Jalan Jalan: A Novel of Indonesia. Mike Stoner

told me you didn’t look well and she’s worried she made you unhappy.’

      ‘It’s OK. It wasn’t her fault.’ I feel his eyes watch every movement of my face. ‘You know, memories jump out at you sometimes.’

      ‘Yes. I know.’ He drags on his cigarette and the examiner’s eyes soften as he looks down into the light blue of the pool.

      ‘This is a very nice house,’ I say, not knowing what else to say.

      ‘Thank you.’ His eyes focus on me again. ‘If you don’t want to keep teaching today, it is no problem. I understand.’

      ‘No. I can teach. This isn’t a very good first impression. I’m sorry.’ I draw heavily on the cigarette. I read the banner around the filter: Davidoff.

      ‘Don’t be sorry. Life likes to surprise us at the most inopportune of times.’

      ‘You have nice children.’ Nice, what a crap word.

      ‘Thank you. They are a little hard work at times. I worry about them, living here, in a house that looks more like a prison.’

      ‘Why do you have such security?’

      Charles smiles and nods.

      ‘I am a businessman who sometimes does business that creates enemies. Since the riots I don’t take risks anymore. I don’t trust people.’ He drops his cigarette and kicks it into the pool. I don’t think I will bring my swimming gear next time.

      ‘Riots?’ I feel I should know what he’s talking about.

      ‘You don’t know? You English, you are only interested in your royal family and the weather.’ He puts a hand on my elbow and starts leading me back along the pool. ‘It was 1998. Just two years ago. Economic and race riots. It was a very bad time for us Chinese living here. I will not put my family at risk again of these fucking people.’

      ‘What people?’