the chef's view

Talking to the chef last night, I was surprised at how clearly he saw things; watching the huge tv screen in front of him, he turned and told me straight 'All this football, these endless soaps and shows, is a way of distracting people, to keep them under control. Because 'they' can be sure at 7 o' clock 6 million were watching this, three million were watching that, so we know where they are and what they're doing. Keep their minds off what is really happening.' He switched over to Coronation street, then picked up the tv guide. This is the whole of our lives here. We know at 6 they's watching this, at 7 theyre watching that. He put down the magazine. ' Basically we're being programmed every day. This is nice this is good, ooh I want that, yes, oh yes please. We're all in that place where we are watching and saying I ooh wannabe, but that translates into oh I wannabuy, got to buy, coz I also wannabe. And that is where we are being kept, in this state of suspension and desire, in our couches, stuck really, being programmed, day in and out.

The doorbell rang. He looked like he been working his whole life. He looked strong and angry. Like he was not far away from punching someone. The man took a seat, he was wearing a bright luminous safety vest and after a word of hello to the chef said without hesitation: I thought we work so we can enjoy a bit of our lives, but oy, we just working our lives away.' The chef said a word of comfort then gave him something to drink. He put it down his throat. 'Man, we are just working our lives away.' Then stood up, 'Oy, I'm going to get a few beers and go home.' His face relaxed into a soft smile for the first time since entering. Then he left.

The chef turned back the tv to where the woman in the bar was flashing her bits in a lovely red dress. 'in this programme, the whole life of the people centres on the pub, every thing happens there, they are are talking about who did what to who and slept with who and tommorrow when I go to work people will talk about it as if it happened to them. We can go to the pub and see people are acting it out there, the same shit that we watching. We are all being programmed.' He yawned. I also stood up to follow the other worker's example and go home. 'But how will we get out of it, de-programme ourselves I mean?' I asked though.

After a pause he said just plainly, every day they are making new laws, man how many laws do you need? every day new ones and the pressure on the people is becoming too much, the people can't take so much pressure, I don't know, but I think that if all the people just come out one day, and refuse to make anything, to do anything, then they will bring the whole thing to a standstill. Then the people will get what we need!' I had a liking for the chef. He did not have that bitter resignation of defeated men. Though he had to have it, he believed there were things worth more than money, he wanted to defend and enjoy that which he loved more than money.

As I left the place I realised I had become so estranged to the lovely people of the city, I had become so shy of the world that even in the heart of the city, the world had become so strange that at any given point one will more likely find oneself looking at advertising rather than at another person. Why has it become difficult to be human, to reach out to the next person who is suffering, who is struggling, who is lonely, why can't I just take them by the hand, say hello, I'm sorry for that vicious look I gave you at first. Forgive me I recognise you now, let us heal, let us help each other. there is no other way to salvation and redemption for the things we have done.