Confucius say, ‘Chocolate on Pillow May Be Laxative

Apologies, I did not get any episodes of Ben Boa out last week. Back on track now.

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Last Episode, much to Ben’s surprise, Penny reached out and asked for his help.  She had actually wished him well in China, which nearly made him fall off his chair. 

Ben’s hopes of sitting next to Tina on the plane were met with a very firm “no” from Tine.  He was shattered.  All packed and ready to go.  All he had to do was have his final debrief with Doug. Something happens that throws his whole world into a spin.  You will never guess what happens… or will you?

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Ben marched down the corridor towards Doug’s office with a new spring in his step.  He was finally starting to feel like he was contributing.  After his conversation with Penny, he was ready to tackle Doug with news that he was sure it would be music to Doug’s ears.

“Ben, I knew you could do it,” Doug complimented Ben. “All I had to do was let you be yourself, get into trouble and ask your dumb questions.  I love it when a plan comes together.  Now all you have to do is file a formal complaint and tell us how you got this information. We can set the Compliance Investigation team onto these bozos."

" They thought they could fool old Dougy boy!" sprouted Doug like a cat that had just swallowed a pigeon.

“Yeh! That’s great, Doug, except we have to keep it anonymous; that was the deal.”

“Deal, deal, we don’t make deals in compliance.  Once we get the truth, we grab it by the throat and wring its neck. Do you understand me, Ben?  That is what we do in compliance,” ranted Doug.

“I beg to differ, Doug; the whole aim of the ‘Speak Up’ campaign is to get the information so that we can act on it.  If we ask for information, the person bringing it to our attention needs to feel safe doing so. If not the whole program will disintegrate.  People have to feel like they can trust us.”

“Well, you leave this to me, Ben. I will do some more digging around while you are in China and let’s see what happens.  We have enough to go with now for the time being,” conceded Doug.

“Speaking of China, Doug, what do I need to know?” asked Ben with all innocence.

“All you need to know is what Tina tells you.  You just go there and ask your stupid questions, stir the pot a bit.  You know, ask the things that other people don’t even think about - that’s why I picked you.  They know Tina - they are onto her; but you, you are fresh meat.  Hell, they won’t know what has hit them!” chuckled Doug to himself.

“Ben Boa in China is like a rattlesnake in a mouse factory!” added Doug, holding back a full laugh. “See you in two weeks.  Don’t come back without some answers!”

Ben still didn’t know what he was meant to get answers to. He trusted Tina, and he felt sure that she would tell him what he needed to know, at some stage.  He was very excited about the thought of spending two weeks with Tina. It felt like a dream come true.  But his last conversation with Tine didn’t fill him with confidence that she felt the same way.

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Arriving in China…

Tina was very quiet, hardly saying a word for the whole trip.  Ben decided not to push the point, and so he said nothing.   He discovered that he couldn’t sleep on planes, so he watched movies, read a little and was glad when the trip was over.

When they got to the hotel and they had checked in, he asked Tina if she was up for a drink.

“I am really tired, Ben, and we have a big day tomorrow.  Can we leave it?” she asked.

“Sure, I guess so,” said Ben, trying to hide his disappointment.  “What room are you in?” he asked innocently.

“707”, she said, “and you?”

“710”, said Ben, “We are almost neighbours,” as they got out of the lift on the seventh floor.

“See you for breakfast?” asked Tina, trying to make up for giving Ben the ‘bum’s rush’* on the drink.

“Sure,” said Ben “And if you need anything, Tina, you know where I am”, added Ben, trying to make Tine feel safe.

Ben settled in, unpacked, and explored his room. He was just about to sit down and watch TV, although everything was in Chinese. He figured he could at least watch the pictures when there was a knock at the door.

Ben looked through the peephole; it was Tina.  He thought his luck had changed and his mind raced ahead at a hundred miles an hour, but she looked very distressed. He opened the door. “Tina, what’s wrong?”

“Ben, this is going to seem very weird, but will you swap rooms with me, just to sleep?”

“Sure,” he replied. “But why? What is it, Tina?  You can tell me.”

“I can’t tell you now, Ben; it's complicated. I promise I will tell you tomorrow.  I am just a bit scared.  I’ve had two phone calls asking if it’s me in room 707, and it has really got me rattled,” explained Tina.

“No problems, Tina. Why don’t you go get the things you need, come back, and then I will go sleep in your room, and you can sleep here.  Just give me your spare key.”

Tina returned a couple of minutes later. “Here is my spare key. I really appreciate this, Ben.  I am so glad you are here with me now,” said Tina.

Ben kissed her on the forehead and gently touched her shoulder. He promised to call her in the morning so they could change back into their original rooms, then left.  When he got to Tina’s room, she had left a chocolate on his pillow with a note that said:

“Thank you for being a sweetie.  xx.”

Ben was on top of the world.  He got into bed but couldn’t sleep – must have been the jet lag.  He must have eventually dozed off because the next thing he knew, the phone was ringing.  He picked it up. “Hello?”

“Hi, it's Tina, ready to swap back?” came Tina's familiar voice from the other end. “I’m really thankful for you doing this, Ben.  I promise I will tell you everything over breakfast.  You deserve to know now.  Come back, and we will swap over.”

They swapped back rooms and agreed to meet in 30 minutes and go down to breakfast.

Ben knocked on her door – nothing.  He tried for ten minutes - nothing.  He resorted to using his spare key, not sure what he would find when he opened the door.

“Tina?  Tina?”  he yelled as loudly as he could while he opened the door.  He closed his eyes; he didn't want to startle her or catch her in a compromising position.  Well, he did, but maybe not then. The room was just as he had left it.  The bathroom had not been used.  She had gone. Tina had disappeared.

[A/n: * slang terms for a refusal.]

Next Episode:  Episode 27: "The wrath of the Chinese Dragon"

Till next time,

Calvin