Breaking Out The Belacan

The family have gone somewhere
like I knew they would.

Today I have offered to cook coconutty vegetable curry
what mom calls Masak Lemak and Por-por called Lodeh
a key ingredient is Belacan
something I will attempt for the first time
to use in white-people land.

So, they are gone and I whip it out
hurriedly toasting it on a hot pan
heart fluttering wildly in my chest
as the prawny fumes permeate the three floors

This is how I find myself standing outside
on the garden step in 6 degree weather,
hot pan cooling in my hand and beanie warming my head

Then, I run around the house and throughly
douse it with Dettol Neutra Air.

No complaints yet. Wish me luck

Tonight, we watch The Rocky Horror Show.