Gird Your Loins (update Jun25)

 

 

The old gang closely huddled three rows back, animated more than usual. Some of the groups here in their 70s fetched back to the schoolyard—or at least the urine stream behind the houses in the kampung, the stand-up pipe & atap roofs. Back in the day the boys had been bunched closer and larking more loudly of course. Still, the tight knot was unusual at the Wadi tables, certainly for that cohort; even with their families these men did not sit so close. The initial greeting had issued from one of the more circumspect uncles. Almost invariably, in passing this man offered only the most perfunctory acknowledgement. Thought had been the chap possessed minimal English, which proved incorrect. Certainly his hand had never been raised so high. In that first flourish the sachet the chap held had not been noticeable. HOY!... A second call from the group indicated something clearly afoot. In the few moments between the initial greeting and the subsequent, the foil had been passed to the tall, stout paterfamilias, who always cut an impressive figure. Something of a circuit judge; politician or sharp-eyed editor. The man’s joviality however regularly broke out, unlike the case of the first man. Trousers belted high on midriff, shirts & shoes. The first was shirt and shoes too, but never before gleaming like this beside the tall. The tall, owl-like uncle poker faced here, lifted the foil high, brandishing the packet. A ticket to elsewhere in possession; glory days of yore… (Narks who might be reading could relax; not that kinda foil.) Some years ago Eagle Pills & Black Ant had been favoured by the guys in that quarter at the bottom of Geylang Road. More recently Double Coconut, Superman & Candy B (not Bee) had become popular. The latter was US patented, rather than suspicious Thai. $70 from memory Candy for 2 - 3 capsules came with big wraps. Five or six hours were promised, no ill-effects; from a number of quarters confirmed. Some of the product was dangerous of course, the chaps well knew. As far as branding was concerned, one other in fact outstripped these. Jafaar the former chauffeur had bought it recently online and was now awaiting his chance for testing with his longterm Filipina. Hooligan had somehow captured Jaf, whose English was good. It was uncertain quite how. A good many of the chaps here had the souls of poets.