+ my daily treasure is eating somay in the street curb,

we were starving. She didn’t have her wallet, and I forgot to bring mine! I was taking her to do medical check-up on her pregnancy. I fucked up. We can pay Obgyn later on with credit card, I begged the hospital cashier. So that is a relieve.

On our way back, in the middle of the street, she suddenly craved for somay. She really want it, so so bad, I know it’s normal for a pregnant woman craving things, but none of us bring any cash. I told her to wait for a while until we got home, or go to my friend’s house nearby to borrow some cash. But she shooked her head and act like a silly kid.

So she sat on the curb. Tired. And a bit mad at me, but she is still sweet. She waved to one tukang somay who was passing us by with his old bicycle. Somewhat coincindental. And started a conversation with him.

And this is what she said to that tukang somay, more or less: “Hi mister. I really want to eat somay now, and your somay looks really tasty. I do, I really want to. Things is, I forgot my wallet. I know you need profit, and I know things are not for free sometimes. But I really want to eat somay, I don’t know why. My stupid boyfriend here, also forgot his wallet. I really hate him now, you can bring my boyfriend home with you. He’s quite useful, you can tell him to ride around your bike here, and sell your somay. Don’t have to pay him at all. He likes to clean up my house, so he can be a good maid. Right, honey?”

I was so speechless, all I can do was nod.

“I was just wondering, would you be so kind to let me trade him with a small bag of your somay? Just put it in the plastic so I won’t litter your plate. After that, you can bring my boyfriend with you, but promise me to treat him good. I still need him.”

You should see the tukang somay look in his face. At first, that old man stared at her in silence, then Noran smiled at him, she’s using that killer innocent smile she’s usually use to make me fall for her. The smile of young adolescent panda doll who begs for love. And the old man, laughed. He said: “Grab any somay you want. Free. For you. Even your boyfriend. Just next time, don’t forget to bring money, huh? Jakarta is dangerous, you bring no money, you get into trouble. You bring a lot of money, get into trouble. Bring a little, but don’t forget again, yeah, little miss?” and the old tukang somay wrapped us 10 chunks of somay, each! “And no, I don’t need your boyfriend. He better stick with you and take care of you, right, young man?”

Again, I just nodded.
Noran was so happy I can see her jumped off the street a bit. She’s almost like dancing. “Thank you sweet mister! God bless you.”
Tukang somay rode his bike away, saying: “God bless you too.”

Noran sat back in the curb, Panglima Polim St. Under a big big beringin tree. Focusing herself with her somay, enjoying the catch, chewing while smiling at me, she looked like a perfect silly kid, even my 8-yo babysister chelle looks more mature than her. All I can say was: “You just sold me out for somay. That’s not funny at all.”

“Funny? I wasn’t kidding.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, I mention you so he’s also pitying you. I’m a girl, it’s easy for a bapak-bapak to pity a girl. He seems like a very nice old man, by the way, I can see it in his face. But with boys, sometimes old man thinks that they shouldn’t spoil boys.

So I mention you, about you who would help him out in order to get me my somay. So he loves you too. If I didn’t mention you, he would’ve just give the somay to me.

You’re starving. You haven’t got any lunch.”

She left me speechless again.
“Here, sit with me. Come on, finish your somay.” She grinned and pat the curb beside her.



+ my daily treasure is eating somay in the street curb,
with me by her side. The luckiest moron on earth.

~ Jakarta, 22 November 2008