tomyam noodle

I was standing in front of a food counter at the cafeteria, waiting for my bowl of tomyam noodle (to be prepared). It was the only counter there that morning. And in front of the counter, hung a crudely made sign, “TOMYAM MEE - RM 2.00″ (which literally translates to “Tomyam noodle - 2 friggin bucks”)

A few blinks later, in came this lanky technician… let’s call him Ralph. Ralph walked over to where I was standing and greeted.

Ralph : “Hi Michael.”

Me : “Hi Ralph.”

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at my bowl of tomyam noodle, which was still being prepared by the shapeshifter kitchen helper, then turned back to me and said

Ralph : “So, you’re getting yourself a bowl of tomyam noodle?”

I briefly glanced at the “TOMYAM MEE - RM 2.00″ sign, before replying him

Me : “Yeah, I guess I am.” [look at sign again]

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at my bowl of tomyam noodle, then turned back to me, and said

Ralph : “Tomyams can be very hot and spicy, do you know that?”

I paused for a moment, then turned to look at my hot and spicy bowl of tomyam noodle, then responded

Me : “Oh, ok. Thanks for telling.” [nods repeatedly...]

He then walked off, probably relishing the moment of what it must have felt like to be a smart person. Educated a degenerate engineer like me about culinary delights… how about that? Had he not told me that tomyams are hot and spicy, I probably would have still thought that it tasted like tiramisu… Goddamn!