:)


8. 弘揚哥

弘揚哥 lives on the corner of our street. 弘揚 seems to be his real name, but folks only refer to him as “older brother.”

Like Hei, 弘揚哥 doesn’t seem to be employed. He’s often seen riding his bike in front of their apartment, going in circles, going nowhere. Otherwise he’s always washing his car. Unlike Uncle Sam, he washes his car with a sponge and not a hose. It looks more like polishing than washing.

He’s always wearing this unsettling grin. No one knows what he’s thinking about. Unlike Hei, he’s frightfully quiet, often creeping out the other neighbors. 弘揚哥 is unremarkably dressed, except that one time when he came out in a fundoshi. All I can remember is that he’s disturbingly pale.

I’ve never spoken to弘揚哥. The only thing I’ve heard from him was “motherfucker!” when some car almost nicked him on the street.