Read Online China Dog by Judy Fong Bates - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Judy Fong Bates
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That way nobody can rob you. And you save money. See, no need for expensive wallets and purses!”
Su sighed. She couldn’t help thinking that although her mother had never been victimized by a pickpocket, a simple purchase required her to nearly undress in public.
After a short wait, Su led her mother into the brightly lit examination room. She helped May-Yen remove her multiple layers of clothing – a jacket, two sweaters, a blouse, and an undershirt. Then a young doctor entered the room. As Su translated the instructions, “Turn this way. Turn that way.Lift your arm.” May-Yen curled her lips inward in that special way of hers. Not once did her eyes leave the floor.
When they were finished, Su led her mother to the elevator. They went up several levels, then down a long corridor. Su walked slowly while May-Yen worked hard to keep up. Her eyes, like those of a frightened bird, darted from side to side, trying to make sense of the different offices and waiting rooms.
They were taken into a sterile examination room by a gentle female technician. The giant mammogram machine, with its menacing, pivoting arm, loomed in front of May-Yen, who stood naked from the waist up. Under the fluorescent light her skin looked thin and parched with finely etched wrinkles like the scales of a fish. Her shoulders were hunched; her breasts hung empty. She stood shivering. Su carefully translated the instructions: “Face this wall. Place your breast flat on the shelf. Now place it vertically. Now face the other wall.”
A month later, May-Yen was propped up with pillows in her hospital bed. Leaning forward, she noisily slurped down a clear chicken broth. Su was sitting relaxed on a chair. Watching her mother, she realized how surprised she had been by the routine quality of the operation.
A nurse poked her head in the door. “Your mother’s amazing. Considering she’s eighty, she’s come through the anaesthetic really well. And her incision is healing, well, beautifully!” Su translated for her mother, nodding in agreement with the nurse.
May-Yen said to Su, “You tell the nurse the real reason I’m recovering so well is because all my life I make sure I eat hot food and drink lots of Chinese tonics.” The nurse, not understanding a word, stood smiling in anticipation.
Finally Su said, turning to the nurse, “My mother wants to thank you for the excellent care.” After the nurse left, Su smiled to herself, remembering how Kenny had once compared May-Yen to an old door that still opened and closed, but the hinges were getting rustier and squeakier.
The next day, when Su returned to the hospital, May-Yen was talking to a new roommate. May-Yen motioned eagerly with her arm. “Su, come meet Wong
Mo
. She’s the same age as me and she has an apartment in a seniors’ building.” Wong
Mo
was in the hospital for minor surgery. She was a short woman with a body as round as her face. She had high cheek bones and eyes that crinkled into folds when she laughed.
“Ah, so
you’re
the daughter,” said Wong
Mo
. “You know how to talk to the doctors and you have a university degree. Very smart.”
“Oh, not that smart. Just lucky that I came to Canada so young,” Su responded, trying hard to keep that edge of annoyance from her voice. She hated it when her mother bragged about her. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to convince her mother that although she, Su, was the only one in her family to have a degree, it really was no big deal to anyone else. But this time May-Yen hadn’t even noticed her daughter’s irritation. She was too busy talking to her new friend. Andwhen Su left her mother that afternoon, she felt for the first time free of guilt.
It turned out that May-Yen and Wong
Mo
were born in neighbouring villages. But when they discovered that their husbands had died in the same year, they knew they were destined to be friends.
When May-Yen left the hospital, she returned to her daughter’s home. Though
Su sighed. She couldn’t help thinking that although her mother had never been victimized by a pickpocket, a simple purchase required her to nearly undress in public.
After a short wait, Su led her mother into the brightly lit examination room. She helped May-Yen remove her multiple layers of clothing – a jacket, two sweaters, a blouse, and an undershirt. Then a young doctor entered the room. As Su translated the instructions, “Turn this way. Turn that way.Lift your arm.” May-Yen curled her lips inward in that special way of hers. Not once did her eyes leave the floor.
When they were finished, Su led her mother to the elevator. They went up several levels, then down a long corridor. Su walked slowly while May-Yen worked hard to keep up. Her eyes, like those of a frightened bird, darted from side to side, trying to make sense of the different offices and waiting rooms.
They were taken into a sterile examination room by a gentle female technician. The giant mammogram machine, with its menacing, pivoting arm, loomed in front of May-Yen, who stood naked from the waist up. Under the fluorescent light her skin looked thin and parched with finely etched wrinkles like the scales of a fish. Her shoulders were hunched; her breasts hung empty. She stood shivering. Su carefully translated the instructions: “Face this wall. Place your breast flat on the shelf. Now place it vertically. Now face the other wall.”
A month later, May-Yen was propped up with pillows in her hospital bed. Leaning forward, she noisily slurped down a clear chicken broth. Su was sitting relaxed on a chair. Watching her mother, she realized how surprised she had been by the routine quality of the operation.
A nurse poked her head in the door. “Your mother’s amazing. Considering she’s eighty, she’s come through the anaesthetic really well. And her incision is healing, well, beautifully!” Su translated for her mother, nodding in agreement with the nurse.
May-Yen said to Su, “You tell the nurse the real reason I’m recovering so well is because all my life I make sure I eat hot food and drink lots of Chinese tonics.” The nurse, not understanding a word, stood smiling in anticipation.
Finally Su said, turning to the nurse, “My mother wants to thank you for the excellent care.” After the nurse left, Su smiled to herself, remembering how Kenny had once compared May-Yen to an old door that still opened and closed, but the hinges were getting rustier and squeakier.
The next day, when Su returned to the hospital, May-Yen was talking to a new roommate. May-Yen motioned eagerly with her arm. “Su, come meet Wong
Mo
. She’s the same age as me and she has an apartment in a seniors’ building.” Wong
Mo
was in the hospital for minor surgery. She was a short woman with a body as round as her face. She had high cheek bones and eyes that crinkled into folds when she laughed.
“Ah, so
you’re
the daughter,” said Wong
Mo
. “You know how to talk to the doctors and you have a university degree. Very smart.”
“Oh, not that smart. Just lucky that I came to Canada so young,” Su responded, trying hard to keep that edge of annoyance from her voice. She hated it when her mother bragged about her. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to convince her mother that although she, Su, was the only one in her family to have a degree, it really was no big deal to anyone else. But this time May-Yen hadn’t even noticed her daughter’s irritation. She was too busy talking to her new friend. Andwhen Su left her mother that afternoon, she felt for the first time free of guilt.
It turned out that May-Yen and Wong
Mo
were born in neighbouring villages. But when they discovered that their husbands had died in the same year, they knew they were destined to be friends.
When May-Yen left the hospital, she returned to her daughter’s home. Though
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