Clattering Sparrows (11 page)

One evening, Su Ling, David, and Michael, after dining at a favorite restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf, were taking advantage of the beautiful evening by walking back to their house, promising Michael that they could stop for ice cream along the way. An Lei had opted to stay home. As they approached a small alley off of Stockton, shots rang out, and a young boy ran smack into them, followed closely behind by several older youths who continued shooting. In a matter of seconds, David and the young boy lay in a pool of blood, and Su Ling and Michael had also been hit.

By the time the police arrived, the street was deserted except for the four victims. A nearby shopkeeper had anonymously phoned the police. David and the boy were both dead. Michael had been shot in the head and died several hours later at the hospital. Su Ling’s injuries were not life threatening but she lost the baby, and as she lay in a coma, An Lei grew weary overnight.

She couldn’t imagine what they had done to evoke the evil spirits that had caused the events that had befallen them. All her life all that she held dear had been taken from her, and as Su Ling lay comatose in the hospital, she felt as though she no longer had the desire to go on living. After three days, Su Ling finally awoke. Her last memory was walking towards home, and when she learned what had happened, she was beyond consolation. An Lei knew that she had to muster every ounce of strength she could, in order to once again begin building anew, not for herself, but for Su Ling.

When her year of mourning was over, Su Ling opened the Magic Paintbrush Gallery on Grant Avenue. That had been seven years ago. In some ways it had been her salvation, but her losses were too great, and she knew she could not expect closure. They never learned who the shooters were and in all probability never would. She was thankful that An Lei had not been with them on that fateful night or she might have lost her, as well. She was now eighty-three years old and not in the best of health, but Su Ling could not imagine life without her beloved An Lei. She was and remained the one constant in her life.

11

I ROSE AS AN Lei approached me and walked towards her. She stopped and bowed slightly. Tears ran freely down both our faces. At first, An Lei simply held my hands in her own and looked deeply into my eyes. As I embraced her in a warm hug, I realized that we had never hugged before. Whenever Judy and I came to their home, she would slightly bow and welcome us just as she did now. I also realized how frail she had become, yet even in her frailty, I could feel her strength. This little Chinese lady that had been such a presence in my life, and who I had not seen in nearly twenty-five years, was still the same beautiful and gracious An Lei of my childhood.

She stepped back, held me at arm’s length, and said, “You have grown into a lovely young woman. When Su Ling told me you were coming to dinner, I was overjoyed. You and Judy have never left my thoughts, and we often mused over what had become of the two of you.”

I introduced Jon, and as we spoke of our family to An Lei and showed her what few pictures we carried with us, Su Ling announced that dinner was ready.

***

Dinner was excellent, but just being with our friends was unbelievable. The many years that had passed melted away, as we talked endlessly. It broke my heart to learn of their misfortunes and losses, but it was comforting to see that they had a good life in San Francisco, and that Su Ling had become a successful and renowned artist.

In all, we didn’t leave their house until past midnight. I related as much as I could covering the many years that separated us. I had shown them pictures of our children and promised to send more when we returned home.

The evening couldn’t possibly end without An Lei asking, “Do you still play Mahjong?

“Of course I do and so does Judy. We play the American way with American sets using the National Mah Jongg League Cards. I still have the set you gave us. Judy asked me long ago to keep it, and many times through the years, I’ve taken it out and just stared at the tiles wondering where the two of you were and where your paths had taken you.”

Ah Lei smiled. “If we had a fourth, we could have a quick game while you are here. Does Jon play?”

Sara laughed, “No, but if he did, he wouldn’t know the Chinese way you taught us.”

As our conversation continued and with a little prodding, Jon’s pride showed as he elaborated on my job at the station. “Sara is somewhat of a local television personality at home and the picture Su Ling painted hangs prominently on the wall of her office. She has been the recipient of many local awards, and several months ago she traveled to New York to help set up a Consumer Corner segment for the CBS affiliate in Manhattan.”

Blushing at Jon’s words, I said, “I have never thought of myself as a television personality, but I love what I do, and being able to help people is the part I like best about the job. From time to time, I’ve received several attractive offers from stations up and down the east coast, but no offer justified uprooting our family and I never considered commuting an option. Jon’s career is the priority in our lives and always has been.”

