Playing Beckett

Always happy to see a friend Mr. Ah-ha-ha. Early lunch at the Haig in the second row, with the loud call an arm raised. Hail fellow well met. Little guy, into and passing his middle-seventies Ah, but nothing whatever half-hearted about the man— the arm raised high and smiling neon bright. AH-HA-HA…. (More than one of the lads at the Haig took him off at any appearance and pleased Mr. A by so doing.) At table one of the Batam lasses, a regular to these shores must have some kind of special pass, a local grand-dad hubbie. This is your kawan?... Pleased to meet you madam. Mr. Ah a kawan baik. Any friend of his.... Readily agreed by the woman; she could vouch for Ah-ha-ha too, indisputably good friend. On the return after the mall Mr. Ah was out on the thoroughfare leaning an arm on the wall taking his ciggie. Hellos again mighty fine and fair, hardly any diminution, a people person to the max. Still nothing giving, hey Mr A? Nothing sure enough, he owned with what might have been genuine low spirits. Well, by jingoes, when could we expect a little something then? Any chance? Like a shot the little man looking away, smooth level tone: End of the year, says he.... Inaudible gasp gathering the thoughts at that juncture: December. Christmas. We had crossed into twenty-eighteen now. But…. We…. Only.... Flabbergasted. I can give you big surprise, — continuing completely deadpan and straight like at a wake. A Chinaman Mr. Ah-ha-ha Chan, which was not to say the man meant CNY middle of February next month. You could do Beckett forever and a day any tick of the clock with Mr. A no problem at all, unscripted, completely impromptu, only the props from the street and away before you knew it.