KEITH ANGEN
SOME weeks had gone by since my return from Lamasa Island.
I stayed at Captain Karl Kamang's rented apartment inside the fenced area owned by the United Church in Rabaul.
The place was on the side of the road leading from Malaguna No 1 village to Rabaul Shipping.
I went to observe the opening of Rabaul Public Library by Sir Rabbie Namaliu, a former prime minister of Papua New Guinea. I stood at the gate of Malaguna Technical High School waiting for the ceremony to begin.
But I was there early and curiosity took hold of me so I ventured into the gates of Maltech. I walked aimlessly about and felt awkward. I knew that anyone watching me would tell that I was a new person in the area.
I wandered across to the noticeboard to read some stuff. A few minutes went by. Then my heart stopped beating and my eyes glowed. My emotions were responding to the presence of a pretty schoolgirl from Maltech.
Her smile told me that I must find a way to talk. I sensed she had an inviting spirit. Even if I was wrong I would still say hello, or something to start a conversation and get her to talk to me.
She walked past, missing me by a centimetre; our shoulders almost touching. There was plenty of space to walk but she decided to nearly hit me on the shoulder.
I felt nervous and anxious and interested and confused. Her presence was electrifying and I almost fell unconscious on the concrete. Her sweet body scent was swallowing me. Her whole being was bouncing around me.
At age 24 I had no problem figuring out the indications. She was also trying to get my attention. I quickly said hello in a firm voice.
I thought she would walk on. But she stopped and gave me a full smile. Her complexion was light and she had curly hair. She wore a bright green collared shirt and knee length white shorts with flower patterns of dark blue. She knew how to dress.
Her clothes fitted well displaying an attractive feminine figure. Her youth made me want to pick her up and elope.
“I’m just moving around the area, visiting the place,” I told the girl. “I’m waiting for the opening of the public library.”
“I’m a Grade 10 student here,” she replied.
“How old are you?” I asked, realising too late the question wasn't appropriate. I was kind of interviewing the girl.
But she was interested and not offended. Standing next to her I made plans in my head about taking her out of school and spending time with her somewhere.
“I am 17,” she answered. “Where are you from?” she wanted to find out about me.
There was something good about me that made this pretty girl want to stay around and talk. Maybe she was curious. Maybe I looked handsome. Maybe she was admiring the masculine figure I had at the time, formed as a crewman pulling ropes on MV Kabul.
“I’m from Dagua,” I said. The girl was interested.
“I’m from Parimbe village in East Sepik,” she said softly.
“That's good. I know some of people from Parimbe. I lived in Wewak and came to Rabaul to do some work.” The chat continued.
She was at ease. And smiling all the time. No sign of being nervous.
I must say I was overwhelmed by her pretty face, bright smile and confident manner. I dished out a pick-up line, “When you finish school in the afternoon I will walk you home”.
She hesitated for a while and asked, “Where do you live in Rabaul.”
“I live with relatives in the United Church apartments,” I said.
“I can't see you on school days, maybe at the weekend. We'll make it this Saturday,” she said.
I was up in the clouds.
Then a small group of schoolboys came towards the noticeboard. Seeing a schoolgirl talking to a stranger, they hung around trying to see what was going on.
I prayed these guys would leave us so we could continue to make plans.
They stayed, trying to intimidate the girl to leave me. Then the thing I feared the most happened. The boys called the schoolgirl by name told her to walk with them.
I saw the brief encounter beginning to come apart. The girl was reluctant to move. But when the boys started moving, they stopped and stared at her.
She looked at me and said, “See you sometime, I'll be going.”
We never met again.