The Slave

Jack Kay

    Yorktown Illinois a small town among the many dotting the North American landscape. The town has several neighborhoods with grand old brick houses built long before the second world war shaded by tall evergreens and poplars. The streets are wide, and the family car usually sits in the driveway. The vacant lots that had been between many houses began to fill in after the war with ranchers and large three-story residences. Many people moved to Yorktown because it was quiet and crime free. Local residents built modern style homes near the manufactured lakes in the area. The lakes were great for fishing, and they spilled into a large waterway called the Hobart canal, named after the engineer who had managed the idea and construction.

    It was in the quietude of this town that two young men grew up together and lived only a few doors from each other. They were a sampling of the strong, spirited kids who were called baby boomers. Allen Drake and Gordie Russel were exactly the same age. They both had grown up on the south part of town, attending elementary and high school together. Later they both enrolled at the community college, graduating after 3 years with degrees in Marketing and Management. They were both hired by a soft drink bottler the SPRITSZ COMPANY. Allen became the Marketing manager and Gordie also eventually managing the human resources department. Along the way they had both married girls they knew from school, Allen with Donna Drysdale, and Gordie with Betsy Atwood. Gordie was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Debbie, and Sue. Allen and his wife decided early on not to have children to be able to live a freer life.

   The years were good to both men and after twenty-five years they retired within six months of each other. They joined a sports club, where they played cards, bowled, and travelled on a bus trip to various sports events in the area. They met regularly as usual at a coffee shop where they discussed world events and as always Allen complained bitterly about his wife.

   "She snores enough to drive me out to the living room. he said disparagingly. And wow can she ever break wind which smell like a terrible methane attack. She is really getting to be a handful to live with."

   Gordie heard some of the same remarks every time they met and did try and console his lifelong friend.

   Every conversation started with a preamble of Allen saying, “You know what she did this time?"

   Gordie would try and get him off subject, but it was becoming impossible.

   One day he arrived looking very solemn. He did not mention his wife for an extraordinarily long time in their conversation when it slipped out why he was being so quiet.

  "Donna has been diagnosed with colon cancer." he said in a very timid voice.

   Gordie was shocked and told him how sorry he was. Within three months she was gone. Allen hid out for a few weeks after the funeral and then appeared at their sports club in a happy frame of mind. All the members welcomed him and made suggestions on how to continue. Gordie started meeting with him again on a regular basis. He really had little to talk about now. They drank one cup of coffee, and he was away.

    One day he arrived with smiles and seemed to be his old self and explained.

   "I have been thinking about this for a while, and I began to make inquires, and its about getting a Chinese wife, over in mainland China."

   He reached into his jacket pocket and put a page cut from a magazine in    front of Gordie.

   "Chinese Girls make good wives for Caucasian men. It also said: they are very obedient and are good at home keeping. Cost is very reasonable.

Contact Chinese Trade Mission in San Francisco for more information.

   He was excited about what he had found and began to plan. Gordie said little but after telling Betsy she became terribly angry that it was a crime to buy and sell women as suggested in the ad. After being questioned by Gordie, Allen said he was sure it was acceptable as long as he treated her well. He said, "She has chance to get away from that shithole."

   Allen started negotiations to bring a Chinese girl to the USA. He made a trip to San Francisco and discussed the situation with an official of the agency. His costs were in fact quite hefty. Twelve thousand dollars which included Chinese government fees, transportation, medical inspection certificates. The US government fees were another 1500.00. He would be given a picture list of girls and women, from the ages of twenty to thirty-one. None of the ladies spoke any English and all were, according to the picture display living at home. They implicitly said that there were not prostitutes or had any illness or virus. He said he would be gone for a week but had to make application first to the US State department to bring over a woman to the states.

   The rules he found were strict. He received many documents to fill in and also had to pay lawyers fees as well. He did not have any information about the girl he was bring but he would have to visit the US Embassy in Beijing to complete all the certifications about her status. The cost was growing for Allen, but he seemed not to mind. He cashed in some of his investments and found he was still living well.

   After several weeks of dealing with the State Department and arranging flights he asked Gordie to drive him to the International O'Hare Airport in Chicago some seventy-five miles from Yorktown. He readily agreed and they set off the day before his flight. Allen was extremely excited and had begun smoking again which caused Gordie to flip out when he smoked one cigarette after another. He had booked a hotel found in the terminal, but Gordie said he would head back home. They hugged and off Allen went on his escapade.

