House of Trembling Leaves, The

by Lees, Julian

  When Adrian left them outside the pub, Lu See’s mouth drooped. She’d been half-smiling up until that moment, but she couldn’t keep up the pretence of lighthearted unconcern any longer. ‘‘What the hell am I going to do?’’ There were tears in her eyes.

  Sum Sum immediately enveloped her in a hug. She put her hand in Lu See’s and together they wiped the teardrops from her face.

  ‘‘I shouldn’t be crying,’’ said Lu See.

  ‘‘Don’t be scared to cry. But be scared of giving up. You must not give up. You know that, meh?’’

  ‘‘I’m sorry.’’

  ‘‘Don’t be sorry, lah, be strong.’’ Lu See nodded. ‘‘We will get through this together,’’ continued Sum Sum, fiercely. ‘‘Yes?’’

  ‘‘Yes.’’ Now it was Lu See’s turn to hug Sum Sum. ‘‘I love you, pumpkin-head. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’’

  The following day Lu See received another one of her mother’s letters.

  … there are times when I cease to comprehend who you are. Ever since you turned 17 you have been uncontrollable with passions. Passions I cannot even begin to understand. I have been in contact with Uncle Big Jowl. He says you are determined to stay in England. Your Ah-Ba is threatening to hire a private detective to come and claim you, stick you in a burlap sack and carry you home. Which of the Gods did I upset to deserve such a daughter?

  More calamitous news – your brother Peter has joined James as a Jehovah’s Witness and has been rebuffed by his fiancée. Irene Ting now refuses to marry him due to his extreme religious views. First you damage our social standing by turning your back on the Chows, now Peter causes huge loss of face with the Tings. Cha! What sins did I commit to warrant such children? Sometimes I wonder if you were all secretly reared by jackals.

  Ah-Ba is forced to shun the weekly mahjong games at the turf club for fear of ridicule. His ankles remain swollen because of too much salt in his diet – I think he is sneaking prawn crackers into his mouth at nighttime when I sleep.

  The lawsuit with the Woos continues. They sue us, we sue them – only happy people are the lawyers.

  Our rubber plantation continues to suffer. Prices are being squeezed like the last mango in the shop. Hip Sing Rubber Processing Co. wants to buy us out on the cheap. I think the Woos are behind this.

  It hurts me more knowing you are in league with one of them.

  With an exasperated puff of her cheeks, Lu See scrunched the paper between her fingers. She went over to the stone fireplace, struck a match and set it alight.

  ‘‘Ai-yoo, what is it with you and fire,’’ observed Sum Sum. ‘‘You always burning things.’’

  Lu See gave a wintry smile. ‘‘Like I’m always covering my tracks, in order to keep moving safely.’’

  Her mother infuriated and frustrated Lu See. Hadn’t she tried to explain how she felt before running away? Sometimes Lu See wondered if her mother could suck the insides of her ears shut so that she wouldn’t listen.

  Lu See pictured her now, pulling her lips over her teeth and shaking her head this way and that with disappointment. She could almost hear the tut-tutting going on inside her skull.

  Resentful, Lu See went for a stroll along the Backs, skirting the expanse of lawns and willow that curved along the river behind the colleges. She took in several deep breaths to clear her head. Okay, she said to herself, I’m ready.

  She planned to catch the 09.45 train to King’s Cross; from there she would connect to St. Pancras and catch the 13.20 to Sheffield. The meeting with Brindley & Fosler would decide her fate.

  The next evening, as Adrian returned to his rooms in Jesus, he was confronted by Stevens his bedder. ‘‘Hullo Mr Woo. A young Oriental lady came callin’ for you. But seein’ that you were sportin’ your oak, I informed her you were out. She signed the register and said she’d be back later.’’

  ‘‘Thank you Stevens.’’

  When he heard a knock on his door he was met by Lu See who kissed him hard on the mouth.

  ‘‘I take it your overnight trip to Sheffield was a success?’’

  ‘‘It was,’’ she beamed. The people at Brinkley & Fosler were wonderful. They even had someone meet me at the station and take me to a bed and breakfast.’’

  ‘‘And what did they say about the organ?’’

  ‘‘Well, I started off by telling them about that swine Conrad P. Hughes. Of course, that brought about a great deal of head-shaking and pipe-chewing on their part.’’

  ‘‘Did you tell them how you were swindled? What did they say?’’

