During my very first trip to china, several people had died due to the extreme cold. That was 15 years ago maybe.
It wasn't my intention to be here but yet I found myself in the same room as the night before with the strange lavendar light glow. The room where the women sold their time to make some money for food and another moment of time. My interest had waned and was willing to leave without regret. The "mommie" was pushing hard, waving girls over to show me their ware. I said it wasn't necessary and the girls didn't seem all that pleased but the employer insisted. The older sister I spent the night with prior came in and we nodded acknowledgement. She sat down next to me and we exchanged pleasantries, nonchalantly but matter of factly. The "mom" interrupted and asked me what my preference was. I said I'd be willing to use their service if the girl with the big eyes and american flag bandana I saw yesterday was available. The sister looked at me in surprise and laughed. Said something in mandarin to the "mom" and a call was made. She said, "thats my little cousin". I said "how little". She said "20". I guess in some weird way I helped out some family in china.
That night, all she could say in cantonese was "its cold. its cold."
Posted by yumyumcha at January 29, 2004 09:26 PM