With times heavily on hand before night class started, I would go for a beer or two. For theory, we combined with trainees from company 'A'. We were the noisy lots, more like a market-place rather than a class. The instructor intervened. He said, 'for those who are not interested, you can do whatever you like, just don't disturb those who are interested.' Hearing that, I pulled for myself
another chair, lying flat...for a nap. On seeing that, he was furious.
Instructor : 'Henry, what are you doing?
Henry : 'sleeping!'
Instructor : 'who says you can sleep?'
Henry : 'you just said so! Sleeping does not generate any disturbance.?
Instructor : 'by that, I don't mean you can sleep!........'
I noticed that quite a number of trainees in front were looking to their right, towards the door. Standing over there was a tough guy looking all over the class trying to fish out who the trouble-maker was.
Some trainees urged the instructor to continue with the lessons. With backers around, he said he wanted to continue.....lashing at me mercilessly. I was left a poor soul without any chances of retaliating. For once, 'the fighting cock' became a lamed duck. I lose the battle not to a kung-fu master but a strict disciplinary master.