100 RMB Notes

I picked up a pencil and started marking a little "FF" on each of the hundred RMB notes.

"The usual tactic taxi drivers may employ is simple," you explained. "When you hand them a hundred RMB note for payment, they will pretend to study it. After a while, they will claim that you have given them a counterfeit. However, in the process of returning your note to you, they will switch your real note with one of their own counterfeit ones, thereby profiting your hundred RMB."

"In such a situation, just remain calm," you continue. "Pretend to curse that you have been handed a counterfeit and take your time searching for another note to pay him with. Then, claim that you have lost your passport or identity card and get the driver to take you to the nearest police station. Report the incident to the police when you are there. It is but a simple matter for the police to search the driver and find the marked note you used for payment earlier."

I nodded and started marking the second stack of notes.

TJ At The Gym

Coming through the entrance of the gym, I caught sight of TJ on the decline bench doing crunches. I nudged you and pointed TJ out; we haven't bumped into TJ for a while.

TJ came into the changing room in a while.

"Finished your workout?" I asked casually.

"Ya," he replied smilingly.

As usual, I changed into my gym gear and headed to do my warm-up run while you made a detour to the toilet before heading to the cardio machine. I had done the second set of my third exercise when I saw you stepping onto the cardio machine. "That was a long time to spend in the toilet," I thought, lifting the dumbbells for the third set.

"I was chatting with TJ in the steam room just now," you told me later. "He has been going places."

"No wonder you took so long in the toilet," I answered.

"Seems he will be going out of town these coming weeks."

"That's all he talks about, his trips," I remarked.

"Yes, come to think of it, I have never conversed with him on any other topics but his trips."

Off Day

For months and months, you've been working 7 days a week. Finally, you decided you needed a break. So on Thursday, we woke up at ten and lazed around till noon before making our way downstairs for brunch.

"What do you want to do today?" you asked.

"We could catch a movie with my Citibank rewards movie voucher, go shopping at Sim Lim Square or we could even go over to Johore," I suggested. Then looking at your overworked and haggard face, I added, "Or we could just stay home and watch TV."

"That sounds good," you agreed. "But I have a craving for laksa now."

You joined the queue at the Sungei Road Laksa stall while I picked a table and sat down. Soon you carried a tray with two bowls of laksa to the table. I thought the gravy was rather salty that day but without a pair chopsticks, I was forced to sip down some of the gravy in order to get at the noodle. You, on the other hand, were delighted to finally quench your craving and slurped at the gravy greedily.

Out of nowhere, a hand pushed 6 packets of tissue onto the table and a finger pointed to the one dollar change you obtained paying for the laksa.

Simultaneously, we both refused, telling the tissue lady to retrieve her packet tissues. This time, however, she was quite insistent and refused to move away until you told her that her tissue was unsuitable for our use several times.

"So apparently she has to work afternoons too," I said.

"She's getting desperate," you observed.

"Well, not desperate enough to stop smoking," I replied as the tissue lady lighted up another stick of cigarette.

Sai-Pia

Mom was elated because she had just found a new brand of sai-pia selling in the market.

"See," she said, pushing a carton to me. "They have not been sun-dried so they are very moist and succulent."

Mom wanted me to take some to you because she said you loved sai-pia too. I eyed the dried cakes of dark brown sweets with some disgust and replied reluctantly, "Okay, I'll take some over this weekend."

Later that evening, we had had dinner at the hawker centre near my house and were strolling around the market when I spotted the familiar dark brown cakes in the plastic carton.

"Your mother-in-law says you would like this," I told you pointing to the sai-pia.

"How much is it?" you asked.

"$1.50."

A Fake Marriage Proposal

For the want of something to talk about, I told you about the marriage proposal I received on Fridae.

Original Message ---------------- hi,nice to meet u.something need u help? im lesbian,29 yrs old ,not pr here,from china need marriage cause my parent wish.will u/gay freind can help me solve it?im seeking seriously & hope somebody can solution with me.any news/discssion pls reply me asap& leave any hotmail add /mobile num to easy programming,thanks.. email:***_******@hotmail.com

My Reply --------- Sorry, can't help you there. It's against my beliefs to use marriage as a convenient solution to any problem or financial gain. Call me a romantic, but I prefer to live in the idealism that marriage is a commitment made between two people who are in love. I hope you will be able to find some other solutions to your problems.

You sniggered but did not make an alternative proposal.