Lamma Island, 7:00PM – Balmy.

Entry 85

Feeling blue inside because it is grey outside, I make my way to work with the mindset of a factory worker who has a quota. Just do the job and reach the number. Then you will feel like you did something today other than just flopping around your apartment like a manta ray against aquarium glass. This is what I tell myself.

I almost flop against my balcony’s sliding glass door, just to see if it helps. 

Later, having reached my quota, I indulge in one cup of frozen yogurt before boarding the Star Ferry to Kowloon where I will indulge in one scoop of mint chip. There is talk that they’re going to get rid of the Star Ferry. I focus on the mint chip. It is my mother’s favorite flavor as well as mine, another thing we have in common, but one of the few things I am willing to acknowledge.

A friend meets me there on the Kowloon side. She orders a scoop of salted caramel and then ushers me to Toys-R-Us. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been in a toy store. If I were a real factory worker, maybe I’d pick up a little something for the kids.

My friend has a photo of what she is looking for, a Hong Kong knockoff Lego set of a white delivery truck called a CLT Van. We have fun inserting the worst vowel possible as we look for her CLT Van. She ends up buying the red Hong Kong taxi instead.

Pep in my step as I ascend the hill homeward. The toads are loud tonight. It’s like I’m walking through a thousand explosive farts. I should do it with my eyes closed next time. Mating season is upon us, I think. Then I text someone I used to date until recently.

I buy a can of Campbell’s vegetable soup at the village shop and throw some rice into the cooker as soon as I get home. Soup over rice with a helping of ‘Nduja from a jar given to me by the rightful tenant of the impostor apartment as a thank-you for me doing pretty much nothing. The person texts back. They’re seeing someone else now. Already?! Well.

I grab my ‘Nduja-y soup over rice and manta ray flop into bed. There is a movie I have been meaning to watch.