Quong

The writer tells of a Chinese servant, Quong, he had in Bangkok in the 1930's. When Quong walked he made flapping sounds with his white canvas sneakers. The writer was 25, the editor-in-chief of the Bangkok Daily Mail, & his wife was expecting their 1st child. One night during dinner, the writer questioned Quong in pidgin English about the flapping of his feet. Quong confused the question to be about the souffle. He spoke of the "swingsee" souffle. To this day, the writer has tried to figure out what "swingsee" means. He thinks that Quong probably threw the word in to add to the excitement. Recently the writer put on an old pair of sneakers & unsuccessfully tried to imitate Quong's walk.

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