At the moment I am surrounded by nurses. Mary, a cute Filipino many years my junior recently moved out of her share with Amanda. As I was heading out to treat myself to dinner, as a reward for slogging my guts out and winning lots of money on the races, I bumped into her picking up some stuff she hadn’t been able to take before.
We got to talking and she revealed that she had gone to Thailand to study Thai cooking. We went back to my flat and I gave her some things she could not find locally - kaffir lime leaves, galangal and Jimmy’s Satay Sauce. I said she had convinced me that I should go eat Thai and she asked, “Can I come with you? I’d like some crab and sticky rice for dessert.”
Off we went and we had a wonderful time, chatting away, cracking wise and she did all these endearing things. She asked about some weird Thai orange coloured tea drink that wasn’t on the menu and insisted that they must have it. The owner admitted that he did and served us some from his own stock. She bemoaned the lack of chilis in the crab dish and asked the guy for 3 chopped red chilis in oyster sauce. He smilingly brought them back and apologised for “toning down” the recipe. Whenever I am talking she gazes at me as though I am the most profound conversationalist alive.
And man could she eat. Every dish we had she would ask, “Are you sure you are done with this?” And then she would polish it off - everything including all the remaining boiled rice. She was still clearing her plate as the waiter cleared the table after our mains. Despite this I imagine she weighs 90 -95 pounds. She insists that Amanda will confirm she eats like this 3 times a day.
Anyhow, off we go back to my place/her former place and she tells me that she wishes she had something to go home and watch. Her latest obsession is Heroes and I inform her that I have all 18 episodes in *DivX * format. So back to my place we go. Supremely efficient, I download the DivX installation knowing she lacks it, and burn it and all the remaining episodes on to a DVD. She sits reading my copy of David Thompson’s thai food, every once in awhile saying “wow,” and walking over to stand at my shoulder and show me a recipe.
She is thrilled, all aflutter (did I mention that I paid for dinner - “No, no I insist.”) and the words tumble from her lips, “Thank you for dinner and the DVD and everything. I’ve had a great time tonight, thanks a lot JOHN.”
Too bad that’s not my name.
Oh well, such is life.
However in a surprise twist I have discovered that Mary has “accidently” left her glasses case and her ID pass on the floor. Maybe John will get lucky.