  ‘‘They said I was daft not to have made the trip up to see them first, saying all those southerners were ‘a law unto themselves’ and that everything those Londoners did was ‘wi’ a lick and a promise.’ ’’

  ‘‘Did you mention you only had half the amount to spend?’’

  ‘‘I did.’’

  ‘‘And?’’

  ‘‘They said ’ti’n’t a problem.’’ Lu See adopted a gruff male Yorkshire accent. ‘‘That for the amount I had they’d make me ‘as ’appy as a pig in muck’ by building me ‘a reet proper’ pipe organ. And they’d be working until they’re completely ‘paggered’ to get it finished in time.’’

  ‘‘Amazing.’’

  ‘‘They were very taken by the fact that the pipe organ was heading for Malaya. One of the Mr Fosler’s nephews lives in Penang. A fellow called Charlie Fosler. He runs a rubber plantation there.’’

  ‘‘What a small world. I assume you left a deposit.’’

  ‘‘They didn’t want one.’’ Adrian’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘‘But I left them a token amount to give them face.’’ She leaned across to kiss him on the cheek. ‘‘They said I could pay the balance on completion, on the condition I take out a full page announcement in the Yorkshire Gazette praising Brinkley & Fosler’s dependability, integrity and craftsmanship. Naturally, I agreed.’’

  Adrian opened a bottle of beer and drank a toast to her.

  ‘‘I’m thinking we should go away,’’ he said, out of the blue. ‘‘To celebrate.’’

  ‘‘Away? Where?’’

  ‘‘It’s the Long Vac, term’s about to end and poor Stevens and the other gyps are due a break.’’

  ‘‘But you said you received permission to study through the summer and finish your research paper?’’

  ‘‘I’ve been granted excess residence yes, but I’d still like to get away.’’

  ‘‘How long for?’’

  He shrugged unapologetically. ‘‘I don’t know, three weeks, maybe a month. Term ends on 15th June.’’

  ‘‘I’m studying for my exams, or have you forgotten?’’

  ‘‘What’s that got to do with anything? Bring your books. We can go to the seaside. The sea air, a nice restful journey and some sightseeing will do you good.’’

  As a distraction, he turned on the radio. The voice of a sports announcer spilled through the room; he was expounding on Jesse Owens’ gold medal prospects in the forthcoming Olympic Games in Berlin.

  ‘‘I’m sitting for my entrance papers in late September. I can’t rest now.’’ She snapped the radio off.

  He held his hands out like a peace offering.

  His tone turned carefree, agile even. ‘‘All this studying has sapped your spirit. So has this whole business of the pipe organ. Trust me, a break will do you good, goosey, you need a rest to think and reflect. You’ve been at your books for months.’’

  ‘‘A break, Adrian Woo, will ruin my chances of getting into Girton!’’

  He took her hand. ‘‘Goosey, you’ve been working non-stop. Take it from me, you’ll go stale. We can bring all of your books with us. Have you seen the size of my trunk? Hell, we can take the whole damn Divinity library with us.’’

  ‘‘Do you really think a break will do me good?

  ‘‘Trust me.’’

  A small smile came to her lips. ‘‘You’re not going to lure me into taking part in a communist rally,
are you?’’

  ‘‘No, I promise. By the seaside you can work all morning. Then we can have a nice long lunch, sip a cordial or two, and after that you can spend another three hours swotting. You know it makes sense. Goosey, I believe in you. I’m your greatest supporter. I have the utmost confidence that you’ll sail through your entrance exams. The last thing I want to do is jeopardize your chances, but a trip away will refresh and reinvigorate you.’’

  ‘‘All right, I’ll come.’’

  ‘‘Tell you what.’’ His voice grew in pitch as a liberated expression filled his eyes. ‘‘Why don’t we head for the beaches up north? Find a boarding house somewhere within a couple of hours from Sheffield. That way we can call in on Brinkley & Fosler once in a while and check on their progress.’’

  ‘‘You promise I’ll be able to study? You won’t be a nuisance, trying to break into my room and have your way with me every hour?’’

  ‘‘More like every half-hour. And surely you mean our room?’’

  ‘‘What on earth are you talking about? We can’t share. Think of the scandal if people find out.’’

