LOST IN PUPPYDOM: THE LIBERATION OF RORY DYLAN STEPHEN: WAS MY LIBERATION A SINGAPOREAN SCAM?

THE LIBERATION OF RORY DYLAN STEPHEN: WAS MY LIBERATION A SINGAPOREAN SCAM?

Look at it this way; Melanie Lau smells like a “plant”, unreal, phony, an actor. Yeah, just a dumb dog I am! I can smell rotten and it stinks worse that the late Bobby Fong Jr.’s durian juice.

Lau doesn’t look like a criminal nor does she smell like one. She’s so law abiding she is the type that would be afraid to chew gum on a busy Singaporean street.

Half an hour after arrival at Lau’s I am “liberated by Singaporean police”. So polite and rather bored these Singaporean cops are; why do they accept fresh baked almond cookies from “criminal” Lau?  I heard one say, “Sorry but we can’t stay for tea.”

There are more cameras that police.

I am driven to a big white grandiose governmental type building near a cricket pitch and taken to a large room with all sorts of computers and people in suits and ties. There is a big sign “Singapore Government Relations”.

As I later discovered the “liberation raid” was a Singaporean media relations event sanctioned and planned at some level of government; a make the Singaporean government look good or as they say in Singapore…striking fear in the heart of criminals and a manifestation of the power of Southeast Asian efficiency?

Strange or not so strange Bob and Fay on their way from Toronto via Hong Kong to pick me up were prevented for boarding their flight to Singapore for reasons of “national security” compelling them to remain in Hong Kong and deal with Singaporean officials at the Singaporean Embassy there. A planned delay?

I am whisked to the office of the Prime Minister of Singapore a Mr. Wong where there are more cameras. Welcome to a press conference.

I could have started barking and bitten the poor politician, but where would that lead to?  Wong did say to me before the press conference Bob and Fay were on their way but delayed just a bit. You are staying with me a few days Wong said to me. I suppose it injected a bit of trust into the situation so why not roll with the punches. No threats to go sniff for landmines in Cambodia!

Frankly, let me say I am pissed off about used. The Fong’s used me and now I feel like the Singaporean government is using me.

I want to jump up and give Bob and Fay lots of kisses. I may be a cute and cuddly puppy but if you have been reading about me so far you know I am a tough assed West Highland Terrier.

I go to a fancy house in a motorcade; the official residence of Mr. Wong. I eat dinner of Singaporean chicken, rice and carrots and chase a ball just once then immediately fall asleep on the lawn.