[i]
Waking up at 10:50 a.m.
Mango, Peach, and Grapefruit.
All day shift at China Wok.
Shitty tips all afternoon – nothing but one or two dollars here and there.
Peanut Butter Bagel. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Fruit Tea. Kinder Chocolate.
I truly appreciate these cloudy days – no sun in sight.
The shitty tips continue into the night...sometimes a generous one here and there. It's extremely busy for just one driver. But I take it like a man with a grumble and curl of the lip.
It rains for the last hour.
Ling made me Fried Shrimp with Garlic Sauce, Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Rice. On my way to deliver an order on 83rd Street I clobber my dinner down with haste.
I told the boss I had to be off work at 10pm for something. And of course as the night continues, and the hours dwindle I'm running out of time to cash out. 10 o'clock rolls around and an order for Harbour Point comes up, which is way out in Croatan. I don't have time for this whatsoever but I realize as the phones start ringing I'm really the only one who can take this delivery. They can't send Ming, the chef who sometimes helps out. So I grab it and jet out the door and promise to cash out when I return on Sunday.
I pull up to the house. Elliott's waiting in his car with Michelle. I grab my stuff from my room and hop in. We're driving up to northern Virginia to be a part of Phil and Cheongah's wedding party on the farm tomorrow.
Elliott gets frustrated when looking for the Wawa he thought he saw a few exits back. Instead we settle for a Shell that's almost 3 miles out of the way. He's disappointed.
Me: "Everything is designed to make your life miserable. Now you know how I feel."
...
64 to 95 to 17. Engaged in fun conversation with Elliott about him, me, and all our friend's futures in music, what it takes to get there, and what's holding us back – Michelle in the back napping slightly. Coffee and Chocolate Chip Cookies from Love's Truck Stop. The darkness on the road. A few deer sightings. Country music on the radio, a song about blue jeans and being "drunk on you".
...
Lighting fireworks off in the car.
We arrive in Marshall at about 3 a.m. and reunite with Phil. I've been here on the farm a few times before. So quiet. The stars are brighter than the porch light. Phil greets us with French phrases for a while and eventually reverts back to English. Settling us into our sleeping quarters.
Me: "It's good to see you, Phil."
[ii]
[i] Yang Yongliang.
[ii] Phil Reunion. Image by Michelle.
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