5. Duck and Dumplings
Chapter five
Duck and Dumplings
Monique
When we got to the sidewalk, I thought we would head into one of the two restaurants. Instead, we passed them.
Then, Leo turned the corner into an alleyway. The buildings were high and blocked out the sun, making the path a dark, shadowed space.
Oh, hell no.
I stopped at the entrance.
Leo continued.
Mountain Man stopped behind me. “Go ahead.”
I inched away. “I don’t see a restaurant down there.”
“There is one.” He crossed his arms over his huge chest. “We are men of God. You can trust us.”
I don’t know about that.
I stayed right where I was.
He extended his hand. “My name is Song.”
I gave my hand and shook his. “My name is Mo—”
Song grabbed my hand hard and dragged me off with him.
A crow cawed above us.
Panic hit me. My heart boomed in my ears.
“Hey!” I struggled against him, hitting his arm and trying to yank mine away. “What are you doing?!”
“You’re just a little thing.” Song rushed me along. “Stop it.”
“Excuse me?” I tried to pull my hand away as I kept his pace. “I don’t want to go down here with you all—”
“We don’t have time for your fear.” Song tightened his grip.
“So, you kidnap me?”
A disgusted expression covered his face. “We’re not kidnapping you.”
“Then, let me go.”
“Not until after breakfast. We must keep Leo off the street.”
“Why?”
“Some mean him harm.”
“Why?”
“You’ll be better to not be a part of Leo’s problems. When your money comes and he says goodbye, get as far away from him as possible.” Song let go of my hand and shoved me along.
Don’t worry. I will be running from you all soon.
Song stomped forward, but every few steps he checked over his shoulder.
Who’s coming for him?
My heart kept the erratic beat.
Still in survival mode, I took in everything around me, remembering each detail just in case I needed it later. The only thing that didn’t have me pissing my pants was the fact that they kept talking about giving me the money.
Am I stupid to think they will? Fuck. I’m so desperate I would follow a man into the alley for the promise of cash for sure.
I glanced over my shoulder. Near the opening, more blue monks came out of nowhere and blocked the entrance.
Please, God. Don’t let these crazy monks kill me. I need help.
We went down the dark, narrow alleyway. At the end, Leo and his other men waited at an unmarked wooden door in the center of a gray, windowless building. The door didn’t have a knob.
This isn’t going to end well.
Leo tapped his knuckles on the wood.
The door opened in seconds.
A man with glasses peeked his head out the door, gazed at Leo and widened his eyes in shock. Next, Leo and the man spoke in Chinese.
Both of them chuckled and smiled.
Meanwhile, Song continued to check the alley opening further away as if expecting an army to march through and capture everyone. He was too big of a man to be nervous. That very fact put me on edge too.
Who’s coming that would scare this huge man?
I turned back to the wooden door. The man with glasses opened the door up wider and continued his exchange with Leo. Next, he gestured for the monks and Leo to enter.
They did.
Song pointed. “Go on. We don’t have much time.”
Jesus, help me. I’m really going to do this.
I stepped through next.
To my surprise, the door led us to an elegant private room with only one table in the center. White chrysanthemums filled a blue porcelain vase and decorated the table. Blue lanterns hung from high wood ceilings.
Leo and the monks took off their shoes and socks. Next, they placed their socks in their shoes. Then, they put them on a red lacquered shelf with plum blossoms and birds painted all over it.
I followed not wanting to be the only crazy person wearing sneakers.
When my bare feet pressed against the warm, polished wood floor, the man with glasses smiled at me. “Thank you.”
He guided us past the luxurious room and down a mahogany wood hall.
Birds chirped up ahead.
Where is this going?
Someone had cut a massive circle in a mahogany wall. It was five feet long and wide.
I’d never seen anything like this before. In order to go through it, we had to lift our feet and step over. Many of the monks ducked.
For me, it was like walking through a magical portal.
The circular entrance led us to a huge courtyard.
I gasped at the sight.
Well. . .this is a good sign.
I stepped onto a bridge. Chilly stone pressed against the bottoms of my feet. We continued. The bridge went over the pond and then stopped. I walked onto the thick, soft carpet of grass. The warmth of the earth instantly comforted me.
Twisting around, I took in everything.
The courtyard was outlined by four bubbling rock walls and was heavily-shaded with trees.
I studied the walls wondering where the water came from. Somewhere at the top of each of these walls there must’ve been a hole to allow water to emerge, trickle down the stones, and drip into the pond.
The water’s light gurgling provided a soothing sound among the calming scene.
I wasn’t expecting this.
