Orange Peel Chinese Whispers

For my family, the annual reunion dinner is always a time to figure out exactly who goes where! Over here, we have two large tables in the kopitiam that should be enough to fit twenty easily - but unfortunately that's barely half the number of my rapidly growing relatives.

Once the dinner bell rings, imagine my cousins, uncles and aunts milling about searching for available seats in our very own version of musical chairs with the older generation zealously hogging one dinner table while the next generation grabs the other. Usually leaving the newest members ( think flabbergasted in-laws ) standing in the wings waiting for seats.


The seat's available! Let's go!
Taking turns to eat leaves the rest of us plenty of time to catch up with family gossip. Nothing like a bit of scandal - and some mandarin oranges to peel - to distract the lot from the usual questions of impending marriage! Unlike the years before, we don't only have mundane matters such as pressing housing loans and mediocre exam results to talk about.

There are whispers of adultery in the family. A damning accusation pointed at the most sloppy lackadaisical uncle I have.

Cousin : I heard he's having an affair.
Paul : Seriously doubt it. Have you seen how sloppy he is? Neither wealth, rank nor good looks to recommend him!
Cousin : One woman's tramp is another woman's prince.
Paul : Take a look again. He's everyone's tramp.
Cousin : Well his jealous wife thinks he is having an affair so in retaliation, she has decided to get a toyboy herself.
Paul : Ooh, tell me more.

Orange peels are tossed aside as we lean in for more. Obviously some folks are having double the prosperity this year.