Chapter 3:

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Times did not get simpler as I had hoped. Again I had to hide the fact that I had a little girl, who by now was two years old. Before I had enough money for my own place, I hid her in the storage closet, and helped her make dolls out of the straw from the brooms, complete with yarn hair from the mops. I didn't bother to bind her feet, since I soon saw that people didn't care about that here, and sometimes it was even considered unattractive. In learning this, I unbound my own too.

My little Mei-Li. I pitied the girl with my full heart, and valued her life more than even my own.

Then one day, Alice, one of the other girls I worked with, found Mei in the cupboard. I begged her silence, in which she readily agreed, though I was doubtful of her loyalty.

As I feared, soon everyone knew about Mei except Head Maid, which I figured was the end of everything. Then I realized that the others would not tell Head Maid, and even helped hide the child from the old woman, saving Mei from being discovered many times.

I met a variety of American men in that place, and even a few young boys. Some were handsome… others were not so handsome. Some were complete gentlemen… and others were not so gentlemanly. Some had plenty of experience… while others did not have any at all.

Another year passed, and I was now sixteen and of age for a more serious line of my work, and promotion. Only, I didn't realize it until it was too late.

Head Maid sent me out on an errand to the linen shop, down near Manhattan square. It was a normal errand, but one I was learning to hate, simply because of the shop-owner, by the name of George Crandall. He was a large man, fat and with a bald, round head, and it was just my luck he had grown a liking to me. So I took my daughter along, smartly thinking the man wouldn't dare try something with the little one standing right there.

I found the material quickly, keeping my daughter close at hand while the man tallied up my costs.

"Three forty, my dear," he slurred lazily. I noticed a bottle of brandy near him, and knew it was time to go.

"Come along, Mei," I said to my girl, and reached out my hand to grab my purchases. Suddenly George slapped his hand upon mine.

"Hey," he said to me. "You want to make some money?"

I furiously yanked my hand out from under his, knowing immediately what was going on. I had been set up.

"I not know what Head Maid promise you," I said through my poor grasp of English. "But my work is at teahouse, if you wish see me there."

"I can't wait that long, darling," he said, staring at me hungrily.

"You must stop yourself, sir," I said. "My daughter is here…"

"Then it's about time she gets educated in her future occupation."

That's when he grabbed me and pulled me on the counter. My daughter screamed. Struggling was not much use, but I did so anyways. I couldn't let this happen—not for anything. Not in front of my daughter.

Little Mei was crying now, and I was calling out to anyone who'd hear. George hovered over me, his mind engulfed in his malevolent kisses, so much that he didn't even see the man enter the shop and casually walk over to the counter.

The short man, who was really only a boy, tapped George on the shoulder. George was not happy with being interrupted at all.

"What do you want--" he started, but no sooner had he opened his mouth, that he found a fist hammering into it.

George fell from the counter to the floor, but the boy wasn't done. He naturally walked around behind the counter, and picked up the older man's collar, and decked him again.

"You like roughin' up girls?" the boy asked. "Answer me, you horny bastard! You beg her forgiveness, hear?"

"I'm not sayin' nothin' to any--!" George began, but the boy socked him again.

"What was that?" the boy demanded. "Run that by me again?"

The man scowled, but got the message.

"I said sorry—"

Another airborne fist found the old man's face.

"One more time, lowlife," the boy said harshly.

"I said I was sorry!" he shouted through his pain. "For god's sakes, kid, let me alone!"

"Shut up!" the young man yelled, punching the man again, and then again. And again. Soon George's face was covered with blood, but still the boy's fist kept flying. Mei began to cry again, and I covered her eyes from the horrible sight. At that moment I couldn't figure what was worse, me getting raped in her sight or a man getting beaten to death in front of her.

"STOP NOW!" I yelled to the boy. "Please! You making girl upset!"

The young man stopped and looked at me, and then at Mei. He kicked George aside, and simply walked out of the store and on his way. Shocked, I grabbed my daughter's hand and pursued him.

"Sir!" I called, but the man weaved through the crowd with a practiced skill far greater than my own.

"Young sir, please!"

I caught up with him and grabbed his sleeve. He looked down at my clenched fist in disgust.

"Are you touching me?" he asked me. I let go at once.

"I—I thank you, sir," I stammered. "Anything… I do to repay…"

His glare narrowed at me, a glare I immediately recognized. That boy on the docks… in Brooklyn… Fear overcame me for some unknown reason, but I tried hard not to let it show.

"What's your name?" he asked me harshly, as if rushing me to answer quickly.

"Jia-Li," I replied at once.

"You owe me," he said decidedly.

I nodded in agreement, not knowing what I was getting myself into.

He walked off, saying nothing more, even though a part of me was eternally grateful. Whatever this boy had in mind, I felt prepared for it. But something told me he wasn't interested in my areas of expertise. Maybe someday he would find me to claim his debt, maybe not… and that was the alluring mystery of this man. I smiled after him. For some reason, I looked forward to that day.

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Even I'm getting impatient to get this business under way. The main plot hasn't even started! Next chapter coming soon. Please review.
Signed,

--RedRogue