  ‘‘We’ll be married by then.’’ He dropped to one knee and removed a small gold band from his pocket. ‘‘Or at least I hope we’ll be.’’ He looked up at her, at the quivering muscles about her mouth. ‘‘I’ve already booked the register office for June 14th. Goosey, will you do me the honour …?’’

  She pulled him to his feet and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  ‘‘For God’s sake, woman …’’ He tried to hush her. ‘‘Stevens is nearby.’’

  ‘‘What, you want him to come in and join us?’’ She giggled, kissing him hard on the mouth again. Stifling their laughter, they rolled about on the hardwood floor until their knees and elbows hurt.

  ‘‘Wait!’’ said Lu See. ‘‘If we get married we can’t live with Mrs Slackford. She won’t allow men in the house.’’

  ‘‘We could find some digs to rent in Jesus Lane.’’

  ‘‘And Sum Sum?’’

  ‘‘She can remain at Portugal Place, can’t she?’’

  ‘‘I don’t want to abandon her.’’

  ‘‘I love you, Lu See. And I want you to be my wife, but if you think Sum Sum should live with us, that’s fine.’’

  ‘‘Let me talk to her.’’

  ‘‘I just think that we should be together for a while. Just you and me.’’

  At noon, on June 14th Lu See and Adrian arrived at the register office. They stood in the white-boned reception room before the registrar, a thickly moustached man whose eyes swam with sherry. Pietro, sporting an absurdly oversized bowtie and Sum Sum were the witnesses. Adrian wore a morning suit and a silk top hat; Lu See wore an auspicious red dress and a pageboy’s hat tilted at an angle. Earlier she’d purchased a pair of elegant brown flats with gilded snaffles. As the registrar spoke, Adrian draped his arm protectively around Lu See. ‘‘You happy?’’ he whispered into her ear.

  ‘‘I’m exactly where I want to be,’’ she replied.

  Second-aunty Doris had once told her that life was not made up of days or weeks or years but of moments. This was one of those happy, memorable, fantastic moments.

  Seconds later he slid a thin gold band on her finger. Husband and wife! She took Adrian’s face in her hands and kissed him deeply. In the distance a bell tower struck. Lu See threw a sideways glance at Sum Sum who responded by crossing her eyes like a village idiot. Lu See guffawed. Damn fool pumpkin-head!

  The two friends exchanged hugs. ‘‘Any advice for my wedding night?’’ asked Lu See.

  ‘‘Yes, lah. When in bed, don’t point at his pencil and laugh!’’

  Lu See was happy to see Sum Sum smiling again.

  Adrian broke open a whisky bottle and handed it to the registrar who took a swig and wiped his moustache with the back of a hand. At which point Pietro cranked up his portable gramophone. Louis Armstrong’s swinging trumpet came toot-tooting through the room. Clutching her bouquet, Lu See grabbed Sum Sum by the arm. Come on and swing those hips! Toot-toot toodly toot-toot! Laughing breathlessly, they lifted their legs to the beat, eyes shut with the music in their hair. Pietro bounced up and down on his toes and then did the monkey-knees. Beside him Adrian did an impromptu Charleston pumping his arms like a jogger. Toodly-toot-toot!

  After a while Lu See collapsed in a fit of giggles, exhausted, hands folded on the mound of Sum Sum’s tummy.

  ‘‘How’s the old sow’s belly?’’

  ‘‘Feels like watermelon, no? So, when and where will you go on honeymoon?’’

  ‘‘Adrian is still looking into all the seaside resorts up north. He thinks a place called Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire might be nice. We’ll be gone from next week for about a month. Will you be all right by yourself here?’’

  ‘‘Me? I be fine, lah.’’ Sum Sum hugged Lu See. ‘‘Aiyo, stop focusing on me, lor, this is your wedding day. Go spend time with your new husband. And when you get back I insist you have privacy. You go live together.’’

  Sum Sum went outside to get some fresh air. She stood on the cracked stone steps of the register office and shivered. The thought of being alone in this strange place scared her. She folded her arms. She would have to make a decision soon.

  13

  As the weeks progressed they grew increasingly stifling. Sum Sum, puffed up like a pastry, burst into Pietro’s rooms one day and announced: ‘‘I’m in love.’’

  ‘‘What do you mean, you’re in love?’’ Pietro replied.

  ‘‘His name is Cluck.’’

  ‘‘Cluck? Like in chicken?’’

  ‘‘Dark hair, strong jaw, aiyo and shoulders like a Tibetan yak.’’

