I

Even tho^* Neng Congnai¹ had that pleasant conversation with Sumati on the telephone and even tho they agreed to meet for an interview, Neng is still in doubt whether 'e^* really should employ someone for the job. However hopeful 'e is that the restaurant 'e bought will be a success eventually, every time again that one fact thrusts itself on the owner's mind: no-one has come in yet since the new restaurant opened almost three months ago.

It would have been infinitely easier if Neng Congnai, a Dutch citizen of Chinese descent, had started a Chinese restaurant in the Netherlands, for such restaurants, which serve Indonesian food as well, are very popular among the Dutch natives. Neng understands this only too well. Yet, Neng's restaurant is in the center of Amsterdam close to a busy street, so its location is near-perfect. And copies of the menu are clearly displayed on both the window and the door, the letters in big, colorful fonts. And people have been looking at them. Nevertheless, not one person has ever decided to enter until now.

Well, this is not the whole truth, for on the day of the opening Neng's parents and a sibling came for dinner, and they were very polite and they seemed to be pleased when they left. But even they, Congnai's own relatives, never returned or inquired how things were going, except that Congnai's parents ask 'im^* every once in a while if it would not be better to add some of the well-known wholesome and delicious Chinese meals to the menu. And then, one time there were no fewer than four people who came in around three o'clock in the afternoon, not for dinner but for 'a light snack' -- as they called it. They were foreign students on a tour and said that they certainly would have come back for dinner sometime, if they had lived in Holland. However, they lived somewhere in North America and never came back.

In spite of all this, Neng Congnai has decided to grant Sumati a job interview for two reasons. Firstly, 'e has noticed that some people have been looking at the menu on the window a little bit longer than before. It even seems as if they are sometimes seriously discussing the menu. So 'e entertains the expectation that the restaurant will soon have its first visitor for dinner. At the same time, however, Neng cannot afford it much longer to stay at the restaurant 'imself every afternoon and evening. For even Neng Congnai needs to pay for the maintenance of the building and even Neng Congnai needs money for all the petty and less petty expenses of daily life. So if there is someone who could take care of the restaurant, a neat and intelligent person, this would be a great relief for 'im; provided, of course, that that person can be trusted.

Everyone will agree that quite a few things were already in Sumati's favor when Neng Congnai talked to 'im on the phone. First of all, Sumati had a pleasant voice and spoke quietly and clearly. 'E used a rich idiom and correct grammar. And 'e is a Dutch citizen, not like Neng of Chinese but of Hindustani descent. Sumati's family hails from Surinam and, further back in time, from Indonesia and India. More importantly, however, 'e studied in England for two years and therefore also Sumati's English is far superior to that of those who speak it in the average bar or in an ordinary restaurant. In a city like Amsterdam, with tourists from all over the world visiting and nowadays also with people of so many different ethnic backgrounds living there, this is not a superfluous requirement.

Neng Congnai was also pleased to notice that Sumati addressed 'im with Dear Person. For 'e knows, and 'e is certain Sumati knows too, that traditional Sirs and Madams frown on this usage and protest that it will lead to a sexless or, even worse, a loveless world. As if the Person-users do not have equally male and equally female bodies, and additional masculine and feminine names and pronouns to be used especially in a context in which sex or gender is relevant. But if and when it is not, they use gender-transcending pronouns, like the high-pitched Chinese ta for the third person regardless of sex. Neng pities those who desperately want to be regarded not as people but as men and women in every and any situation, day and night. 'E would like to tell them of the Dao, the Way, in Lao Zi.

Reversing is the movement of the Chinese Dao. Everything involves its own negation. The general rule for the person practising enlightenment is to begin with the opposite of what 'e wants to achieve. Be the owner of little and you shall obtain. Be hollow and you shall be filled. And the Old Master should not mind a new example: Be nonsexual and you shall enjoy the erotic. For being nonsexual, that is, refraining from this kind of irrelevantism, is what Person Neng aims at in 'er^* civilized restaurant.