It was late and not wanting to overstay our welcome, but not wanting to leave either, Jon said, “I think we should be going. It’s been a long day but a truly wonderful one.”

We spent our last two days in San Francisco, and we managed dinner with them both nights insisting that we take them out. It had been a long time since Su Ling and An Lei had enjoyed such an eventful few days. A week after arriving in San Francisco, we left for the second half of our trip.

Before leaving, we purchased a painting from the Magic Paintbrush Gallery for Judy and Ira’s imminent anniversary. Su Ling would ship it to us so that it would be there when we returned home. We promised to call and write and vowed to never again lose touch with one another. A promise neither of us was to break for the rest of our lives.

In the weeks following our departure, An Lei seemed to have more of her old vitality back, and she had once again begun making dinner for herself and Su Ling. In recent years, she had fallen into the practice of waiting until Su Ling came home from the gallery to put something together for the both of them. When I spoke to Su Ling after we returned home to tell her that I had received the painting, she told me that our visit had been wonderful for both of them, but mainly it had renewed An Lei’s energy and given her new hope for whatever time she had left.

It was then I realized that An Lei and Su Ling had missed us as much as we had missed them, and perhaps even more. I was pleased that they had one another but saddened that their windows of happiness were short lived, and that peace and contentment always managed to elude them.

Jon and I spent the next week driving the coastal route to Los Angeles. We stopped in Carmel and stayed at the Tickle Pink Motel and lunched in nearby Big Sur. In San Luis Obispo, we stayed at the Madonna Inn, and visited the Hearst Castle in San Simeon on the way to Los Angeles, where we spent our days taking day trips to San Diego and Tijuana. We felt both totally rested and totally exhausted at the same time when the day came to board the plane for our flight home.

Our two weeks had been incredible and finding Su Ling and An Lei unbelievable, but we missed our children and our families, and we were eager and happy to be going home.

12

KNOWING THAT OUR TRIP to California coincided with Judy and Ira’s Anniversary, we made plans to take them to dinner at Normandie Farms Restaurant in Potomac, Maryland, when we returned. The date we selected was the following weekend, just a few days after Jon and I got back. It took every fiber of my being not to mention that I had seen Su Ling and An Lei. I actually avoided Judy somewhat so that I wouldn’t blurt out something that I didn’t mean to reveal and spoil the surprise. I busied myself with unpacking and doing laundry, and at one point she asked if I was upset with her.

At our Wednesday night Mah Jongg game, I begged off telling the girls about our trip until the multitude of pictures we had taken had been developed. This was yet another ploy to avoid spilling the beans.

The restaurant was a favorite of ours, and Judy was especially addicted to their huge popovers that they abundantly supplied before and during dinner. The painting from Su Ling had arrived shortly before our return, and now all I could do was impatiently wait for Saturday evening. After our meal we would all come back to our house where we planned to give them their gift.

As we dressed for dinner, Jon smiled and said, “If I didn’t know better I would say you’re more nervous now than you were on our wedding day.”

“Stop teasing me. I am not. It’s just been so hard not to say anything since we returned. For once in my life, I’ve actually kept a secret, and I’m quite proud of myself.

“You know when I was a little girl I always used to tell my father every present we bought for him. Knowing this, my mother once told me we bought him pajamas, and as usual I quickly ran and told him. We were both surprised when he opened his gift and learned that the anticipated pair of pajamas was actually a sweater.”

The four of us drove off to the restaurant. We talked about the trip and I tried to steer the conversation to our drive along the coast so that I wouldn’t say anything about Su Ling. After all, I had kept the secret so far; it would be a shame to ruin it now.

We dined on prime rib, stuffed lobster tails, and delicious popovers, and by the time coffee was served, no one wanted dessert. As we drove home complaining about how much we had eaten, I smiled to myself thinking—only a few more minutes.

Jon paid the babysitter and watched her cross the street and enter her house. As we got comfortable in the den, he asked, “Should I make a pot of coffee, or would anyone prefer a drink?”

