Satiricus was agog at the grog the Opposition Leader claimed was being consumed in the Parliament. Not that Satiricus had anything against drinking liquour in Parliament during debates. Personally, he found his tongue was always lubricated when he imbibed at the Back Street Bar to make him much more eloquent than he normally was!
“So why your leader Jagdesh against our MPs drinking in Parliament when they have their meals?” Satiricus asked the fellas after he’d joined them at the back table.
“’E na ‘gainst de drinking,” said Bungi. “’E ‘gainst dat de likka free!”
“What’s wrong with having a drink or two with your meal?” demanded Satiricus indignantly. “We always do that.”
“A drink or two?” mimicked Cappo sarcastically. “W’en dem rum sucka fram yuh KFC done, dem cyaan even walk back to dem seat in Parliament!!”
“I think the point the Opposition Leader was making was he didn’t mind the drinking, but the MPs should pay for drinks,” observed Hari in his usual quiet way.
“C’mon fellas,” said Satiricus. “That’s being petty, isn’t it?”
“Petty? Petty?!” asked Bungi, his voice rising. “Dem fellas only drink Grey Goose, Chivas and Janny Wa’ker!”
“An’ dem drink am like watah!” said Cappo. “Wha’ mek yuh t’ink Rum Jhaat na mek de vote fuh gi’e tax free to ev’ry Tam, Dick an’ Harrylall?”
“I still think it’s petty!” insisted Satiricus doggedly.
“Budday!” said Hari. “A $700,000 food and drinks bill for every sitting – with most of it drinks – isn’t chicken feed, you know!”
“An’ chicken feed na suh cheap!” smiled Bungi.
“Wid all de drinkin’ in Parliment,” observed Cappo, “now me know wha’ mek dem ah call am “sitting”! Dem cyaan stan’ up!!”
“Well, maybe some of them need a few drinks to get them to speak freely,” said Satiricus. “What about that?”
“Let them do what Jagdesh suggested,” said Hari, with finality. “Buy their own drinks like we do at our Back Street Parliament!!”
