happy day

destination 1: got her wallet fixed
its punky again

walking down orchard road
same but different
with heightened senses
heightened from a sudden delight
that sprang from nowhere
at the revelation of being human
of living
shouts heard of a snatch thief apprehended
outside Wisma Atria (Topshop)
who sruggled like a trapped insect under a finger
limbs flailing wildly flabs a-jiggling
when restrained by 3 security guards

moving on
she was given a red balloon from Gap
her first in years, many years
again a pang of wonder, child-like, poignant, nostalgic
when last had she felt child-like wonder, she wondered

brisk steps forward
a yellow butterfly joins her in her happy solitude
offering a brief companionship, although she hadn't felt lonely
for once.
a friend(a lover from a past life?)
it fluttered erratically around her, circled her,
close to her face
close enough to see it's speckled brown spots
on its beautiful lemony yellow wings
it landed on her hand, passing touch
then on her turquoise blouse

it was as if it knew her

and then she was all at once red(balloon) black(hair) beige(skin) yellow(wings) brown(specks) blue(shorts) turquoise(top) purple(sandals)

her heart was light, it was as if maybe, she could rise into the deep blue sky with her red balloon

and then it left

coming through,
a handicapped peddler
she buys 5 lottery tickets (5 chances at wealth)
5 wishes?
with her orangey ten-dollar note
yusof ishak smiles at her
(for her altruism?)

2nd destination reached:
OG orchard
she goes to find those "comfortable scholl shoes"
her mum likes
black, sensible, responsible, plain
she frowns
they reek of adult
of days spent at the desk
crunching numbers
and she's reminded of the painful blisters at her heels
she decides against buying them for now...
thoughts interrupted, by the vibration at her chest
her phone lights up

"hello"
another friend to join her in her happy solitude
she speaks of the thief the balloon the butterfly
almost incoherently
thankful for someone to share

"sorry for asking you to sing the other day"
an apology for a present?
a first in her life

"goodbye"

a small setback.
but her joy at this excursion is too great
to be shadowed

oh happy day
her heart sings