I, Kyrano - a summarised biography of my life before Tracy Island
I had always understood my life to amount up to my parents rubber plantation. As the eldest son, it was my duty to inherit it after my father’s passing. It wouldn’t have been an extraordinary life by any means but a simple life, one that calms the mind of its troubles. I had always imagined myself at the head of the plantation: making sure my workers were paid fairly after the many days I, myself, had spent collecting rubber as a young adult. We collect it by making a small incision in the rubber tree and placing a bowl under this. Repeating this on all of the trees in a plantation collects vast amount of rubber we can collect, treat and sell. It’s quite therapeutic once you understand what to do. Or it would be, if my life had turned out that way. The truth is, my half brother: Belah…he stole this life from me. He had always been better at brutally pushing his way through to the top with no regards for anyone else. It is my flaw that I am too meek and am unable to stand up for myself. There was a satisfying pay check at the end of this job but Belah realised this too. I had known he had always had his eye on the fortune the plantation would make him - as well as the money in my father’s will - but I would never like to admit it. After all, I have my suspicions that it was he who destroyed my birth certificate in the first place and claimed he was older than me! Obviously this is false though I didn’t have any way to prove it at the time as no other records had been kept.
But Belah never changed and I admitted defeat as soon as he took over the business for myself. I wish I’d have stood up to him. Maybe then I could have had that peaceful life. But thats simply not in my nature. I would guess that came from his mother’s side. I never knew my own mother but in the few interactions I had had with his, she seemed a bitter and self-centred woman. And my father was complicit. I used to feel so frustrated with him but I now realise that I am no different.
I was unsure how to spend my life now that the path I had dreamed of was blocked. I could’ve still worked in the plantation, peacefully collecting rubber on the soil I was so familiar with. But it would’ve been a mockery of myself to work under the man who had stole my rightful position and a constant reminder of my flaw. So despite my fond history with my small Malaysian town of origin, I decided it was time for a new start. I needed to let go of everything in my past that had troubled me and accept myself and all that I have. I found meditation and it did wonders for my contentment. For once, I felt at peace with everything, even Belah.
The small fraction of my rightful inheritance, in the form of cash, that I had managed to keep from Belah did not last forever and I soon needed to find employment. Having experience with trees, I soon became an expert botanist. I have always loved the connection to nature and it further helped my meditation. I grew many different plants but orchids were my chosen speciality! Taking a huge leap of faith, I traveled to England to pursue botany further. It was very strange at first and I felt alone, unable to be understood in my native language, but I soon merged in and grew fond of English character. Whilst living in London, I worked as a private gardener for many of the finest stately homes, briefly in Creighton-Ward Manor, though I had to step down from that position due to conflict with a certain butler… I also worked at Kew Gardens for a while which I thoroughly enjoyed. My role was to advise on Asian species of orchids which suited me perfectly! It was here that I wrote many academic papers on the evolution and uses of different plants and became relatively known to the top botanists.
Soon, however, my expertise was noted as I was invited to help research abut synthetic foods made from plants that could be used for astronauts at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida! I didn’t appreciate the loud and busy nature of the US, but it was still very interesting to converse with other academics and help in something as breathtaking as space travel! I met many astronauts in my time there which was extremely fascinating. One of whom named Jeff Tracy who took a particular liking to me and my work. I was in absolute awe of him and thought of him as the most incredibly inspiring man. I had no idea how significant he would become in my later life!
This research into food led my interests into a different direction: the culinary arts. Thinking about it, food had always been one of my greatest passions and interests in life apart from nature and my skill for it had consistently amazed myself and my peers. Though he would never admit it aloud, I think my father regretted that this talent was, to his knowledge, to be largely wasted on the plantation.
So, I moved back to England, to create this fresh start. And, oh, wasn’t it wonderful? Soon, my name was known and envied by the most famous chefs in England…well, my surname anyway. For once, I appreciated being known as I was and I couldn’t complain about the money! People take great pleasure in good food and it was an honour to provide this to so many. I, Kyrano, the best chef in the whole of England. Wow. I had never yearned for the vanity fame brings and I remained humble as my life seemed to be forever increasing in speed. I only felt pride that I was able to share my recipes and bring joy to those who ate my food.
I decided to take another leap of faith, to France, to continue the expansion of my restaurants, picking up wonderful dishes and improvements to my own as I explored the world of high end food. It was wonderful. For a while, I settled in Paris and was asked to be the head chef at the restaurant of the Paris Hilton hotel! I did enjoy the work and the people but there was always a nagging feeling inside of me that this was not how I was supposed to spend the rest of my life. After all, I was unable to have a consistent romantic relationship with anyone whilst being constantly on the move but I did long for a partner to know intimately, to share in my loves for nature and food and to settle down with without the stress of a constantly moving career. After all, I had enough money to keep me going and had never cared for material gain - unlike Belah. No, it was time for yet again another fresh start, but one of greater peace and contentment compared to the bustling atmosphere of big business. It was time to return to Malaysia.
Back in my home country, I settled in a small village by the sea. The people there were kind and humble and made me reminisce my past. And of course, I wasn’t anyone special to those there which helped to ground me. I fitted in.
