Kuala Selangor

Sell it unseen.

Don't go all the way to Kuala Selangor in the rains to look at a rotting timber house.

My cousin in Kajang had said that last part twice on the phone.

She'd also said not to bother with Auntie Salma.

The car started on the second try.

I drove with the windows up and the fan on high.

And the wine rode along with me as far as Kuala Selangor town before it dropped to a hum I could pretend was the engine.

By the time I hit the highway, I'd settled on the filling.