Satiricus was unusually quiet as he sidled into his seat at the back of the Back Street Bar, where the fellas had already gathered. Even though it was “crop time” for sugar, the rains didn’t appear to have heard the announcement and were coming down like Noah was expected in Guyana.
“Or lepto,” Satiricus thought cynically. But he actually said it aloud, as he was wont to do.
“Wha’ yuh seh, Sato?” asked Bungi, who was used to his friend’s non sequiturs. “Me nah hear ‘bout lepto fuh wan laang time!”
“Well, if this rain keep up, I can just see floods on the way,” Satiricus said gloomily. “And lepto making a return.”
“Don’t worry,” said Hari. “Look at it this way: with the rain, your government must be happy they decided to go into rice at Wales!”
Satiricus cheered up. “I never thought of that,” he confessed. “I’m looking at the glass like when it’s half empty when it is actually half full!” He signalled the waitress for a round of beer.
“Da na de same t’ing?” asked Bungi quizzically. “Dem a plant rice a Wales?”
“Don’t play the fool – You know what I mean,” grinned Satiricus as he looked at Hari. “And not only my govt WILL BE planting rice at Wales, the Minister just announced he’ll be building a Rice Mill!”
“Not so fast, Sato,” chuckled Hari. “I think your Minister is milling his rice before he reap his paddy!”
“It’s all in the planning, Budday!” said Satiricus ebulliently. “You can’t wait till you GOT to go to the latrine to start to build one!!”
“Me glad yuh menshan latrine, Sato,” said Bungi as he ordered another beer. “Because me t’ink de Minister full a sh*t!”
“What you talking about?” demanded Satiricus, heatedly.
“Budday, na de same guvment bin mek nuff rice mill and dem had to sell dem off fuh nex’ to nuttin?” Bungi demanded. “Wha’ change since den?”
Satiricus fell quiet.
