Once a year is as often as father calls on the tailor, and always in the winter. The tailor makes father and mother, elder brother and sister a new set of clothing each. If there is time after, he makes East something as well, otherwise elder brother will always outgrow his clothes anyways.

This year is different, father was in spirits when he called on the tailor, who came, carrying his tools through the red front gate. He removes his shoes at the door, and climbed onto the wood and bamboo floor. Father and tailor exchanged greetings, mother politely provides tea while the children look on eager to see if soda would be offered--as they enjoy visitors who leave with a bottle half full. But the tailor is short on time, and sets to measuring the children, even East.

East dons his first suit jacket during the new year. It is a dark grey color, pressed with smart triangular lapels and square shoulders. The tailor produces shorts, as there was only enough fabric left for a matching pair.

As the youngest growing boy, East took two photos, attended two dinners and three birthdays in his new suit before his arms were too long and his shoulders too wide. One day his mother washes the suit jacket and shorts, dries, and folds them. She carries them with her to the street market for her daily goods with East in tow.

Mother speaks to some aboriginal vendors from the mountain, whom East knew only from their amber skin. He had seen them often in the village, and mother would bargain for them to climb the coconut tree in the yard for its fruit. For their service they would take half of what they cut from the tree. 

At the market, East watched his suit paid for with two hens. And when the sun was low on the horizon and families pack their oxen cart with trade from the day, East saw a child in his suit behind a cart heading back to the mountains.