Irresitible Baby Boulder

Near quart 8 after an hour at the Net place trawling through the archive for a fitting competition submission. At Reaz Corner beside the mosque the lad with the good English recalled the standard order from three months previous, down to the raw onion on the side. (Nan, dahl & veg. otherwise, with teh RM8 — about $2.75.) For a little blast of aircon after the PC a circuit of City Square had been in order, Body Shop called into just for the bona fides. In the back corner before circling around a boyish impulse suddenly at the little park-like way-station. Seats provided on cut-out coloured pods placed within a sci-fi cartoon strange park-cum-recreation zone it had to be called. It was the mini baby boulders that immediately drew attention. Already once earlier that day this corner had been scouted, the sight taken in and onward without pause: nothing to see there like. Second time round a trigger-niggle, almost a reflex of some primordial sludge time. How many little rocks had been kicked innocently along the streets over the journey, rocks thrown, even at high stained-glass church windows? (There was an enemy territory Mick school that needed to be passed on the way to the State.) Then the yonnies that were strewn between the rails of the line at the top of the street. Strong arm long developed as well as a pretty good hoof. A Montenegrin passing up the opportunity? the taunted red rag to a bull? Not bloomin' likely. Lucky it wasn't more forceful. The toe of the KEEN sandal may have made a little dint—certainly a crack was clearly audible and the mini baby boulder definitely slid over perhaps half the floor tile. Jeez! The uniformed guard right behind too in something that looked like brigadier's uniform.  (City Square was probably the flashest mall in Johor, all the usual culprits represented.) First pair of the lighter model KEEN had lasted almost twenty months daily footslog no let-up. (But no foot odour either.) The major part of the central plaza at City Square had been given over to the Mid-Autumn Festival traders—moon cakes galore, biscuits and shortbreads it may have been additionally. Polo-smart guys and dolls offering tastings. No money-burning obvious thus far, nor food plates, oranges or candles anywhere on the streets; that part of the observance might in fact have passed a day/two ago. Only on the next day were the swan cut-outs around the pretend park noticed, the lilies and lotus may have been the other. The charcoal burnt-out bole of a large grainy tree sprouting new (plastic) growth up top had been cordoned off in order presumably to prevent children clambering. The whole here sat on segments of coloured felt or fine grade hessian. ESPRIT behind with adidas and MANGO; Dorothy Perkins had flown in. Perhaps a stall-holder had cancelled at the last minute and a hole needed to be filled. Five years later finally a visit to the old Chinese temple on Jalan Trus has been scheduled. In fact the intention is to perform the service for Mr. Cheong back at Geylang Serai, who has been meaning to visit for over fifty years. 

                                                                                                      Johor Bahru, Malaysia