Years ago, picking them up
after school
Curry fish balls and barbequed sausages
were my sisters' favourite. Every afternoon,
the vendors gathered in front of the primary
schools, chatting heartily until an explosive ringing
of electric bells in disharmony. They announced
an end to the day's intellectual activities.
War began. War in that elongated space
between the schools and the playground that housed
wooden unicorns painted blue, a carousel,
& three pausing swings. Vendors fought
fiercely, especially those who sold similar
food. I remember two men who had almost
the same wrinkled-face. Funny how people's
countenances, however vivid when you were
young, now blur in memory. Fried noodles
was their masterpiece: one added pepper
when stir-frying, one didn't. And that had
made quite a difference.
Fighting for business, the men raised their
voices. Everybody did: vendors, guardians, kids.
It was chaotic like an accidental carnival. We
went to one for peppered noodles, and the other
for non-peppered ones. My two sisters' preferences
differed, yet both must have fish balls
and sausages before running into the playground
with other equally excited children, leaving me
and the once again amiable & happy hawkers. My
sisters--several kinds of sauces dotted
the corners of their mouths.
Curry fish balls and barbequed sausages
were my sisters' favourite. Every afternoon,
the vendors gathered in front of the primary
schools, chatting heartily until an explosive ringing
of electric bells in disharmony. They announced
an end to the day's intellectual activities.
War began. War in that elongated space
between the schools and the playground that housed
wooden unicorns painted blue, a carousel,
& three pausing swings. Vendors fought
fiercely, especially those who sold similar
food. I remember two men who had almost
the same wrinkled-face. Funny how people's
countenances, however vivid when you were
young, now blur in memory. Fried noodles
was their masterpiece: one added pepper
when stir-frying, one didn't. And that had
made quite a difference.
Fighting for business, the men raised their
voices. Everybody did: vendors, guardians, kids.
It was chaotic like an accidental carnival. We
went to one for peppered noodles, and the other
for non-peppered ones. My two sisters' preferences
differed, yet both must have fish balls
and sausages before running into the playground
with other equally excited children, leaving me
and the once again amiable & happy hawkers. My
sisters--several kinds of sauces dotted
the corners of their mouths.
