Summer, Full Swing- Last Sunday

2 hours ago I burst into my aunt's little apartment
(like the flaming ball of overwhelming energy
that I so am)
shamelessly flinging open her fridge door
(some say this is a bad habit that I have)
in search of 'Asian' delights
she offered me, Spaghetti Bolognese
I turned my nose at it
(thinking bollocks to Bolognese)

Then when she said she was going down
to the 'kiosk' (neighbourhood store)
I went down in search of asian tasting stuff
Maggi mee (scored!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am sitting in what my grandmother would call
'Langh-chia apek position' on the floor
completely fixated on the steaming bowl of
tomyam maggi mee in front of me
(now I know how uncle Ray feels with his ramen)

I have adulterated the maggi mee
with a healthy dusting of chilli flakes
florets of blanched brocolli
and sweet greenland shrimp

My mouth is watering profusely
and I know when I take the first mouthful
I am moaning in a rather orgasmic manner
but I really don't care anymore

In my hand, I hold a book
Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves
ooh yeah baby, steep yourself in
oriental-ness

My nose is running from the spiciness
I am in heaven.

Later we go walking
summer is full swing
people are sunbathing in the parks
couples are everywhere
kissing and canoodling

I pass one couple
wrapped tangled fused
in a steamy embrace
they pull apart
then I see the tears
both are sobbing and my heart goes out to them
how many times do we have to go there?

We go see The Little Mermaid
(every Dane will prepare you for it
telling you 'its not that big', as if trying to cushion
you from crushing disappointment that it's not the
size of lady Liberty)
Its okay people, size doesn't matter (;

I like her, I think she's elegant, sad in a way.

We stroll along Ny Havn,
sun worshippers galore
Sean and I buy ice-cream
"When are you going to make brownies?"
he asks constantly.

We go and do the grocery shopping.



At home in their tiny kitchen
Sean keeps up a constant stream of football babble
I pretend I know what he's talking about
as I melt butter, dark and bittersweet chocolate
over a steaming pot of water

"Who's your favourite player?"
"Michael Owen" I shout back as I sift flour and salt
remembering that years ago Aunt Chris mentioned
him (the last World Cup I think)
"Who does he play for?"
"Newcastle" I hantam, really not knowing jack

I beat the eggs, vanilla and sugar until they have
doubled and become pale
"Is it done yet?"
I slowly fold in the eggs, then the flour
"All we need now is to bake."

Then I discover that their oven
doesn't go to a high enough temperature.

Nevermind, just hantam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just yesterday, I told myself
if I saw a piece of marinated, baked/grilled meat
again
I would poke myself in the eye with a needle

But there was no needle around when my aunt
served dinner, and besides
the brownies were baking.

"Its done!, I shout, you guys go ahead,
I don't like brownies."
"I think its overdone," I say, poking gingerly
My aunt tries some. Her eyes light up.

"Where's the vanilla ice-cream?"
Sean wants to know,
when he discovers we have none,
he insists we go back to the 'kiosk'.

He takes 20 kroners, I go bagless.

First kiosk, none.
Second one, closed.
Third one, Bingo!

I pull out a tub, 'How much is this?' I ask Sean
he takes it up to the teller
comes back, morose, "38 kroners',
he whispers

I giggle, pull out another
"26 kroners," he says glum

I giggle somemore, 'This one?'
'21 kroners!'

He looks at me, I look at him
'You go,' I nudge
'No you go!' he nudges back

The shop owner leans over
Sean smiles
I smile

'How much have you got?'
'20 kroners' says the kid
'Take it', he says
and we run out, whooping like little kid indians

Oh wait, he is a little kid.

"Aja?" says Sean peering into the
huge round brownie dish
"Why doesn't the brownie look like Dome's?"

"Of course it does, look we just have to
put the walnut on top,
then the ice-cream on top,"

"It's beside, not on top."

"Okay, beside.
Then it'll be the same, except better."

"But Dome's is square, ours is big and round,"

"Sweetie, we have to cut it and
it will be the same,
I promise."

Kids these days man, so precise
in their demands
(=