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Chapter 5
Jenny finds Sandra already slurping
down her soup. She looks up and sees Jenny come running into the restraunt with
a big smile on her face. Jenny slides into the booth and plops her backpack
under the table. Sandra is an attractive 34 year old Chinese woman who
immigrated with her parents when she was only 2. She has a bubbly..has an
energetic personality and never takes “no” for an answer..
Sandra
What’s up
Sista? What are you so happy about? Did Russel Wong show up in your class or
something? (laughs)
Jenny (still beaming)
Hey..that’s funny! After class tonight two guys in
suits came up to me and asked if I would do private lessons for some Chinese
actor trying to make it in Hollywood for ..get this!…$100 a lesson! Look
here’s their card that they gave me.. (hands the card to Sandra)
Sandra (Squeals)
Oh my god! I know who this guy is
Jennifer! He’s Jet Li! The famous Martial Arts guy who just starred in
Lethal Weapon 4 with Mel Gibson.. Don’t you remember him? He strangled the
asian guy with his prayer beads?
Jenny
(puzzled)
I
don’t understand. Why would they want to hire me when they could have
hired someone from Culver City easily?
Sandra
Ah… they must have talked to someone at the bank or something. I
am pretty sure they probably have an account there. They may have wanted
someone that could speak good Mandarin and English and I am sure you were the
only person Dad thought of. Dad brags about you a lot! You should hear him
sometimes..
Jenny
We can ask him
tonight if he had talked to anyone about me.. They want me to call and let them
know. Gee.. I am kind of nervous now.. He’s not going to Karate chop my
stomach if he gets mad is he?? (laughs)
Sandra
Oh no.. Jen. I have heard nothing but great things
about his guy. From what I have read in the magazines..he seems pretty down to
earth. When are you going to call?
Jenny
Well… I think I am going to talk to Dad and then
probably call tomorrow after class. Do you think Dad will be upset that I
won’t be able to work in the bank this summer as a teller?
Sandra
Not at all.. He
will be so proud of you doing this job. Jet Li is very distinguished. Becareful
though! Once the Chinese community gets wind of you doing this then I am sure
the gossip will start flying. I wouldn’t tell anyone else because I know
Jet may be nice but he is also a very private and secluded person. He has had
some freaky fans do some pretty outrageous things in his past. I heard that one
time in Hong Kong while he was riding in the elevator up to his appartment a
crazy fan stopped the elevator and even tried to get his undies off him
(laughs)
Jenny
Wow! That is
scary! Well, let’s eat and then we can go home and tell Mom the good news.
Did you order mine yet?
Sandra
Of course I did.. Hey.. you know I am completely jealous right! All my
Chinese friends would go nuts if I told them what your doing!
Jenny
Well maybe
it’s good that we keep it a secret then..
Sandra (smiles)
I agree..
Sandra and Jenny walk through the
door of Mrs. Wang’s two story home. It is very traditional with Chinese
artwork adorning the walls and has a warm inviting atmosphere. Mrs. Yang is in
the kitchen cooking noodles. She is testing one with a fork when the two women
walk into the kitchen and park themselves at the breakfast bar. Mrs. Wang peers
over her bi-focals and smiles..
Mrs. Wang
I can tell you girls are up to something.. What have
you done now?
Sandra
Mom! Why would you think we were up to something (sneaky grin)
Mrs. Wang
Oh..maybe because
you usually are up to some kind of mischief or another! You would think you
would have grown out of that already..being grown women! Tsk..tsk..tsk..
(shakes her head)
Sandra (Mandarin)
Mom..Jenny has some great news!
Jenny (Mandarin)
Yes.. I do! But
can I tell you in English ?(laughs) ..
Mrs. Wang
Oh.. let me come and sit with my tea.. I can tell this
is going to be something I need to sit down for.. First-things-First ..Are you
pregnant?
Jenny
(laughs)
Of course
not! I have to find a date first! No..that’s not it. Has Dad mentioned
anything about someone asking around for an English instructor?
Mrs. Wang (sips her tea)
Well.. hmm.. Actually yes. He said
something last week about a gentleman coming into the bank to make a large
deposit. I guess he and Dad had quite the conversation.
Jenny
Well, that must have been Mr. Yi then.
He came to see me today to ask me if I would teach a Chinese actor privately.
Sandra think it must be Jet Li..
Mrs. Wang ( chokes on her tea)
This is a joke right? Ok.. now you can
tell me what you are really up to..
Jenny
Well.. that’s what we think.. We can’t think
of anyone else it might be.
Mrs. Wang
Hmm… You should probably discuss this with Father..I don’t
think it’s healthy for a young woman your age to be hanging out with
martial arts actors.. I hear they are wild men!
Sandra and Jenny both look at each
other and laugh.
Jenny
Oh Mom! Your being silly. I am calling Mr. Yi in the morning to say
“yes” Besides he’s paying me $100 a lesson. I can’t let
that chance pass me by. I could pay for my trip to China next summer with that
kind of cash.
