Forever Bright ~ Part Six

As the line slowly inched forward, he peered inside each window, hoping to see Mei Ling already situated at a table.  Her bus should have arrived 10 minutes earlier than his.  Chang Ming reasoned: perhaps, her bus was delayed in traffic or there was an accident as was common in a city this populous. 

Chang Ming waited for over one hour until the waitress finally suggested that he either order something more or finish by paying his bill.  His eyes moistened as if a tear could form at any moment, but he would not disgrace himself by crying in public.  He quickly paid the bill and exited.     Mei Ling did not arrive for reasons he could only surmise: maybe she forgot about their date or her parents forbid her from seeing Chang Ming alone.   It was easier for him to believe the latter circumstance. 

His heart receding, he let the bus home pass him by.  Chang Ming slowly walked instead, his eyes drawn downward, counting the sidewalk cracks just as he did when he was a small boy.   

Before Chang Ming could fully push his house door open, his Grandfather angrily walked toward him, nearly chest to chest, forcing Chang Ming to take a step back, losing his balance, knocking him down.  This was not his Grandfather’s intention, but once Chang Ming was on the ground, his Grandfather straddled him, pinning his arms, overcome by rage.  Now telling Chang Ming to “keep his eyes open,” he did not dare disobey.  Grandfather loudly summoned mucous from the depths of his throat, and within close range, forcefully spit directly in Chang Ming’s eyes.  “Your Grandmother went through great efforts to make your breakfast this morning and to neatly prepare your clothes.  You treated her as garbage and now I treat you the same.”  Speaking only these words, Chang Ming’s Grandfather quickly got up, returning inside the house. 

Chang Ming’s first instinct was to stay outside, remaining still on the ground, but he knew his Grandfather would not accept this behavior so he too went inside.  His Grandmother greeted him with the silence of her stern expressionless steer; a silence designed to amplify Chang Ming’s own humiliation triggering a delicate dance to restore his honor.  Less than one week remained before his departure to America and he did not want to leave on bad terms with his family.

To Be Continued...