At the Pertapis carnival at Yew Tee, I realized the enthusiasm of Malay audiences. At least, perhaps that is what I saw. They filled the seats under the little tent, and ran on stage as though hula-hooping was the most exciting of activities.
This is their world, where kids don't mind sitting in cramped spaces, squeezing in and out of plastic chairs, imitating their fathers alongside loud bouncy music. They can spend a whole stale afternoon practising skateboarding alone, lending it to policeman uncles having their own celebration in the middle of the void deck. (They offered us apples.) They weave their way around our so-called clinic, patting the guitars. Here, tough, muscular workers slouch by post-performance, sucking lollipops instead of cigarettes, and ask if we need help with the chairs, bid us goodbye one by one.
They cheered Moses and Ben's impromptu electrical rendition of Tanjong Katong and Chan Mali Chan, which was joyfully hooliganish. No-end supply of Mc's orange juice and Hello Kitties, and melting ice-cream. I love Shuyang's endless, encouraging appetite.
I was revisited by a childhood memory too, when imitations of my mum's past doll franchises emerged from the cardboard boxes - Red Riding Hood, with Grandma hiding under her skirt, and Big Bad Wolf behind her bonnet. Everyone screamed. For starters, I didn't find it scary as a kid. I didn't understand "mutated". Anything can fit anywhere, as long as it is part of the story.
Here's to the "CHIHUAHUA!!" gang, hyperventilating conductors, lion-protectors and sneaky video crew. Now drink your water.

***********

Alfian Sa’at read poetry for the CAP Opening Ceremony! *Beams* Yeah, I’m actually enthralled by that fact. I’m becoming like the rest of them. Scary. Jazz, shadow boxes, drum lessons, and cartooning?? Get me back there now! “Lee Shuang Ning” has no ring to it, at all, at all.

***********

All that you reason, (it's only time)
(Love is a feeling on my mind)
All that you sense
All that you scheme
All you dress up
All that you've seen
All you create
All that you wreck
All that you hate...
All this you can leave behind