The Banana Stand

“You are beautiful so tell him give you a cheaper price.” The old Nepalese man leaned forward on his stool, waving at me. 

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” I said, paying. 

I have a growing suspicion of the fruit stand at my corner, and not just that they secretly sell drugs (I mean, why do they stay open until 4 in the morning and why do they have those “special” bananas hanging off to the front by themselves?). I suspect they are overcharging me. 

At first I figured it would be a bit more than the supermarket but I was willing to pay a little more to support a small business as well as to be able to just buy two bananas. But the problem is that they aren’t even consistent. One day the guy will say four dollars for two big bananas and the next day the lady will ask for five dollars for two small bananas. Then the next day $3.50. This is despite the fact that they throw it on the scale every time and glance at the number. Although how they can even see the number behind all that grime is something of a wonder.

It was all confirmed the other night when I went to buy my normal two bananas. There was a line (a guy in front of me bought the special bananas, so I was busy eyeing him to see if he looked like a drug addict). When I finally got to the front and asked for my two bananas, the guy picked off two small bananas and threw them on the scale. I had four dollars in my hand, ready to pay. 

“ 八蚊 (baat3 man1) (8 dollars).” 

“八蚊 !” Ok, I can handle a dollar or to markup but double????

“Oh, um, uh.” He made a face and made like he was counting in the air. I think he realized he had overdone it. “其實五蚊 (kei4 sat6 ng5 man1) (actually 5 dollars).”

I bought them, but still. I’m on to his game. 

He could have at least offered me a drug banana to smooth things over.