On the South China Sea, Part IV
On the South China Sea, Part IV
Early this morning, after having breakfast
alone with four lotus blossoms, I return
to my room and start setting the terrace table,
leaving the room-length sheer curtain drawn.
I put out the sugar packages
and the creamer, and go back inside
to get the dishes and silver.
When I go outside again, all the sugar packages
are gone and the creamer is empty.
I set the table and return to the room
to refill the creamer and get more sugar.
I put everything out once more
and hear some giggling. Yes!
Definitely baby orangutans!
I step back into the room and,
hidden by the curtain, watch
as two juveniles sneak onto the terrace
to steal some more milk and sugar –
their favorite treat. Just before
they grab it, I dramatically slide
the curtain open and shout, “Aha!â€
They immediately go limp and sit
on the floor and start playing with some
leaves and twigs,. But even orangutans
blush! They glance up at me innocently –
one of them starts to whistle.
I step out onto the porch and, with my arms
folded over my chest, start tapping my foot.
This is the universal gesture
for “I’ve got you, smartypants.â€
They stop playing and the whistler says,
“Sorry, but you know how much we love
gula and susu*! Why do you tempt us so?â€
The other one says, “You think you understand
the world, but you know very little. I bet
you can’t name three members of the bat
family.†I have to agree with him.
I lower my arms and stop tapping my foot.
Then the other one yells out,
“Mama, papa and baby bat!†and they
scamper off into the woods laughing.
– Kanan Roberts.
*Gula is sugar; susu is milk in Malay.
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