Fool of a chinak

23 June 1800Hrs...somewhere in PJ

I was going to get a haircut, pegi my regular place tapi tutup. Since I hate my rambut to be sooo lebat I decided to go to the next shop...indian barber. Reminds me of my school days where I'm a regular to this indian barber in Brickfields. It brought back fond memories when I was a kid...some things shouldn't change. I was motioned to sit and I told the barber potong "petak". I like the "flat-top" haircut, macam the "Streetfighter" character "Guile"...only I'm more handsome lah.

The barber knew I was new in his kedai started small talk with me...more like trying to secure future business from me. "Dulu mana pegi potong rambut?" ask indian barber, "Mana mana pun ada, tak pegi satu tempat saja" I replied. "Lain kali mari sini potong lah" he responded. I simply nodded...don't like the idea of being hassled. But I got to hand it to you he took his time cutting my hair, I like that...and constantly asked me "boleh kah"...waahh customer service...he sure earned himself some brownie points. While he was working on my hair some customers walked in. I noticed an old chinese uncle about 60+ years walked in and sat down waiting for his turn.

I think he wanted to dye his hair black because he was holding this hair dye in his hand which was handed to him by the shop's "taukay barber". I was about finished and couldn't help listening to the conversation he had with "taukay barber". In his typical "chinak" accent he asked "Ini (the dye) bagus ah...siapa jual punya?". "Ada supplier india mari sini bagi supply" said taukay in his thick indian accent. To my horror the chinak replied "Ada baguskah...orang india pandai tipu"...how could you say such things you dumb uncle. I would expect you to be wiser at such an age, furthermore you say such things in an indian barber shop? Suddenly, I felt so embarrassed to be there as a fellow chinaman kin of mine made such an insensitive remark.

Well "taukay" wasn't pleased either, he remarked "Semua orang pun boleh tipu, bukan india saja. Awak kena tipu sebab awak bagi dia tipu...ape". Made sense lah what "taukay" said. The uncle just sat dowm smiling, good thing he shut-up. The dude who cut my hair wasn't too pleased either with that remark. I gave him RM50 and it was taking sooo long to get my change. In this time and age, we can still be insensitive about other races. It's understandable for an old uncle to still harbour some racist mentality...but it's sad...some things should change. I just hope the younger & future generation would be different. I got my change and "cabut"...play futsal.

Don't take too big a bite when eating the punani pie, else it's going to taste like shit. Capt says Au Revoir.