I’m waiting for the world to change

My stint at Canadian Pizza (CP) has finally come to an end. The past one month or so has been bliss (minus the times when Roger is around) making pizzas, side orders and mingling around with people from all walks of life.

I didn’t know Haizad was a former drum major, like me, and he played the drums back then, like me, and he holds a Grade 3 piano certificate… that’s unlike me. Plus he was in JC and is a computer expert no less. Random things I know but that’s how I realized what he really was after a while - Chapalang!

It was kind of a pleasant surprise to know his colourful past. I really didn’t expect that out of him but gua respect sama lulah brudder! (I respect you, bro!)

That’s the back alley of the outlet that I was working in. It’s like a Lepak Korner for the riders and cooks alike. I can picture Rauff, Wan, Kelvin, Firdaus, Imran, Rashid all smoking up their chimneys, crapping their way while Bala sits on a chair, watching them, with his hands resting on his bulging tummy. Hahaha!

Then Roger will suddenly pop out of the back door and shout, “Eh kanina lah you all! I pay you to do work! Now you slack ah! Kanina, smoke also don’t want to call me!”

Roger’s my Big ‘Kanina’ Boss and I really think he ought to wash his mouth clean one day. Even his children are bearing the brunt of his sharp words. But kanina, why talk about him!?!?!

First few days of working was hell. Kitchen work is oily, greasy and sweaty. Not your typical hot bod who works in NUM showing off their steroid-induced muscles by wearing singlets and standing in air-conditioned places eh? But learning how to make the dough and pizza is a skill worth learning.

Wanna know the secret to good pizzas? A few drops of sweat, a pinch of eye, nose and ear shit, and a many, many more drops of saliva spat (accidentally) into the pizza. Now go pick up your phone and dial 6241-0-241 and the friendly operators will be there to assist you.

Abang Zaki once said to me “Go finish your diploma first. After that if you want to further your studies or work, it’s up to you. At least you got a diploma.” This rider is already into his thirties and sometimes it’s this kind of wisdom that I really need to make me realise myself.

Just now after watching the Enjet-enjet semut video, Chandra (the smooth operator) touched on a sensitive issue. But somehow or another the way she says it makes it sound all so sensible and really reflects the truth.

“In every community ah, whether it’s Malay, Chinese or Indian, there will always be good and bad people. If not how to balance? You think Malays got the Minahs, Chinese got the Ah Bengs, we Indians don’t have ah? You must learn how to weigh the pros and cons of everyone and play to their strengths.”

“Everyone must be naughty at some stage of their life. If it’s not during primary school, then secondary. If not, surely during your teenage years or after you get married or when you grow old already. If you don’t experience some kind of naughiness or playfulness in your life, how is it going to be complete?

Wahh!!! I’m moved man by such simplicity in what they say that holds so much depth in the meaning itself. Gua pun cayasama lu lah Abang Zaki dan Chandra!

So all the laughters, moments of boredom especially on weekdays, times when I reflect on my life as I sat on the ledge of the back door will end here. I worked so hard with a pay that’s just barely minimum but hey at least i’ve done a legal work (Pendek kata halal lah kerja tu).

I don’t know if I’ll come back and work in the weekends or not ’cause my course is always packed to the brim with projects. I never thought being in Media and Comm would be like this. Come 16th April I’ll be in my final year already and I can’t afford to flung any of my modules. So I’ll just let time decide….

I miss the guys, cooks and riders.
I miss Chandra.
I miss the days where I’ll cut chillies and onions and make pizzas while singing out loud to the songs on radio.
I’ll miss it all.

ps Wan, I miss ‘Walking the dog’.

pss Anybody want anything from The Body Shop? Last call for anyone that I know. I can get a very lucrative discount that’s worth your every penny for you! Get back to me by this Thursday if you do. While stock last.