Last week, one of the shops at my retail mall closed down.

This week, one more bit the dust.

Reason: lousy sales turnover, high high high rent.

My boss tried to sound shocked upon hearing the news but everyone could see through his fake awe. I'm sure that secretly he's very pleased about it. Afterall, these two are one of the big names from Sim Lim Square and their shops here are each about five times the size of ours, uh his.

That brings me to the issue of my boss claiming that the shop has been making a loss ever since day one while I was still a partner without ever proving it with a proper profit and loss statement. The thought that comes to mind now is, if he was indeed telling the truth, we should be closing down soon.

But of course we all know that isn't true. Then again, that's all in the past now. He'd like to believe that I'm a dim-witted fool. I'd like like him to think the same. I have my reasons for staying.

Other than that, the biggest loss to me with the two shops closing down is that I won't be seeing the friends I've made on a day to day basis anymore.

My shop is a one goat operation, hence I treat the staff of the other shops as my own colleagues. In fact, I have been subconsciously referring to them as my colleagues.

I will miss them.

When Dicky told me that his shop was gonna move back to Sim Lim yesterday I almost shed a tear in front of him. It's really sad. Dicky is one of the bosses and one of the people from the other shops who'd often stop by mine, grab a chair and just sit down and chat.

I will miss chatting with him. He's such a positive guy. I mean he still managed to take it easy and put on a smile as he announced that his shop was closing down. What a remarkable guy, especially upon learning that they'd still be paying rent to the landlord till their contract is over, meaning for 18 more months... or OVER $200,000!!!

Dang, I'd eat a live porcupine- no, that's too painful. I'd eat a live penguin- um no, MLB will be mad at me. I'd EAT a LIVE candy floss for 10% of that. Just ten percent. I'll eat a ferocious, monstrous, humongous fluff of candy floss for that, I would. No, really. Throw me one. Better get $20,000 ready first.

Dicky has been through a lotta things in his life, much like mine actually and that's why we connect. The only difference is that he's living the life he wants now while I'm still lost in space, ah ha ha.