Aperture on the East by Meris Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

Zoe’s work environment was less
than ideal.
    “ Enjoy your day off
tomorrow. See you Tuesday.” Mai started walking toward the exit,
but she stopped and turned around. “Speaking of work, Mr. Tran
wanted me to tell you something. He saw you give leftovers to the
people that came to beg at the backdoor. He wants you to stop doing
that.”
    “ Why, no one is going to
eat it. I don’t want to waste it,” said Ana.
    “ Well, he doesn’t want to
give free food to anyone. Some people may be pretending, faking
illness to get your sympathy. Just do what Mr. Tran says. He’s the
boss.” Mai turned and left.
    Ana was still defending her actions in
her mind when a man came to talk to Ana.
    “ Hi,” he said.
    Ana was surprised to be greeted by a
total stranger, but she didn’t want to be rude.
    “ Hi,” said Ana.
    “ I saw the band come to
chat with you earlier. Are you and the lead vocal related?” The man
sat down next to Ana, without asking.
    “ Yes, that’s my daughter,”
said Ana, feeling alarmed. “Is there something I can help you
with?”
    “ Oh, no, I’m just curious.
They are a really good band. I’ve enjoyed all their music so far. I
just couldn’t help but notice the resemblance between you two, and
I’d like a confirmation. That’s all.”
    “ Well, there you go.” Ana
looked away.
    “ Do you come and see your
daughter play much?”
    Ana, somewhat annoyed, turned to get a
better look at the man. He was probably in his early forties, with
an angular face framed by curly brown hair and a short beard that
was barely there. He was wearing a white button down shirt loosely
with a tan sport jacket, clutching a beer bottle in his left hand.
Ana was not certain what she should do. He was good looking, but
she was not in the mood to be picked up by anyone.
    “ I’m McKenzie,” said the
man. He reached out his free hand to Ana.
    Ana hesitated for a moment, then shook
McKenzie’s hand and said, “Ana.”
    “ Where are you from,
Ana?”
    “ Look, if you are trying
to pick up a girl, I am not it,” said Ana. She tried to put up a
stern face.
    “ I’m sorry,” said
McKenzie. “I’m just trying to make a friend. I just relocated from
Sydney, and I don’t know anyone yet. You are the only person here
who doesn’t seem to have company at the moment.”
    Ana looked around her. It was true.
Everyone else was in groups of two or more. She let her guard down
a little.
    “ Sydney, Australia?” said
Ana.
    “ Sydney, Australia.
Listen, if I am bothering you, I will leave now.” McKenzie stood
up.
    “ Sit down.”
    McKenzie sat back down and said,
“Thank you.”
    “ I’m from Russia, a city
called Novosibirsk.”
    “ Yes, I’ve heard of it.
It’s the Capital of Siberia.”
    Ana chortled and said, “That’s
actually not something to be proud of. I prefer being here than
there.”
    “ Nha Trang is beautiful.
No doubt about it,” said McKenzie.
    “ So what are you doing
here?”
    “ I’m just enjoying the
band and a beer, and getting to know you.”
    “ That’s not what I meant,”
said Ana, taking a sip of her Coca Cola, which was now flat and
diluted by melted ice cubes.
    “ Oh, you want to know why
I moved here from Sydney,” said McKenzie. “Actually I’m sort of on
a very long vacation. My girlfriend left me a month ago, and I got
tired of my desk job in Sydney. I have some savings and I’ve always
wanted to travel a bit. Nha Trang was on the first brochure that I
picked up from the travel agent. Then I decided that I should
probably work since I’m about to run out of cash. I’m going for an
interview tomorrow at the Sailing Club Dive Center. Did I mention
my girlfriend left me?”
    “ Wow, you said all that in
one breath,” said Ana.
    “ Sorry, I get carried away
sometimes when I am in good company.”
    “ I just moved here about
three months ago myself.”
    “ Great. So we can hang
out,” said McKenzie.
    “ I only get Mondays off,
though. I work late shift at a