   Allen's flight left early the next morning and was not direct. He flew to Frankfurt Germany and thence to Hong Kong and then on a China   Airways flight to Tianjin in the north of China near the Yellow Sea. He had spent hours waiting in airports and it was a pleasant surprise when he arrived at the Airport that a man and women who spoke English held up a sign with his name.

   He spoke with them, and he was treated with a special kindness that made him relax. Allen was not overly impressed with the hotel they took him to; he had paid in advance for a luxury hotel, and it was everything but. He overcame his anger and just went with the thought that their idea of luxury was different than his. He had arrived in the late afternoon and so he needed to rest up overnight. The couple returned the next morning with the same Toyota Rave with a driver. The city was very modern with huge skyscrapers and the two people from the agency pointed out all of the highlights. It was a long journey until they arrived at a decrepit building where he was sat down in a very spacious room with amazingly comfortable divans. He asked he could smoke, and they brought him an ashtray. Next, they arrived with tea and a special arrival cake.

    Next two men arrived who he found out were treasurers of the society with whom he was dealing. They spoke about enough English to get through the negotiation. He paid them with a certified cheque and by that time for lunch which was served in a sort of dining room arrangement. The food was an adventure with lots of rice and a few vegetables, with something that looked like meat of which they said it was mutton. He was returned to the same room and an album of photographs were provided of the girls available. He went over each picture several times. The group he was presented looked quite old. He showed to the woman making the presentation that he wanted a younger girl. Another album of photographs was unveiled for him, and he at once spotted a girl with abroad smile who looked like she might be about 20 or 21.

   They then brought out a VCR and loaded a tape to show her at her home. She was quite good looking. Her hair was wavy, and she had a full figure. He noticed she had no blemishes on her face; she was dressed very simply but she had the curves of a young woman. They said she was five feet, six inches tall and weighed about 125 pounds. She walked around the street where she lived, and he was smitten. When he said she was the one, a treasury man came in and spoke in Chinese and Allen was told she extremely expensive and that four other men were interested in her. He did not understand what they were talking about.

   "I have paid the money for a wife and there was never any discussion about any further fees for any of the girls offered. “He was now becoming angry.

   But they explained he had agreed to take a girl off their special introductory photographs list. They insisted that their offers were quite clear. He felt cornered.

   "So how much would she cost, " he said in frustration.

   They seemed to stumble around about the extra he would have to pay. They were desperately trying to cut the girl he wanted from the scenario. He waited while they discussed the battle over money. He suddenly produced his solution.

" You need to tell the money men that I have lots of friends in the USA who want girls to marry and if you are going to change the price, we will seek another agency. As well if I can't have this woman, I want my money back."

   The silence in the room was immediate. Allen stood up and lit a cigarette. They spoke in Chinese and their conversation went on for a few minutes while Allen wandered over to look out on the street.         Eventually the women left the room, returning after a few minutes with a girl who was the women he was looking for. He was really shocked because she looked even nicer looking in real life. She walked over to him and bowed slightly, and he was taken with her demeanor. She spoke a greeting in Chinese to him and the agency girl told her to say hello in English which she did.

They were now ready to take a train to the capital which was an overnight trip. He was driven in a van with the girl whose name he discovered was "May Ling.'

    It was a very tedious ride with many stops, and the girl May Ling slept quite a bit. She pointed at times to various special sites which really did not interest him. The couple travelling with them were not very talkative, so he read some of the English language magazines. A food vendor arrived at mealtimes and Allen found out that he was paying for all their meals. He was getting quite frustrated with all the expenses but every time he looked at May Ling, he thought it was all worth it. She did not, however appear to be extremely interested in him. They were delivered pillows and blankets for the night and very shortly everyone in the train car were snoring away.

  He hardly slept and had plenty of time to think about the general state of things. He figured by the time he was finished he would have spent twenty thousand dollars. That was a sizable chunk out of his savings. He still had to get through all of the requirements at the US Embassy which he realized was not going to be a walk in the park.

   They arrived in the main railway station in Beijing where there was a mass of people on the move. They took a cab to a very decrepit hotel which the cab driver drove by several times, Allen realized it was a cab driver's racket. The two escorts disappeared with May Ling, and he was taken to a room on the third floor which was dark, dank, and smelled of all the body functions. The bathroom he found had mould in the tub and sink and along the walls.