All around the thick grassy ground, exotic flowers grew everywhere with no rhyme or reason. The flowery fragrance of jasmine rode the breeze.
Odd trees towered throughout the area. They reminded me of evergreen trees, but they had these rugged, flat-crowned tops.
Around six birds played and flew around the trees. I’d never seen birds like these. They were green with red and white bellies.
Near the tree, there was only one table with two chairs in the center.
Song walked over to the table and stopped by some of the other monks that stood a few feet away from it and kept guard.
Leo got to my side. “Do you like it?”
“Yes. I had no idea something this nice existed in Glory.”
“Sometimes you have to go down a dark path to see the light.”
“I don’t know about that, but it’s beautiful.”
Leo chuckled. “Have you ever seen a garden that was so lovely?”
“No.”
“I have an amazing one at my house.” He walked over to the winding koi pond. “Chinese gardens look different from the ones you’re used to in America. No neat rows of flowers. No statues or sculpted fountains.”
I followed him and gazed down at the water.
There were so many koi swimming in the clear bubbling pond.
At first, I noticed the classic koi—diamond white scales with reddish orange patterns. Some of the koi had shiny platinum skin and fins with deep black spots around the heads. There were also fully gold ones. Others were white, red, and black.
“When it comes to our gardens, we don’t like to bend the natural world to our human ideas of order.” Leo kneeled and touched the pond’s surface.
The water rippled.
Several gold koi swam to that area, probably expecting food.
Leo grinned at them. “Earth is allowed to do what it wants. This maintains the harmony between nature and man.”
Movement sounded behind me.
A women stepped out, wearing a white dress and carrying a tea pot. Another woman followed with two tiny cups. An herbal aroma filled the air as they set the cups and tea pot at the table near the odd trees.
Leo rose, walked over to the table, and sat down at one end. “In ancient times, emperors had beautiful gardens built for pleasure, but mainly they sought to impress.”
I went over to the table and sat in the empty seat across from him. “Who did the emperors want to impress?”
“Scholars, poets, and anybody deemed important at the time.” He picked up the tea pot. “You’ll love this meal. Chef Yau is a poet when it comes to food.”
He poured me a cup. “You’re from Glory?”
“Born and raised.” I picked up my cup and sniffed it. An herbal fragrance filled my nostrils.
Leo watched me hold the cup. “I lived in Glory a long time ago with my wife and children.”
I quirked my brows. “Where?”
“In the apartment building right across from Buddha Park.”
“That’s where my father lives now. At least I think so.”
“Well, I apologize for him. Those two-bedroom apartments weren’t nice then. My understanding is that the building has not improved.” He lifted his cup and studied the tea. “I should have bought the building long ago and fixed it up.”
Okay. If he can buy a building, then he can definitely give me $75,000.
Doubt about my getting the money remained within me. However, my gut said that I was in the right place and doing the right thing.
God, is this what you wanted?
I still didn’t try the tea. I wouldn’t until he did. Promise of money or not, I still didn’t know these people. In my mind, I still could get out of here, if things went crazy.
Leo put the cup to his mouth and drank. After he swallowed, he sighed in pleasure.
I assessed his reaction to it.
He drank more. “When my wife and I lived in Glory, we experienced rough times. Paradise was too expensive to live in back then, especially for poor immigrants.”
“Still is.”
“I guess it is.” He grinned. “My wife and I worked two and three jobs at a time. Anything to pay the bills.”
I nodded. “Me too.”
“Then, she became pregnant, and my entire existence shifted to fear. I was so scared.”
“I know that feeling.”
“My shit jobs barely got food on the table. Sometimes, I had to hunt.”
“Did you go to Serenity Forest?”
“I did.” He chuckled. “There was a wealth of fox and deer there.”
“I’ve never gotten a deer, but plenty of rabbit and birds.”
“What about squirrel?”
“I’m saving that level of desperation for last.”
“I understand.”
Feeling more comfortable, I finally sipped the tea.
Leo beamed with pride. “My wife and I raised two little babies here—a girl and a boy.”
Too intrigued by his story, I sipped some of the tea. The hot liquid stung my tongue a little but tasted sweet. I sighed in pleasure and sipped more.
I’d forgotten how thirsty and hungry I was. All this morning, I’d been running and walking fast, climbing stairs and yelling for my dad. Never had I stopped to get something to eat or catch my breath.
Leo spoke, “Every night, I returned home to the filth, the roaches, the mice scurrying under my baby’s crib. . .” He gave me a sad smile. “All I could do was focus on getting us out of there.”
“I understand the feeling.”
“I see the fire inside of you. The need to survive.” He lifted his cup and gently tapped it against mine. “To survival.”
