They all convened in Penang, Malaysia for the gala event that celebrated four years of cohabitation at the legendary Christian boarding school, a place unforgettable to all. Specter had no desire to attend but still journeyed from the US with his then-girlfriend against her wishes. Who else was he going to drag with him?
His intention was to reveal his former life in the old country to her as the only consolation for the visit. He wouldn’t have gone alone merely to reunite with his old classmates. Modern people always need some excuse to meet with one another, just in case it matters. His relationship with the school, which had expelled him years ago, and with some of those friends he had made during those formative years was filled with animosity. Decades had passed since he had last attended one of their reunions; this was his last visit, a quest to accept the past and find closure to move forward, for he didn’t expect to attend another reunion after this. He believed his classmates would share his perspective, as they had moved on, no longer caring about the past.
Upon returning to these people, a sense of obligation mingled with guilt. On one hand, he felt like he was meant to be part of the gathering, considering that they were, for the most part, his friends. On the other hand, he considered it a vexing encumbrance he wished to shed. He believed that valuing three and a half years at that boarding school and the connections he had established was overly sentimental, pathological, even. He couldn’t comprehend how those experiences could be more significant than all that had transpired since he had moved far away, leaving him feeling rootless.
Subsequently, they congregated on the school campus for the buffet dinner, the staff and teachers preparing for a performance in honor of the class of 1988.
The evening was marred for Specter by an irksome self-consciousness as he attempted to act naturally and interact with everyone, as if nostalgia were the sole concern. The same old dynamics reemerged, along with cheesy alliances, provincial mentalities, and cliques that resurfaced as if celebrating regression.
He noticed the initial crowd forming naturally, making it seem as though their actions were preordained. Among them were familiar faces: Rod, Dereck, Gisel, Donna, Rodney, and more. The first spontaneous gathering set the tone for the entire gathering, and Specter already sensed a nosedive. He marveled at the superficiality that persisted among everyone, despite the worldly experiences and diverse backgrounds of his classmates.
Among them were a few acquaintances from the past with whom he could relate, individuals with whom he had gotten into trouble during their earlier years. Moffett, for instance, possessed a striking red hair and a perpetual smile, despite having recently lost his wife, J. . His appearance had aged prematurely, which brought a glimmer of hope to Specter. There was also Marvin, the exuberant Australian, who had a knack for breaking the ice and seemed blissfully unaware of awkwardness and self-absorbed internal thoughts.
Interactions with a few of the female classmates proved to be an annoyance. Talking to the girls from high school, whom Specter had guiltily fantasized about as a teenager, was challenging. It wasn’t fair to have to engage with women he had attended high school with and around whom he had to suppress his feelings for four years, following the policies of a faith-based organization.
After aimlessly conversing with the crowd, he sought a respite at the buffet table, reminiscing about the days when he could partake in eating competitions without concerns about his weight. There, he noticed an unfamiliar gentleman in a suit, helping himself to the food. Specter paid no attention to him and began loading his plate with meat. Weight had been a persistent issue for him during certain periods.
Amid the crowd, he suddenly spotted Ben. His appearance struck Specter as dark and wrinkled, his physique oddly resembling that of elderly women who spent prolonged hours on the beach. Although taken aback, Specter expressed an enthusiastic camaraderie when he greeted Ben.
Specter and Ben had collaborated on music during their high school years. They had spent a considerable amount of time trying to become musicians, writing songs, and although Ben had been an unpleasant figure back then, he had contributed to their creative endeavors. Ben’s leadership qualities had allowed them to write and perform numerous songs together.
As everyone settled down to eat and catch up, the lights dimmed. Onstage, about 15 teachers from Angkor School, most of whom were remembered by everyone from their high school years, stood clad in 1920s-style zoot suits. They wore tan three-piece suits with wide pants, fancy hats, and carried canes.
Initially, it appeared that they were about to perform an old-time dance number, but peculiar music began playing. The audience had never heard this composition before; it appeared to be specifically composed for the event. The eerie, formless, and hypnotic music lacked a distinguishable beat. Instead of following a conventional dance routine, the teachers embarked on individual, bizarre improvisations reminiscent of Japanese butoh dance. Their dance was slow and meandering, each teacher following their unique inspiration, with a touch of jazz sensibility that unintentionally represented Western culture as they attempted to deliver a wholly original performance.
The shocking show took Specter by surprise. He had never expected such a performance from his former teachers and felt an unexpected connection with them. All those years spent in the company of Christian Conservatives, who had endeavored to control their lives, were now challenged by the very teachers who, years ago, had adhered to a different mindset. Teachers like Mrs. H., the plump woman with short hair, were now fully immersed in their impulses, while others displayed bizarre behavior and indulged in random acts. Eventually, they collectively slowed down their strange dance, as if their seemingly haphazard actions were meticulously planned, forming a molasses-like, swirling entity.
As Specter watched the spectacle, he felt vindicated, and he sensed that the people who had once imposed strict, artificial rules had now embraced change. It seemed as though the ghosts of the past had emerged to guide the transformation of their emissaries, revitalizing the culture after the great disaster. For the first time, after years of frustration about his high school experience, he felt that everyone silently understood his perspective.