My Kind of Town
>> Queen's Medical Center The art of introductions
Lily Ah Sun, a native Networker, was practiced in the art of introductions. With a few words she could bring together two strangers, give them an insight into the other and a reason to want to know more about one another.
But as she exited the elevator to the ICU, Lily was stumped. How do you gracefully introduce your brother's gay lover to your mother? Especially when said lover is at least partially to blame for said brother lying in a coma after being attacked at the hate crimes bill rally?
"Remember, Greg," Lily said outside Lance's door. "No blubbering, OK? I do not want you upsetting my mother any more than she already is."
"I promise," he said, bucking up a bit.
Lily knocked softly, poked her head inside, saw her mother sitting in a chair beside Lance, who was hooked up to multiple tubes and wires, and speaking in hushed tones to him.
"Hi, Mom," Lily whispered, peeking around the door.
Grace Ah Sun looked up, as if roused from meditation. "Oh, Lily, what a nice surprise. Come inside."
"Actually, I brought along a visitor." Lily pushed open the door, ushered Greg in.
"Oh my God," Greg whispered when he saw Lance, looking as dead as alive.
"Mom, this is Greg. He's Lance's, uh, good friend."
Grace knew better. Greg's tear-reddened eyes were just the first clue. "You mean boyfriend."
It caught both Lily and Greg off guard.
"Mrs. Ah Sun," Greg blurted, "I love him too."
"Well then come tell him so," Grace said, standing up from her chair. "Help me give him a reason to come back to us."
>> Arizona Memorial -- Theater 2
Muhammed Resurreccion was really enjoying the movie, what with all the dead Americans, and he couldn't help thinking that one day they'd make a movie about what he would soon accomplish at that same site. But based on what the ranger said about the flower policy, Muhammed's guarantee of success depended on him not joining the three females on the boat. As long as they and the flowers reached the memorial, he could do his work from land.
As the film turned to how Americans battled back from the shock of Dec. 7, Muhammed turned to his driver Wilhemina, his cousin-in-law Rosalita and her daughter Elizabeth. "My stomach," he said, patting his belt, making an urgent face, "I have to visit the men's room. If I'm not back by the time the boat leaves, Elizabeth, would you lay the flowers for me, please? Oh, and Wilhemina, call me on my cell phone once you arrive on the Memorial."
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com