The ‘555’ notebook was an item used by grocery shops, or what the locals, in the 60s and 70s in Malaysia, called ‘provision shops’. In the local patois, this 555 notebook was called ‘buku hutang’. It was a kind of ‘debt book’. This was before the advent of the ubiquitous credit card of today. It measured 3 by 4 inch, just a little bigger than today’s credit card. Somewhat working like a credit card, locals who didn’t want to immediately pay for groceries were offered the use of the 555 notebook to enter items for which they paid only at the end of the month or after. Sometimes the towkay (provision shop owner) would enter the items himself and keep the book with him till the end of the month. This is convenient when you get your salary at the end of the month. Upon payment, each item settled would be crossed out, a simple ledger activity. In numerology 555 stands for growth and change. It means throwing away restrictions and habits that do not serve you, encouraging you to explore the unknown. Now, in this 21st century manifestation of the 555 notebook, the author Leon Wing jots down stories as 555 ‘notes’.