Man Next Door

He is the kind who turns his porch light off on Halloween. The children wouldn't go there even in daylight anyway. The wailing cats sound too much like Hansel in a cauldron.

Once he had to ask his neighbour for help to reset the circuit breaker. He was so annoyed with himself for being needy. Yet he was disappointed when the neighbour did not check in on him the next day.

Days later, they finally do cross paths. He whips out a five-year-old letter from his wallet - a testimony to his 30 years of service before being let go. He mimes that he can only find work as a sweeper or cleaner. There is also a black-and-white photo in the wallet of a young man, happy and without any scars on his face.

Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

It's black and it drives like a dream. Some dreams are good, and some are bad though.

They go to many places with it. They build sandcastles at the beach. They visit their new Home with it. They go to the gardens by the bay with it. Waking up from this dream will be difficult.

As a consequence of buying a car, he walks less. Earlier, he walked an average of 8.87 kilometers per day. After buying the car, he has walked an average of 7.81 kilometers per day. And that is only because he has started jogging again. Otherwise it would be a much more drastic decrease.

It is certainly more convenient, but it is also more expensive. Tolls, gasoline, parking - they all add up very quickly.

Moonlight Serenade

The sun is the moon. As long as it is yellow and round, it's the moon. In fact, anything yellow and curved, like a helmet, is also a moon. Since we're going there, how about we call anything round a moon too? I know it isn't but what can you do about me calling it a moon?

The First Time

The first time is always awkward. Both parties have different expectations. Neither knows what to put where and what comes next. Halfway through, both cannot wait for the end.

In the end, some are honest enough to tell the other party how awful it was. Once is enough to confirm what they felt, to turn them away for good. Others are more polite; they recognize the effort, try to be understanding, but silently hope they never see one another again.

As always, reality is somewhere in between.

For Dinner...

Pilkie's Makin' music. He is spinning a lush combination of drums, bass and harmoniums. With headphones on, he looks more like Moby. Over the music he delivers a monolog about the id and how it's proper management can lead to happiness.

Dear Lana. She is drinking Pepsi without any idea of how ironic it is. It spills on her dress and she is blushing because the stain looks naughty.

Ricky is Ricky. He was sulking because he had to put trousers on but now he is cackling uncontrollably at the sight of the stain.

The God That Failed

162 people have vanished into thin air. Why them? Why now? Their relatives hold on to hope  as best they can. It is cruel, unfair and troubling.

She smiles and gives them several kisses. They both wish they could give her finger and a hand.

Do not be thankful for what we have - what do we actually do to deserve that luck? Do not try to pity the less fortunate - let their strength in adversity inspire us.

Left Hand Free

8 years ago he came to the shop alone to buy a watch. Now there are three of them, and they arrive just as the shutters are being closed. The elderly lady smiles and lets them in. The elderly gentleman comes out of the back room to see what is going on. He still has his eye glass on. He turns to the old tube tv above the entrance, where Prime Minister Business is encouraging citizens to write books and to sit down and discuss them. He claims this is not possible with movies.

The lady takes a look at his far-travelled watch and informs him that a new strap cannot be fixed on. The catch for the pins has been broken. What a shame. The watch is still running fine. He looks around the shop and sees the same watch that he bought 8 years ago. He buys this same watch, at the same price that he paid then. What value!

It is a joyous and peaceful weekend to celebrate. Here's to another memorable, unpredictable and irreplaceable 8 years :-)