I'm just going through my second year, haven't even done my first year subject, haven't been to internship... That form yesterday really gave me a shocked and realisation later... I  had spent almost 2 years in university and I'm leaving soon to work. Yes. Time flies.

I had mixed feelings when I got the final year enrolment form. I was happy because I can finally l get to learn and feel how will it be to be a journalist. That's what I'm hoping, wishing and waited for so long. Frankly speaking, I thought of writing as my career back during secondary school. Then there was this time that my English teacher said to me that my English was not good enough to write. There! I gave up writing as my dream. Still, once in a while I gathered ideas to write a piece of story, hoping that it will be published one day. That was also the time I decided to changed to advertising because of the creativity and challenges.

Since coming to uni, I was influenced by this so-called theories of being an 'objective viewer', 'watching over the society and government' by this person. This person (better keep it confidential, until my convocation) 're-lightened' my hopes and dreams once more to be a journalist, to write as a profession.

Another feeling I had was sad. I was sad because I'll be leaving the 'school life' soon. I don't think I'm ready for the turning point of working life... How's the working life for me be in the future? No idea. No intention of using a crystal ball to look into it also...

Anyway, that's what I had in my mind. Be ready to take up the challenges as a journalist.

没有大舅的日子：第1063天

Chinese New Year in Subang...

This was the blog post that I promised to write about. Having the high mood to write today... 

Here's what my family and I had done over Chinese New Year...

Reunion dinner at Klang's V Garden Restaurant. We arrived early to avoid the traffic. The restaurant was packed with diners. Some came for dinner as early as 6 pm and latest by 8.30 pm. It's a new trend these few years, people prefer to have their Reunion dinners and Chinese New Year meals outside. Save the time preparing and cooking. They don't mind paying for a high price. They want the convenience.

It's early, that's why the restaurant was empty.

My first 'angpau' for 2012 Chinese New Year!!! The 'angpau' receiving enthusiasm never dies, even if you had grown up. Only dies when you have became the one that gave the 'angpau'...

Tossing the 'yee sang' with my family. Have a good dragon year!

First dish on the menu. There's abalone, mushrooms, sea cucumber, and broccoli. You don't really eat this dish every day. Save it for the festive season...

Second dish, 'Buddha Jump Over The Wall'. Ha, ha, ha...! Direct translation! It's a soup dish with luxurious ingredients in it.

Third dish, Suckling Pig. I remembered the last time I had this dish was 8 years ago at my father's business counterpart's wedding. Didn't served this dish at my cousin's wedding 2 years ago.

 

Next, Steamed White Pomfret. How can Chinese New Year dinners be without fish?

My uncle taking photos of us.

Teh Chi En and family. All in red tone clothes. Everyone was wearing bright colors shirts, except me that wore a black. Memorable epic. Ha, ha, ha...

Salad Prawn. I can't eat. Allergy.

Fried Glutinous Rice. There will always be fried glutinous rice as the sixth or seventh dish on the menu. This time was different. It served in small packs for each person. Something like 'lo mai kai'.

Desserts time! Cupcakes, fried 'nian gao' and 'tang yuan' in rose tea syrup. Completed our last meal on the last day of the Lunar Calender.

After dinner, my family and I moved to my uncle's house back in USJ... To collect 'angpau'.

Some family members from my father's side which includes my cousins, aunt, cousin-in-law, and uncle. Surprisingly, my cousin came back from Australia this year.

My sarcastic uncle busy with his Blackberry. A year elder than my father. Had 3 children. Sarcastic than ever. Didn't changed at all. He and Mr. S can be good friends-turned-rival. Can't imagine that... Non-stop laughing!!!

First day of Chinese New Year...

Unwrapping hampers.

Watching television.

Nice Golden Dragon at Sunway Pyramid...

No outings until the fourth day, where my aunt and mother went to visit an old friend in Kota Damansara.

Nice house.

Living room for TV. There's the glass door to the piano room, on the right.

At living room. The owner was the man in yellow shirt.

Koi fish pond. Woah...!