It wasn’t long until the woman I had been imagining for my whole life appeared in reality, oh, Aishah. I seen her time and time again strolling along the coast and one day decided to approach her. From that moment e had become inseparable. She shared in my love of food and nature but differed in personality: she would never refrain from expressing opinions! I admired that. She and her family were all I had. Our wedding was small but beautiful. I will never forget the image of her in that intricate, white dress, her thick, dark hair let down beneath her veil as her deep, brown eyes looked into straight into my soul. She knew me, fully. Shortly after, Tin-Tin arrived, her name deriving from sweet. She looked so similar to her mother, but with my sparkling, green eyes. Never had I felt such peace: my life with the two most beautiful people in the world. Yet this time didn’t last.
Some time after Tin-Tin’s third birthday was when Aisha started to decline in her health. I started out as a cough but progressed rapidly. Too rapidly. By the time we had consulted a doctor, it was too late. One month. We were never too sure what the cause of the illness was, but that didn’t matter. Aisha was gone. I had never felt heater loss and desperation in my life. And Tin-Tin, too innocent to comprehend the situation. What was I to do with her? I couldn’t sustain myself in this state, let alone a small child.
I had no choice. I made a phone call to Belah pleading for his help. Of course he would give it to me as long as I could help him in return. We decided that I would move in with him and as long as I could work as a servant, cooking, cleaning, we could stay. What was strange was he wasn’t an and uncle to Tin-Tin, or didn’t seem to be. Perhaps it was a way of making me stay. I didn’t dare tell Tin-Tin of my past with him, it was better if she didn’t know. She seemed happy. And so we stayed with him as Tin-Tin grew older.
Then the most spectacular turn of events unfolded. It started as Belah was out working and Tin-Tin was playing by the sea. I heard a crash followed by a faint groaning coming from a section of grass behind our house. I followed it and found that it was a man in great pain. He was on the floor, bleeding, with a broken leg. Next to him, lay a crashed jet plane and a separate chair. I was in great shock and confusion, how had this happened!? Well, however it had happened, I understood that infection could soon set in and the man needed careful nursing. I turned his body to carry him to my home. His face. I recognised his face. I couldn’t quite remember from when but I knew I had had dealings with this man before! Though I had met a great number of people in my travels.
I brought him to a bed and nursed him with Tin-Tin’s help. Once Belah had returned from his shift, I explained the situation to him and, confusingly, he looked maliciously pleased. I am still unsure why. Later in the day, the man woke up. He was delirious and not in a great mental state but he was willing to talk. It was then that he told me his name was Jeff Tracy…the astronaut I had worked with so many years ago! As he improved in health whilst in the village, I learned that he was suffering from a nervous breakdown due to the recent loss of his wife, Lucille, and his father in an avalanche accident. We were both widowers. He had been suffering greatly and crashed his plane accidentally whilst travelling. But oh, how exciting his life was. It made me remember the great adventures I used to have so long ago.
One day, off shore, a ferry ship had blown up and Jeff, Tin-Tin and I decided to take out a rowing boat to see if we could provide any aid. But it was too late. Jeff was distraught as the event reminded him of Lucille’s and his father’s deaths. I just watched in pain, accepting the disaster. Back on shore, Jeff became hooked on a decision to create a rescue organisation. He was appalled that there had been no rescue equipment around at both disasters he had witnessed. I had been wary at first, knowing how much money it would take to create something like he had described but he assured me he had the fortune due to his career as an astronaut.
He had such an amazing, technical brain. He fixed the radio on his broken jet plane and contacted hus family, giving them details of his location for his collection back to his home. I was sad to see him go but before his departure, he made it clear to me that he would always keep in touch as he was infinitely grateful for my help. He told me we would meet again but I doubted it. His life was so incredibly busy, why should I matter? Though, and it feels strange to say it out loud, I did save his life. But under the hands of Belah, my life was yet to be saved.
But Mr Tracy was no lier. He did, in fact, keep in touch with me through many letters, asking for updates on myself and Tin-Tin and sharing news of his own family and the creation of International Rescue. I never explained the situation with Belah to him so he was unaware of the abuse I sustained with his words and requests of hard labour. But things were about to change for me, even if I was unaware of it at that moment. I always clung onto the aspect of my life relating to exciting business and the Tracy’s, it gave me hope in a dark world of grief. But one day, it became more than hope. Jeff had returned. He had mentioned inviting me to his island before but I never believed it would come true. He explained he would never be able to carry out the organisation without the man who spurred him to imagine it in the first place. This meant so much to me. He cared. He actually cared.
Mr Tracy explained that he would pay for Tin-Tin to attend a fine American university and then she could help out with engineering on the island - as she had been interested in that. I, on the other hand, would also work at the island, but as a manservant for all who lived there: cooking, cleaning, gardening etc, paid well and given the luxuries of the island. It was perfect. Mr Tracy had saved me from the hands of Belah and I would be forever loyal to him for that. He is, and always will be, the finest man i have ever had the privilege to work for.
My life, from then on, would be exciting yet peaceful: knowing I played a role in a secret organisation of much importance for the rescuing of other people in trouble, and I got to do what I most enjoyed, working with food and plants. I, and Tin-Tin, would have the pleasure meet many important people and Tin-Tin, especially, was given a truly spectacular life, working with the Tracy brothers and Mr Hackenbacker.
I will be forever grateful for the life I led, the people I met, and I must even be at peace with the suffering I endured.
I, Kyrano, expert botanist, renowned chef, father to Tin-Tin, and loyal manservant to Mr Tracy.
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