The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 14

When the couple returned to Lee's apartment it was vacant except for the cat, Hari. A note on the kitchen counter informed them he was visiting friends in Malacca, Malaysia and wouldn't be back for two days. Malacca is a historic colonial city reached by train from Singapore. It is a popular day excursion for many visitors since the train trip is less than three hours.

"So we've got the apartment to ourselves tonight," Maria said without a hint of suggestion. They discussed several options for dinner and decided to go to one of the steamboat restaurants. "I like this one in Boat Quay, it's on the river. The view is something special."

Relaxing in the apartment before dinnertime would require effort. "I'm afraid to sit down because I'll probably fall asleep," Maria said.

Paul laughed, "Yeah me too. My eyelids feel like they've got lead weights on them." Paul's mind wandered thinking ahead to an evening alone with Maria. He hadn't been close to a woman for a long time and he was too shy to make a direct move of his own. He hoped maybe she would make the first move.

The steamboat restaurant was great fun. Hot Pot is another name used for these popular do-it-yourself cooking experiences. A huge array of bite-size vegetables, meats, noodles, rice, and seafood are combined with a tasty broth cooked at your table. An individual cooker sits on the table containing boiling and steaming broth. You then add in the ingredients you have chosen at the buffet. After cooking awhile you take out what you want to your bowl. It's delicious and fun.

A challenge for most Westerners is using chopsticks. Paul became adept at using the simple but devilish implements during his earlier time living in Singapore but since then he had lost his touch. Paul dropped a few pieces of his cooked treasure. Trying to retrieve his loss he said, "Five second rule." Maria giggled at his self-critical joke. He finally resorted to scooping out the ingredients with the soup spoon and pouring the broth into his bowl burning his fingers. "I'm making a mess but it sure is good. When I lived here, I used chopsticks all the time. Now look at me."

~~~

Maria took a place on the couch in Lee's apartment. Paul joined her not sitting too close. I don't want to press her. "Would you like a Tiger?" Maria said. Paul nodded.

Alcoholic beverages are very expensive in Singapore. Tiger beer for example is almost double the cost of an equivalent beer in the US. Wine is obscenely expensive because of the import fees and the added tax. The prices don't seem to slow people down though. There are bars and nightclubs everywhere.

"We should use coasters for our beer," Maria said. "Lee is particular about his furniture. I've got an idea. Watch this." Maria motioned at Hari the cat who was sitting like a statue in the corner of the living room. The cat immediately came to attention. "Hari, beer coasters." Miraculously the cat ran to the kitchen and came back with a coaster. Maria took it and motioned for another. The cat repeated its task.

"Incredible," Paul said, truly astonished. "I've never seen a cat doing anything like that."

"He's amazing," Maria said. "Lee trained him to do things cats never do." A momentary pause in their conversation wasn't filled by Paul, but Maria asked, "I saw in the conference program you have a PhD?"

"Yes, from Columbia in statistics. I wasn't a great student as an undergrad. Just average. I graduated from CUNY with a degree in mathematics specializing in statistics. It wasn't until a few years ago that I suddenly got the bug to pursue an advanced degree. I became interested in all kinds of things. I couldn't stop reading and studying on my own. Columbia University offered a program for working students where I could take most of my required classes at night or on weekends. I was inspired, so I dived in and for a little over a year that's all I did other than work at the UN. I'm told no one finishes a PhD in only a year, but I did. I don't know what changed to make me able to do that?"