   He did not drop his bag but went to the desk to speak to the clerk. The clerk spoke extraordinarily little English. He wanted to find the two people and May Ling and the man he told him. He got the room number and knocked on their door only to find out that May Ling was on her own! She pointed out the window when he tried to get her to tell him where they went. He took her bag and pulled her out of the room and down the elevator. He found out by talking and sign language that they had taken their bags and gone to eat leaving the girl on her own.

   He paid for the room and took her in a cab to a so-called luxury hotel near the US Embassy. He took two rooms so as not to make it look like he was there for insidious reasons. Next, he called the US Embassy and asked for the officer in charge of non-immigrant visas. He was put in touch with a Ms. Joan Nolan. He asked if she had the file and she politely told hm she was expecting him.

   "Do not bring your visitor at this this time" he was told.

   He found out he was a walking distance to the embassy which was in a large quadrant surrounded by a wall. Chinese police stood guard and after inspecting his passport buzzed him into the guard house right inside.

   The marines on guard asked him several questions and he was then asked to go through security cameras. He then was escorted to the main building and a young woman directed him to an office on the fourth floor. He met the woman he spoke to, and she congratulated him on how he had managed his request saying that very often people did not plan like he had. She completed the information which would allow May Ling to go with him on his return trip to the USA.

   She then filled in the visa information which held the full name of May Ling Chan. With all the preliminaries completed, he was given instructions on how to continue. He was acting as her guarantor for the first 6 months which was the length of the visa. It could be renewed based on a change in circumstances such as marriage. You must then apply for a citizenship hearing for her which is a lengthy process. Allen did not ask very many questions and he was told to return with his friend the next day and provided him with entrance badges.

   Allen returned to the hotel and took May Ling to the hotel restaurant for dinner. She had now learned to say hello and goodbye and was pleased that she was getting onto the 'lingo' which he said to himself.

   He dropped May at her room thinking it would not be a clever idea to indulge in any hanky pinky. He did not sleep very well and ran out of American cigarettes and had to smoke Chinese Wings which were terrible. He also made his return flight for which he had two open tickets from Beijing directly to San Francisco.

   One thing he needed was to insure he had May's exit pass and her passport. He then had to get a desk clerk to explain the procedure. He tipped the man and she understood the arrangements. The next day he took May to a shop where he bought several items of clothing for her including a good jacket and fake blue jeans as well a suitcase. He also helped her pick out some cosmetics which the people aided her in using. She was thrilled and hugged him several times. He then decided after considerable delays he booked two tickets on an American Airlines flight to San Francisco. He found out that there was a four-hour refueling stop in Honolulu. The flight was leaving in 48 hours.

   The next day he took the dolled-up May Ling to the American Embassy to see Ms. Nolan. He was surprised that she spoke fluent Chinese Mandarin to May and the travel documents as well as other papers were signed. Having completed the first phase of his journey he returned to the hotel with May who was ecstatic. He went down to the desk to pay the bill the next morning and was shocked to learn that the four-night stay in the hotel was over a thousand dollars. He buried his anger and returned to his room to figure out what the entire venture had cost him.

   He gathered up May Ling and headed to the airport where he checked in at the American Airlines check in counter. They then had to stop at the Chinese exit counter before entering the departure lounge.

   The man spoke perfect English and began to ask several questions of Allen and then May Ling. He read the documents carefully, but Allen knew right away that he did not understand any of it. He called his supervisor and a woman appeared and she began to question May Ling, who became quite frightened. The woman then changed the directions of her questioning to Allen.

   "You are not married." she asked in a very pointed way.

   He responded that all the information was contained on the exit visa, which was prepared by the agency he had visited. She told him “We have many illegal agencies in China, and she was not sure this is a legal document under Chinese laws. We fear girls are being sold into slavery."

  "Look lady I dealt through an agency that advertised in America and the US Embassy accepted their legal status that is all you need to know, and in about two seconds I am going to call them and your searching will be for nothing so please let us stop the BULLSHIT RIGHT NOW. She glanced up and was dismayed at his anger.

"Please proceed" she said pointing to the exit lounge.

***

   The flight was delayed but finally took off. May Ling sat near the window and took it all in. He knew he could not smoke so he bought some gum. It was an exceptionally long and tiresome flight which landed on it is first leg in Hawaii. They got out to stretch their legs and May Ling noticed that there was a pool inside the terminal. He noticed a shop where they sold bathing suits and he had her try one on. He bought it and she excitedly walked with him to the pool where she changed and splashed for over an hour. He had rented a towel for her, and she changed. He found a dryer in the pool area where he put the bathing suite eventually getting her a cotton string bag for her suit.

