Shanghai Girl by Vivian Yang

Author:Vivian Yang [Vivian Yang]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2011-05-04T14:00:00+00:00

T.G.I. Friday’s. Red and white awnings. Stained glass lamp shapes. Old car license plates. Yellowed cowboy photographs. Big black-faced clock with golden Roman numeral numbers and the words “Bollock & Son Brass Ball Bearings.” Hubbub atmosphere. I feel I'm looking into a kaleidoscope. My hand in his, I follow Ed through the labyrinthine seating arrangement to a food bar. "The snack foods are complimentary during happy hour. Help yourself."

I get what he gets as he identifies the items: buffalo chicken wings, celery and carrot sticks, chips and dip. We find a small round table with swivel stools. I munch, Ed studying me.

"So where are you going to school?"

"Gotham University, thanks to your advice."

"Good choice. What discipline?"

"Political Science for now. I still hope to get an assistantship. I went to the department this morning, but it doesn't look too good."

Ed lights a Salem cigarette and smiles. "That's not surprising, unfortunately. What do you plan to do if you don't get financial help?"

"I haven’t thought about it yet. I hope I can still get it. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please."

Ed crosses his middle and index fingers and points them directly at me. "See whether this is going to help,” he laughs lewdly.

“What did I say?”

“Nothing,” he continues to laugh. “By the way, who in Brooklyn are you staying with? Mr. Lou?"

"No, not Uncle Gordon. I haven't been able to reach him yet. I'm staying in a friend's apartment. He's also a student from Shanghai. I'll move out as soon as I can."

Waving his fork in the air, Ed says with a smile, "Good luck."

"How much time does it take to see the Statue of Liberty?" I ask.

"Right now it's probably too late to go see Lady Liberty itself. But we can take the Staten Island Ferry and get a decent enough look at it."

"Really? That's great!"

On our way to the subway heading for South Ferry, I let Ed hold my hand, explaining with a red face, "You're the first person to hold me while walking on the street." Ed scoops me towards him by my waist and plants a kiss on my cheek. "Good. I like being your first. You're in America now, Sha-fei. Time to have some fun!"

Two days in America. Two kisses from two men. Incredible!

I don't know why I give in to Ed so readily. I just hear my own voice giggling on the subway platform, as Ed and I sink down on a two-seater on the train.

Air-conditioning is so cool.

When we get off at Bowling Green and walk towards the Hudson, I wish I had a camera. The juxtaposition of the downtown Manhattan skyline and the golden waters is breath taking. The sunset and the twinkling lights from the skyscrapers turn what Ed tells me is the Financial District into a cluster of glittering spires. This view reminds me of the Bund at dusk when the sun sinks into the Huangpu River, with the east bank of Shanghai basking in a sheet of gold. The giant Colgate sign in New Jersey is a mirror image of the SONY neon signs in Shanghai.

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