100 Satang (สตางค์)

The brickworks’ chimney stood five meters higher than the topmost peak of Waymart roof. A doocot of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) alit from the topmost peak of the Waymart roof, barely missing the balustrade that overhung the brickworks’ chimney. The man in the hat liked to watch the House Sparrows flittering above the Waymart, countless hours spent sitting on the park-bench across from the Waymart taking in the majesty of the birds, wings like straight-blades cutting swaths of cool morning air, tiny peck-shaped beaks corseting worms and creepy-crawlers. He had no fondness for pigeons, winged-vermin, dirty filthy creatures, a curse on man and beast alike. Birds of a Catholic feather frock together; satang-baht: 100 satang (สตางค์)) cinched taut round the round of his waist, cotters hat a kilter: 100 (สตางค์). One afternoon he counted 27½ barn-swallows, one swallow having been cantered in half by a gullswing. The second afternoon he saw a pigeon in a hat, festooned with baubles and trilling. An open sky in the shape of a perfect O opened up onto the opening horizon, a bazillion cock-swallows circling the brickworks’ chimney. ‘I see these, these things and many more of these things’ said the man in the hat to himself. ‘And this, 100 (สตางค์), and this, too’ he said. The brickwork’s chimney stood 27½ meters higher than the House Sparrows’ doocot, five meters higher than the Waymart overhang.