   The rest of their flight took some hours and they finally landed in Chicago. Gordie was there to meet them. He later commented to his wife that Allen had a gorgeous young girl as a mate. Betsy was noncommittal. It took a month to meet May Ling and by that time Allen had settled into a new routine where he barely ever saw his neighbors or anyone. After several months Gordie gave up and sought other friends.

***

FIVE YEARS LATER

   Gordie and Betsy rarely saw Allen or the girl whom they knew only as May. Allen cut the grass, shovelled snow but his girl made no appearance. After awhile it just became a matter of gossip. Their next-door neighbor saw May out the yard occasionally sitting on a lawn chair. Betsy spied them a few occasions at the Dawn to Dusk grocery store. But he did not look up and the girl looked incredibly sad. Betsy took sick and began having very painful stomach cramps, it was diagnosed as bowel problem. Gordie was very worried, but she began to lose weight. She hung on for two years until one day she took an overdoes because of the pain and her life seeped away.

     Allen learned through the news paper obits that she had passed but did not come to the funeral. Gordie's daughters were devastated and with their husbands tried extremely hard to help Gordie over the loss. Allen began trekking to the coffee shop occasionally and would sit with Gordie but said nothing about Betsy or May Ling. He was smoking very heavily and spent most of the time even in severe weather standing in front of their coffee shop. A few times he said very disturbing things about the Chinese girl.

   "Gordie she is so fucking stupid she doesn't even know how to make a bed. She was eating me out of house and home, and I had to put a stop to that. She cost me 20 G, s to bring here, and she is useless."

   With those remarks he began to cough and raced outside for a smoke. Anytime Gordie saw him he spoke only about May Ling, how dumb and that she was hopeless.

   "What a moron," he would say but never gave Gordie a chance to ask any questions. Gordie began to inhabit another coffee shop just to stay away from him because of his detestable remarks. Gordie began to notice that other people who he knew began to frequent other coffee shops to get away from Allen. He did not notice the exodus and as the weather improved, he stayed outside after he got his coffee. He smoked incessantly, lighting one from the other, which some of the guys said was chain smoking. His coughing got worse, and he could be heard everywhere in the vicinity of their local coffee shop.

***

   It was Tuesday just like every other day to Gordie. He always said "it’s a holiday on Primrose Lane" after the song by the same name. He finished his miniscule breakfast and peered out his front window and saw Allen out mowing his lawn. It was his favorite time of day because Casper the mail carrier arrived with his mail. He sat down in his living room and spoke to Betsy who had been long gone but was always there in his heart. He sat for a long time and began to wonder why the mail was taking so long. He wandered out on the front porch. It was then that he realized that there was activity over on Allen's driveway.

   He walked swiftly across the street and noticed at once that Allen was lying stretched out on his lawn, the lawn mower was still running, and Casper was on his cell phone. Gordie went over to see if Allen had fainted, but he could see, that Allen was covered in grass cuttings. Within a few minutes an ambulance followed by a police car zoomed up.

   Two police officers walked over and asked him to move over on the sidewalk. They spoke to Casper who told them he was the person who had called. He stood by with Gordie while the ambulance crew examined Allen. Both shook their heads to the police officers. He was placed on a stretcher.

    "Can anyone here identify this gentleman" one of the police officers asked.

   Gordie stepped forward and told them he was a friend and neighbor and that there was a woman inside the house as well.

   Both police officers entered the door a told Gordie to stay on the curb and they entered they could hardly breath because of the smell and odors. The place they noticed we as catastrophic mess. They walked around to all of the rooms where they found garbage, half eaten meals and began to open the windows. They checked the bedrooms, but they were just a jumble of beds, more garbage, and a terrible smell that they could no longer stand the sickening odor. They called for backup and questioned Gordie.

   He told them “There is a youngish Chinese woman in the house, she lives there, my daughters can confirm that for you. I think I have an idea where she is."

   While they were talking, the back up police arrived wearing masks and personal cover over their uniforms. Gordie explained that he could remember that the owner had installed a room with a toilet in the basement.

   They moved quickly and within a few minutes they called out to the other police for an ambulance, which arrived within a few minutes.

  "She is on her last legs and barely breathing. “One of the police officers reported to the others and to Gordie.

     By now their street and sidewalk was covered with onlookers.

     Gordie stood by as they brought out May Ling who had an oxygen mask and looked quite pitiful to Gordie.

