Mekong Delta
by Andrew Passey
Chapter 4
"See you later!" I said cheerfully to the old lady as we headed off to school the next morning as normal. I did feel cheerful, apart from the seething pit of nerves in my stomach. We were both very nervous but tried to hide it. If things went wrong then we were likely literally fucked.
We tried to act casual as we walked. My Uncle had people everywhere and he also travelled around the town a lot. There was definitely an outside chance he'd see us going the wrong way so we hurried as quickly as we could down side roads to the bus station.
It was a typical bus station for a town the size of Can Tho. Full of hustle and bustle as people got on and off buses heading all over the Delta and further afield. Luckily Dinh had scouted it out before so he walked confidently over to the ticket booth and bought us both tickets. We found the bus and then that was it. We were sitting together on a bus to HCMC. A place I'd never been but hoped to one day. It used to be called Saigon but after the war they changed the name. It was a busy hectic place from all accounts and I hoped Dinh would be safe there.
We'd travel together on the bus for a couple of hours before I'd change buses for the short hop to Ben Tre. I wasn't really sure why I chose it. I guess I didn't want to leave the Mekong Delta yet. It was still my home. The great river that brought life and loss to me and my family. I had briefly considered seeing Dad but that would be the first place they'd look and what could I say? That I was worried I'd be sold for sex? My Uncle was respected by my Dad and I'd probably be packed off straight back to him.
I also wanted to stick with Dinh but I knew that was selfish of me. He had amassed a fair bit of money. It was enough to give him a start anyway. He needed to save himself. He had a distant friend of the family he was going to contact. Something to do with a catholic school so if that worked out he'd be fine. He was streetwise though. I felt sure he'd be ok. Me...not so much. Dinh begged me to come with him. He said I was too innocent and naive and that I might well end up in the same situation as before or worse. He said I needed to get out of the Delta or my Uncle would find me.
I knew I had to fend for myself though. For Dinh as much as for me. He wept quietly but I squeezed his hand and said I'd see him again. He wrote the name and contact details for where he was heading although he said he was going to subtly try and check the lie of the land first. I was a bit worried for him. A country boy in the city. He'd be an easy target for traffickers and criminals but he knew that.
"Take this money, but keep it hidden. Trust your instincts and don't trust anyone! Also....and it pains me to say this....you're a very sexy attractive boy. Sex is a currency you can use but don't use it without good reason. Don't let some man fuck you just for a night in a hotel. Save it for absolute emergencies. If it's anything like Can Tho there will be street boys begging. They'll look after you but again it's a hard world and they won't do it for nothing. Your English is great. Try and get a job helping in the tourist industry, even if it's just for free food and somewhere to sleep. And promise me you won't forget me and we'll see each other again," Dinh said as we approached my stop.
However I squeezed his hand and said I'd see him again. He wrote the name and contact details for where he was heading although he said he was going to subtly try and check the lie of the land first. I was a bit worried for him. A country boy in the city. He'd be an easy target for traffickers and criminals but he knew that. "Take this money, but keep it hidden. Trust your instincts and don't trust anyone! Also....and it pains me to say this....you're a very sexy attractive boy. Sex is a currency you can use but don't use it without good reason. Don't let some man fuck you just for a night in a hotel. Save it for absolute emergencies. If it's anything like Can Tho there will be street boys begging. They'll look after you but again it's a hard world and they won't do it for nothing. Your English is great. Try and get a job helping in the tourist industry, even if it's just for free food and somewhere to sleep. And promise me you won't forget me and we'll see each other again," Dinh said as we approached my stop.
I gently kissed him on the cheek promising I would never forget him and we'd see each other again. Then that was it. I exited the bus with one last look at my saviour before getting off and watching him speed away to a new life. I prayed and hoped it was a better one for him than before.
As for me, well I didn't have to wait long for a bus to Ben Tre.I boarded it and planned my next move. Money wise I had enough to last me for food for a few days and maybe even a night in a hostel, but I'd learned quickly from Dinh, the money was for emergencies, for a ticket out of there if I needed it. As we entered the outskirts of Ben Tre I knew things would be tough but it was time to step up and look out for myself, after all no one was coming to save me...
I got off the bus and luckily the bus station had a map up of the town so I was able to get my bearings. I identified what looked like a very quiet area up by the Mekong so I headed up that way, past a couple of hotels and guest houses.
The Ben Tre Riverside Resort gleamed in the afternoon sun, it's white walls causing me to cover my eyes as I walked past. It was at the end of a road and quiet up there, this would be a good plan to hang nearby. I explored the outer wall that ran down to the Mekong and found some large stones from an old collapsed wall. It created a small cubby hole, certainly big enough for me and my belongings to fit in. it couldn't be seen from the path and it seemed unlikely anyone would stumble on it.
For now this would do, I changed out my uniform into my clothes and stashed the uniform and my bag. I also took most of my money out and hid it under a large stone. It looked pretty secure but it would hurt to leave the stuff there. It was all I had left in my life and I worried what would happen if someone stole it? However I knew that in the off chance my Uncle sent someone looking for me then at least at first they'd be looking for someone wearing a school uniform.
I sat down to plan my next move. The weather was warm and sleeping outside would be fine I thought. Aside from that I would need sustenance. Though I knew it was for the best I really missed that Dinh wasn't there. He was streetwise and sensible. I knew I wasn't streetwise so I had to be careful. One problem was that I needed to earn money to survive. Or at least find a way of getting food so I didn't starve to death. Dinh had mentioned looking for street boys begging as a way of earning money. It didn't appeal but then again my options were limited.
I decided the best move to make was to explore the town so I could get a sense of the place. However for now I was tired. I decided to hide up here until it was dark and then try and get some sleep..
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