Young chap couple tables down difficult to follow. Sitting with similar age companion while opposite them a little group had stopped. Three scarved women middle-aged and a young boy pausing in their slow amble. Sisters, with the mother difficult to pick among them. A number of us watched the group casually. Nothing in particular; not whatever. Whereupon the young man calls over, gestures across to one of the women with a folded bill in hand. From two tables along one had a clearer view than the recipient—a lavender Two flashed. No doubt, clearly. And the surprise evoked equally clear, though the woman did not drop her jaw, nor gape. Like, what?... Ah? Ah.... Slight chin rise and head swivel he. Like, the child. Something in that direction, of that kind. No word, all gesture of the most minor kind; one or two rows further back nothing whatever could have been discernible.... Fifty-four full months tomorrow witnessing, every second or third day something of the same kind. Tonight the particular circumstances proved a little intriguing. The group was most certainly not begging; nor did they look in particular need. Chap had surmised correctly however: toward the bottom of the socioeconomic pile. The sprint to the meritocratic winning post would leave this group short. More expressiveness in the momentarily puzzled recipient here; comparatively blank benefactor. (Cheap accommodation at the losmen in Jogja—about 4.5 times cheaper than Four Chain View Hotel in Geylang—enabled something of the same daily walking the streets down in that town.) Pony-tail confirmed on departure; mid-late twenties, thin and not exactly a hipster. But by the same token, nor would one have guessed devout.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
No Hipster
Young chap couple tables down difficult to follow. Sitting with similar age companion while opposite them a little group had stopped. Three scarved women middle-aged and a young boy pausing in their slow amble. Sisters, with the mother difficult to pick among them. A number of us watched the group casually. Nothing in particular; not whatever. Whereupon the young man calls over, gestures across to one of the women with a folded bill in hand. From two tables along one had a clearer view than the recipient—a lavender Two flashed. No doubt, clearly. And the surprise evoked equally clear, though the woman did not drop her jaw, nor gape. Like, what?... Ah? Ah.... Slight chin rise and head swivel he. Like, the child. Something in that direction, of that kind. No word, all gesture of the most minor kind; one or two rows further back nothing whatever could have been discernible.... Fifty-four full months tomorrow witnessing, every second or third day something of the same kind. Tonight the particular circumstances proved a little intriguing. The group was most certainly not begging; nor did they look in particular need. Chap had surmised correctly however: toward the bottom of the socioeconomic pile. The sprint to the meritocratic winning post would leave this group short. More expressiveness in the momentarily puzzled recipient here; comparatively blank benefactor. (Cheap accommodation at the losmen in Jogja—about 4.5 times cheaper than Four Chain View Hotel in Geylang—enabled something of the same daily walking the streets down in that town.) Pony-tail confirmed on departure; mid-late twenties, thin and not exactly a hipster. But by the same token, nor would one have guessed devout.
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