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My Kind of Town Don Chapman |
Double date with Buddha
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One of the best things about their marriage, as far as Quinn Ah Sun was concerned, right up there with the incredible sex, was that he and Lily could talk about anything. Maybe because for their first six years they grew up as cousins. It was even OK to bring work home -- Lily from the Honolulu Soap Co., which she now ran, Quinn from HPD with tales of solo bike adventures -- and share light moments, successes and problems, sometimes to get the other's insight, sometimes just to have a friendly ear and encouraging word.
So it was that as Quinn presided over rosemary chicken at the poolside grill, he told Lily about the day's events trying to protect the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa. She'd never seen Quinn so -- what was the term -- personally involved in a case. But he was a Buddhist. He'd looked into the young lama's eyes and believed in the good he could accomplish. And he'd seen the attempt on the lama's life, was sure the danger wasn't over.
"Lily," he said as the cordless phone chirped, "I'm gonna ask the captain to put me on the lama's security detail full-time."
"Ah Suns." She listened, handed him the phone. "Lama on the line."
"Your holiness, what a surprise. I hope you're doing well after what happened this afternoon."
"Oh that," came the reply, and even over the phone Quinn felt blessed to be speaking with the young man. "No problemo -- I learned that American term from my brother. I like it. No, officer, no problemo."
"So what can I do for you?"
"Last night you said I might get a ride on your motorcycle." The big police BMW.
"Absolutely, any time."
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow'd be great. By the way, after what happened today, I'm going to ask to be put on your security detail full time during your visit."
"Thank you, but please wait until after we meet tomorrow."
As Buddhas did so well, he let the ensuing silence speak volumes. There were things left unsaid, things of significance that would be revealed to Quinn later. For now it was enough to know there would be revelations. Quinn listened to the silence to see what else the lama wasn't saying.
"Tell him I said hi," Lily whispered.
Quinn covered the phone: "Can you do that with a Buddha?"
"Why not?"
"By the way, your holiness, my wife Lily says hi."
"Thank you, please put her on ... Mrs. Ah Sun, I think you and my consort Bodhicita would be friends. If you're free, please join us tomorrow."
The lama said good-bye, Lily hit the off button, smiled in a way Quinn had never seen. "So, Quinn, you ever double-dated with a Buddha before?"
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Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek. His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin. He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com