     Gordie's daughter Debbie had joined him. She came every day to see how he was doing.

   He explained what had happened as the ambulance with May pulled away with its siren on. She went and asked where they were taking May Ling and called Gordie's other daughter Susie and decided to meet at the hospital. Gordie asked the police how they could safely guard Allen's house and they called a security company who arrived within a few minutes.

   Gordie and his daughters drove up to the hospital, May Ling was in emergency and two Doctors were already on the scene. Nothing more was reported for several hours. In the meantime, Allen's cousin Howard arrived to find out what had happened. When questioned about Allen, he said that he had not spoken to Allen for several months but had an idea he was not well. He asked about May and was told that she was just hanging on according to information they had.

" He said he would make the funeral arrangements for Allen, and that he was the only living relative as far as he knew. Gordie said that there were security people guarding the house. Susan arrived and as usual she took charge. She was a bank security officer and was used to critical situations.

   Within a few minutes a doctor came out and introduced himself,

    "I'm sorry to say that she is very near expiry, and I can tell you that she has been terribly neglected. She is undernourished, lost all of her muscle ability and she is giving off a very terrible odor from a lack of personal hygiene. I actually have never seen a person that has suffered so much from a lack of care. I checked her teeth, and they are beginning to decay. I have called a specialist named Doctor Rodham who may have some ideas on how we might be able to save her, but right now I am sorry to say she is not responding. I am really not concerned at this point with her background, but it would be really important if we can save her to get her out if that environment. Once we get her cleaned up and put all of the life saving equipment in place you can see her."

  With that he walked away. They were stunned and unable to speak. Gordie sat down and was overcome with immense sorrow, both girls were tearing up and Allen's cousin Howard actually broke down. The sadness that surrounded the group was more than any of them could endure. Gordie muttered that he could have done something for her and just pretended that May Ling was not there. The girls told him it was not any of their faults.

   Howard said through swollen eyes that Allen managed the little girl, and it was unconscionable to treat another human being like that. They sat in silence for what Gordie felt was a lifetime. A man pushing a cart brought them coffee. The girl's husbands appeared with bagels and sat with their wives. Debbie's husband Bob spoke quietly to them all and brought calm to the unusual situation.

   Within an hour a nurse appeared and said they could see her with only three at a time. Gordie and his daughters were the first to enter the ICU where May Ling was being cared for. Two nurses were sat near her. She was told she had visitors. She opened one eye and smiled very faintly.

   In an incredibly soft timid voice, she said hello. "You are neighbor Guy and girls Deb and Sue she said in a whisper. Gordie could hardly believe what he heard, and Debbie answered for the three of them.

"She knows our names, but we never met her."

They all smiled at her as the tears flowed from their eyes.

"This is a wonder" Sue said.

   The nurses told them that she was getting weaker and despite all efforts to save her, she may not live out the night.

  They went out into the hallway and discussed what they could do for her.

   We have to give her will to survive they agreed. They decided to take three shifts to stay with her. They then spoke to the nurses who agreed and would be there if they were needed. Gordie took the first shift and sat with her; Doctors and nurses came and went checking all of the tubes and Gordie watched the different apparatus she had applied to her. At midnight Debbie and her husband came in and relieved him. The next morning Susan and her husband arrived. She saw that her breathing was becoming normal.

   At noon Gordie came in with a plush sheep. He put it near her, and the nurses helped to prop it up so that when she looked up the little plush sheep. At about three o clock Gordie dozed off and May Ling took a turn for the worse. She was only a few moments from near death. Gordie began to speak to her.

  "We love you May Ling please don't go, please stay and we will look after you. Stay with us dear girl, we want you we will care for you, and we love you; we love you; we love you little May Ling.Please do not leave, I will look after you with Debbie and Sue. Debbie has two children; you will love them. Much of what he had said was really not in his toolbox and he described it later to his girls and to Howard.

   As they last rays of daylight receded May opened her eyes. It was a miracle, and he began to cry and speak to her. She was getting some of facilities back, but her blood pressure was almost nonexistent. The brought in new meds they used to get her pressure up. She was moving slightly, and the nurse came with a bed pan at which time Gordie walked out for a moment. Howard was waiting out in patient's lounge.

   "I have taken it upon myself to find Allen's will without any luck."

   "I would suppose then that the place falls to you, I am only guessing." Gordie said.

   "I want the house to go to May." he said wiping away his tears.

   Gordie was astounded at Howard's generosity.

