CHAPTER 1 PLAYING WITH FIRE

Siew Mei stared at herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She saw a wild girl dressed in tight jeans and a red T-shirt. Of course, her parents would disapprove of her dressing. But, she quickly cast it out of her mind.

She was not going to let her parents' comments about her clothes spoil her mood. Why should she?

For it was on Saturday night the motorbike race would be held. Oh yes, all the hell riders would be racing that night. The motorbike bike race made Saturday night special. To Siew Mei and the others, that was the best part. It was so full of fun and excitement. It was a‘hell race'.

Those two words made Siew Mei's parents shudder. Her tather would get angry when he heard of the hell riders and their motorbike race.

He told Siew Mei many times,“Don't let me see you on the back of a motorbike bike in a race. I will pull you off the motorbike and drag you all the way home. I don't want my daughter to ride in a motorbike race. You can get very hurt in the race.”

Her mother added, “Siew Mei, listen to your father. He's right. It's dangerous speeding on the motorbike bike. And we have told you many times to stop going out with those wild boys! They are not good for you.”

Siew Mei's father continued, “Every Saturday night, the motorbike bike race makes the people and police worried.”

Siew Mei's mother said, “They cause so many accidents. Boys die in the accidents. Innocent people on the road get knocked down by them and get killed. They are a road menace. If you ask me, they should all be arrested and thrown in jail. Stop going out with them. Don't take part in the race. It's playing with fire.”

And they would go on and on. Siew Mei was not listening to a word they said. She was thinking, “Why can't they understand? I am fourteen years old. I can look after myself.”

But, her father did not think so. “Mei, you are my only daughter. I will not let you put yourself in danger.”

This scene between Siew Mei and her parents took place many times. They said the same things again and again.It only made them angry. Siew Mei's mother would end up shouting. Siew Mei too would be shouting.

Siew Mei's parents were worried about their daughter. She had changed so much after mixing with those motorbike racers. Look at her now! She did not do her homework at night. She did not study for her monthly tests.

All she wanted to do was go out with those boys. She did not listen to her parents. Before mixing with those girls and boys in the ‘hell riders', Siew Mei was a nice and polite girl. She was a good daughter, always listening to her parents. She was very close to her mother. They used to enjoy doing things together. They went shopping and marketing together on weekends.

But now, Siew Mei would say, “Mum,I am busy. Can't you see that? I can't go with you this weekend.” It was always, she had to do this or she had to do that. She did not seem to enjoy her mother's company any more.

Now, standing in front of the mirror, Siew Mei knew what her parents would say about her tight jeans. They would ask, “Why are you dressed like this? Where are you going? ”

Not wanting to hear what they would say, she sneaked out through the kitchen door. It was eight o'clock. She knew that at that hour, her parents would be watching their favourite soap opera on one of the ASTRO channels. She really did not want to be put in a position when she had to tell lies about going to Beth's house to do homework.

If only they knew how many times she lied to them about her activities on Saturday night. These were the thoughts racing through her head as she ran all the way to the meeting place. Then, she ran all the way to their Saturday meeting place.