Chapter 15: Fun Games and Happy Times in the Village

School holidays were the most eagerly anticipated time of the year for the children in the village. It was a welcome break from early mornings, daily homework, and school tests.  During this period, kids enjoyed a sense of freedom, even though they still had to help with the usual chores assigned by parents and elders.

Despite these responsibilities, the holidays were filled with excitement and creativity. The children always found new and imaginative ways to entertain themselves, coming up with games that sparked joy and friendly competition. Some of the most popular games we played included marbles, the rubber bands game, rope jumping, the seven-pebble game, the two-stick game, top spinning, stilts walking, tin can stilts, the "aeroplane" jumping game (跳飛機), and the classic police-and-thief chase.

Sometimes, we would explore the streams and creeks in search of small fish, shrimps and crabs.  If we wanted to catch larger fish like snakeheads or catfish, we'd head to the ponds with our homemade fishing rods, crafted from simple sticks and lines.

One of the boys' favourite pastimes was kite flying. The most popular spot was the hill where the Istana (the governor's house) now stands. Back then, the hill had just been levelled and offered an ideal location - wide open, free of obstructions, and constantly swept by strong winds.

What made the kite flying especially thrilling was the friendly "combat" that took place in the sky. We would coat the kite strings with glue mixed with finely ground glass, turning them into cutting threads. The goal was to maneuver your kite close to an opponent's and try to "saw" their string mid-air. A neighbourhood boy nicknamed “Ah Yiam”, was notorious for his aggressive style. The moment we saw him making a move, we'd dash away to avoid having our kites mercilessly cut down.

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Another popular game among the boys was competing to see who had the hardest rubber seed. The fun began with a search through the rubber trees estate for fallen seeds. Once everyone had collected their best find, we paired off to determine who would take the first strike in the contest.

In each round, the winner of a coin toss (or similar method) would place their seed on top of their opponent's and deliver a firm blow. The goal was to crack the seed underneath - but the outcome wasn't always predictable. Sometimes the seed on the bottom turned out to be tougher and shattered the one on top instead.

The elimination-style competition continued until only one unbroken seed remained. Its owner would be crowned the champion. Like a victorious cockfight contender, he would proudly treasure his winning seed, often storing it in a special container as though it were a priceless gem!

Of course, not all happy times ended on a high note. Every now and then, when we got too carried away and lost track of time - or forgot our responsibilities, like bringing in the laundry before it got soaked by the rain - we knew there would be consequences waiting at home. Punishments often in the form of caning with a rotan or a smack from the waist belt, were not uncommon.

Still, despite those occasional harsh lessons, growing up in the village was an unforgettable and joyful experience.