" That is good of you Howard but after what I saw the house will need a complete makeover. I think it will cost a small fortune to bring it up to a sales standard."

  " Allen was my cousin, although non-existent but I am really pissed at his mistreatment of this girl. I found her clothes in Allen'shouse that were in tatters. I also found what he tried to stand for as a marriage license certificate, but it is easy to see it is a fake. You know it was taken off the internet. So, I figure he did not marry her, and she is here illegally. There is passport from China, which is expired, and no other documents. She has been here five years and is really not married to Allen and as well he did not apply for American citizenship. We will have to make sure we follow up and I will contact the citizenship department, with the hope of course that she survives."

   "I will go surety for her because if it the last thing I do on this earth along with my daughters and their families will be to look after May. This is a terrible injustice that Allen did in bringing this lovely little creature to America and then neglecting her. His behavior is so unlike the character that I knew. Frankly, I feel guilty Howard of not trying to do something for her. The Doctor said she was undernourished and all of her body functions were breaking down. Allen had no compassion for her, he left her to her own devices, and I guess that after awhile she just gave up."

   While they sat and talked both of Gordie's daughters had arrived and gone to the ICU. The Doctor they had met originally told them there was something he wanted them to see. The nurses were bathing her, and she was on her side facing away from them. He pulled the hospital gown strap displaying her back and buttocks. Her back and bottom were covered with welts, black strap marks with several that had begun to become infected.

   They had applied some kind of medicated cream to the whole area, but just rubbing her back and buttocks caused May to shake with pain. The Doctor told them that they were also now giving her meds to ward off the infection. She was still heavily medicated but often opened her eyes and try to smile at them.

   She began to hold the plush toy in her arms and Gordie's daughters cried like children when she was holding her toy.

   The Doctor was angry and told them she was brutally abused and that he was going to make a report. The girls advised him that the man she lived was dead. He left but remained furious about what he had seen. Howard and Gordie entered the hospital room and Sue explained what she had seen through tears. Gordie was absolutely speechless, and Howard walked out. They sat silently but very soon she opened her eyes and gave them a lovely smile. They told her how much they loved her, and she held the plush toy to her body.

****

   The weeks went on and May Ling began to get stronger. A Dermatologist came and inspected the sores, and she began a therapy. A dentist also came to inspect her teeth. He said that they all could be saved but the procedure was very expensive. Gordie said money was no object and that when she had regained her health the specialized dentistry could begin. In the meantime, they did some emergency cleaning and many of the teeth could be saved.

   Howard had Allen's house completely cleaned out and threw away all of the furniture. He discovered that Allen had not paid his taxes on the house for three years and brought the house up to date. He researched Allen's finances only to find that there were several bank accounts amounting to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

   He was able to have all of the money signed over to him as a the only living relative when he had discovered that all of Allen's assets had been left to him in a will drawn up by Allen himself and where an X appeared as a witness. It was acceptable and he had his lawyer make up documents wherein he had May Ling's name entered the title holder. Howard made it plain that he wanted all of the estate to go to May Ling.

   There were obstacles but they could be overcome he was told by his lawyer. The real problem was that she was living illegally in the USA. He sought an immigration lawyer but there was not one in Yorktown. There was a lawyer who specialized in these cases in Peoria Illinois. He made a call and got an appointment for the following week. The Lawyer's name was Arnie Milli off, the secretary told him it was $500.00 for a consultation. He was a bit taken aback but when he related what he had done, Gordie told him that he would pay all the expenses, but Howard said it would come out of the estate.

   Arnie Milli off proved to be a dud, he was a mountain of a guy who spoke very loudly and smoked a cigar. Howard knew almost at once that the guy was all talk and no action and after he had paid the five hundred the guy was already telling him it would be another $5,000 in cash of course to continue with the case.

   Howard told him right away that there cannot be any payment further unless there he could see activity on the immigration status of the May Ling. The lawyer said he would not undertake the case without a contingency and Howard silently left. He checked the phone book for other immigration lawyers in Peoria and their it was- Tina Wang Immigration- Law is my Specialty.

   He called from his cell phone and the call was answered by Tina. He explained he was from out of town, and she invited him at once. He met with her, and he was impressed at once. Tina Wang was a second-generation Chinese girl whose parents had immigrated from Taiwan. She spoke Mandarin Chinese and was very pleasant. She did not ask for any money and opened a file after Howard explained what had happened.   

