Let's pay the grocery bill

Maiyuu is fine, for those wondering. He spends his days cooking, sleeping, eating. While I am work, he waits for my return. When not sleeping, he watches TV.

TV is his best friend when he is not cooking or sleeping... but that’s okay. We all have our indulgences. I have my friend Ball and his family to keep me occupied.

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I told Ball’s girlfriend Jay that I would like to buy him a watch.

She agreed to take me shopping while Ball was at work.

Jay and Ball had gone shopping recently and spotted one at a shop at the Lotus hypermarket. He told Jay: ‘I would like us to pull some money together at the end of this month to buy it.’

Ball has a special relationship with his watch, as anyone who has ever sat with him for more than five minutes will know.

My young man is constantly looking at his timepiece.

Until recently, he wore a watch owned by his younger brother, but it failed to keep good time. As the batteries wore down, he would fret over the thing more and more.

Finally, he discarded the watch in favour of a gold band, which I didn’t like.

Perhaps Ball wants something to cover his wrist. I have never worked it out.

I decided that if his watch meant that much to him, I should buy him a one. Why wait until the end of the month? By then, he might have other claims on his money.

Mum asked if she could come. She needed to go shopping for the toddlers in the household.

At the Lotus store, we found a stall outside a supermarket selling Casio watches for half price. Mum and Jay inspected them closely. Jay chose a smart silver watch with a black band. It cost B600.

At the supermarket, Mum dropped a few items for the toddlers into her trolley. We moved on to the food section, where she found items which she knew would appeal to her son.

‘Ball loves this kind of fish,’ she said.

‘Put it in the trolley,’ I said ‘I’ll pay.’

‘Ball loves macaroni. Can we buy him this ready-made dish of macaroni for him before he leaves for work? Normally he has nothing to eat until lunch,' said Jay.

‘Put it in the trolley,’ I said.

After that, we moved on to the groceries section.

‘Ball likes this brand of shampoo,’ said Mum.

‘Yes, that’s the one,’ said Jay, agreeing with Mum’s selection.

Hold on! This is getting out of hand. But I responded as I had before:

‘Put it in the trolley,’ I said.

I ended up paying B200 for items which Ball’s Mum and girlfriend said he would love, but which they themselves had no money to buy him.

Our day at the Tesco store and supermarket, including the watch purchase, and taxi fare there and back, cost me almost B1,000.

'It is the experience which counts,’ I told myself as we made our way back home. When I am 80 and sitting in my rocking chair, all I will have is memories, as my body won't be up to racing about town any more.

Even in my mid-40s, I am still having adventures. Bring them on, I say, before it is too late.

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When the day is over, and we take our fading smiles and weary bodies home to rest, who do we need most?

The Dimming of the Day

Richard Thompson (cover by David Gilmour)

This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day

You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonny birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidante

I see you in the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day