The Sesame Ball

I saw the old gentleman from the corner of my eye. He was tall with grey hair. Must've been 65 years old. He was standing outside the Kopitiam, under a tree, eating a sesame ball (A sesame ball is a Chinese pastry filled with black bean paste and sesame seeds on the outside). I was sitting at a table, enjoying my kopi and watching people go by. He looked at Polka and smiled to himself. I finished my coffee and started on our usual route to Fort Canning. The gentleman was still standing under the tree. As we passed him, he suddenly called out, 'Hello Doggie'. In true Polka style, she responded by jumping on the gentleman and wagging her tail. The startled man stepped back while I quickly pulled Polka away saying, 'Naughty Polka! Bad Polka!'. With an apologetic smile, I hurriedly walked away..

After a week or so, as I passed by Kopitiam, Polka started wagging her tail at a gentleman sitting on the steps. He said 'Hello'. I realized it was the same one with the sesame ball. I smiled, 'She remembers you!' He was visibly pleased.  After the customary 'how are you' and 'good byes', Polka and I continued on our walk.

I'd completely forgotten about him - till recently. I saw him standing next to the lawn opposite our apartment.  He was thrilled to see Polka and vice-versa. Then he got chatting, 'I saw a similar dog in Israel. If you don't mind can I give a treat to your dog ?'  I was hesitant to agree, 'Well.. Umm.. she has to go poo first .. maybe some other time'.  He responded, 'Ok!  Lets go to the kopitiam then!'

I was still trying to figure out if he hadn't heard me or had decided to simply ignore me when hubby arrived.
                                                               
Hubby in a low voice: Whats going on?
Me: He wants to give a treat to Polka.
Hubby: Why?
Me: Well... he is Polka's friend.
Hubby:  ???
Me: Umm.. Polka met him couple of times before this and he likes her.. I guess..
Hubby: So where's the treat?
Me: He wants us to go to the Kopitiam with him!
Hubby: Why do strange things happen only to you?

I handed Polka to hubby with a smile. So the gentleman, Polka, hubby and me headed to the Kopitiam. 

Me: So how long have you lived in Singapore and Israel?
Gentleman:  Am actually half Israeli and half Singaporean. I've lived mostly in Singapore. I went for a couple of weddings to Israel.
Hubby: So you stay close by?
Gentleman:  Farther down - but I come here to visit the temple.
Gentleman: Would you guys like a drink?
Hubby and me in unison: No thank you. Some other time!
Hubby: So you must be close to the other food mall. We used to stay on that street earlier.
Gentleman: Yes. I stay in a landed property there. It's the house for the aged and poor!

Hubby and I go silent. We exchange glances. I can see the accusing look - How can you agree to this? He must be already low on cash!

Upon reaching kopitiam, the gentleman goes inside to get the treat. We stay out with Polka and I try hard to avoid hubby's piercing eyes. Luckily, two girls come by and start playing with Polka and provide the needed distraction. Soon the gentleman returns, hands me a brown bag,  'Its hot now. Give it to her when it cools down. Bbye.'
I turn back to look at him, he smiles, waves his hand and vanishes into the crowd.

We continue walking with Polka on the crowded street and eventually reach the park. We sit down and open the brown bag. 

It's a sesame ball!

Polka Woof

"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog."

- Edward Hoagland

Happy Birthday Polka!

Polka was born on Dec 19th 2009, as per her medical records. A Sagittarius girl. According to Linda Goodman's Sun Signs book - every female teenager has read her book including yours truly - "To the Sagittarian, life is secretly a circus, and (s)he's the clown, rolling and tumbling through purple hoops in a sky-blue suit”. This describes Polka perfectly - a happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit!

For her birthday, Polka got a lot of treats and toys. As a special treat, she was even allowed to sleep on the bed with us! We decided to take Polka to the Animal Lovers League (ALL) farm from where we'd got her nine months back. The volunteers were happy to see her - the little puppy they'd known had grown into a big, strong, wonderful girl.

Polka was left behind in an off-leash park next to the farm. She was known as Kiwi then.. This was the story that was put out by ALL at that time:

"Cases of abandonment and cruelty continue to soar. Little Kiwi is one such case. Kiwi’s owners simply left her behind. Never to return. The poor girl sat in a field playing with the dogs as they ran by. One by one, the dogs left for home, with their owners. Kiwi’s owners were nowhere in sight. This innocent girl was left without water and food. All she had on was a red collar. We looked around anxiously for the people who left her behind. Nobody knew or saw her owners. We waited and prayed they would return but nobody came. How harsh and cruel this world can be to the young and innocent who ask for little but love and a roof over their heads. Little Kiwi remains as happy as can be. She loves the company of other dogs, bigger or smaller than her. Kiwi is amazing. Despite her sad tale, she continues to brighten our lives. She seems to know no sorrow. Do you have a forever home for Kiwi? She is young and deserves far more."

I guess Kiwi (now Polka) thought it was all an adventure. She was 2 months old when she got left behind in the park. I can imagine Kiwi looking around for her owners, perhaps her mother, trying to find a familiar face among the crowd.. She must have sat patiently having full faith that everything would be just right. When she was taken in by the kind folks at ALL - the farm with hundreds of dogs and cats must have caught her fancy. Her big eyes must've lit up, 'This seems like fun. So many dogs to play with'. She was kept isolated as her immunizations were not done but she must have said, 'I must be special to get a room for myself. That’s so cool'.  When we met her at the farm, she wagged her tail and was ready to play. There was no sorrow or fear written on that beautiful face and every stranger - human or dog - was treated with a delightful jump. Polka surely must see life through rose-tinted glasses!

When Polka arrived home for the first time, she ran into every room and back and then looked up at us with her large inquisitive eyes, as if to say, 'And the adventure continues. Life is indeed a circus and I always take centre-stage. After all, it’s all about rolling and tumbling through purple hoops in a sky blue suit. Isn’t it?’

Happy Birthday, my dear Polka!