Chapter-6
2016, Dec, 37th Street, at a local teashop
LIN was a bit interested in talking about books and literature. Today, he had an appointment with his friend Oo at Seik Ku Thit (New Idea) teashop on 37th Street. Normally, they met each other for enjoying literature talks and other small pieces of stuff on Saturday morning when they had free time.
Lin was looking impatiently at his watch which said half-past eleven. Today, Lin wore a short-sleeve white shirt, and a Karen longyi (man’s sarong). The costume made him high-spirited. He thought that today’s sun was not as hot as last week because he sensed that the winter started to unfold its coldness in the city, making it more livable.
In the early morning, he noticed that mist was falling down shortly when he opened his window to see the first sunlight. He saw corrugated roofs were wet with mildew. At this time, he liked to tug his feet under the blanket and cuddled up in the bed.
But, he needed to wake up when he remembered he would meet his friend Oo because he got an appointment with him this morning downtown. He told his friend Oo to come down to meet him at 10:30 am, and his friend said that he would come according to the time.
Lin was already seated at a stool outside the teashop. Now, it was nearly an hour gone since he waited for his friend at the teashop. He looked at the empty cup of tea again and poured some green tea into the small plastic blue cup. He was blankly looking at the amorphous steam coming out from it.
He was sitting outside the teashop, feeling the sun was blazing hot on his back through the insufficient cover of the plastic umbrella set up by the teashop. So, he tried to move into the shade, but he was not much success because the sun seems to move to the place wherever he liked to go.
This morning the teashop did not have as many tea drinkers as on weekdays. Three or four tea drinkers could be found inside the teashop. Only Lin was sitting at the premises of it. He thought that he should leave soon because he felt a little bit hungry for having not enough breakfast he had taken in the morning at home.
He called out a thin young girl waiter to get the money for the cup of tea. Instead of coming directly to Lin, she was still wiping and rubbing the washed plates in front of her with the ragged napkin.
Impatiently, Lin called out to her again. “Here, the money for tea!” Only then did she stand up from her seat, and approached Lin. When he was about to stand up from a low-level stool, someone pressed his hand on Lin’s shoulder from behind.
And Lin turned around to see his friend Oo smiling broadly at him, and Oo said sorry for being late. Lin just wanted to give him the best sourness in his mind, but he kept it away and told Oo, “You’re late as late as the turtle in the fable.” “In this pace, you won’t win the race.”
Oo got the sense of sour humor from Lin whose words were really tense, and unwelcome. Oo knew that Lin was disappointed with his late coming. So, Oo thought up a plan to console his friend’s vexation.
“Come on, Lin. Don’t get me wrong, and don’t be too tense on me. I have tried to come here at the appointed time. But, this morning I rushed to go to uptown to carry out my brother’s order.”
“When I came back from there, on the way, as you know, the traffic was dragging me and the car’s tires were stuck as if they were glued to the asphalt road so that I couldn’t make it on time. But, I’ll buy you a plate of Nann (flatbread) with chickpeas. I know you like it.”
Lin thought that how clever Oo was. Oo knew how to console Lin’s anger with his favorite food.
“You’re so cruel and heartless that you let me wait for nearly an hour. Next time, I’ll do the same to you.”
Sensing the determination in Lin’s voice, Oo nodded his head, without complaining anything because Oo knew that in this way he could expel his friends’ anger away. Oo started the conversation as they sat down again at the stools.
Oo shouted “Po Seint (light sweet tea) for me and a plate of Nann with chickpeas for my friend.” Oo was such a naughty boy to tease his best friend Lin all the time. There came the reply from the thin waitress, “Sure, I’ll bring the order as quickly as I can.”
Upon it, Lin cast a disdainful glance at her. But, Oo smiled at the quick reply of the girl who was about seventeen years of age, not knowing the inconvenience between Lin and the thin waitress. And Oo saw the indignant expression of the teashop owner who sternly sat at the counter. Her only interest was counting money and imposing orders on her workers.
Lin faced his friend Oo and waited for the food. Instantly, the food arrived. And, Lin was ready to take a piece off from the Nann which was a bit hot; he blew at it to cool a little bit off. Then, Lin put some chickpeas and fried onion into the piece of Nann which was ready to put inside his mouth.
Oo also felt tantalizing to taste it. But, Oo knew that he needed to give his friend Lin first to taste it. Afterward, Lin was chewing Nann and chickpeas. And they went down his throat; Lin picked up a cup of green tea and gulped it down. He felt now quite satisfied.
Lin’s unclear mind became straightened up. His mood was back to normal after his empty belly was stuffed with food. During the time, Oo took out some old books which he was brought from home. He laid them down before Lin who looked at them fascinatingly.
“Lin, you know, these are from my brother’s book collection. I’ve brought them here for you.”
