Read Online The Unwanted by Kien Nguyen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kien Nguyen
Tags: BIO000000
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mountain of herbs, surrounded by customers seeking a share of her cures. Her voice raised above the noise of the crowd to catch every passerby's attention.
“What are you looking for?” she screamed. “This is for nausea and vomiting. Boil two cups down to one. This one is for inner or outer hemorrhoids. Take it with food twice a day. This one is for the treatment of coughing.”
As she spotted my mother, who stared at her with anger, she waved the crowd to silence. Looking at my mother, she asked, “Hey, old dear, where did I know you? Ah, yes, I remember. You are the mean birdie with a knocked-up belly. How are things? You don't look so good.”
“Guess how things are,” my mother retorted. “Look at me. You sold me your fake herbs, old crone. I am glad I found you here, because I want my money back.”
The old woman stood up in between her leaves and barks and pointed a finger at my mother. “Are you crazy, asking for your money back? My drugs are fine; it's you that are fake. Didn't I warn you many times that it might not work? Is it any fault of mine that you all get yourselves knocked up?” She narrowed her eyes with suspicion at my mother and Loan. “The mistress and her servant—you two are sharing the same man, aren't you? Don't lie to this old woman, some gigolo must have grabbed both of you like a pair of chopsticks. By the way, why are you still hanging around town? I thought your pompous behind should be hauled back home by now.”
My mother was boiling with rage. No one ever dared to speak to her that way before. She was humiliated as the crowd around her turned to stare and whisper at us. Standing next to her as calm as a lake in the absence of the wind, Loan answered the old woman's questions. “We can't find a ride back home. Do you know of any way, Mrs. Tam?”
“Of course I know.” The old woman arched her back. “I know everything about this town. But why should I help that pompous mare? She tickled my angry bone the very first day I met her ugly face, giving me nothing but grief.”
Loan then bent down to pick up my brother and me, setting us on her hips. “Then please help these children,” she said to the herbalist. “They are innocent. For the good karma of your next life, please find them a way home.”
The woman looked at us. Slowly, the wrinkles on her face began to relax as her anger abated. She spoke again. This time, her voice softened. “Two hundred dong for the lead, and five hundred for the tickets. Cash only.”
My mother cried out in astonishment. “Seven hundred dong? Are you a blood-sucking thief? Four hundred is all I have. For everything, or you forget it.”
“Hey, mad horse, I don't deal with you.” The old woman waved her finger at my mother, then she pointed at Loan. “But I'll deal with this child. She is a smart girl.”
Loan said to the old lady, “Mrs. Tam, you've heard the mistress. We only have four hundred dong to spend.”
“Okay, fine, because of the youngsters.” She clapped her hands. “I'll show you a way out. I close the shop at three-thirty. Meet me back here with your money and your suitcases all ready, because old Tam waits for no one.”
She returned to the crowd. We stood there, stunned. Then my mother beckoned for us to head home. As we were walking away, I could still hear the old lady's voice advertising her goods. “What is it that you are looking for, sir? How about you, madam? This is the drug that cures all diseases. Take it with an empty stomach, twice a day for one day, and you will be feeling twenty all over again…”
AT MRS. TAM'S INSTRUCTION, we met back at her shop at three-thirty, taking with us a few bags of clothing. She was waiting for us. All of her medicines were stored in two hand-woven bamboo chests. Each chest had a long handle, which Mrs. Tam hooked with a wooden cane. And with her shoulder under the pole, she strained to lift her merchandise up off the ground in one breath. Walking toward us and
“What are you looking for?” she screamed. “This is for nausea and vomiting. Boil two cups down to one. This one is for inner or outer hemorrhoids. Take it with food twice a day. This one is for the treatment of coughing.”
As she spotted my mother, who stared at her with anger, she waved the crowd to silence. Looking at my mother, she asked, “Hey, old dear, where did I know you? Ah, yes, I remember. You are the mean birdie with a knocked-up belly. How are things? You don't look so good.”
“Guess how things are,” my mother retorted. “Look at me. You sold me your fake herbs, old crone. I am glad I found you here, because I want my money back.”
The old woman stood up in between her leaves and barks and pointed a finger at my mother. “Are you crazy, asking for your money back? My drugs are fine; it's you that are fake. Didn't I warn you many times that it might not work? Is it any fault of mine that you all get yourselves knocked up?” She narrowed her eyes with suspicion at my mother and Loan. “The mistress and her servant—you two are sharing the same man, aren't you? Don't lie to this old woman, some gigolo must have grabbed both of you like a pair of chopsticks. By the way, why are you still hanging around town? I thought your pompous behind should be hauled back home by now.”
My mother was boiling with rage. No one ever dared to speak to her that way before. She was humiliated as the crowd around her turned to stare and whisper at us. Standing next to her as calm as a lake in the absence of the wind, Loan answered the old woman's questions. “We can't find a ride back home. Do you know of any way, Mrs. Tam?”
“Of course I know.” The old woman arched her back. “I know everything about this town. But why should I help that pompous mare? She tickled my angry bone the very first day I met her ugly face, giving me nothing but grief.”
Loan then bent down to pick up my brother and me, setting us on her hips. “Then please help these children,” she said to the herbalist. “They are innocent. For the good karma of your next life, please find them a way home.”
The woman looked at us. Slowly, the wrinkles on her face began to relax as her anger abated. She spoke again. This time, her voice softened. “Two hundred dong for the lead, and five hundred for the tickets. Cash only.”
My mother cried out in astonishment. “Seven hundred dong? Are you a blood-sucking thief? Four hundred is all I have. For everything, or you forget it.”
“Hey, mad horse, I don't deal with you.” The old woman waved her finger at my mother, then she pointed at Loan. “But I'll deal with this child. She is a smart girl.”
Loan said to the old lady, “Mrs. Tam, you've heard the mistress. We only have four hundred dong to spend.”
“Okay, fine, because of the youngsters.” She clapped her hands. “I'll show you a way out. I close the shop at three-thirty. Meet me back here with your money and your suitcases all ready, because old Tam waits for no one.”
She returned to the crowd. We stood there, stunned. Then my mother beckoned for us to head home. As we were walking away, I could still hear the old lady's voice advertising her goods. “What is it that you are looking for, sir? How about you, madam? This is the drug that cures all diseases. Take it with an empty stomach, twice a day for one day, and you will be feeling twenty all over again…”
AT MRS. TAM'S INSTRUCTION, we met back at her shop at three-thirty, taking with us a few bags of clothing. She was waiting for us. All of her medicines were stored in two hand-woven bamboo chests. Each chest had a long handle, which Mrs. Tam hooked with a wooden cane. And with her shoulder under the pole, she strained to lift her merchandise up off the ground in one breath. Walking toward us and
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