Vacation for the year

(Everything is not mine, but the concept is based on actual events)

"So let me get this straight… we have no idea where we are, and we're no where near the subway entrance, there's no cabs, and the hotel is across the city?" May asked finally turning to Salene with a look of horror on her face clutching Mouse tighter.

Salene nodded nervously as they looked down the mean streets of Mulberry street in the middle of little Italy, New York. Every year Salene's job gave her two weeks in March, and May and her loving the USA would fly to New York City with their family and stay in the Roosevelt.

So Salene, May, Mouse, their two kids- Nicholas Jr., and Maria- their father Pride would then come with his own family his wife, Tai-san, and their two kids Eagle, and Cobra.

Mouse was their adopted child via Salene but once they found out lesbians were not longer allowed to adopt under new labour parties laws- they decided they needed to have kids of their own. May's friend Pride offered and they were in business.

While Pride, Tai-san, Eagle, and Cobra decided to go out to some play uptown- May, Salene, and their family decided to hop the subway down to Mulberry street that night…

"There's canal- didn't we hop the subway there?" Mouse chimed up as Maria and Nick griped onto Salene tighter.

"Yea we did- good job Mouse," May said moving to cross street in the dark as the vendors started to try and appeal to tourists.

"Come on guys," Salene said dragging them over past some of the more shady immigrants trying not to seem biased or fearful but alas that was winning this moment.

"So when is this parade?" Maria asked them as they started towards the subway route.

"The St. Patrick's day parade is tomorrow- in theory we should be able to see it from our hotel room or that's the manager said at the desk," May informed her.

"Cool- so what's St. Patrick's day?" Nick asked them with an inquisitive look.

"Now- that's a much longer story…" Salene said.

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After safely making their way back finally to 45th and Americas to the Roosevelt hotel- the group got inside and waited twenty minutes for one of the floor lifts to come. With all the trafficking New York had this time of year and with time square a mere 4 blocks away- the hotel was packed to the max. The bag pipers on the bottom floor waiting for the lift when they accidentally went down the back stairs and not up them had given them a royal headache.

Of course, none of that could prepare for them for that morning. They were told the parade was near in the hotel… not that the bag pipers waited and practiced there until it was there turn so at 8am May and Salene woke up to a loud noise of bag pipes continuously from out there window.

May nearly falling out of the bed and on to the messy floor that the kids had created for the only room they had was a two bed with no cots- she was climbing over kids and candy wrappers to reach the window.

"Oh god, oh god, they are not going to do this all morning," she whined.

"I think they might," Salene moaned in displeasure.

"Kill me"

"Kill me too"

They then rolled out of bed and moved to get dressed.

"You know drunks are going to be out all night- we should probably stay in tonight," Salene began.

"And how are we going to eat then? The hotel is way too expensive… Salene we can't afford twenty dollars a meal per kid- or say forty for us. We've been relying bread café place and so far it's done us no wrong nor has ciro's… they aren't so far…" May began.

"But then we have to pass Callaghan's and you know every Irish person that flew in with be knocking on that's door and O'Connlley's place," Salene argued.

"Okay, then we'll go down Madison and head toward Park avenue… or we can take a cab and whole four blocks and waste our spending money. We promised the others stuff," May replied objectively as she took a coke out of their cooler they brought with them.

"We'll talk about this later," Salene conceded as they started to wake the kids up.

(Minutes later)

As they all sat down in bagel city café, May let another sigh as she picked at her bagel as Pride moved to join her.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

"Oh Salene- what else?" she inquired.

Pride looked at her for a second- before casting a look over the table to side to make sure Tai-san was occupied with the kids, and Salene was occupied with hers. He then turned his attention back to May leaning in.

"What happened?"

"About tonight- she doesn't want the kids to go out with all those drunks on the street because it's Irish drinking night so to speak… and we can't afford to feed them at the hotel… buying a cab is senseless, and she won't listen to reason about food being right next door," May said sighing picking away at her food.

Pride shook his head, "You know how she gets though, she's just very protective is all. I mean it's not the it's the time everyone's been put under house arrest so to speak…"

"That was different though- we had a kitchen, and there was a real threat at the time called a storm not a bunch of men with too much beer in them," May reported.

"True but how about this… Tai-san and I can afford to take the kids off your hands for the night. We'll feed them at the hotel with ours- and hang there. Besides we needed a night in anyway- we're spending left and right. You two and go out and battle the streets together have some you time seeing as you guys really are…"

"Go on say it- broke," May said harshly now stabbing her fork at the cream cheese bagel.

"You're not broke, you're just not very rich yoga and health instructors. I'll handle everything- you just get Salene to go along with it," Pride said taking a bite out of his bagel.

"No problem".

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"I can't believe we're doing this… May, are you sure this is a good idea… we're leaving them alone in New York City," Salene said as they walked down the cold streets of New York in the night.

It was as bad as it was in winter with degrees cold enough it could snow despite there never actually being ground accumulation in NYC.

"They're safe remember- it's us that are walking all the way to 55th and Lexington for Chinese," May reported.

"Good point," Salene remarked as they passed time square with her giving it a fleeting look knowing that the upcoming streets had not nearly as much life to them.

"Two lesbians walking at night in fancy dresses to eat at a semi casual cheap Chinese place at 10 at night- it's asking to get robbed," May said dryly playing with her blue dress somewhat.

"Oh make me feel better," Salene said nervously wrapping her coat around her tighter as May clutched her hand.

"Don't worry- we're fine. I do well on streets. I was raised on them remember?" May said with a smile as they walked down a dark looking street with what seemed to have no life.

"Yea but there's a difference between Auckland streets and New York," Salene retorted as they passed a guy dressed in all black making Salene's chills rise a little.

She was trying to be objective and dismiss it all but everything she had heard over the last few days was now making her nervous. Combined with the fact that May was just giving her way too much information on the streets- Salene was a wreck. She was missing her home right about now though she didn't want to admit it.

"Sal- we're here now- look," she said pointing to the sign.

Salene finally letting out the breath she didn't know she had been holding as they stepped inside greeted by a woman with horrible English. She then got directions to a place to sit taking a seat in the front in a corner booth.

Salene smiled as she looked over the menu giving May a meaningful look.

"This is nice- I have to admit it was worth the trip…" she began.

"See I told you? I'm good at this picking out game- besides I asked the bellhop and this where he told me to go for good Chinese," May admitted sheepishly.

Salene looked at her with mock horror, "That's dirty May- cheating and lying like that- of course, I knew that… I saw you ask him".

"You did! And you didn't say anything?" May demanded.

"I didn't want you to think I was ease dropping… so you know I pretended I was deaf for once. That and even if I hadn't- logically how would you know you're way around here? Despite the business trips here?" Salene asked her.

"That's true- so what looks good?" May asked finally turning back to the menu.

"Wonton's and lo mein," Salene conceded.

"I was thinking the same thing- but first a toast…" May began holding up her tea cup.

"This is Chinese tea… not wine," Salene said as she held up hers.

"Oh well- to us- on this green colour holiday in New York City… together and happy… enjoying our time alone for the first time… since I had Nicholas… and hopefully the best time we'll have here," May said finally.

"To us," Salene replied clinking their cups together smiling as she took a sip.

May was right, this holiday was going to be okay after all, and who knew with Pride and Tai-san taking the kids for the night… there was no limit to the fun they could have in the hotel room that night.

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The end