A median-aged widowman called Bruce, who ran a mechanic shop in Anaheim decreed that it was time to get married again. He found it tough, to encounter an appropriate woman: it was effortless to meet regional women through buddies or at events, but they were only interested in dairy farming- or they were into flakey things. Bruce was not interested in pigs.
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Finally, Bruce uncovered his annoyance to a man called Liam in a saloon. Liam listened closely and then, with a wide grin, said, “Please just gaze at me. Go ahead gaze at me.” Bruce was not sure how to decipher this summons, but the circumstance became obvious when Liam sustained his stance, “Do I appear miserable? No, I do not. Do I appear as if I’m not being taken care of at my habitation? No, I do not.” Liam clarified that he had bought a mail-order bride from Cambodia and had been incredibly happy since the day that she showed up, “She cooks delicious food,” He said, “And she keeps the house tidy. I am the luckiest man alive.”
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Bruce found a mail-order bride website for Oriental women that could arrange a marriage online. He was shocked by the language it used: it was apparent that the brides were deemed as commodities. The portal even mentioned “your order.” This struck him as utterly unfitting for such an intimate negotiation: it was shameless objectification, even though it was not a term to which he was accustomed.
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He brought the issue before the televangelist at the Crystal Cathedral church in Garden Grove, whose car he serviced. He asked the televangelist, a compassionate gentleman, whether it was improper to bring a woman from Cambodia to get hitched. “It depends,” said the televangelist.” If you and the woman are deeply in love and aspire to enter into a joyous marriage, then I see not anything fallacious in that. But if the damsel in question is resistant, then that is a differing issue.” The televangelist glimpsed at Bruce sharply. My perception of you, Mr. Burton, is that you are an upright man. I cannot fathom you would act badly in any manner. The conversation with the televangelist passed over.
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Back at the home front, he searched through pictures online and came across a lady that he found to his approval. He paid the fee- furthermore confirmation of commodification- and several weeks later she came in a cab to his mechanic shop. “The lady that you sent payment for has arrived,” said the mechanic who had been employed there for four years. She looks great, Bruce. Bruce introduced himself. His new wife smiled but did not speak a lick of English, so they said extraordinarily little to each other. He took his new bride home and showed her around the house. She smiled once again and immediately started cleaning, Bruce tried to make conversation somehow, but she just stared and kept cleaning.
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After several weeks. Bruce became very frustrated at not being able to communicate with his Cambodian bride properly. Ultimately, he could not stand it any longer, and he purchased a one-way air ticket for her to go back to Phnom Penh. He drove her to the John Wayne airport and checked her in at the check-in desk. She was totally confused, but the airline was nice to her and got her ready to board the plane. Bruce signaled a farewell and drove back to Anaheim. “Oh well”, he said nonchalantly. “I did all that I could do.”
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He cleared out her belongings in her room and found that she had been keeping a journal. It was written in Cambodian lingo, and he could not unravel it, but several months later he met an educator who had lived in Cambodia for years and could read Cambodian. Bruce showed him the journal and asked him to translate. The educator made a face as he read. “This is very touching.” he said, “Listen to this: I am very satisfied with this country, which is inviting and exciting. The people here are polite and are not rude like the people back at home. All I aspire to do is make this benevolent man ecstatic. I want him to have the most supreme cuisine I can cook. I take pride in doing his laundry. I keep his house disinfected. But he is not in love with me, I know, and I am heartbroken. My heart is broken.” The educator looked at Bruce. “Do you want me to continue?” Bruce nodded his head.
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He went back home and thought about how we should act in this world. He would go to Cambodia, where he would go to school and learn Cambodian. He would find his wife. He would learn about the word forgiveness in Cambodian and make sure that they have a good life.
The End
About Astrid Poplar (Cynthia Russell)
Cynthia Russell is a writer originally from Los Angeles, CA. She writes short stories, and poetry, and is in the process of writing a novel.
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