the people I met at lunch today
You replied and said, "I can't read your mail." It's the same story between us. We just can't get through to each other, can we? But the way you phrased your sentence, "I can't read your mail," sounds a bit funny, as though you have your eyes closed and fists in the air, a look that resembles this >_<
But that's only me trying to see you the way I want to see you.
This afternoon I had lunch by myself in the food court at Market Village. I ordered tomato egg rice. I walked up to the counter and ordered, no hesitation, for I knew what I wanted. Right after I said, "Tomato egg rice," the lady behind the counter nodded politely as though to say, "Coming right up."
They had a Christian band thing going on on the stage. Loud music was playing on the back and all over. Christian music and other forms of Chinese opera music. A woman tried to keep a high note.
The girl who ate her rice next to me ate with a chopstick in each hand. It looked like she was dissecting each beef brisket before putting it in her mouth. No, she was only cutting each piece in half, pushing the meat onto her spoon so that it formed a nice scoop-ful. She wasn't dissecting. Not fair for me to say that. But still, it looked funny. She wore a long beige plaid coat and had her purse on her lap while she ate. The long strap hung off one shoulder and diagonally down her body. Yes, all these details, plus the chopsticks, one chopstick in each hand as she ate.
At the back they played "Amazing Grace... how sweet the sound the saved a wretch like me..."
A man was pushing a vacant stroller. Behind him, a young mother was walking with her baby. Yes, walking with her baby. The little one wobbled along and fell. The mother called to the man with the vacant stroller. He tossed her a cloth. She patted the baby's body with the cloth, dusting off the little one. While the woman was doing this, the man stood behind the vacant stroller looking blankly at the singers on the stage.
Now they were singing a Christian song in Cantonese lyrics sung to the tune of The Carpenters' "Top of the World"...
I cleared my tray and walked toward the long table where the church people had their newletters and pamphlets on display. It was all vacant around this table except for the woman behind the table who handed me a newsletter. Then as I left the table, I exchanged a smile with the lady who was hosting this Christian event. She used to be an actress. I used to see her on this TV drama which I followed intensely when I was a little kid. Now, she devotes her life to spreading the word of God. Her face was heavily cosmeticized but in the one second of our exchange I recognized the features to which I had already developed a curious familiarity. It was nice to see her in person.
But that's only me trying to see you the way I want to see you.
This afternoon I had lunch by myself in the food court at Market Village. I ordered tomato egg rice. I walked up to the counter and ordered, no hesitation, for I knew what I wanted. Right after I said, "Tomato egg rice," the lady behind the counter nodded politely as though to say, "Coming right up."
They had a Christian band thing going on on the stage. Loud music was playing on the back and all over. Christian music and other forms of Chinese opera music. A woman tried to keep a high note.
The girl who ate her rice next to me ate with a chopstick in each hand. It looked like she was dissecting each beef brisket before putting it in her mouth. No, she was only cutting each piece in half, pushing the meat onto her spoon so that it formed a nice scoop-ful. She wasn't dissecting. Not fair for me to say that. But still, it looked funny. She wore a long beige plaid coat and had her purse on her lap while she ate. The long strap hung off one shoulder and diagonally down her body. Yes, all these details, plus the chopsticks, one chopstick in each hand as she ate.
At the back they played "Amazing Grace... how sweet the sound the saved a wretch like me..."
A man was pushing a vacant stroller. Behind him, a young mother was walking with her baby. Yes, walking with her baby. The little one wobbled along and fell. The mother called to the man with the vacant stroller. He tossed her a cloth. She patted the baby's body with the cloth, dusting off the little one. While the woman was doing this, the man stood behind the vacant stroller looking blankly at the singers on the stage.
Now they were singing a Christian song in Cantonese lyrics sung to the tune of The Carpenters' "Top of the World"...
I cleared my tray and walked toward the long table where the church people had their newletters and pamphlets on display. It was all vacant around this table except for the woman behind the table who handed me a newsletter. Then as I left the table, I exchanged a smile with the lady who was hosting this Christian event. She used to be an actress. I used to see her on this TV drama which I followed intensely when I was a little kid. Now, she devotes her life to spreading the word of God. Her face was heavily cosmeticized but in the one second of our exchange I recognized the features to which I had already developed a curious familiarity. It was nice to see her in person.
posted by Adam C at
10:42 PM
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