Little Red Dot Antholoogy

By Dwayne Tan

These ten short stories set in Singapore reflect life on the country island. Some are imagined scenarios, some drawn from real life and some a bit of both. Meet a host of different characters - some underdogs, some marginalised and some a breath of fresh air. Join them on a journey that opens up reflection, possibilities and understanding of our world today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716987571

Book preview

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INTRODUCTION

You may choose to skip this introduction until you have read the book. Or come back each time you read a story. I'll leave that choice to you.

However, if you wish to know a little more background to each story before you start, read on. The only spoilers exist in the first story, Home Sweet Home. Otherwise, enjoy some insightful nuggets on the inspiration for each story concept.

Home Sweet Home

I had always wondered what life was like from a dog's perspective. Dog's are so much a part of our lives. With instincts beyond human limitations, they are able to read us more acutely that our closest friends or family. I can't imagine any other animal spending more time than dogs do with us. Maybe cats. But dogs are man's best friend, so they win.

Venturing into this new territory and not wanting to get it wrong, I hoped there was someone else who had done it. To my surprise, I found W. Bruce Cameron's series of books (which I highly recommend more than the movie adaptations) featuring exactly that; a dog's perspective.

My challenge was to write from it without letting on that I was writing about a dog to begin with. I also wanted to feature a dog's relationship with an older person while commenting on the loneliness some of our elderly experience and some of the reasons behind it.

A bit of an environmental message was thrown in as well from a pet peeve I developed from observing the way people recycle. How do you responsibly put away disposable plates? A light bulb? A can of hairspray? Old shoes? Take the time to look up recycling.

The Escape Circle

This was inspired by a Coke advertisement based on a social experiment that gathered a small group of people from very different walks of life to let them interact with each other... in the dark. It shed light on how our visual perceptions of people were quite different to how we would perceive them if we took the time to know them first.

I combined this idea with my love for escape rooms to make it a fun little adventure.

Please Press Zero

Scams have become such a common thing in Singapore. I had my very own personal ordeal that thankfully didn't lead to any funds taken from my bank account but it did cause some trauma nonetheless.

With this story, I wanted to create some awareness on how creative some of these scammers can get. But also to create an opportunity for some empathy.

In the process, I had fun weaving together this fictitious character. Think you would be scammed enough to believe her tale?

Lost Citizens

Before Grab bought over the company, I came across an article in The Straits Times about a divorced Uber mum who was trapped in Singapore with her children because her ex-husband still had jurisdiction on where she could take the kids.

After meeting another Uber driver who revealed his interesting living situation, I decided they should meet... in a story. With some research, I forged a solution for this poor mother but I threw in another element (another wrong against her so to speak) that she needed to get through before finding any happiness. Just before this book's publication, I found out that this wrong was about to be righted legally in the country. I hope many more imbalances mentioned in this book will see the same light of day.

Running Man

As a video gamer, who observes how the world can sometimes stereotype the community or the industry, I figured placing a short story in this anthology would be a gentle way to introduce this world to those unfamiliar with it.

There are as many positives as there are negatives to gaming. And perhaps beyond that, we can also see how it's a unique tool to teach us how to win at life, express ourselves better and allow ourselves to imagine.

Not At Home

A wonderful way to rediscover your own country is through the eyes of a stranger. My protagonist in this story is a local who checks himself into a hostel in his very own country.

He explores Singapore in a way most Singaporeans never get to because we stay within our bubbles. I loved writing this because the protagonist is the same character from the first novel I wrote. In fact, this interlinking of characters is a device I use across the board, in all stories. Perhaps the world doesn't have to be as big as it seems.

For added fun, you could map a chart of their brushes with each other.

Cord of Love

Many people may not know that one of the most toxic relationship dynamics around is one between a narcissist and a co-dependent. Unfortunately and fortunately, I have experienced that. It is one of the most hidden types of abuse.

This story will be one of many that I write to shed light on the nature of such a dynamic. (I also wrote a children's musical called Two Blind Mice).

I hope to awaken the co-dependent, quieten the narcissist and inform everyone else so they can recognise the signs. Remember, being silent is still considered enabling any bad behaviour.

Behind The Vibe

So much of our world is centred around social media, which can distort reality quite a bit. The irony of how much connecting us can also disconnect us presented itself as such a wonderfully layered theme that I had to explore it in writing.

I combined two scenarios that happened in my life. One from the world I was opened to from running my own YouTube channel and the other, the world of show business which I have been a part of for too many years I would care to share.

The story that unfolds is one that questions self-worth, identity, and our modus operandi. It dives under the delusions and labels that we can lose ourseleves in, with a hope in finding some balance.

Cloud Island

I intended for this to be a sample chapter from a young adult book series I would write about two parallel worlds. One, the world we currently live in trying to heal itself and another,  a new baby world on its way to becoming our world; and both these worlds intersecting through a host of characters.

I realised that since I haven't written anything yet, it would be unfair to try and force a sample chapter. Instead, I wrote a teaser chapter that may or may not end up in the series.

As I was writing this, I chanced upon Matt Haig's Notes on a Nervous Planet which strengthened my concept for this story. It's nice knowing I'm not alone in my thinking.

This would hopefully whet your appetite for a book series that will attempt to reflect our current situation and question how we came to be so entrenched in the government of our lives.

Nothing holds a mirror up better than some fantasy as a genre.

Taking Stock

We see the world through different filters. It's probably impossible to fully understand where someone is coming from. Often times, it leads to misunderstanding, arguments; even war.

A member of my family is a hoarder. What is this condition? An addiction? A mental illness? A simple filter created  from having lived through certain experiences in life? Is it all learnt? Can it be unlearnt?

In our strife for happiness, are we fighting ourselves, the world at large or a bit of both?

CHAPTER 1: HOME SWEET HOME

The usual stock of sounds began as the morning pushed forward. The occasional clatter or sudden clamour grew fewer and further between as people rose out of bed to get ready for the day ahead of them. Soon the surroundings hummed with activity.

I stirred gently as the noise continued to tingle in my ears. Keeping my eyes closed, I inhaled the morning air. It was an exciting mix of coffee and bus fumes. As I came awake, I grew conscious that I was lying on my side, the hard cement flooring beneath me.

I propped myself up pushing down on all fours, then leaned back for a stretch and a yawn. Simple pleasures! My stomach wasted no time in alerting me to its growing appetite. Unfortunately, it was an all too familiar feeling that seemed to enjoy keeping me company.

My eyes were rheumy but I let them be. I didn't need to look too far for food. Just across from the void deck where I slept was a bakery. Every morning, the kind lady who worked there would offer me a delicious pork bun when she saw me approach. But that was about the only meal that was guaranteed for the day.

We got into a sort of ritual every morning. It was no different today. The kind lady saw me from afar and handed me the pork bun she had readied in advance the minute I was within arm's length. She reached out to stroke the hair on my head as I devoured her