“To survival.”
We both took a sip from our tea at the same time.
“This is delicious.” I took another sip and placed my cup on the table.
All around me the sounds of the garden relaxed my nerves—the birds chirping, the branches fluttering in the wind, the bubbling of dripping walls.
“Why did your father steal the money?” Leo sipped more of his tea. “Did he do it for the same desperation that we share—the need to survive?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know why he did it. I woke up this morning to these two guys—Dutch and Snow breaking into my apartment and demanding that I pay them back the money my father stole.”
“Hmmm.” Leo held the cup with both hands and leaned back in the chair. “Tell me more.”
“I have three sisters—20, 17, and 11. I take care of them—”
“By yourself?” Shock hit his face.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My mother passed from cancer and my father. . .he wasn’t around.”
Frowning, Leo finished the tea.
“Like I said the amount of money is $75,000. Of course I can’t give it to them. So, Dutch and Snow threatened to have my sisters and me work the money off through prostitution.”
Leo slammed the empty cup on the table.
I jumped a little.
He knitted his fingers. I thought he was going to ask me something, but he looked up at Song. “Dutch? Snow? Who are these men?”
Song shrugged. “They’re Kenny’s sons.”
“Not Kenny from back in the day?”
“Yes. Our old supervisor.” Song nodded. “His boys grew up to be small-time gangsters.”
You think Dutch and Snow are small time? How big are you all?
“Interesting.” Leo returned his attention to me. “And you’re scared of these men?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I’m glad God sent you to me.” Leo lifted the pot and poured more tea. “I know all the solutions.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
Two new women in white carried out wooden circular baskets with flat tops on them. The sides were beautifully woven panels. They placed them on the table and took off the tops. Savory steam rose from them.
My stomach growled.
I gazed in. Pink buns sat inside shaped into little piggies. They had two sesame seeds for the eyes. The dough had been formed to make their snouts and ears.
So. . .we eat these or what?
I looked at Leo.
He placed his hands together in prayer.
I followed this odd man, put my hands together, and closed my eyes. Leo didn't say anything across the table, which told me that he must've been keeping his prayer silent.
So I said my own prayer too.
Dear God. I don't know what you're trying to show me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I woke up to craziness. My whole life is being shaken up, and all I ask for is help. And guidance. Please.
I opened my eyes.
Smiling, Leo stuck his hands in one of the baskets and grabbed a little piggy. “Do you like steamed buns?”
“I’ve never had them.”
“Oh. You must from now on. You can eat steamed buns at any meal, but breakfast is my favorite time.” Leo bit into one, groaned in delight, and mumbled in between bites. “Delicious.”
Hungry, I picked up one.
Okay, God. Please let this be nothing crazy.
I bit into the soft, salty bun. A savory sauce with shredded pork met my tongue. I groaned just as loud as Leo.
The monks chuckled.
Not caring, I licked some of the juices dripping down my finger and bit more of the bun. “This is so good.”
The two women bowed at me.
I nodded.
Then, they disappeared.
You know what? I’m going to stop hating Asian people. I’ll just keep that hate directed at Dad. Asian people have never done anything to me.
Leo pointed to the other basket. “These buns are stuffed with vegetables.”
A tall man entered the courtyard with a long wooden tray and set it down.
“Oh yes. This is a big treat.” Leo rubbed his hands together. “Peking duck roasted to a crisp over jujube wood.”
“Jujube wood?”
Leo picked up pink and gold chopsticks. “The duck must be roasted over 40-year-old jujube wood for longer than 65 minutes.”
“Why?”
“It gives the duck an extra-crispy taste. My wife understood this perfectly.” With the chopsticks, he grabbed a slice of duck. “But the jujube wood is more important than what it does for duck.”
I picked up my two pink and gold chopsticks and studied them. Never had I seen such pretty ones before. Immediately, I did my best to mimic the way Leo’s fingers held them.
He picked up more duck. “Historians and archeologists have discovered that Jesus’s Crown of Thorns was made from the branches of a jujube tree.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“My men’s crosses are made from jujube wood.” Leo gestured to the monks. “Rosary beads are also made from the ancient wood.”
“That’s super interesting.” Feeling semi-confident, I reached my chopsticks out for a slice. The slice fell out of the sticks and back onto the wood. I grabbed it again and as I slowly brought it to my mouth, it fell onto the table.
A woman came out of the shadows.
Where did she come from?
Quickly, she grabbed the meat, wiped it with a cloth, and placed a fork next to me. Embarrassment hit me. While I’d never used chopsticks before, I was sure I could figure them out with a little practice.