After groans of “No thank you,” I walked into the other room and returned with the package that contained the painting. I handed it to Judy in the original wrapping with our anniversary card on top. She opened and read the card, and then her eyes drifted to the sender’s name and address—Magic Paintbrush Gallery, San Francisco, California. She looked up at me and quickly opened the package. When she withdrew the butterfly painting she immediately glanced at the name in the lower right hand corner—Su Ling!

“Oh my God, I don’t believe what I’m seeing.” And then the questions began, “Is this really her painting? Did you see her? Did you see An Lei? Stop sitting there smiling. Talk to me!”

The next couple of hours were unbelievable. We told them everything. How we had stumbled across the gallery after having dinner in Chinatown, and seeing a larger version of the exact picture of the Mahjong Set displayed in the window. How we returned to the gallery the next day, saw Su Ling, and accepted her invitation to their home for dinner. And finally, seeing An Lei and sadly learning about David and Michael.

“Why didn’t you tell me when you got home? How could you wait all week and not slip up one time? You are good! I couldn’t have done it. Even at the Mahj game Wednesday night, you were so smug and said absolutely nothing!”

“Well it wasn’t easy but I wanted you to be surprised when we gave you the painting. I have their phone number, and they would really love to speak with you. I promised we would send lots of pictures.”

As usual whenever anything “big” or “sad” or “happy” occurred, we managed to shed more than a few tears, and this particular evening was certainly no exception. Jon and Ira both agreed it didn’t take much to make either of us cry. We were greatly saddened by all the heartache our dear friends had endured, and we were not about to let the missing years keep us apart again.

The very next day Judy did call Su Ling and spoke to An Lei as well. We had our friends back again, and we were euphoric.

***

In the fall following our return from California, our son Sam became a Bar Mitzvah. We were very proud of Sam. He was a great kid. He was loving, smart, and athletic, and he was a terrific big brother to Mindy. He had Jon’s very outgoing personality and dark good looks, making him quite popular with the girls. The service and luncheon that followed at our Temple were lovely, but the evening affair at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown was an affair to remember. We lavishly entertained over two hundred guests, fifty of which were the children’s cousins and friends, and as far as we could tell, a great time was had by all.

In the years that followed there were many happy occasions. Weddings and confirmations, and celebrations of all sorts never went unobserved. The kids were growing up, and before we realized it, they would be off to college. My Dad retired, and he and mom bought a house in Naples, Florida, on the water. They became snowbirds spending six months in Maryland, and the other six down south.

The real shocker came when Judy’s parents decided to divorce. Out of nowhere, her dad came home one day and told her mother he was leaving. Judy was a nervous wreck. She felt so bad for her mother, but Ruth Levine was not to be counted down and out. When the initial shock wore off and the divorce became final, she took a night course at the nearby high school and became a travel agent. After working for a local agency for a short while, she decided to open her own travel agency, and before long she was traveling the world over.

When Harry Levine died two short years later, they learned he had been diagnosed with cancer and did not want his family to be burdened with his illness. Sadly they all missed out on spending the time he had left with the father and grandfather they all loved, and equally as sad, he missed out on getting to know his grandchildren better.

At our Wednesday night Mah Jongg games we always had something to talk about. If it wasn’t about our families then it was about the neighbors. If it wasn’t about an upcoming election then it was about world problems or whatever else was happening.

One evening the game was at Judy’s and I arrived a little early. I noticed that she was a bit edgy and I asked, “What’s wrong? You seem a little unglued?”

“Funny you should notice. I’m glad you came early because I want to talk to you before the other girls get here.” She put popcorn in the microwave and turned to me. “Tony’s sister Maria called. She received a call from the Navy Department, and they want to meet with her as soon as possible. They wouldn’t tell her anything further.”

“Do you have any thoughts about the meeting? Do you think they found Tony’s remains or his plane?” I asked.

“I really don’t have any feelings one way or the other. Maria sounded a little concerned about the secrecy of the call and I didn’t want to upset her by prolonging our conversation and delving into possibilities. I thanked her for calling and told her to try not to let her imagination run wild. She agreed and told me she would let me know what it was all about after their meeting next week.

“Next February marks twenty-five years that he went missing. It’s hard to believe that in all that time, they’ve learned nothing.”