Michael Chang Adventures

Niet Two men stood looking through the one sided mirror that overlooked the club. The tall one, was smoking a cigarette and noticed Michael walk into the bar. He looked over to the man on his left. “You seen this one before?” he said skeptically to the man beside him. The man next to him was a short, stocky man. He resembled a slab of concrete poured vertically. “Niet” the man said curtly. He added “Chinese tourist.” The tall man took a long pull of his cigarette “Maybe, but somethings off, he seems a bit too interested in everything but the women.” “Da” the stocky one replied. They noticed Michael take the blonde to the back. Both men looked at eachother almost in silent agreement. Let’s have him picked up when he leaves, make something up. “Da” the other replied. The two men stood in silence as Michael and Candy walked back out onto the floor. Their eyes followed Michael closely as he went and sought another lap dance. The tall one simply added. “Have him picked up we...

  Michael smiled to himself and layed down on the bed. He took a swig of the Jameson’s and laid there enjoying the silence. He slowly drifted off to sleep. A few hours had passed and night had fallen on the city. Michael slid out of bed and headed to the shower. The water was piping hot and soon the room looked more like a sauna than a hotel room. Michael made his way down to the lobby. He turned the corner and was left stunned. He first noticed the shoes, they were red with straps that went halfway up her calf. Then there was the dress, she had on a white silk dress. The silk was quality, Michael could tell. His mother’s family had been silk traders for several generations before the second world war. Michael grew up with hours of familial conversations concerning the quality, or lack thereof, in the modern day silk trade. As a kid, Michael would ask his mother, if the family was so passionate about silk why not still be in the trade. His mother’s answer was a simple one. “Mahjong...

  Interludes: Miami (1990) David Prado   The flight had been a long one; and due to the nature of his work he hadn’t slept on either of the connecting flights that had gotten him from Marseilles to Miami by way of London. Michael was relieved to feel the 747 touch down briskly at Miami International Airport. Just another hour to sort out the customs declarations and he would be at the hotel enjoying a hot shower and then some bed. As he got up from his seat and gathered his things he smiled at Paris and made his way out. She would be on the return flight to London for their normal service. Michael had been on the job nonstop the past four months and had neglected his accrued vacation time. While common in Japan to forego a holiday for your employer, some habits die hard. Michael’s love of paid time off was one of those things he hadn’t been able to quite let go. As soon as he felt the thick, Miami air, he knew he was in a different environment. In his days at the RHK...