An outing with Kosov

The pepper grinder had run out of pepper again. Where is the boy? Kosov! Come! Yes Andrew.

Kosov, the pepper grinder neck is narrow and it is difficult to pour in the peppercorns. Can you oblige please. Yes Andrew.

Kosov, wait. The salt grinder is kind of broken. I need to buy a new set. Don't fill the pepper. Yes Andrew.

Before bed, while he was at work and returned here late, I left him a note. He had been asking if we could go out for brunch one day this week. I am not stupid. This was his way of ensuring he could stay here another night, and then another night. My note said, 'Would you like to have brunch tomorrow and you can help me choose new salt and pepper grinders. I will leave at 11'. I knew Kosov would not be happy with that time, but nevertheless he replied to the note and said yes. I heard his alarm go off multiple times and he was ready before 11. 

We had a pleasant lunch and I took him to the department store Myer where we perused the salt and pepper grinders with intense scrutiny, as if we were choosing a bridal dress. Eventually a decision was made and while expensive, they were reduced by fifty percent. I am happy with them and this time, I really hope they last. 

Kosov needed a couple of things at the supermarket but instead of walking directly to the one in Elizabeth Street, I took him down Royal Arcade and then Block Arcade and he was suitably impressed. We had just missed Gog and Magog chiming.  He worked for one day next to the Elizabeth Street supermarket at an Indian food shop, and was paid $12 an hour as a casual. That is absurd and illegal. Where he works now as a casual, he is paid the minimum casual wage, $32 an hour, plus a 11.5% superannuation employer contribution. 

Come along Kosov, I've had enough. I want to go home. Please Andrew, can't we just have a Walker's doughnut? Ok. Andrew, you will love the doughnut with Nutella inside. I doubted that but I ate one and while I didn't hate it, I would not buy another. Fortunately he bought some jam doughnuts too. 

Kosov was good company. I was scrutinising faces to see if anyone was taking much notice of a 67 year old white guy with a 21 year old Indian guy, but I saw nothing.

He has just mopped all the tiled floors and vacuumed the carpet, and fed me a delicious chicken snack of something with yoghurt. No Kosov, house work is normally done during the day, not at 9pm, but at 9pm it was done. He is a creature of the night.