The Trumpeter

I go to a small neighbourhood saloon that occupies half a shop space to have my hair permed twice a year because the hairdresser listens to my requests and does not overrule me with the so-called professional suggestions like most others do. It is a small set up which depends on loyal customers to survive. For almost every visit (even though it is only twice a year) I would meet this aunty who was there for a wash and blow dry. From her conversation with the hairdresser I deduce her family owns a retail business and her children are very successful in their own field. Every conversation that I eves dropped was inadvertently a showing off of family wealth and status. On my last visit however her trumpet blowing attained another new decibel.

It started with her mundane suggestion to the hairdresser to purchase a unit at Tembusu which is condominium development in our area. She said it would be so convenient for the hairdresser to live close to where she works. The hairdresser just muttered 好好. Our trumpeter than announced that she has bought a unit for investment and for renting out. (Yawn - basic boasting, nothing exciting, I thought to myself)

The subject then drifted to citizenship when the hairdresser said she has acquired Singapore citizenship after many years of waiting. She said it was so difficult to get. Our aunty then argued saying it wasn't that difficult and that her son-in-law almost rejected the offer to be a Spore citizen. Son-in-law is a foreign talent and works in a bank. She beamed when both the hairdresser and her assistant declared it was obviously easy for him since he is so highly qualified. (Gosh- I can't read my book when this irritating woman is around)

Then, the hairdresser talked about PM and Goh Chok Tong's walkabout at the hawker centre in our neighbourhood. Apparently the hairdresser shook hands with them. She said that it brought her luck and she touched 4D that very day. She declared that shaking hands with politicians is very 旺 (brings luck). At this point, I put down my book and listened intently. Our aunty didn't fail us. She chided the hair dresser for not taking a selfie. She described how another daughter of hers took a picture when LKY presented her the door key (presumably for a Pinnacle flat). The picture was blown up, framed and displayed in the flat. Since then her son-in-law's business has blossomed and expanded. 真的很旺, 真的很旺, she exclaimed.

Sometimes I wonder whether talent in trumpet blowing is acquired or inborn as it seems to come so naturally with some people. As for me, the only thrill is when I have the opportunity to show off to people who have either looked down on me or who are proud and arrogant. I don't show off to just anyone, if I do I would have refuted both my hairdresser and the aunty's nonsense of being 旺 when you touch a politician. I would have declared Ng Eng Hen deliberately touched me and I have never been blessed with 旺ness. (of course I wouldn't tell them he was a breast surgeon before he entered politics!)