Born on the night of the nations independence, Gimme Lao is cheated of the honour of being Singapores firstborn son by a vindictive nurse. This forms the first of three things Gimme never knows about himself, the second being the circumstances surrounding his parents marriage, and the third being the profound (but often unintentional) impact he has on other peoples lives.Talented, determined and focused, young Gimme is confident he can sail the seven seas, but he does not anticipate his vessel would have to carry his mothers ambition, his wifes guilt and his sons secret. Tracing social, economic and political issues over the past 50 years, this humorous novel uses Gimme as a hapless centre to expose all of Singapores ambitions, dirty linen and secret moments of tender humanity.