Katne

Niagara Falls. July 2006.

A not so fine example of two people who were denied a shower for an extensive period on a roadtrip. Coincidentally, today, by request I actually agreed to go to someones place unshowered, as was the host. Who later betrayed me by getting a (long) one and rubbing it in my face.

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Not up till two days ago when I published Kiss, did I find out a dear friend of mine has been following this blog.

Recently when the offer of a full time job was in process, talking to Pial about it when she was back in town for a few weeks, I realise that there would be  no more the times when we both somewhat self-employed individuals could indulge in the convenience of watching a movie during working hours on a weekday. Online a few days ago, she coincientally mentioned this same concern to me.

As with friends that spend time together, many things happened. I will share one that went and will go a long way.

When Pial was in New York for an internship, I went for a visit/holiday for three weeks. My baggage allowance, was 64kg. I promised her before the trip that I could bring back 32kg worth to KL for her.

At the check-in counter at Newark airport, I find out, to my ignorance and surprise, that my seat was  (still) not firm  which meant the Waiting List. This is not always a big issue. But it is, when you only have RM48 (useless) and USD.150 left of the unexpected USD200 loan you had taken on the trip (from Pial when funds ran out).

There, alone, assessing the situation, I called my father and he comfortably said, ‘if you can’t get a seat, just stay on la.’ Besides being broke, of course he had no idea that I had already missed the first two weeks of second year law school and I imagine then was not the time to share my schedule, albeit this was something I did every single semester.

Despite being a solo traveller, to my unfrotunate fate, out of the only few people on the Waiting List, everyone got a seat except me. I am told that I can only get on if I pay on the spot for an upgrade to Business Class which costs USD600. This was forty minutes before takeoff AND I’ve two minutes to decide.

It was about then that Pial arrived last minute at the airport with the suitcase I’m meant to bring back for her. I quickly explain the situation and asked for a(nother) favour. A few minutes after they swipe her card, I am rushing so hastily to the plane that I forget to drop-off my Exit Form.