Page 43 of Dial A for Aunties

“Um, no?” Nathan’s face has that glassy expression I often see on people when Ma is talking at them.

“Wah, so your teeth naturally straight? So good! Meddy, he is very good specimen, will give good offspring. No need to spend money on braces for your kids.”

My jaw crashes to the marble floor. Nathan’s face is so red I’m sure we could boil a kettle on it.

“MA!” I give a pleading look to my aunties, and they finally stop grinning long enough to take Ma’s arms and lead her away. Even so, I still hear Ma going, “Very good teeth on him kan?” I turn to Nathan. “I am so, so sorry about that. Please ignore her.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’ve always wanted people to notice how straight my teeth are.” He grins.

I laugh. “Okay, they are freakishly straight.”

“I’ve also been waiting all my life to be told what a good specimen I am.”

“Uh-huh. You’re a pretty damn good specimen.” It’s only after the words are out that I realize how heavy they sound. Does he know that no other guy even comes close to him? That after him, I couldn’t help comparing every other man I meet to him, and that none of them could compare? And also, that none of this matters because I have a literal dead body sitting in the cooler next to us??

Luckily, Nathan’s distracted by an uncle wearing a giant gold Rolex, who strides to him with a booming, “NATHAN! My boy, what a place, eh? Your old man will be so proud!”

“Hi, Uncle Timmy, it’s so good to see you here.”

“Listen, Nathan, Auntie Sofie is tired after the boat ride here. Could you possibly get us checked in now?” The man nods at the long line of people at the reception desk.

“I’m in the middle of something, but I’ll get someone to take care of that for you—”

“No, it’s okay,” I say quickly, “why don’t you help him? I have to rush off anyway.”

Nathan gives me an apologetic smile. “Okay. I’ll catch you later, Meddy. Come, Uncle, I’ll take care of this for you.”

Once Nathan and the older man are gone, I hurry to my aunts and mom. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Meddy, wah, you must go for that boy, your mother correct, he is best specimen,” Big Aunt says.

Fourth Aunt snickers.

“Can we please talk about my love life later? When we don’t have you-know-what to take care of?”

My mom and aunts grumble but then bend over to pick up a corner of the cooler. A bellboy swoops in. “Please let me get that for you,” he says.

“No—” I say.

“No worries, ma’am, I’ll get this to your room. Room 202, is it?”

“Don’t—”

He gives us a polite smile and grabs one end of the cooler. My mind short-circuits, but before I can say anything, Ma says, “Aiya! You bellboys always looking for tip. I got no tip for you, you go away.”

Looking shocked, the bellboy says, “I wasn’t—”

“You go, shoo.” Ma literally shoos him away like he’s a naughty puppy, and he walks off, shaking his head, muttering, “Asians.”

I wince, feeling torn between anger at his muttered remark and embarrassment because of our awful behavior. Still, I don’t have the time to worry about that right now. “Let’s go before yet another bellboy accosts us.”

We pick up the cooler and scurry off to the elevators, eyes following us as we go. I don’t blame them. We make a weird-lookingteam—me in all black, Big Aunt and Ma both wearing big white aprons, and Fourth Aunt, glittered and sequined and feathered. It’s only after the elevator doors close behind us that I release my breath, but still I can’t shake off the horrible feeling that too many people have seen us with the cooler. Too many curious glances have been thrown our way. We need to get rid of the cooler, and fast.

16

Being in the hotel room offers huge relief. Once we get inside, I close the door, lock the deadbolt, and then—bliss. For just one moment, I allow myself a chance to relax. I lean my head against the door, closing my eyes and breathing deeply.We’ll get through this, I tell myself.We will.

“Wah, look this room. Bagus banget!” Ma says.

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