i’m here at comfood, trying out their all day breakfast bowl which is modestly priced at 55 MVR but it’s more a snack than a meal.

on my way here, i was on the phone with faathumaafulhu, and as i was about to cross the street near masveringe park, i saw something special.

‘oh man, you won’t believe what i’m seeing,’ i say.

‘what is it? whatchu lookin’ at?’

‘it’s this cab, man. it’s all decked out in studs and satanist gear. like with a proper pentagram and shit,’ i tell her.

‘a satanist cab? in male?’ faathumaafulhu seems incredulous.

‘yes, and i think i know the guy who owns it. he used to have the skull of a goat on the wall of his apartment. facing the street!’

‘wow,’ she whistles. ‘that’s commitment.’

‘yep.’

‘you know what you should do?’ she says.

‘what?’

‘do a series with male’s weirdos.’

‘hah,’ i scoff. ‘we’d be somewhere near the top, you and i.’

‘why? who says we’re weird?’ she seems a little offended.

‘our friends?’

‘huh. what do they know? anyway, how was barbie last night? i still haven’t seen it.’

‘well, it was ok.’

‘ok? what’re you holding back?’

‘i thought it was a bit heavyhanded with the politics, and tried to be clever and self-aware but not very successfully.’

‘huh, what do you mean?’ she asks.

‘i mean, ahhh you don’t have to beat the audience on the head with your message. people aren’t idiots.’

‘YOU’re an idiot for thinking barbie’d be subtle,’ she says.

‘you should watch it tho, i did get some good laughs,’ i say. ‘but i liked wonder woman so much more. i think it managed to say something similar without sounding like a page of quotes ripped out of a student’s gender studies notebook.’

‘my god, you’re STILL obSESSED with gal gadot you fucking zionist,’ says faathumaafulhu.

“a gentleman prefers brunettes. also, isn’t it funny mattel doesn’t have a woman ceo?’

‘i dunno, is it?’

‘ahh i gotta go, i’m about to order.’

so, alone with my breakfast bowl on this torpid monday afternoon, i concentrate on the flavours. the strawberries, the yogurt, and the blueberries all make it a bit too tangy. the bananas and chocolate bits and granola add some sweetness but not enough to counteract the cascade of sour notes. it needs something, like some honey maybe, and a bigger portion would be good. i pay up and begin my walk back home while around me male bristles with traffic and pedestrians, full of purpose.