memories

Of being a trainer, of being a trainer at innotrek, most importantly of being a trainer with these people, most of whom were present on friday.

"LIGHTS" -and fingers all go up in the air "CAMERA and..... ACTION" and everyone knows what to do. As they make andi and june pucker up, chants laspse into cheers hear them say "ONE Thousand TWO Thousand THREE Thousand HEY Thousand HEY HEY HEY Billy Panjang. HEY AH PANJANG BILLY PANJANG.". Sharil stands up to make a speech and then everyone feels like he's going to despatch. 'despatch despatch' and we all laugh. A spontaneous "give me ONE silent clap!" and everyone knows what he means and what to do. Because solomon shoes are highly coveted, even if we've all left innotrek. And. what brings so much laughter is. the saddest thing too, because we've all left, and there's no going back. that even if I returned, they wouldn't be there and these. these are the people I will give all I've got for. They say the new trainers are
shake your head and give a certain expression. and we all know what we mean already.


of sharil sending me back to eusoff from pasir ris, and turning a half an hour ride into a two hour journey.
your first time riding a vespa? come, we don't go to the highway. we take the roads. I show you many things.
I was skeptical at first, but thoroughly convinced in the end.
At first he told me stories about his new life as an air steward, pointing out this and that at the same time.
Now we are entering the red light district. lorong this this this. Don't ask me how I know; it's general knowledge. Also got kamikaze! you know why I call them kamikaze? because they cross the road like so! Like they not scared death like that.

There!
KAMIKAZE!

suddenly
I want to see!
okay.

and so we turn into lorong such-and-such
You see? These are fish tank houses. You know why? because inside there are women in glass. You choose. You say, oh I want the woman in glass tank 30. Sometimes I feel sad. Because I have a soft spot for women. I tell my friends, there are only two reasons for the downfall of men. Alcohol, and women.

I laugh, and then feel so happy because I know he doesn't drink. I feel safe. As though for that ride, he's my man and as simple as it sounds, his not drinking makes everything right with the world.
there. pimps!
ooooh
there there. those old women. and he doesn't say it, but these are my first confirmed prostitutes I'm looking at. he says something, and then either that, or they wear a lot of make up.
tonight's not a busy night. if it is, you'll see cars and cars lining up! there. boobies. looking like they're going to spill out any moment.

KAMIKAZI!

Later on, we exchange answers.
how many girlfriends have you had?
how many boyfriends have you had?
none.
so boring la.

and we talk some more.

later on, at a traffic light

come rachel. you want to be my girlfriend until june? until june, i have a lot of time, all the time in the world. but when june comes i'll be working on my vespa.
i briefly contemplate.

He brought me to a river

don't have to get off. just a quick one. you see that blue lights over there?

yeah

we're going over

we're going over?

we're going over

and we do. go to the other side. He brought me to going-overed river of lights. so so movie like, as wenlin remarks later when I tell her about it. It is. The bugis river, a the nicole highway with familiar yellow-orange lamp lights and cars moving moving just he and I two of us in the world he in his vintage vespa helmet and possibly 70s sunglasses for the moonlight- I can't quite remember- and me in my fushia dress with a cloth belt . A very retro couple we make and everything because in the previous five minutes considerately skirt the couple. He observes things really quickly, I notice. Which makes him a really good driver too. What a random point. And then he turns into the parking gentry, and we make our goodnights. I have never felt safer that night.