The Blue Orchid

In the sense that they escaped detection by any of the authorities, had no bank accounts or library cards, didn’t appear on the electoral register or in the tax system and were not a named (numbered) citizen.

These three men might have been paid in cash, might have eaten on the premises (no need to go shopping much), and lived more or less invisibly as far as the authorities go.

Although it’s interesting that a few yards down the road from the restaurant there’s an ugly CCTV camera pointing straight to the place. (Couldn’t the CCTV cameraman identify these men? Did they only go out after dark?) The notion of being unknown is quite appealing. No, I wouldn’t want to be detained. But I don’t think this will horrify the Bangladeshi men too much.

And won’t they simply apply for another visa later?

I wonder what the owner of the flat said on the recent census too. Or maybe they didn’t know anyone was living there… I like the idea of being unknown to the watchers of our lives. And there are evidently a few employers who still don’t mind paying staff in cash. No questions asked.

Aha! I know a restaurant that might be looking for staff soon…

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