Leo placed his chopsticks down and watched me. A stern expression covered his face.
The monks assessed me too.
What’s going on?
I put my focus back on that yummy duck. I decided that I would not give up and use the fork just yet. Reaching out with my chopsticks again, I grabbed a slice. When I was confident, I had a decent grip with the tips, I put it in my mouth with ease.
Leo curved his lips into a smile. “Good. We never give up. We never take the easy route.”
The duck tasted perfect. It was a lush crispiness that exploded with juices.
I could get addicted to this.
Leo went back to the steamed pork buns. “Do you like duck?”
“I’ve only had it once.” I grabbed another slice. “My mother made it for us one thanksgiving. It was cool, but it didn’t make me go crazy. It might’ve been a little dry actually.”
“And after eating this duck?”
“I’ll probably be hunting around Serenity Forest’s lake.” I chuckled and grabbed some duck.
The two women returned with more wood platters and placed them on the table.
Leo gazed at the new food. “I asked Chef Yau for all my favorite dishes because this is a celebration.”
“What are you celebrating?”
His gaze darkened. “My death.”
“I’m so sorry.” I lowered my chopsticks. “You’re sick?”
“Some would say that.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since my wife passed.” Leo looked off at the green and red birds playing around the tree.
I happened to spot two crows resting on the highest branch.
They must’ve flown in here.
Leo moved his view to the crows too. “Death will soon come my way, and when it does, there will be no mercy.”
I placed my hands in my lap. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. I accepted this a long time ago. And I deserve it.” Leo moved the basket of steamy buns to the side and made room for the new dishes. “Try this rice.”
I stared at it. It was a mixture of white, blue, red, and purple.
I don’t know about that.
“The rice is dyed with the petals of mountain flowers.” He grabbed the wooden spoon in the bowl, scooped some up, and placed a small pile on my plate. “The rice doesn’t taste floral. The color is only for the visual effect.”
I inhaled the steam. “It smells like cooked flowers are on my plate.”
“That’s the other reason why I love it. When eating, scent is just as important as taste.”
I took a bite.
It was good, but I no longer had an appetite. I had so many questions for him. First, I wondered if he had cancer or a brain disease. Also, I hoped I could help somehow. I felt so powerless with Mom. For some reason, I wished I could make that up with him.
A man stepped through the courtyard’s circular entrance. He wore a blue robe and wooden cross. In his right hand, he held a leather briefcase.
Song headed over to Leo, bent over, and whispered in his ear.
Walking over, the monk set the suitcase next to me and then took his place by the other monks.
Leo frowned at Song. “Are you sure, brother?”
Song nodded.
“Unfortunately, our breakfast will be coming to an end soon.” Leo placed rice on his plate and put the spoon up. “Look in the suitcase and make sure it is all there.”
He’s really going to give me the money?
Life had been so fucked up for me. I wasn’t sure if I knew what a lucky break looked like. I damn sure didn’t know what it felt like.
All I knew was that butterflies jumped around in my stomach.
I set my chopsticks down, picked up the briefcase, and placed it flat on my lap.
Leo ate his rice and grinned. “Perfection.”
I snapped open the briefcase and lifted the top.
Holy Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and even more white people!
Money. Lots of it. Stacks of it. Filled the case in neat packs. I didn’t know what $75,000 looked like, but this was damn close. Even if it weren’t the amount, I would take it. This was a whole lot more than what I’d woken up with.
Thank you, God.
I opened my mouth in shock and gazed at him. “T-thank you.”
“Don’t forget my three promises.”
I shut the briefcase and gripped the handle, holding on to it for dear life. “What do you want?”
“Stand up.” Leo put his chopsticks down and rose.
Nervous, I did too, but still held the briefcase.
The women returned with our shoes and placed them on the ground next to us.
Leo raised his hands to the back of his neck and undid his necklace. “The first promise is that you must wear this, until it is snatched off your neck.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You want me to wear your cross?”
“Yes.” Leo walked over to me and placed it around my neck. “This is very important to me. Do not take it off, until it is snatched away.”
I wouldn’t lie. There was a moment where I feared he would snap my neck or choke me. This was just such an odd situation. I’d just met this stranger. He’d offered me food and a large amount of money, and so far, all I had to do was wear a necklace.
He snapped it close and stepped back.
I looked down and touched it.
Leo gave me a sad smile. “Press the side of the cross.”
I did. The cross was a locket. A picture of him and an older woman smiled back at me.
“That’s your wife?” I asked.
“It is.”
“She was beautiful.”
“She was.”
Song and the other monks got behind him.
Leo stared at the picture. “That stays there until it is snatched off. You don’t take it off yourself. You don’t leave it around.”
