| Hong Kong society is and always has been | | | | bear to see a dangling thread. Her eyes continually |
| somewhat sophisticated. Evening entertainment can | | | | home in on the little scrap of wafting cotton, and even |
| bring elegantly dressed top flight executives out in their | | | | if the wearer of the offending garment happened to |
| droves, accompanied by impeccably turned out wives | | | | be a stranger, she would be compelled to introduce |
| and girlfriends, heavily draped in diamonds and filling the | | | | herself so she could then inform them they had a |
| air with the aroma of the finest French perfumes. | | | | dangling thread and would they like her to remove it |
| The Camus Classic Snooker Tournament was an | | | | for them? |
| event that Jess was always deeply involved in as he | | | | On this particular evening, Mother's eagle eye spotted |
| was a world class snooker referee. The Hong Kong | | | | a thread, dangling from the pocket of Jess's trousers. |
| Club hosted visiting celebrity players for days on end, | | | | The trousers were of the formal; tuck fronted variety, |
| wining and dining them at the very best hotels and | | | | with a satin ribbon running down the length of the |
| restaurants and Jess enjoyed himself immensely, | | | | outside leg. Mother pulled sharply, and the entire trouser |
| shepherding his little band of world class snooker | | | | leg gathered, shooting up Jess's leg like a rat up a |
| players around the sights of one of the prettiest cities | | | | drainpipe. His skinny, white leg was left exposed, along |
| in Asia. | | | | with a saucy three inches of boxer shorts decorated |
| A sociable creature, Jess usually stayed on Hong | | | | with an alluring pattern of tiny Union Jacks. |
| Kong Island for the duration of the Classic; preferring to | | | | The lobby of the Mandarin is a busy place, usually full |
| be on hand should his guests require assistance in any | | | | of visiting tourists, business executives and local |
| way. The run up to the event was a busy time for him, | | | | residents waiting around to rendezvous with friends for |
| organizing the snooker room at The Hong Kong Club | | | | the evening. Tonight was no exception and the place |
| and ensuring the correct number of hotel rooms were | | | | was packed. The entire room began to laugh and the |
| booked and double checked. | | | | laughter rippled around the hotel like wildfire. People |
| One memorable year, Jess had arranged to meet with | | | | began to appear in doorways to try to catch a |
| the rest of the players in the lobby of the Mandarin | | | | glimpse of Jess who made a funny sight with his one |
| Hotel before continuing to dine in one of the hotel's | | | | black leg and one white, chalky leg attired with a black |
| restaurants. Black tie was required and Jess and my | | | | sock and shiny patent dress shoe. |
| mother showed up several minutes before the rest of | | | | No matter what they did, the trouser leg could not be |
| their party was expected, Mother in a beautiful, | | | | coaxed down. The day was saved by one of the |
| understated black floor length velvet gown and Jess | | | | visiting snooker players, who ran up to his room to |
| looking his usual elegant yet nonchalant self, in his black | | | | fetch Jess a pair of his own dress trousers. Luckily, |
| tie and dinner jacket, perfectly turned out right down to | | | | snooker players wear formal evening trousers rather |
| his sapphire studs. | | | | often and spares are always packed. |
| My mother was one of those people who cannot | | | | |
