The Lion and the Sun – Chapter 9 – Part 2 - (The Rising Sun) – Cont’d

  Rose and Maung Ba began making necessary arrangements to get married. 

   Tan called his sister, Ma Shwe, and asked if he could visit her, together with Rose, Maung Ba and Virginia. The purpose of the visit was to find out if it would be possible to hold the wedding reception in her house.  He didn’t mention it on the phone, as he felt that it would be most appropriate to request it personally. “You are most welcome,” she said.  “We’ll be home this evening and will be delighted to meet them.”

    As they walked up the path toward the house, they noticed Maung Po was busy trimming a rose bush in the garden and stopped to greet him.  Rebecca, Andrew’s step-sister was standing nearby, curiously watching him work.

    Maung Ba introduced Rose to Maung Po and asked him if he could join them in the house.  “As soon as I finish,” Maung Po replied. “It won’t be long.”

    Ma Shwe answered the doorbell, holding Andrew in her arms. “I just got through feeding this little rascal,” she said.  She excused herself and took the child into the bedroom to put him in his crib, then came out to greet them. 

   “Where’s Cecil?” Tan inquired.

   “He should be back any moment now,” she replied, as she turned to Rose. “Where have you been hiding all this time?” she asked.  “I haven’t seen you in quite a while, not since you visited us a year ago.”

  “Rose has been through too many problems,” Virginia interjected.

  “What kind of problems?” Ma Shwe asked.   Rose immediately cut into their conversation and began telling her story to Ma Shwe.

    “He should’ve been hung,” she suggested   “How did he manage to escape the law?”

    “Through bribery” Rose said.  “The law seems to work only as far as ordinary, innocent people are concerned.  It’s the truth.”

     Moments later, Cecil showed up, followed by Rebecca.  He was excited, as he held the evening newspaper.

     ”You look terribly jumpy,” Ma Shwe said to him.  “What’s the problem?”