date

coffee and palmier
dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a palmier in one hand and a thermos of coffee in another, he heads home to a house he doesn't live in, save for 4 days out of the month. he climbs up the spiral staircase to the bedroom. she's at the vanity. he places the thermos and pastry in front of her then reclines on the bed, admiring her as she sips her coffee, tames an unruly curl, takes a bite of palmier, fastens a clasp on a necklace, puts on stockings; neither of them are in a hurry for her to finish her toiletries.

banh khot
the tiny stall is packed with hungry diners waiting in front of dimpled pans in which a mixture of rice, coconut milk, and scallions is sputtering in oil. when the banh khot with dried shrimp and mung bean come out, they are perfectly blistered and crisp. she eats deliberately. he can see her mind working. she knows the basic recipe, but cannot discern the ingredient or technique that distinguishes these cakes from the others at the market. he laughs as she looks from their empty plates to the coveted batter next to the fire. he lets her take one last look, then takes her hand and they exit onto the street.

che
before too long, a vendor stops in front of them. in today's yoke are mung beans and red beans in coconut milk, neatly poured into plastic bags, each with a straw fastened by rubber bands. they take two bags and resume their saunter.

cine
the marquee advertises charlie chaplin's "modern times." they walk toward their seats, arms carrying beef jerky, coca-colas, and popcorn. the cool and dark of the movie house and her perfume do their magic and he falls asleep halfway into the film. this time it's she who indulges him and lets him sleep. when the movie ends, she nudges him awake and takes his hand to leave the theater.

roasted quail and carp
dinner is a more formal affair at a restaurant specializing in cantonese cooking. they order the roasted quail with watercress and carp steamed with ginger and scallions. it is only after the two dishes come to the table that they realize that they have just ordered from their wedding menu.

coffee
a few turns and the grinder yields enough coffee for two. they lie on the bed while the hot water percolates through the grounds and prolongs a day luxuriously absent of time schedule and economy.

accounting
they were married for almost 9 years, but if he were to add up all the days, the time my parents actually spent with each other would amount to no more than 8 months; a collection of brief food, sleep, and leisure-filled reprieves that never lasted longer than a weekend at a time.