Bummer

 

Numerous bum-cheeks were on offer now every side, proliferating. The shorts and dresses were measured and cut just right, though the reveal always did depend on posture, movement, various factors. Daily average might be over a handful, so to speak. Lessening the impulse of the trigger-happy vouyers; clear the backlog of cases in the courts. The escalator / stair / upper window prospect was a far lesser necessity nowadays. Guy could just go along to his neighbourhood mall, take a seat by the fountain with an icecream and happy gandering. Cornucopia. Young Tufail the Kashmiri when he first landed here and was still acclimatising during the first weeks sent a puzzling emoji in one exchange. At first the illustration looked like a boomerang, which produced puzzlement. Ahmm? For his new Aussie mate, something from home?... But apropos of what exactly; it was far from clear. Or perhaps it was signifying homesickness. It was never easy in a new country with new ways; we had spoken about the estrangement. An intention to purchase a ticket back? lad just unable to hack it more? In fact, no. This was not a gripe exactly. Adjustment. Acclimatising. Still finding his bearings. Legs, the young man was forced to come out with it. These were a row of legs pictured, crooked at the knee. The preponderance of them on the streets was taking some getting used to here. Good Muslim boy; no mention of this particular hardship earlier from Tuf. On the weekend during a downpour the cavalier had risen from our table to escort an Indo gal across the street to the market. First time girl under my umbrella, the lad gloated shyly. Their preponderance. Traffic, malls, heat, the punishing work regime. Nakedly exposed legs topped all as the supreme challenge; test of a lad's mettle. (Young twenties bachelor at the time. Fixed up later by his father, Tuf, with a girl from Srinagar.) The cheeks emoji must still be in the works; on last checking it had not appeared among all the others.