⁃ You can take them in a van. It’s way cheaper than you think.

⁃ GoGoVan?

⁃ Yeah man, all the time.

⁃ What about the trains?

⁃ Yeah, you have to take the wheel off, but you can do it without. Depends on the station.

⁃ I’m in MK. Tons of people.

⁃ You should be okay. Mei Fu is the worse. They always get you. You need to play the tourist card. ‘What do you mean? I don’t understand’ etc.

⁃ Will they fine you?

⁃ Nah, just kick you out.

⁃ How we getting home anyway? Train?

⁃ We’ll get a van, can share it to Tai Po and up to Fanling for you.

⁃ Sweet.

⁃ We’ll take the train. Risk it from Mei Fu. I know the station. Can do it fast.

⁃ The gates are near the booth. Good luck there.

⁃ Thanks.

The ginger is gone
You’re kidding me

Housed in a bag, hanging above the hot plate. The bulbs sprouted, reaching for the absent light

Where did they go?
The rats had ‘um, surely –

They were potted the evening before, sitting on the floor of the corridor, the open back of the historic block

Do rats eat ginger?
Food in soil. Suppose so –

The bike won’t start again. Uncomfortable on the Main Street, locals waiting for the space. The cover was also stolen – that $180 binbag ripped for the brake and kickstand.

This is eating money. When did it rain last? I might be lucky. Need some cash to buy a new one before the rain drowns it. Imagine if I was working, or out of town. Maybe it’s the fuel?

I could be drinking a coffee now. Reading a classic. Can I even buy fuel? Need a jerrycan and the social unrest supposedly stopped that. That FB guy did it way out of town, maybe that’s the reason, or was it oil?

Waking up now after an impromptu char siu, and some weak hom cha. Go, and don’t forget your helmet –

This burning is for the ghosts. It’s quiet, the stalls are closed and the streets lesser beings. Feeding rats your spills. Mosquito ankles. Can smell more smoke that you can see. Dodging dripping streaks. Watching the pharmacies go local.

I haven’t seen her for a while, since he dipped out of the group. She never came camping. He’s off the radar and has taken his connections with him. The result of a partnership growing apart.

“She can’t keep him out of the group. It was his baby. He’ll be a ghost of his former self.”
“She can’t be with him if he doesn’t.”

They sat in silence, summing up the impossible.

“It’s arranged away, right? Shouldn’t they just chill and be on friendly terms? I guess there’s a lot of pressure…”
“I think she’s moved out – “
“He didn’t even want to live there. By the airport. Wasn’t it a ploy to keep him out of Central?”
“She works at the airport. I think she pays the rent too.”
“And he’s left in it now? Fuck. If a girl did that to me I’d make her pay and get another in town.”

A deep horn of the ferry interrupts their analysis. The animated obelisk on the opposing shore. Toned limbs in Lycra, regular before.

“Need another beer? My turn. It’ll be a can from the shop though.”
“My girl will be here soon and she wants a g’n’t.”
“I’ll get one of them cans. 7/11. The little blue ones.”
“She’ll murder me, and you,” he says laughing.
“Suit yourself, I won’t pay more than necessary on the steps here. I’ll be back. Look after the bag.”