He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a grey overcoat

THAT DAY AWNED dull and wet. I laid on my bed trying to make uo my mind - should I turned up at the petrol kiosk or not?

        I was having dinner with my uncle and his family at a rented bungalow at the Pantai Chinta Berahi late one evening, when an anonymous caller rang me up, offering me the Lower Certificate Of Education Objective questions for 1969. I was going to sit for this examination in a month's time.

        The questions-those were that I wanted! It was too late to do revision, for I had already wasted time spending the last six months idly, and not having the slightest worry about the examination. It was too late to do  anything concrete, and I had only myself to blame. However, the mysterious caller at the other end of the lines was godsend. I had  heard  of  such an operation before, and it came at the time when I needen help desperately. It was temptation in the most degrading manner. I might as well obtained the questions or fail in the  examination, I told myself. According to the caller, I could get them free of charge, and I was to meet him at five a.m. the following morning at the petrol kiosk , which was four-an-a-half miles from the Pantai. He further explained that he arrived from Ipoh to help anxious students pass their tests, and I was among them. I thought he was indeed kind-hearted, generous and understanding. There were no thoughts of suspicion in my mind.

        But there were two persons who did not approve of my turning up at the station for the questions. Uncle and Auntie Wong were slighty old-fashioned in their views, and were of the opinion that girls should not to this or that, etc. I could not understand. Back home in Petaling Jaya, Dad and Mum allowed me the freedom that I wanted. However persuasive Uncle and Auntie were, they could not make me change my mind. I was adamant about the  whole issue and resolve to obtain the questions.

        That night, following the call, I could not sleep a wink. I was thinking hard. I thought also about my Uncle's advice. I reassured myself I would not be in any danger. It was a big girl, big enought to take care of myself. Besides, I had some knowledge of Thae-Kwon-do. I believe  my experience could keep thugs at bay.

        Outside, I cauld hear the pitter-patter of the falling rain. It had been raining cats and dogs throughout the night. At a quarter to five, I informed Auntie that I was leaving the house to meet the caller. I took my bicycle out from the shed and put on my raincoat. Without wasting any more  time, I cycled towards the kioks.

        There he was - that caller! He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a grey overcoat. He looked sinister. His grey hat was tipped slightly to one side of his head and part of his ruffled hair was exposed.

        "Are you the one, Miss?" he queried, in a soft whisper. "I have the questions all here." There were some sheets of paper in his hands. I extended my right hand to take them. Without warning, rought hands caught mine and I felt a cold shiver running down my spine. In any case, I prepared myself for any assault.

        "I'm sorry, Miss, but you will have to give me that lovely white gold ring on your finger first," he said menacingly. how was he to know that the ring I had on my finger was made of silver? Did not say it was of white gold? Why should I care? I gladly handed him the ring and received the papers in return.

        It's too windy and wet out here. You had better return home, "he advised, rather kindly. I thought he was right, for I had started to feel chilly. Thanking him, I cycled back hastily to the bungalow. my heart was as happy as a lark!

        When I reached the bungalow, I quickly parked the bicycle in the shed, peeled off my raincoat, ran to my bedroom and started unfolding the papers. Blank sheets met my eyes. Needless to say, I sensed the feeling of being tricked and of dismay rolled into one. Not only that, two bold words "THANK YOU!" were printed on one of the sheets. Then a thought struck me - my ring, that silver ring that trickster had taken. I remembered him saying that is was of white gold. I ran into my cousin Pam's bedroom to wake her up. She was the one who had given me the ring on my fifteenth birthday. She confirmed that it had only cost three dollars!

        So I was tricked into believing that I had the examination papers, and the trickster was tricked into believing that the was valuable! It was all rather ironical, and I as immensely relieved that I had not lost other valuables, andmost of all, my life I had learnet my lesson.

        A few months after, when the LCE result were announced, I was the happiest girl in town, for I had passed the examination throught my own effort.