When Sumati comes for the interview the good impression Neng Congnai has formed of 'im at the telephone is only enhanced. Sumati is impeccably dressed, not at all fashionably, perhaps, even not elegantly, but definitely in a simple and tasteful manner. It is exactly the way Neng wants 'er future servant to be dressed. In addition --and 'e could never have demanded it-- Neng finds the young person opposite 'im fairly attractive: 'e possesses a natural beauty which will definitely appeal to everybody, to every man and to every woman, with a sense for the esthetics of the human face and body. 'Er certificates, too, are good, but there is still one thing to be found out. Does Sumati realize what 'e is getting 'imself into and can Sumati handle the situation? Neng is honest and tells Sumati everything about it. Not only will 'er wages of necessity be low; 'e will even not be able to start on 'er new job right away. Neng 'imself will stay in the restaurant for a few more weeks before Sumati will be asked to take over.

"Sumati", Neng Congnai says, "i^* very much appreciate it that you'd like to work in my restaurant. You speak several languages, you have studied at some very good schools, your appearance and attitude please me, but i'm still in doubt whether i should take you on as my servant. Do you realize, since i can't afford a cook yet, you'll also have to prepare the dishes in the kitchen yourself?"

"I do, Dear Person" Sumati answers, "But why are you in doubt? I'm prepared to give myself, just as anyone should be prepared to give under these circumstances."

"Yes, yes, i know. The merchant gives merchandise, the farmer rice or potatoes and the teacher teachings. But what can you give now, that will be of special use under the present difficult circumstances?"

And this Sumati answers: "I can think, i can wait, i can fast."

And Neng Congnai does not ask any further questions, for Neng, too, is familiar with Hesse's novel in which these famous words are spoken by Siddhartha of India. At once, Neng is 300% sure that here in front of 'im there is the right person for the right job at the right time. All Neng's previous doubts evaporate. 'E gets a form out of the top drawer of 'er desk and begins to fill in the contract.

Sumati is hired on the spot.

II

After three weeks Neng Congnai informs Sumati that 'e can start.

The first day no-one comes in.

III

The second day no-one comes in.

IV

The third day no-one comes in.

V

But around 7.50 p.m. on the fourth day a couple suddenly rushes into the restaurant. A heavy rain has just started and their thin coats drip water into a puddle on the floor.

Sumati turns out to be an excellent servant. 'E is exraordinarily helpful and polite, takes the coats of the couple, and asks them where they would like to sit: at the window or rather closer to the kitchen. As the weather is so bad outside the two guests do not care about the window and sit down at a table in the middle. They speak Dutch and call each other "Piet" and "Pietje".²

Before even having had a look at the menu Piet asks: "Can i have a beer, please."

"I'm sorry, My Dear, we don't serve beer in this restaurant."

"Well, what other drinks do you have, then, if i may ask?"

"We only serve water, neither alkaline nor acid, My Dear."

"Would you mind stopping your My Dear? In this country a gentleman is called 'Mijnheer'!"³

"We're a civilized restaurant, Dear Person, and i'm afraid we don't use male or female titles in the present context." Piet looks puzzled and the answer does not seem to fully satisfy 'im, but 'e leaves it at that.

After Piet and Pietje have accepted water for their drinks, it is time to have a look at the menu. In their rush to get inside, they never had a chance to look at it outside on the window or the door. Pretty soon they discover that the only things on the restaurant's menu are 'Wisdoms', albeit of a number of different sorts. The guests may order a 'Chinese', an 'Indian', an 'African' or an 'English Wisdom'.

"Wisdoms?" Pietje exclaims. They immediately call Sumati, who has gone to the kitchen, and ask for an explanation. Sumati explains that that is correct and that it is also shown on the menu on the window and on the door. They must have noticed that the name of the restaurant is Food for Reflection, and that is exactly what they serve: food for thought.

...

60.NMY.18-EQU.24