| Power outage! Suddenly, my computer crackles | | | | and decide against it...I walk further...into |
| and the screen blacks out. That means I can | | | | the main shopping area and notice more |
| neither write nor browse the internet nor | | | | flower-sellers as they push their wares into |
| check to see if I have any interesting emails | | | | the faces of couples...they don't bother |
| or Valentine's Day wishes. I pull on my thick | | | | me...single men with beards have no need for |
| winter jacket and step out of my apartment. | | | | flowers on Valentine's Day, they probably |
| Might as well go see the sights of Huainan on | | | | reason. I ignore them as they did me. Tat for |
| this special lovers' day, I tell myself as I | | | | tit!Crowds swell in the prelunch hour as I |
| step out the door of my sanctuary.The | | | | stroll singing my song that no one seems to |
| stairwell windows are frosted. I wonder if | | | | hear or understand if they do. I hope some |
| that means it's warmer outside than inside. | | | | pretty girl will smile at me and push her arm |
| As I step out the glass doors of the building | | | | into mine. No one does...my song lies wasted |
| that houses us guests I sense the balmy | | | | like some flowers will tomorrow...thrown onto |
| warmth that spring welcomes all life with. | | | | the pavement following a quarrel or whatever. |
| Yes, spring is in the air! I recall hearing | | | | At least my song lies wasted without a |
| the birds, the few that have not ended up on | | | | quarrel, I console myself.Valentine's day |
| dinner plates and soup bowls, chirping | | | | seems to be big all over China. They already |
| excitedly to their mates. Perhaps, something | | | | had their own and now have an extra one, an |
| tells them, too, it's Valentine's Day! I | | | | import. Well, I suppose, appetites are |
| smile to myself, thinking how many eggs will | | | | growing and celebrations need to keep pace |
| lie waiting in little nests atop branches a | | | | with them. I walk on...until I find myself at |
| few weeks from now. 'Love is in the air, love | | | | the glass doors of the building that houses |
| is in the streets, love is on the trees...' I | | | | me and my kind...I climb up the four flights |
| compose a song and hum to myself. A few | | | | and enter my apartment. Power is back and, |
| hundred metres away, I unzip my jacket - it | | | | thankfully, it got there before I did, I |
| feels hot inside those padded jackets.Every | | | | think to myself. I switch on the computer and |
| few metres there's someone selling roses and | | | | wait as it hums and crackles back to life.I |
| assorted flowers. I pass by a florist's and | | | | log onto a chatsite and wish everyone a Happy |
| notice they have extended their shop onto the | | | | Valentine's Day. No one responds, except one, |
| pavement for the day and will probably | | | | with a 'where are you from?''My mother's |
| overcharge every customer, too. Some flowers | | | | pu--y', I want to answer out of sheer pique, |
| have the ends of their petals dipped in | | | | but desist. It's Lover's Day! Perhaps, on a |
| silver and gold, adding sheen to the already | | | | Lover's Day such as this, I was planted. |
| beautiful...like a sexy siren that paints her | | | | 'Love is in the air, love is in the streets, |
| lips, darkens her eyelashes and adds some | | | | love is on the trees...' I hum to myself, |
| glitter to her cheeks and temples...They - | | | | 'love is everywhere...but where on earth am |
| the flowers look beautiful...and I touch one | | | | I...'Rajesh Kanoi (Jack) is a published |
| to see if it's real or fake. There's so much | | | | writer, now living and working in China. Many |
| fake stuff around these days. It's real! I | | | | of his short-stories, poems and articles have |
| want to buy a few...but feel silly buying | | | | been published, including a book of |
| flowers and strolling aimlessly around, a | | | | short-stories, 'Tales From China' (Lipstick |
| bunch in hand with no one to give them to | | | | Publishing). |