The story of Ah Hock - The wanton mee man (Part 1)

The following story is fictional and none of the characters are real people. It's just a story in my head.

Hi, My name is Ah Hock and I'm a wanton mee man. I sell wanton mee. Why wanton mee? No idea. Its the first thing I learn how to cook when I was young. No special meaning behind becoming a wanton mee man. I learn how to cook and my friend say it is nice and after working for a few years, I have some money and hence I open a wanton mee stall. From a white collar guy to a wanton mee man; is it a downgrade? I don't think so. A little stall tuck away in a small corner of Singapore, I have my own "battle", "satisfaction" to fight everyday and its no difference from office work.

Everyday I have to remember the different combination of wanton mee that my demanding customers want - '4 wanton mee uncle; 1 no chilli, 1 more chilli, 1 add more noodles, 1 soup' and this kind and more funny combination i have to remember. Everyday, I struggled to remember all my customers' orders, trying to please everyone. So damn hard. Why can't they all eat the same thing. Anyway its just only wanton mee. But then again, this is called personalization; customer service; customization... see told you guys already, wanton mee also not much different from office work. Here I also got customer service!

I take pride in the wanton mee I made. I will have quality control: pork that are not fresh I won't want; noodles that are near expire date I won't use; I will use the best and fresh bones and meat to cook the soup and make sure that everyday the noodles I made will taste the same. No difference from office as well, I also have quality control or in short they called QC.

However, my friends are saying why am I hiding myself here in a little stall while there are better work in those tall building with air condition and pretty office ladies. I'm not hiding. It not a little stall. There is more to it. Everyday, those bosses from big corporations will come to my little stall for lunch. Here, they will loosen their ties, take off their coats and you will see that they are not much different from any other guys. Here, at my wanton mee stall, everyone is equal. No boss, no subordinates. Here, you are just another guy looking for a place to sit, to relax and to eat my wanton mee. My wanton mee will give them the energy these busy people needed to fight the battle in their office again. Here, is where they can finally speak freely, gossip and laugh freely without any surveillance from any kind of authority. Here is a "land" of free speech - democracy! Therefore I believe my job is not low, something not desire but a job that has a higher calling than the rest. Without me or any other hawker like me, where will those seemingly important people rest their feet and take a break from the rat race? I believe my job is something although not big but its still a job to be proud of.

Remember me.

My name is Ah Hock.

And I'm a Wanton Mee Man.

                     - Ah Hock