Mrs. Wang
Now you know Father would give you the money for the trip if you would
only ask.
Jenny
I know. But you
all have been so kind to me already.. this I can do by myself..
Sandra
Ok Mom back off..
She’s a big girl. I hear they are having a Karaoke contest down at the
restraunt tonight. Are we going? I call wait to hear Suzie Pai try to peel the
paint off the walls trying to sing “Evita” again (laughs)
Mrs. Wang
Yes..Let’s
go. I have been practicing all day singing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet
Caroline”. I am sure to win tonight..(looks at both women and giggles)
--------------------------
The following day Jenny closes up her classroom. And
hurries home to call Mr. Yi.
Jenny (phone to her ear)
Is this Mr. Yi? Yes? This is Jennifer
Logue. You gave me your buisness card last night.
Mr. Yi
Ah..yes.. I am glad that you have
called. I take it you are calling to respond to the job offer?
Jenny
Well..Yes.. I am.
Mr. Yi
Do you have to
teach tonight?
Jenny
Well no..But I wasn’t expecting to start so soon.
Mr. Yi
No…I just
want to get together to discuss a few things before you meet my employer.
Jenny
I understand. Can
I ask who he is?
Mr. Yi
Sure.. You have heard of Jet Li the famous Wushu Champion and martial
arts action movie star right?
Jenny(Smiles)
Yes.. I remember seeing him on Lethal Weapon 4. Is he
your employer?
Mr. Yi
Yes..So we need to sit down and discuss your contract with Mr. Li as
soon as possible because he is slated to shoot a movie here in four months and
frankly his English needs a lot of help.
Jenny
Alright. I understand. Where can we meet? I prefer not
to meet in Chinatown anywhere because of the gossiping..you understand?
Mr. Yi (laughs)
Yes.. I agree
that’s not the best place. How about we meet for dinner tonight around
7p.m. at Sam’s. It’s the third exit off of the Pasedena freeway..Do
you know where it is?
Jenny(Smiles)
Yes.. I will be there at 7. See you later then.
Mr. Yi
Alright then .. Goodbye Miss Logue.
At 6p.m. Sandra
is in Jenny’s closet trying to find something cool for her to wear to her
dinner appointment.
Sandra
How about this dress?
Jenny
No..I am not in the mood for a dress. I am just going
to wear my black slacks and blue shirt. Do you think that’s too casual?
Sandra (smiles)
No.. It looks
great with those baby blues of yours..lucky thing!
Jenny
Thanks sis! Hey! I had better hurray..
I don’t want to be late and I hate driving on that darn freeway. Pass me
my lipstick will you?
Sandra (laughs)
Sure here you go.. Hey is this Yi guy cute? Do you think he’s
single?
Jenny
I wasn’t
looking for a ring on his fingers but he’s wasn’t too bad looking. He
has a cute smile..that’s about all I noticed. Well..I gotta go.. Hey will
you ask Dad where my box of old family pictures are? I need to look through
them later.
Sandra
Sure thing..why?
Jenny (smiles)
Oh..I will tell you later..Are you going back to your apartment or are
you staying here tonight?
Sandra
I ‘m staying girlfriend! I want to hear about your date tonight!
Jenny (laughs
on her way out the door)
I will tell you everything..later!!
Jenny runs out the door and hops in
her Beetle..She arives at Sams’s at 6:50 and breathes a sigh of relief
that she made in one piece on the freeway.. The restraunt is all but empty
except for a young couple snuggling in a booth in the corner. Mr. Yi is sitting
in a booth drinking a beer and wearing jeans and a shirt. They discuss the
privacy issue and days when Mr. Li is available for lessons. Jenny orders
Yakisoba and Mr. Yi (Steve) orders Moo Goo Gai Pan. Jenny is relaxed and the
conversation amiable.
Steve Yi
Ok…You will come to his house next Tuesday then?
Jenny
Why does it have
to be at his house? I don’t know if I am too comfortable with that
arrangement.
Steve Yi
Well.. I am sorry. I should have explained everything better. Mr. Li
doesn’t leave the house very often because he is uncomfortable about being
accosted by uncontrollable fans. So, he prefers to have his lessons at the
house. You understand? You will be completely safe. I will be at the house
whenever you are there. Ok?
Jenny
Alright. But if I don’t feel comfortable with this set up..I will
let you know ASAP. Understand?
Steve Yi
Yes.. Here is the address.. Just push the button on the
speaker at the end of the driveway and security will open the gates for you.
Don’t worry about dinner.. I have taken care of it already..
Jenny
Ok.. Thanks.
Jenny climbs
back into her Beetle and decides to take the back road home to avoid the
freeway.. It’s longer but she needs time to think. She pops in a
“Garth” tape and heads for home.
Next
Chapter
Written by Isabel Hodge |
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