Vydia 2

The food being ready, I pour myself and Mum each a glass of lime drink (made from fresh limes). Casually I place both pitcher and my glass where they will obscure Mum's view of my plate.
Anything less than six spoons full will bring a long enquiry about my health. But it's sticky, each time half of it sticks to the spoon. I elevate the serving dish just enough that Mum won't spot this. So instead of six, it's three spoons.
I tear bigger pieces off the roti (flat bread) and take less of the food with each piece of roti.
I'm almost done by the time Mum gets around to pouring herself a second glass.
As I rise to do dishes, I reflect it always works. But then, I use that stunt with pumpkin only. Rest of the time, I eat right.
Once she is outa sight, I pick out all the shrimp, eat them, consign the unlamented pumpkin remains to compost.
As I take breeze outside, Derek leans across the fence. He and I are like brother and sister, loyally stuck together through three years of doing homework together. Same sort of family problems, we relate exceptionally well. He's also more sensitive than most boys, so I suspect he's gay, but probably doesn't know yet.
"Have I got something way cool to show you!" he asserts, taking out his palm pilot.
"What?"
"You heard that silly Political down the street has a blog?"
"Yes."
"Looky!" touches a button, "ta da!"
I break into laughter, it is a closeup picture of a donkey's behind on top of a post. There is text in English and their language, the English stating the picture to be a portrait of the blogger.
Derek scrolls down, "way too cool. Not just the top post, did that to every post on his blog."
"Just a minute," I protest, "the comment spamming, anyone could do. But this, it is right inside his post. Meaning someone back in Kabul hacked into his blog. Would not be anyone here, we only know English and Hindi."
"Wait til I show the football guys."
He laughs, but I don't join. A vision comes. Whatever drinking this guy does, will get worse. A roommate? I sure hope not.
"You seem serious, sad."
"Derek, I swear to you this is bad news. I wish I could tell you, but Mum swore me to secrecy. Please, please do not show that blog around."
"So this kinda stuff explains why he is becoming one of the better customers of Ramroop's Rumshop?"
I nod.
"And if people here laugh at him, the drinking gets worse?"
I nod.
"Ok, I promise, our secret."