    She was very sympathetic, but she warned him that the problems with girls brought over from China were very difficult. Nonetheless she said she wanted to meet with May Ling, and they arranged a date. Howard said he would pay all expenses and her fees after the visit in Yorktown. The date was set, and Howard returned home where he explained had occurred.

   In the weeks that followed before the visit by Tina, May Ling was regaining her strength. They got her out of the bed to walk a bit and she just gain back some color. Every day she hugged them and when Debbie brought her girls she was overjoyed. May was still unable to walk very well because of the terrible damage to her spine.

   Tina Wang came on a visit and proved to be a God Send. May Ling had some difficulty at first conversing with her because she had not spoken her language for over five years, but Tina was very patient. Tina said she would take the case and she and May talked for two hours. Tina asked for 350.00 but Howard gave her 500.00 on account.

   The hospital bill was becoming immense, and Howard paid it. Gordie tried to reimburse but he said he could afford it and he would also use some of Allen's money. He had a sale for the house which had been completely refurbished. He told Gordie that he would pay the lawyer and when the house sold, he would take some money after the expenses were paid.

   They discussed the future with Gordie's family and the extended family. Gordie proposed that when May Ling was strong enough that she needed to be schooled. Sue mentioned that there was a High School that had courses for adults. She needed to have friends of her own age and several ideas were suggested.

   It was clear that May Ling would need a long time to convalesce. Gordie told them that he was going to fix up his second bedroom for her to live permanently and hire a housekeeper who could cook.

   Tina Wang had gone on with the case of May Ling's citizenship and she discovered that it was going to be a difficult chore. A citizenship court ruled against her remaining in the USA and that she would have to return to China and re apply. Tina gained time for her by having a removal order squashed due to May's injuries.

   It took a year for May Ling to recover her total strength, she ate substantial meals and a time would tell she began to learn English properly. Her expressions were learned at the school, and she studied extremely hard to learn colloquiums which made them all laugh at times when she said English is 'tricky ‘. May Ling was not stupid or dumb as she had been described but just the opposite. She studied flower arrangements and had other courses which helped her get a job in a nursery and eventually in a flower store.

   Howard and Gordie made sure she was well looked after with the sale of the house and money left by Allen. She had learned to drive and for her28th birthday Gordie bought her a year-old car.

It was not long after opening that she brought home a young man named Kevin Xie who had come into the shop where she worked to buy flowers for his mother and invited her for coffee. He worked in a computer shop.

****

Sue took May Ling aside and asked her some leading questions about her life with Allen.

" He did not how you say have relations with me. He did try but I guess he could not get it up." she said smiling and asking if she had expressed herself okay.

   Sue could not help but giggle and pat may Ling on the shoulder. 'Well, it would no doubt be prudent to stay away from anything with Kevin, you know what I mean."

   "No all is okay with us he said he wouldn't fuck me till we get hooked."

   Sue suddenly got very serious with May Ling which made her realize she had said the wrong thing.

   "I want to suggest you don't use that phrase May because it is very unbecoming for a nice young woman. May Ling as usual smiled and said she would caution Kevin.

   In the weeks that followed Tina Wang contacted May Ling and Gordie to say that the Chinese government showed that they did not want her back.

   Tina mentioned that she would have to seek a country that would accept her as an immigrant. The situation was really in a vacuum for all of her adopted family. Howard began to make applications for Britain and Sweden. He discovered that it would be several months before any decision could be made from that front. On their behalf Tina applied to Canada where the waiting time was not as long but could be several months. For political reasons Taiwan would not accept any mainland Chinese immigrants. Tina went back to the State Department and asked for a furtherance, and she was given another three months. Tina also warned them even if May Ling were married that they would still ask for her to be removed. Howard and Gordie even wrote themselves but to no avail. May Ling broke off her relationship with Kevin saying it was just too difficult to get involved if she was going to be moved. But she stayed stateless for another three months.

   With only weeks to go she was driven to an immigration and relocation center in Chicago and when she was asked where she intended to go, she had no answer. The woman who was an immigration judge that they met with, began to peruse the documents she had received.

   "So, you are not able to return to China because you are a partial invalid and several countries you have applied to have also shown no interest. Why did the person you were living with not make application?"

