A Thirst

By I Simeli Cokanasiga

1 started my usual round of the public bars in the city of Suva sharp at opening time on Friday.

Since it was too early in the day, I didn’t expect to find much. Usually, the chaps with money drink between four and six in the afternoon.

Nevertheless, since I was dying for a drink, I decided to take my chances. _.,. . . . , It was one of these weeks in which there was not a job to be found at the waterfront. I therefore had to turn into a damn blood sucker a namu, throughout the week, as usual. 1 did not care what people thought or said about me because I knew almost everybody who frequented the public-bars and almost every single drinker and sportsman m the city. I knew they regarded me as a valuable source of a few hearty laughs. I was, so to speak, an accepted clown in the city.

Seru was the only barman at the Suva Hotel’s public bar when I got in at about half-past ten. . . „ , Yadra, Ligi, w- 6 ™ me with a smile. ‘Sa la ki ya.

Since no one was drinking there I bluffed, saying that I wanted to use the 100. After wasting about two minutes I came out again and thanked Seru. He nodded and waved.

I slipped through the door and headed for the much-frequented Metropole Hotel.

I got into the public bar at the Metropole Hotel and found it very quiet, and an atmosphere of gross misuse during yesterday’s drinking hours. Jone and Viliame were enjoy ing a beer at the far end of the bar opposite me. I knew that they would not have more than fifty cents each in their pockets because we were all dock-workers and had had practi cal, no jobs to do that week But as good friends, they offered me a g i ass beer j Q e, the barman, knew quite well how much we were worth and bougb t us a glass of beer each before we left for the Garrick Hotel, The crowd at the Ga rrick Hotel public bar did not int erest me be caUse I thought I knew almost every one of them Jone vii iame , and i hurried along Victoria Parade and went stra i g ht to the Club Hotel, Adjacent to the public bar there was a smaller bar which sold beer at a higher price. I could feel that there was gold inside. I stepped by the doorway and cautiously held the two friends back. I peeped inside, Jo m y de light, I recognised a fami liar figure drinking at the bar, I stepped back and turned my right ear towards him. He was joking and having a good laugh with Setareki, the barman. I tried to remember what date it was and realised it was August 30. It was Jope’s pay day of course, and he was on holiday.

“What a find indeed”, I congratu lated myself, feeling very hopeful.

I beckoned to Viliame, and Jone to move closer to me. “You stand outside here, I said. “In five minutes time I will be back to get you in. I kinda smell gold inside there,” I said.

BOTH of them understood. They would not dare to disrupt our hope. I edged my way towards Jope, taking care not to make any noise to attract his attention. I poked his broad back with my left thumb. He jumped and shouted, “ Boci” turned and faced me.

“Hei, bula Ligi,” he shouted, “mai dua na hilo”

“Bula Turaga ,” I exclaimed, and quickly grasped a beer before him.

“It’s such a long time since I last saw you, you’ll never grow old. I am sure of that,” I pulled his leg.

“I don’t think you have changed either,” he remarked.

“What do you mean?” I asked sensing the sarcasm.

“It shouldn’t worry you, knowing you,” he said laughing, “But you do look much more alive since I last saw you.”

“Of course, dear friend, I’m only forty-five and very alive and kicking,”

I boasted.

“And smart,” he added. “I am very glad you still look great, Ligi,” he said with a broad smile. “Cheers”.

After about three beers together with Jope I almost forgot my two friends who by now would be really anxious to join us. When I looked behind us I was surprised to see them there still waiting.

“Bula, Jone! Hei, Vili,” I greeted them, pretending that I had never seen them that day, “Bula brother Ligi,” Jone replied while Viliame nodded to me and smiled, but this was unfortunately self-deceiving. I knew it was a clumsy attempt on our part to hide the truth from our friend Jope.

“Have a beer with us,” I quickly invited them.

“This is Jope, a real old pal of mine.”

I saw suspicion on Jope’s face and I anticipated some tricks from him soon. He would be trying to side step us. I was of course prepared for combat but let me say that I had met and drunk with a lot of witty chaps like Jope and I nearly always got home drunk.

H EI brother Ligi,” Jope said, tap ping my right shoulder. “There’s someone in the public bar wanting to see you,” he continued. All the time he was looking in the direction of the public bar.

This is it, I thought, the trick.

Without saying a word I stood up straight and still, stood at attention like a soldier, turned to the left and back again facing Jope. He laughed and laughed knowing that I had beaten him on this one, “Why didn’t you go to him?” he

said relaxing.

“Oh brother, don’t let it worry you, I will see the bastard some other day, but as for today, even a D 8 will not move me from here.

Also, I only see you once in the blue moon,” I said, patting him on the back.

“Seti, lako mada,” he insisted.

“Sa! me kora noqu la’ki,” I said confidently. He laughed again. He knew he couldn’t get rid of me easily without buying more beer. So he did for three Suva frigs.

"Well, drink up you leech,” he said, and I laughed like a real winner.

Isimeli Cokanasiga