  ‘‘Have you been at the whisky again, sausage?’’

  ‘‘I spent two magic-fantastic hours at Cosmo Cinema.’’ Sum Sum shuddered.

  ‘‘Ayo, this Captain Bligh one scary, crazy-crackpot man. Skin-crawling good film, lah. And this Cluck Gable damn-powerful handsome.’’

  A Hawker Hurricane buzzed by overhead en route to RAF Upwood.

  Sum Sum reached into a punnet of wild raspberries and popped one into her mouth. Pietro eyed her. ‘‘When is Lu See back?’’

  ‘‘In two days’ time.’’

  ‘‘You must have been lonely without her.’’

  ‘‘She tell me she’d be gone for four weeks. It’s now five.’’

  ‘‘Oh, what treachery.’’

  ‘‘Coming to England, I imagined it would be like fairy tale story, like Cinderella.’’ Sum Sum patted her bump. ‘‘But look what happened to my fairy tale! I end up as Humpy Dumpy. Maybe I will go back to Tibet soon.’’ A determined look swept across her face. ‘‘There is someone I want to see again. This baby is making me see my life through different eyes.’’ Pietro knew she was talking about her mother; it was clear even without having to mention her name.

  ‘‘I always wanted to be Cinderella too,’’ Pietro sighed, showing Sum Sum his left profile. ‘‘You’d think glass slippers would cause bunions, wouldn’t you?’’

  Sum Sum smiled politely. She was exhausted. My breasts are tender, I need to pee all the time and I feel this constant mild aching inside my lower abdomen. She felt rung out. Like Mrs Slackford’s washing. Scrunched and squeezed dry of her contents. Oh for goodness’ sake, lah, stop feeling sorry for yourself!

  Pietro took a dramatic puff from his cigarette. ‘‘You never speak much of Tibet, do you? Tell me, how did you get to know Lu See and her family? Lhasa’s a long way from Malaya.’’

  ‘‘When I was twelve my A-Pha died. A-Ma and I rode on mules to the Nepal border where she put me on train for the south. She handed me a medal and a letter. She tell me to contact Master Teoh, Lu See’s father, in Penang. I had to look for Penang on the British army map she gave me.’’

  ‘‘Is Lu See’s father a sort of grand pooh-bah or something?’’

  ‘‘I don’t understand your fancy talk, but her father is important
man, yes. My A-Pha, you see, worked for British in Nepal, number-one Sherpa, he saved many lives of British officers, was awarded a medal, King Albert Medal, by Viceroy.

  ‘‘Master Teoh owned bank where many British officers keep their money. Officers say to A-Pha, if you ever have problem you contact this man. He can help you. So when A-Pha died, A-Ma sent me to get work and get education, to learn to cook and clean in a stranger’s house. I came with one set of clothing and shoes with holes outside.’’

  ‘‘You seem quite well schooled, forgive me, sausage, for a maid-servant.’’

  ‘‘That is because Master Teoh insisted I go to local school twice a week. I also shared a private tutor with Lu See. Matty-matics every Friday afternoon. She had him for one hour, then my turn for half-hour. They also taught me how to sit at table and to use knife and fork rather than my hands.’’

  ‘‘Do you think you will go back to Tibet then?’’

  Sum Sum shrugged. ‘‘Only if God wills it. For many years my karma, my life, was tied to Lu See. Now she is married, maybe my life rests elsewhere. And recently my karma has changed for the worse.’’

  On the day Jesse Owens won his fourth Olympic gold, Lu See and Adrian returned from their honeymoon.

  They moved straight into their new home on Jesus Lane, a two-storey terraced house with views of the park and the river.

  Lu See purchased new sheets and pillowcases for the double bed, fresh soap and towels for the bathroom, and bread, milk and teabags for the kitchen. She installed a telephone line and had a wireless set up in the living room. She laid down a tastefully frayed Persian rug and hung Adrian’s collection of watercolours in harmonious groups. In the tiny back garden she pruned the holly hedge and deadheaded the roses; she also cleared a small weed bed and planted rosemary plants, beans and onions. Within a week they’d turned the place into a home. Every night they dined by candlelight and each morning they breakfasted by the front window, bathed in sunshine. And always they found time to immerse themselves in little distractions.

  And then one morning, she squeezed her stomach until she turned purple in the face.