"It's a hot day", I told myself for the umpteenth time. Yes, it's so hot that I simply can't think of anything else. And it twists my brain trying to understand that at the same time, people at other places are bracing against tornadoes and hurricanes of various names and category.

Of course, it's hard to imagine things when they don't directly concern (read: affect) you, which does not necessarily mean that one is unsympathetic. Such is the selfishness of the typical human race (unless you happen to work for Mercy or Greenpeace or CNN). As for me, at this particular point of time, at this particular co-ordinate of the earth that I happened to be on, all I can think about is that 'It's A Hot Day'.

On a hot day like this, more than 30 years ago, I turned into an adult. Or at least, that's what I thought it was then. It was not even about having those wet dreams or other come-of-age things such as being able to ride a bicycle, having smoked your first cigarette or the like. Nope, my own adulthood began in a hairdressing saloon.

Before you even think about spinning off some juicy rumours, I must hasten to add that my venture into adulthood was actually quite tame. You see, I was about five years old then, and my father used to bring me to this certain 'MGR Hairdressing Saloon' in downtown Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan).

It's a routine and boring monthly affair, and the only thing that made me look forward to such 'outings' was the fact that the mamak barber would never fail to give me some Torrone sweets. Which made me feel good. But a tad boyish.

Now, I'd remember that on every visit, the barber would routinely place a plank on the armrests of the barber's chair. The purpose is for me to sit on that plank, because I was not tall enough to sit on the chair itself. It's no big deal actually, but I found myself starting to envy those boys (most of them already in primary school) who would sit elegantly on the chair proper and flip through magazines like Bujal or Utu san Pelajar . Me, it's always that faithful plank, and I found it increasingly tough to look elegant when you have to perch yourself on that makeshift plank.