10. “Slaying a Dead Cow” 

In secondary school, one of our favorite activities after school was cycling.  At least once a week, several of us would ride our rented bicycles in the neighboring areas.  One afternoon we were heading toward Triangle Park in Kowloon Tong, one of our favorite spots.   

We liked that area because it was quiet, with very light traffic.  There were four of us, and I was some way behind because I needed to stop to adjust the handlebar of the bike.  By the time I was about 50 meters from the Park, I saw the rest of the group, and something didn’t look right.   

My classmates were all standing by their bikes, surrounded by three guys who dressed like typical street gangsters.  They too were standing by their bikes.  As I got closer, I saw my friends reaching into their pockets, taking their wallets out.  Apparently, they were being robbed. 

What I did in the ensuing minutes was not so much of a heroic act as it was a natural cowardly response.  I turned the bike in the opposite direction, yelled at the top of my voice “Kin Cha! Kin Cha! Yau Yan Tong Se Ngau!” (which literally translated into “Police! Police! Someone is slaying a dead cow” which of course means “Police! Police! We are being robbed!” and started pedaling as hard as I could.   I didn’t look back, but I heard the gangsters shouting a long string of obscenities: “@#XXX!! Get that damned kid!  @#XXX!!”  

I rode down several blocks like greased lightning.  I didn’t stop or even slow down when I crossed the busy intersection at Boundary Street.  I heard the screeching noises of cars braking.  

Given a choice, I would prefer being knocked down by a car than falling into the hands of the gangsters.  I didn’t stop until I got to the bike shop where we rented our bikes.  I looked around and was relieved to find that the gangsters were not in sight.  I returned the bike and hurried home because I was afraid that the gangsters would find their way to the bike rental place sooner or later. 

I had never felt so safe at home as I did that afternoon.  Several thoughts went through my mind:  Those gangsters were really angry at me and would probably look for me on the streets.  I needed to lay low and stay off the streets for a while.  I should try changing my looks so they would recognize me.  It’s too bad I just had my hair cut real short, so it couldn’t go any shorter.  I could grow a mustache or beard, but that would take years and I didn’t think mom would like that too much.  (Turns out I was right: I’m still trying to grow a decent mustache some forty years later!)  

Finally, I found an old hat in the storage box and was trying it on when mom caught me in the act: “Are you crazy, son!  Put that silly hat away.  It belonged to your grandma…and she only wore it in winter!”     

The next day when I was walking to school (from Fa Yuen Street to Prince Edward Road), I kept my eyeballs peeled for any suspicious characters, and looked back from time to time to make sure no gangsters could grab me from behind.  I was a nervous wreck!

When I got to the school, I heard from my friends the full story.  They were indeed in the process of being robbed.  When I yelled out, the gangsters were shocked and got really mad.  They were in such a hurry to get the squealer (me), they didn’t take my friends’ wallets!  It’s a good thing that I pedaled hard and fast because they were right behind me. 

One of the friends said: “Choi Se Yuen, we were afraid what they would do to you if they caught you.  They were all carrying switchblades and were eager to use them on you.  We decided to follow them from a distance.  We were hoping that we could run into a policeman on the way.  In any case, we figured you would need some help…we could at least call the ambulance for you - ha!  But you rode so fast on your bike, you were soon out of sight, and they gave up the chase.  When we got to the bike rental, you were already gone, so we knew you were safe.  Thanks to you, we got to keep our wallets.”

Like I said, I turned and ran mostly because I was damn scared and not because I wanted to play the hero, but I was happy to know that my friends appreciated what I did.

-To be continued-