Crossing the Mekong

6

Faye had an Uncle who had two wives. His first wife had three sons and four adopted daughters. The second wife couldn't bear any children, so they decided to adopt another child for her.

The second wife asked Faye to come with her to the city. Faye accepted her offer without asking why she only asked her. They waited outside of the camp, ready to hitch a ride towards the city.

The truck passed familiar buildings in the city many people were walking on the sidewalks carrying bags from their shopping. There were food carts showing off their food choices and hungry students waiting in line with their money. Faye didn't have any money but wanted to be one of those kids waiting in line. Waiting for food that she couldn't have with her empty pockets.

The truck dropped them off on the main road, and Faye and her aunt walked towards a concrete-walled house with a flat metal roof. They entered the house to be greeted by a lady sitting in a chair holding a baby wrapped in white cloth.

Faye's aunt handed the lady money and in exchange, the lady handed her the baby. She wasn't sure that the baby belonged to the lady. The lady didn't look like she just gave birth to a baby. For an eleven-year-old girl, Faye felt that the baby was going to have a better life because she knew her aunt had the money to raise another child.

They hitchhiked another ride from a different truck back to the camp. Faye talked all the way back asking about what they're going to name the baby, but never asked about where the lady got the baby.

The dark red truck dropped them off at the front gate. Many other refugees were also coming back from their own trips. As bodies slowly pushed through the gate, Faye's aunt handed her the baby. She told her that security would only check the adults who were coming back inside.

Her aunt tucked her new baby inside Faye's jacket. Faye stayed to the right of her aunt and quickly squeezed between the people in front of them. She crossed to the other side of the gate without nobody recognizing her. The baby didn't make any noise as she snoozed inside Faye's jacket.

Faye had successfully smuggled in her first and only baby. 30 years later the baby is now married and is living in Oregon.