Yum Cha on Saturday morning

The woman opposite

bangs her teacup on the table after washing it

"Woke up late"

said her to the next table

"Cant have my kingly seat! "

The waitress was a bit late serving her tea

and when it arrived

poured it for her

(our tea pot was just settled on the table)

A food busing lady went past

though not serving her, greeted

"Si Tau Poh"

Oh!

No wonder

So we have invaded her territory, their kingdom

disrupted their peace

on this Saturday morning

in this Chinese Tea House

which we dont ususally frequent

for our small tete de tete

And she knows everybody

and everybody knows her

And she called across tables

to exchange conversations

the food they have eaten

last night's TV shows

documentary about travelling in China

and places she has been

how she filled two train carriages with goods

She bought all the way from Beijing to Hong Kong

How places looked nicer now

than years back when she had been there

About some pungent smell downstairs

from a suspected dead

and a murder?

The strange hammering sound all year round

and the people not complaining

"The climate has changed"

"It's getting cooler"

"Colder in China!"

"Bill please!"

Her table mate has left

and she walks to a table across

and continues her conversation

about her health her failing body condition and

is gone.