   Tina interrupted. " He actually said he would marry her and produced a marriage license he made on his computer, and in fact really kept her locked up for five years, brutally beating her, gave her nothing and did not at time have sexual relations with him. Her condition is still not resolved and the dental work she needs is taking several months and is costing a great deal. She has to go constantly for therapy and is a long way from gaining her health. She does work in flower shop and has been going to community college for courses in floral decorating. She has finished High School and as you will see can speak English quite well. She can drive and owns a car as well is able to live with Gordie Russel a senior and his two daughters help to manage her affairs. She is still not self sufficient, but her guarantor is Howard Jones, who is the cousin of the man who brought May Ling to the USA."

   The woman continued to study some of the documents on her desk.

'How did the Man 'Allen Drake ‘get to be with her in China and bring her here to the United States?"

   Sue answered "She was purchased for $15,000, and how the deal was st    is any bodies guess. Allen brought her here to be his wife but did not follow through. He constantly beat her, starved her, and forced her to just be nothing but a slave. After five years she was found at death's door, and the man Drake had died suddenly. She was almost comatose, and I saw with my own eyes that he had beaten across her back and bottom with a strap. She spoke in pidgin English, and she has not yet really regained her health."

   By now Sue was almost sobbing and May Ling went to her and held her in her arms.

    They all waited until Sue got herself under control.

   "She is the most loving woman I have met and that includes my own sister."

They all laughed and the cloud that filled the room disbursed as the Judge chuckled along with them.

   "Now Mr. Jones" the Judge said speaking to Howard," What happened to the residue from the Drake estate. There are some figures here which don't seem to add up."

    “Well Judge, we sold the house and because it was in such terrible condition, it had to be completely renovated. The sale price less all of the repairs which you see there left about $200,000. My cousin did not pay the taxes for three years and owed 20,000 plus interest and overdue fines. He left 350,000 in bonds, cash, and securities. But the estate taxes took 37,000 of that so all of what is left I have placed in trust for May Ling."

   "You actually turned all of the residue of the estate over to May Ling " she said with an astonished look on her face.

   Howard's eyes teared up and he nodded yes.

   She now turned to May Ling and asked her how she felt about the matter.

   "As you can see Madame Judge, if not for these good people I would be in the hands of the Lord. If only I can stay, I promise to be a good person and citizen. These people love me, and I love them. I am just a little person, which needs big help to stay here, as I have no place to go. No one wants me in their country, but I accept whatever you say. I wanted to be treated good, and as they said I was bought and taken from home because my parents needed the money to buy a cow and other things. Girls are not very well protected in China as you can see."

   Now she stood up and carefully bowed to the Judge with tears flowing down her cheeks.

   The Judge who was a woman of colour smiled at the group and told them she would take the case under advisement and asked to speak to their Lawyer Tina Wang. She explained some of the legal aspects to Tina and said she would decide within three months and also asked if they could make further investigation into some other countries that may accept immigrants and suggested two Scandinavian countries as well as two South American countries.

   "I am only suggesting these Ms. Wang because I have to take this matter before the review board as a whole and they might not accept my findings."

   Tina was a bit disappointed but did not let on that there was still a major stumbling block to overcome. They drove back to Yorktown and dropped Tina in Peoria. They were all quite silent on their way back, but May Ling with her good nature said to them all with her newfound expression "looking' good baby" They did laugh but their thoughts were, they were not optimistic.

****

   Several weeks passed while they all waited in anxious anticipation. The letter arrived two months after their visit. The news was not good and for all of them a great let down. It was headed the Department of State the United States of America:

Your application to remain as a resident of the USA has been denied. Although there are mitigating circumstances which we have considered the committee has decided that after a five-year period you should have made application for citizenship on your own account under the conditions under which you were living. The determination of this committee is that must leave the USA by Nov 1st and since you are at present stateless, you do have at least 6 months to find a country to which you may find as acceptable and they will allow you to enter .If you are still not able to make arrangements , you will then be incarcerated at the Immigration center in San Diego California until there is a decision on your application.

   May Ling was heartbroken, and they all were totally amazed. Tina said it was not over by a long shot and said there were other avenues open.

   They gathered for a family meeting where there were lot of suggestions of what they could do, May Ling sat in total consternation at her predicament. As was suggested she could spend months behind bars in San Diego or elsewhere. No one had any idea what they could do. Debbie's husband Larry did spring one idea which they discussed. They discussed his plan for several hours, until everyone was on board. May Ling was not very sure she could follow through but after it was completely laid out, she began to see in theory that it could work. Since Tina Wang was not involved, she could not be blamed for the end run which what was to be a major part of their plan.

On September 2nd, 2010, May Ling disappeared and as far as anyone knows she was never seen again.

~~~~~~~