Bensimon had been arrested many times, we almost forgot about the fact. The protestors disappeared like tides. It was around January. But the pandemic then striked. The governments were as hopeless as children watching the sand castles washed away. As economies seemed to be put on hold, and classes were to be held online.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkGXI9P7NI
Bensimon spent his time in the free store, and he quitted his studies in music and law. He hummed music to himself and read the news voraciously, vivaciously. Other kids also ignored the social distancing rules in secret, and came to the Thank You store. They loved Thank You store. They liked to try obscure chips, chocolate and ramen flavors. They also ate instant ramen there which were really strangely flavored. Their favourite was to test out what was the ideal time for the noodles to soften, not too hot, not too soft. They loved the ramen the most.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiDqEg372U
“Oh you came too.” Bensimon cracked a smile while he saw me. He was in his usual blue T shirt which was signature for his bookish look.
“You sure love working here.”I said, cracking up a smile too as I saw him. I mentioned nothing about his arrest and pending court attendance.
“Would you like to try some of our cup noodles? It’s almost ready.” He handed me a Black Garlic pork soup flavored noodles. I guessed it was a typical Cantonese flavor. He opened up an extra can of black beans oily canned fish to go with it.
Tenderly, he cracked the bamboo chopsticks for me.
“It’s hot, be careful.” He said.
“It’s fine.” I said, getting his noodles. “Have you eaten?”
“Oh I am good, I usually just snack up. There’s plenty of food here.” Bensimon said, his smile is almost foolishly sweet.
“You know, when I was small, I never had the chance to learn anything because I am poor. All the kids had hobby classes, learned swimming, or instruments, or something. I don’t know how to play anything. I too poor to learn sports or music since he was young. So I was never part of any team sports or orchestra growing up. I watched those kids with envy. But I could play the youtube. I keenly learned how to appreciate music. But I knew all the tricks of a music, how the voices blended together, how one would sing above the others, and the melody lines converged. I could go hiking, and read the news. It gave me a sense I was there with the other kids. And working in the free shop reminded me of that feel from childhood. It gave me a sense of solidarity for the first time. Packing items, labelling expiry dates, persuading people to take stuff, handing out brochures and explaining the rationale of the shop, gave him a role to fit in the world.” He blushed his hair from the centre to the side, without drama, just naturally him.
Did I like him?Why did it have to be Bensimon? Why did he have to be hit by delusion and strange political ideals? And the noodles was good, and the more I ate, the hungrier I became.
“Let me go show you something, something really special. Wait for me here. I am sweating too much.” He went for a long time, and I decided to follow him. I peaked into the dark shadow behind where he was.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86K7r7Jqzo
Bensimon was removing his T Shirt and wiping himself with a towel. His pale body was smooth and stone like. He looked like he blended in well with the vertical grass outside. When did Bensimon grow up and become such a young man? What a sight to behold! It was a beautiful scene, but in my guts, I had an ugly and rough feeling. I did not know where that feeling came from. Because he was almost so naturally beautiful. I guessed it was because it inspired something maternal in me, and nothing sexual. Thinking about it, almost made me want to cry. But the warm taste of MSG was still in my mouth.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg96z6HceOJ
For a second, I almost imagined, again, what would it had been like. If the house ever extra space for us to have sex. Bensimon’s pale body rubbing against mine, and his lips pursed, and the place around us falling silent. While more important things like grades, salaries, families’ comments, realities constraint all melting away.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Or6rvFz8z
I peaked onto Bensimon for around a few minutes. Until he decided to put his shirt on again. I looked away, and walked back to the front of the store. The light felt different as I came out. I thought I might have been lightyears away.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70PvG78k0M
“Come this way. You never thought you still see these.” Bensimon said, perking from behind the curtails. We walked to the back of the store.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosjWoXmZPy
Lying there silently were a few capsule egg or card machines. Those were oldy machines.
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNNmMupmG8
“Haha I didn’t know these things still exist. Card machines. They are like sticker machines. Must have died out already.” I said, laughing out loud. “Now kids buy the kids from online. I remember your capsule egg theory. Safety net plus Murphy’s law.”
171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiQu2dBHQQ
“Would you want to try your luck today?”He asked.
“Let me see… which one would I want?” I asked innocently, pretending to look at the ad on the capsule egg machine. The funny thing was, no matter how hard I tried to remember it, I couldn’t remember what toy I got or what happened to it now. I must have misplaced it. I didn’t look at the ad on the machine, and I inserted $5 and out came a shiny egg. Cha-Ching!
ns216.73.217.23da2
and then Add to home screen.