Wah yo smah keh?

We've been regulars at a little kopitiam since we moved to Prince George's Park four months ago. Before Karina started working, we were going in every morning when the stall opened at 7:30, Dewi in tow, to have two kopi-o's and some little cakes or curry puffs.

Since March it's been more of a weekend treat, and we've since moved on to iced kopi tarik, which is, to put it mildly, the best coffee drink on campus. The one constant over these four months has been the proprietor, always there to greet us, getting his stall opened up, giving orders to his staff, and sometimes having us try his latest concoctions. Dewi has been the beneficiary of countless little treats in his effort to win her over (he has succeeded, by the way).

But for all the interaction we've had over these months, we still can't understand him for the life of us. Now it's no secret that Singlish is distinct from English, and for those natives who spend most of their time speaking Malay, Chinese, Tamil or something else, their Singlish becomes even more of a hodge podge.

Anyway, the other day I went in during the week, solo, to get an iced kopi tarik and a chicken ham bun for breakfast.

Proprietor to me: "Wah yo smah keh?"

My interior monologue: "Why am I smoking? Do I look or smell like I've been smoking? That doesn't make sense... um, what else? Why you small cake? Does he think I should have a bigger breakfast?"

My response: "No, thanks, this is enough for me right now."

Proprietor, puzzled, pointing but not helpfully: "Wah yo smah keh?"

My interior monologue: "Oh, he's trying to get me to try those new little cakes he has on display. They look like old birthday cake. Stall...stall..."

Proprietor, a little impatient: "Yo smah keh."

My interior monologue: "I'm not gonna try that cake. I don't know what the hell he's saying. Wait... small kid? Where... your... small... kid? Is he asking about Dewi? Yes, that's it!"

My response: "Oh, my small kid! She's at daycare."

Proprietor: "Ah, with mama."

Me: "Um, no. Daycare... down the road."

Proprietor: "Ah, at home."

Me: "Yup, ok, thanks, see you soon."

The details just didn't seem to matter. He seemed satisfied that "smah keh" was being cared for while I was gallivanting. I was happy that I solved the puzzle without the benefit of having already had my morning kopi. And this morning our smah keh finally high-fived him after at least a month of repeatedly leaving him hanging. Progress...