Copyright 2020, Javahead. All rights reserved
Author's Note:
This story was my first attempt to write from a female POV. I welcome feedback on how well -- or poorly -- I did.
I'm not quite certain where the character and story line emerged from -- I jotted down some ideas, decided to borrow secondary characters from some of my earlier stories, and started writing. It was only then that I realized that I was essentially trying to write a pastiche of a Chloe Tzang story.
I don't claim to be the writer that Chloe is, but I hope that you'll enjoy Cindy's story anyway. If you do -- and quite possibly even if you don't -- you'll probably enjoy Chloe's work.
And Chloe? Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement. -
Javahead
ooOoo
I blamed Abigail.
If Abby hadn't found those coupons and convinced me that this class would be 'fun', I wouldn't hurt so much right now. And it had looked so easy!
It really had sounded like fun. I don't know why the school thinks we need PE credits to get a college degree, but there it was in the syllabus: we had to take a total of 5 units worth of PE during our second year. None of the classes they offered looked all that appealing, but Abby had pointed out the small print -- classes at outside gyms could be substituted, with a long list of local providers.
I wasn't sure if my parents would approve of a ladies' fitness pole dancing class -- no, I knew they'd tell me that a good Chinese girl would never do something like that! - but it sounded like a lot more fun than beginner's golf or showing up for swim class at 7 AM every morning. I could even afford it; with the student discount they offered I could try it out for a semester without asking my parents for extra spending money.
So I hadn't put up much of a fight -- all it took was "Come on Cindy, it'll be fun! Think about how Josh will react when he finds out!" to get me to agree to come to talk with them.
Plus, the instructors would be an argument in my favor if my parents did find out -- they were a couple of Chinese sisters -- from Hong Kong, like my Mom. The older sister, Nita, had to be close to my mom's age, too, late 30's at least, but I'd never have guessed it if she hadn't mentioned the year that she came here for college. Pole dancing must be really good for your fitness and looks; they're both super fit, and Nita could almost pass as a twin of her younger sister Susan. They're kind of cool -- I could see both of them had tattoos showing where their T-back tops exposed their shoulders. Umm, I'd better not mention that last to my folks. I can't imagine my Mom getting a tattoo; she'd probably be ready to disown me if
I
did.
Nita and Susan were awfully nice when I came to check them out. I introduced myself -- at least with other Chinese I don't have to put up with "Cindy Lou Who" jokes when I tell them my name is "Cindy Liu." We even talked a little in Cantonese, though mine's pretty bad -- hey, Mom speaks Cantonese, Dad speaks Mandarin, so us kids just pick up bits and pieces. My Mandarin's not really any better, even if I did go to Chinese school long enough to be able to read Chinese characters a little. But they seemed to appreciate my attempt.
So I signed up for their class. The time -- 5 PM, twice a week -- worked OK with my class schedule, and the class was just a few blocks from my dorm; honestly, it was closer (and a less scary nighttime walk) than the school gym on the other side of campus.
ooOoo
I'd looked forward to starting. I hoped it got me in shape, but didn't think it could be too hard; after all, they could do it, and they're tiny, 4 or 5 inches shorter than my 5'3". I figured I could handle anything they wanted us to do.
I didn't know that they'd turn into sadistic drill sergeants when class started. Or maybe just drill sergeants, and the class was designed by sadists. The first few moves were easy enough -- just stepping around the pole, or using it to stabilize myself while I did a slow pirouette. But these so-called basic spins? They look easy, too, at least when Nita or Susan do them, but they're evil.
Who came up with the 'chair'? Who thought it would be a good idea to spin around the pole using only your hands while you curl your body up like you're sitting on a chair that isn't there? At least now I know why both of them have 6 packs -- my hands are burning, my arms are trembling, and they yell "just hold it a little longer" at me if I don't keep my body in a perfect 'chair' position as my stomach starts to cramp. While they both maintain perfect form themselves.
But we all got personal attention for every move. It's not a big class, just ten people, and they seemed to be able to watch all of us at once.
Somehow, I managed to last through that first class. And the next one -- I even got a little praise. I didn't hurt quite as much afterward, either. Abby had been right, too -- Josh did seem excited by the idea when I told him about it on our Saturday night date.
Of course, Josh is another one of those things I don't tell my parents. Dating a gwai loh? Why couldn't I date a good Chinese boy, or at least Korean or Vietnamese? Maybe even a Japanese guy in a pinch. But a white guy? Everyone knows what they want from a good Chinese girl like me! Yeah, my folks are pretty old fashioned in some ways, but they do love us.
So how many Chinese guys, or even Asian guys, will you find in a High School class in Fresno, California? Not many. As in "none," most of the time. This is why the only "dates" I had in High School were the Junior and Senior proms, when I went with a guy -- not a boyfriend -- from our church youth group (and went to his, so he had a date).
Of course, even if there had been someone to date, I wouldn't have had much free time to do it. When your folks own a handful of convenience stores, "teenage child" means "free labor". No, that's not true, they do pay us minimum wage, just like the other clerks. Deposited directly into our college funds, that is, except for a few dollars a week spending money.
I shouldn't complain. With that, and my folks help, I had enough money to go to a State college without taking out a student loan. They'd actually approved of my coming to the Bay area; the college has a pretty solid business and accounting program. Plus they thought it would give me a chance to get to meet and socialize with more Chinese people my own age. Maybe even find someone I'd like to date. Yay, me!
And I did. Find someone -- Chinese, even! - who I liked enough to date. Not that I told my parents -- I'm pretty sure that finding out that
she
was Chinese would have had them wanting to commit me to a nunnery. Convent? We're not even Catholic! (Or maybe not. If your daughter likes other girls, wouldn't that be a really bad idea?)