“Perhaps, I should make sure it doesn’t get snatched off either.”
His frown deepened. “Unfortunately, it is inevitable.”
“Why?”
“The second promise is just as important.” He folded his hands in front of him. “I know that you’ll want to take the money straight to the casino to give to Snow and. . .”
“Dutch,” Song added.
Leo continued, “Don’t go to them until you’ve gone to St. Paul of the Cross Church.”
I widened my eyes. “Okay. That’s the big church three blocks from here?”
“Correct.”
“Okay.” I swallowed. “Do you want me to give a message to somebody there?”
“Exactly.” Leo reached his hand up to the opened cross locket around my neck and closed it.
“Who do you want me to talk to?”
“From morning to the afternoon, they have an open prayer altar where all can come inside, light a candle, and talk to God.”
“Okay.”
“Therefore, go there and talk to God for me.”
I blinked.
“Tell God how sorry I am, and that I hope to be doing His work. I pray my sacrifices have been received as atonement of my sins. Beg him to save my soul.”
“So. . .you want me to pray for you?”
Leo nodded. “Prayer is the most valuable spiritual discipline there is. An altar magnifies the prayer.”
He’s a dying man, hoping to enter the gates of heaven.
I looked down at the money and felt guilty. “Leo. . .I. . .would pray for you for free—”
“Of course you would. That’s why you get the money.” Leo’s smile widened. “Not only did I see the desperation in you, but I saw the goodness. Precious souls radiate. You glow like the sun.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“And now for my final promise.”
I braced myself, not sure where this was going.
Leo gave me a stern look. “When you have your firstborn son, you will name him, Leo. Regardless of how much your husband may protest.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “What?”
Leo didn’t smile. “That’s the third promise.”
I quirked my brows. “You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Um. . .Okay. I don’t even know if I’ll have kids—”
“You will.” Song’s expression appeared as if that was a death threat.
“O-kay.”
A bump came from the back.
I glanced behind them. The wooden circular door began to close. I didn’t see anyone slipping wood down. It must have been controlled by a remote. However, the entrance began to shift into a wall as if closing us in.
A beep came on my left and then my right. Water stopped trickling down those two rock walls. Then, circular entrances appeared.
Still holding onto the money, I rushed and slipped on my shoes.
Leo’s voice grabbed my attention. “I never asked you why you shaved your head.”
Song frowned. “We must go, Brother.”
Leo raised his gray eyebrows. “Why did you cut it all off? It’s odd for a woman to not let her hair grow.”
“When my mother was going through chemotherapy, she started losing her hair. And. . .she just felt. . .like less of a woman. Society thinks that in order to be a woman, one must have long, flowing locks.” I shrugged. “I’m a woman, long hair or not. So, my sister Jo and I shaved off our hair to show her how beautiful bald women truly are. We both resemble her so we wanted to be her mirrors.”
“If you resemble her, then, she must’ve been quite captivating.” He frowned. “When did she pass?”
“Almost a year ago.”
“You could have let your hair grow back by now.”
“I know, but. . .I’m not ready to see my hair yet. At least when I see my head bald, I think of Mom and that moment when she saw Jo and I walk in.”
He gave me a warm smile. “What did she do?”
I grinned. “She laughed, cried, and screamed at us, all at once. And for the rest of that week, she would see us, shake her head, and laugh again. It was worth it just to see her enjoyment.”
Song cleared his throat and took out a small handgun.
Leo sighed. “I’m glad God introduced you to me.”
“Me too.”
“Enjoy your day, Monique.”
“I will, and it’s all thanks to you.”
“We must leave now.” Song handed me the small gun. “Take this.”
I looked down at it. “Umm.”
“It’s loaded and on safety. You will need it.” Song pointed left. “You must go that way.”
I stared at it. “Where does it lead?”
“Take another left and you’ll be on Main Street. Go south and you’ll bump into the church.” Song guided Leo away.
“We part here.” Leo walked off and waved. “I have demons to slay, while you have angels to talk to.”
“Thank you again.”
“No. Thank God and tell him I sent you.” Leo headed off. “And don’t forget my other promises, Monique.”
“I won’t.”
They got to the circular entrance on the right and stepped over it.
Holding on to the briefcase of money, I grabbed another pork bun and rushed to the other circular doorway.
Thank you, God.
A great sense of gratitude washed over me. Never in my life had I experienced such a day. In one moment, I feared for the threat of death and prostitution. In the next moment, God sent an angel my way.
Okay. I’ll pray for Leo at the church’s altar and then I’ll give this money to Dutch and Snow.