Lin looked at the books and found that they were good English novels and fiction.
Lin felt very happy and thought what a good friend Oo was and his piqued mind became smooth out again.
2019, March, Yangon With panting and perspiring, Lin woke up suddenly after having dreamt a bad dream. The room was dark and so, he was trying to fumble a jar of water and a cup beside his bed to cool him down. He found the jar and poured water into the cup and drank it after turning on the light bulb. Soon, he felt at ease. When he watched the clock, it said half-past one.He was fully awake and he knew that sleep would not come easily to him in this situation. He did not also want to lie down on the bed again. He stood up from the bed and walked outside. He tiptoed out of his room because he did not want to disturb his uncle’s sleep. When he was out of the house, Lin inhaled fresh air fully.He walked to and fro in front of the house for a while before he sat down on a charpoy under a mango tree. He was looking up at the night sky and found a crescent moon and several stars. Apparently, they were looking down at him. The who
2019, March, a literary event at Pansodan Scene, Yangon On Saturday, a week away from Valentines’ Day, Eli called Lin to come down to Pansodan Scene for a literary event and she thought that it would interest Lin. Lin reached Pansodan Scene at around 11 to attend the literary event.At first, he did not know what the event was. Later, when he entered the room, he saw “James Joyce’s event” organized by an Irish poet who lived in Yangon. When Eli saw Lin, she called him to sit beside her on a bench.Lin readily joined Eli who introduced him to the Irish poet who was also M.C of the event and the organizer of the event. The Irish poet extended his hand to Lin who shook his hands with him.Soon, the event opened and Lin saw some writers including Myanmar writers and foreign writers who would read some extracts from James Joyce’s works. For Lin, James Joyce's Dubliners always inspired Him. He really envied his li
2019, February, a literary walk, downtown YangonLin thought that on Sunday, he should take a literary walk in downtown Yangon. It was a part of his future plan because he would begin a literary walk around downtown. He needed to know some spots that were related to literary history and themes He discussed his plan with his uncle who told him that it was a good idea and encouraged him to do it pronto.. . .On Sunday, Lin left his house for downtown. While he was walking in the downtown streets, he asked this question, as for a Yangonite, what would be the best thing he or she could expect in a city like Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, apart from its burgeoning gorgeous restaurants, and splendid bars.Apparently, Yangon was never devoid of the fun and excitement any city dweller was looking for. In the downtown area, there were several colonial buildings that still maintained their grandeur and significance to visitors and vie
2019, February, Valentines’ Day, YangonLin would meet Eli on Valentines’ Day and Eli was quite happy about it. So, she exclaimed, “Valentine’s Day!” What thrilling word for me. Eli thought. She knew that this year Valentine’s Day would be really special for her because Lin and she became a couple, a month ago.It was such a happiness she felt when they found out they loved each other, especially reading his poem. She thought that one of the most blessed moments of their life was loving and understanding each other.She knew that Lin would love her sincerely because he must have spent much time to write a poem to court her. Every time, they met, he showed much care about her. Not a single time, he missed that task of taking care of her.Eli noticed that Lin all the time glanced at her whenever they met but he never came too close, and he kept his own distance. At first, he seemed a little bit far from h
2019, January, A Talk on Foreign Writers, Freelance Writer’s Club, YangonIt had been two days since Lin arrived back in Yangon from Mandalay's trip. When he went to the journal office, Editor John told him that there would be a literary talk organized by Freelance Writer’s Club.Editor John asked Lin whether Lin wanted to take part in it or not. If he was willing to participate, John could arrange for that. It would start on coming Saturday. Lin thought for a while and he agreed to take part in it. He told John that he would talk about foreign writers who ever visited Yangon (then known as Rangoon).John agreed that and he asked Lin to prepare a PowerPoint presentation. Lin counted the days and learned that it was five days away. When he left the office, he called Eli to come down to FWC on coming Saturday at about 10 am and he invited Oo and Pan Che to attend.. . .When Lin got back home, he took out some books
2019, January, A Trip to MandalayIn the first week of January, Lin’s uncle U Thein Lwin told Lin that he would go to Mandalay and he would like Lin to accompany him. They would go there by train. Lin called Eli and Oo that he would go on a trip to Mandalay on the second week of January and he would be back in three or four days.He told them that he would bring Htoe Mote (a kind of Myanmar delicacy) and Lapet (picked tea leaves) for them as souvenirs. Eli said Lin should take care of his health and she would come to see him off at the train station. Later, Lin called his editor John and explained to him that he would also visit some interesting places in Mandalay and he would contribute some stories of them to the journal after his trip. His editor agreed and so, Lin felt quite happy.. . .On the day when Lin left for Mandalay, at the train station, Eli arrived and saw him off. His uncle U Thein Lwin asked him wh