Beauty Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

Martin.”
    “Hi, Martin. Good to see you.”
    “Martin had his wallet stolen in Thai Nguyen. Now he has no money. He had it in his back pocket. I told him he shouldn’t keep it there.”
    “I’m sorry to trouble you,” I said feeling quite embarrassed. “Tan insisted that we come to visit you.”
    “Oh yeah, no problem, man. Come on in. What can I do to help? That really stinks. You do have to be careful around here. Lots of thievery. I used to have this large plant outside, and one morning I came out and someone had climbed over the gate and tried to steal the whole plant. But it must have been too heavy, so they dug out the plant instead and left a big hole in the pot’s dirt. Whatever is not nailed down will be stolen around here.”
    He paused. I tried to look sympathetic, but I hoped he saw a difference in significance between losing my wallet and a kidnapped plant.
    “Yes,” Tan agreed. “Lots of young people using drugs. They need drug money. It’s terrible.”
    “How can I help you Martin?” Jason asked.
    “Is there any way that I could call America? I need to get in contact with my mom so she can wire me some money.”
    “Oh, sure. I can set you up on my computer.”
    “I don’t want to trouble you.”
    “No, no trouble at all. It’s dirt cheap. Come on in.”
    Within minutes I was sitting on the edge of his bed looking at a laptop computer screen which sat on the coffee table in front of me. Jason assumed at first that I knew what I was doing, which I didn’t. He soon caught on that I was computer illiterate and helped me type in my phone number, put on the headset, and told me to wait for someone to answer.
    “It’s ringing,” I said.
    Tan and Jason went over to a small couch and sat down. Jason started cutting some bright purple tropical fruit as they chatted.
    “Hello,” mom answered.
    “Mom, it’s Martin.”
    “Martin, where are you calling from? It’s six in the morning.”
    “Mom, I’m still in Vietnam. I need some help.”
    “What did you do? You get lost? Do you even know where you are? And what exactly are you doing there anyway?”
    “Mom, listen. My wallet was stolen.”
    “Martin, you imbecile. Why did you have to run off across the ocean anyhow? You are such a fool.”
    “Mom, can you just listen? I need you to wire some money to me.”
    “You go against my wishes and have your father cremated, then you betray me by having his funeral in a church, then you run off around the world spending what little money your father left on some crazy scheme you dreamed up. You do all that without considering my feelings once, but now you have a problem and come running home to Mom. I’m tired of it Martin. You want to be grown up? You want to do things your own way? Well do it! I’m not sending you anything. You can figure it out yourself if you are so smart.”
    “Mom-“
    She hung up. I sat quietly for a moment until I realized that Jason had walked over behind the computer.
    “Hey, I’m sorry.”
    “No, it’s just… my mother. It’s complicated.”
    “Let me help you.”
    “No. It’s okay. I appreciate you allowing me to make the call.”
    “No really. I want to help. What do you need? You still have your passport, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “And how long are you staying?”
    “I fly out the day after tomorrow.”
    “So you need a place to stay for two nights, some food, money for airport tax, and transport to airport.”
    “Yes, but,” I tried to stop him but he continued to overwhelm me with hospitality.
    “No I insist. You can stay here if you don’t mind sleeping on the couch. Food is not a problem, and I am happy to give you some cash for the airport.”
    “That is really kind of you, but,”
    “And don’t worry about airport. I can take you. I go out there every morning looking for passengers,” Tan added.
    Their kindness overwhelmed me. I was a complete stranger with nothing to offer them, yet they willingly offered everything to me while my own