My spirit is torn. I don't have an arm. I look like I've been tormented. My last two fingers on my left hand are gone. I have a shotgun-sized wound that's partially healed with no eye.
I look like shit.
"I fucking hate that eye!" Jose seethes. "Jose what is that!"
"Montgomery's fucking daughter." he withers in pain. "I can't breathe!"
He looks like he's made out of stone. "Is it Medusa's eye?"
"Hell no, nigga don't bother talking to me can't you see I'm broke!"
"Shut the fuck up with all that yelling." Please don't tell me this nigga got fear of the sun. "It's the fucking amulet!" he cries. "What amulet?"
He shivers, "It's so bright…"
"Jose!"
"It's so bright…" he murmurs. Goddamn it, this nigga ain't no good to me. I don't have a body and I'm in a bind. What could I do?
I need something.
I decide to walk the rest of the way to the church. I can't use Jose for shit.
I get out of the car and eye Jose in the backseat. The eye cracked him. If that thing can crack the skin and tear the soul. I need a crucifix.
I'm pretty dark-skinned. Because that's my natural color. I'm opaque as shit. I could get a reflection and I think I might do that. It'll hurt tho…
I'm on Richmond Avenue. How far I gotta walk to find a mirror?
I'd hate to stop somebody on the street but that might be what I have to do. I decide against it. My soul is ball and I hover over the street to find my way. There's a place up ahead still on the Avenue. Shin-Young Wings, a little Asian business should do.
.
.
.
"You ordered the cinnamon tart with Pineapple Chicken, a large Cola plus a side of mashed potatoes with honey mustard." The Cashier sighed. "And Fortune Cookie."
"Thank the lord. Your business is grand."
"We are shutting down. Would you like to donate to keep us in business?"
"Keep the change." smiled the fat man. He took his order out.
This was Rim Yoo. 19 years old, a school dropout, from Guangzhou. America sucked, but it wasn't China and at least she wasn't there.
"RIM!" her father called. "Zài yùshì lǐ bǔchōng wèishēngzhǐ."
She cut her eyes, "I don't know Chinese..." Yes, she was Chinese. No mixture. Purely Asian, from China but no Buddha attached or other religion.
Her father was Buddhist and she thought that was a stereotype. Rim didn't understand what that meant but she surely didn't want to be a peaceful Asian. She had a Muslim boyfriend, she kind of got that. Then he got shot and it didn't make sense again.
Oh wait, that was her.
Who else got shot? Ray, Tiffany, Jordon, and Steve from college. She didn't go to the college she just wanted to hang out, they looked fun.
Rim licked her teeth, at least her father hadn't noticed. A customer came in with his dog, a little golden retriever on a chain.
"Um, no dogs sir." she slapped the counter. The puppy whined. "Can I have the teriyaki burger, Sushi, and Orange fired chicken. The Burger is for my dog." he said.
"Ok, but the dog can wait outside," she told.
"I can't do that. This is my dog Pocket, we just got back from the laundromat. I just need to feed him."
"Sir, we have a sign outside, no dogs inside."
He sighed, "My name is Trumen Rey. I just came from the laundromat. I still have money and this is my dog. I just want food."
"Ok, ok." she put her hand up, calming the situation. "We cannot--"
"My name is Trumen Rey, I want a teriyaki Burger, Sushi, and fired Chicken!" he got louder, the dog peed on the floor and started barking. "Get your dog outside!" Rim gestured to the animal. "Bàba!" Rim called.
Her father, Lei came from the back. "Gǔn chū!" Lei waved his hand for the man to leave. "My name is Trumen--"
"Wǒ bùzàihū. Chūqù." Rim moved away from the cash register. Soon her brother revealed himself, Hee. "Get out man, I can hear my sister. We don't allow dogs!"
"Nǐ zěnmeliǎo, nǐ zài xīdú ma!" Hee, the son came from behind the counter. "Get your fucking dog out of here, White boy."
"Please, for the love of God." Trumen started to sweat. "I just need…" he shallowed, "A teriyaki burger, sushi, and some fried chicken. Please, the burger is for my dog Pocket."
"What is wrong with you! Get out!" Hee shoved him. "Get out!"
"Stop it! Goddamn it, I just need a burger--"
"Tā yǒuxiē bùduìjìn. Wǒ yào bàojǐngle." Lei rushed to the back of the food business. As Rim was eyeing the escapade, she caught glimpse of silver in Trumen's pocket. "Hee! He's got a gun."
"I DO! I DO" Hee was pushing him out the door, the man's feet sliding across the concrete. "Please just give me sushi!" he cried. "I have a gun!"
"I don't give a shit!" Hee kicked his knees. "I'll fucking kill you!"
"Do it white bitch!"
Rim bolted from behind the counter as her brother gripped the door falling backwards. "Hee!" She wanted him to let go of the door, Hee stuttered. "Blink damn it! Bàba! Bàba!"
She didn't know Chinese like that. "Bàba! Bàba!" she kept screaming. Hee scratched his sister arm. "Hee don't die on me!
The bullet was below his chest plate. "Bàba!" she called again. Hee kept moving his legs, he saw his sister and blinked. Lei ran away from the phone, he slipped banging against the little door to the kitchen. "Hee!"
Hee's vision was still, he moved to the left and whined in pain. "Rim! Phone!"
She dashed to the back of the kitchen leaving her father holding the bullet wound.