The Country from Hell
You look up to the Iadian man, meet his eyes and say simply with the calm surrender of a Christian martyr, "I will stay with you and your friend."
You stand up, adjusting your skirt and motioning for the man to move the suitcase out of the way so you can say your farewell to Green Bandit. For extra assurance, you glance once more at that perfect billfold before leaving the compartment.
In the aisle, Green Bandit's white skin has turned a livid red.
"Just what do you think you're doing with those foreigners?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Yes, dear, but I thought you were smarter than that. Better than that. If you really wanted to leave, why didn't you just fuck off to America with your cousin?"
"You know how hard it is to get an American visa. I would be as old as Grandma by the time I got one. Anyway, I hate my cousin. You know that."
"But that man is so ugly! And German! You know what they're like. You're such a pretty girl. Meet a handsome boy here at home. Start a pretty, Iadian family. This country won't survive if people like you keep leaving! Look outside!" She turns your face forcefully around towards the window. "Smokestacks, poor, ugly, right? Now use a little imagination and try to see it the way it was before The Pig. This was a beautiful village, the home of our ancestors. Like it or not, this is your home too. No matter how hard you try not to be, you will always be Iadian!"
"I'm sick of being Iadian! And besides, it's too late. I've already made my decision."
"So it's as easy as that?" Green Bandit turns to go just as the train is inching out of the Camo Casip station. She turns back suddenly at the door. "This is your last chance." She extends her hand to you, that strong sun-burnt peasant's hand that you love and hate at the same time.
You stand up, adjusting your skirt and motioning for the man to move the suitcase out of the way so you can say your farewell to Green Bandit. For extra assurance, you glance once more at that perfect billfold before leaving the compartment.
In the aisle, Green Bandit's white skin has turned a livid red.
"Just what do you think you're doing with those foreigners?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Yes, dear, but I thought you were smarter than that. Better than that. If you really wanted to leave, why didn't you just fuck off to America with your cousin?"
"You know how hard it is to get an American visa. I would be as old as Grandma by the time I got one. Anyway, I hate my cousin. You know that."
"But that man is so ugly! And German! You know what they're like. You're such a pretty girl. Meet a handsome boy here at home. Start a pretty, Iadian family. This country won't survive if people like you keep leaving! Look outside!" She turns your face forcefully around towards the window. "Smokestacks, poor, ugly, right? Now use a little imagination and try to see it the way it was before The Pig. This was a beautiful village, the home of our ancestors. Like it or not, this is your home too. No matter how hard you try not to be, you will always be Iadian!"
"I'm sick of being Iadian! And besides, it's too late. I've already made my decision."
"So it's as easy as that?" Green Bandit turns to go just as the train is inching out of the Camo Casip station. She turns back suddenly at the door. "This is your last chance." She extends her hand to you, that strong sun-burnt peasant's hand that you love and hate at the same time.