“After doing your drinks, go have your dinner, rest awhile, then I’ll test you.”

Oh cripes, I thought. Here comes my free pour test.

I went for my dinner accompanied by a colleague, we had our meals, she took a smoke while I did the talking, psyching myself that I can do it, I’ve been practicing and there’s no way I could not pass this time. Could I?

Okay, here I go.

Four empty jugs were placed on the bar.

“One, two, one, two,” he said.

This is it. I poured and counted. One, two, three, four…

He was busy talking in his usual loud voice, totally into his conversation as his hands flung about, emphasizing his point.

“Um,” I started. “I’m done.”
“Huh? What? Wah, you so fast start when I haven’t even ask you to start yet!”

He had totally forgotten that he had given me instructions just three minutes earlier. I had to give him a Look.

“You did, Steven,” I gave him a Look again. “You told me: one, two, one, two. Remember?”
“Oh yah hor!”

He took the jigger and started measuring the water in the jugs.

“Oei! You got practice one, is it? I don’t believe! Do again.”

I snickered, poured, and counted. Again. One, two, three, four…

He took the jigger and started measuring the water in the jugs.

“Aiya, okay lah. Pass lah. You can free pour now.”

He said it like he was obliged to and I was half convinced that I could free pour. But, whatever. As I made the drinks for the next order, as I was about to pour the rum into the glass, my hand was about to reach for the jigger on my right when…

“Hey! I can free pour now!” I said out loud to no one in particular.

… I left the jigger alone and started to free pour 🙂