Quick Story:Hunger
Inspired by Delia's incessant trips to Thai Town (which we kinda live in) I present a quirky little story set in my Wereld World. Enjoy!
Time: 15 minutes.
I was born in Thailand, but raised underneath the street lights of Hollywood.
The lamplight is incessant, and usually on a night like this the prey flows like water. There is always some man waiting in the shadows of the Bouleuvard; calling out to a pretty girl lost in the night.
I watch through hooded almond eyes as I approach Florentine Gardens. Wait patiently as the club gets out. I pull out an emery board and a cell phone with enough cheap Chinese charms to obscure the fact that I'm not talking to anyone. I wait, patiently, but there is no one I want. My stomach rumbles, and suddenly I think that maybe I can relax my rules. Take someone a little undeserving.
I sigh a hungry sigh knowing that I couldn't do that. The Lady would have my head.
And so I continue to wait patiently until the clubs fill and empty. I tramp the boulevard and pass couples leaned against brick walls kissing like they were breathing for each other. I began my weary trek home to Franklin, my stomach screaming, and my glamour fading. My teetering high heels hurt my feet, desperate for relief.
That's when I saw her, all bruised like a worn out peach. She leaned on a gritty lamppost outside the gas station and slumped down. Her party dress torn, her eyes a little blank. Like a broken swan with big liquid brown eyes. I smell my country in her, see her life in tangles.
Grew up in Thailand. Brought to America. High school achiever. Works in a boutique during the day and takes fashion classes at night. Dreams of happiness. She takes care of her family's san phra phum. The spirit of that house has blessed her with Sight, but still her innocence leaves her blind. Her parents warned her about the man. His hands were like paws. Clawing her everywhere. Shredding her heart swallowing her soul. He didn't even take her home, just kicked her out of the apartment so that she could stumble home under the lamplight.
She spots me, and her eyes fill with tears. She sees through my human form to the tiger within. Sees my tail swishing as I watch her from across the street.
I wait for the light and then calmly cross. I smell her fear; like a rabbit her heart beats so fast. I bend down to her, hand her a card written in our script. It has the name of a friend. Another girl blessed with the sight but who fell prey to innocence.
Once she realizes that I will not harm her, I help her to her feet. I let her use my cell phone to call her parents. Still I remain silent, watching waiting. Her almod eyes hold no tears.
When at last she closes my phone with an incessant jingle, I know that she has made a choice.
She bows her head and points to a building with a furniture store beneath it.
I bless her with the intelligence and courage of the tiger. I bless her with the protection of the city. I bless her with as much power as I could muster. Then I leave her there under the florescent light, her hair a waterfall of ink. Her liquid eyes watch me stalk away.
I will not go hungry tonight.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/seua_saming.html
Time: 15 minutes.
I was born in Thailand, but raised underneath the street lights of Hollywood.
The lamplight is incessant, and usually on a night like this the prey flows like water. There is always some man waiting in the shadows of the Bouleuvard; calling out to a pretty girl lost in the night.
I watch through hooded almond eyes as I approach Florentine Gardens. Wait patiently as the club gets out. I pull out an emery board and a cell phone with enough cheap Chinese charms to obscure the fact that I'm not talking to anyone. I wait, patiently, but there is no one I want. My stomach rumbles, and suddenly I think that maybe I can relax my rules. Take someone a little undeserving.
I sigh a hungry sigh knowing that I couldn't do that. The Lady would have my head.
And so I continue to wait patiently until the clubs fill and empty. I tramp the boulevard and pass couples leaned against brick walls kissing like they were breathing for each other. I began my weary trek home to Franklin, my stomach screaming, and my glamour fading. My teetering high heels hurt my feet, desperate for relief.
That's when I saw her, all bruised like a worn out peach. She leaned on a gritty lamppost outside the gas station and slumped down. Her party dress torn, her eyes a little blank. Like a broken swan with big liquid brown eyes. I smell my country in her, see her life in tangles.
Grew up in Thailand. Brought to America. High school achiever. Works in a boutique during the day and takes fashion classes at night. Dreams of happiness. She takes care of her family's san phra phum. The spirit of that house has blessed her with Sight, but still her innocence leaves her blind. Her parents warned her about the man. His hands were like paws. Clawing her everywhere. Shredding her heart swallowing her soul. He didn't even take her home, just kicked her out of the apartment so that she could stumble home under the lamplight.
She spots me, and her eyes fill with tears. She sees through my human form to the tiger within. Sees my tail swishing as I watch her from across the street.
I wait for the light and then calmly cross. I smell her fear; like a rabbit her heart beats so fast. I bend down to her, hand her a card written in our script. It has the name of a friend. Another girl blessed with the sight but who fell prey to innocence.
Once she realizes that I will not harm her, I help her to her feet. I let her use my cell phone to call her parents. Still I remain silent, watching waiting. Her almod eyes hold no tears.
When at last she closes my phone with an incessant jingle, I know that she has made a choice.
She bows her head and points to a building with a furniture store beneath it.
I bless her with the intelligence and courage of the tiger. I bless her with the protection of the city. I bless her with as much power as I could muster. Then I leave her there under the florescent light, her hair a waterfall of ink. Her liquid eyes watch me stalk away.
I will not go hungry tonight.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/seua_saming.html