A Wet Night Along Jupiter

My first six months here.

Well it has been an interesting experience for a someone used to the French countryside, towns that are have buildings dating back a thousand years and traffic jams being something that were remarked on, not a way of life.

The traffic was the first culture shock but there were more to follow. They have caused me to become frustrated at times, charmed at others and added to my growing admiration for this country and its people.
Within a few days of arriving I inevitably got lost within fifteen minutes walk of home. It was dark, and in the torrential rain I managed to head out of the 7/11, gin in hand, in the wrong direction.

I had noticed her hanging around outside when I was paying and she slipped under my umbrella gracefully as I left. She was interested in where I was from and what I was doing here. I was short, polite and to the point. And no I did not want massage with extras. And certainly not from a ladyboy ( what a pompous man I was being) I was tired, hungry and, it dawned on me, lost. The thought occurred just as Bea gave up on me. And she slinked off into the gloom and noise.
I retraced my steps and headed off once again in a new, but equally wrong, direction. I even ended up on the right street briefly, but heading in the wrong direction.

And, twenty minutes later, feeling a certain amount of panic, I stopped to think. And at that moment a hand rested on my arm and Bea, smiling kindly asked me if she could help. I was too worried to argue, and let her lead me, not down to some bar to be robbed (imagination is very dangerous thing) but home.

She talked to me about my stay so far and how I felt about the night life with genuine interest in what I had to say. I felt touched that she had been so kind and considerate. So some preconceived notion I had was abandoned that night.And then she was gone.

I look for Bea sometimes, she was strikingly beautiful, easy to spot. ……I wanted to say thank you

Comments

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dohm

02/17/11 07:45

The incident (kind gesture from Bea) is a heart-warming sharing to us Filipinos here especially from a foreigner like you Doc. May the gesture of Bea be instilled and multiply to every Filipino.

Good luck and happy stay here!

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