Saturday, February 19, 2011

Made

©1994 Rudolf Helder
Made was talking to Wayan when Sari called her for a foot massage. Sari'd just given some guy a haircut. Military style. Really the only one she knew how to. Foreigners liked it because it was hot, temperature-wise that is. This guy no different and all the same to her—the new foot bath specialist. She didn't like giving foot baths, but bills needed to be paid and Ketut had gotten her pregnant again. Hopefully a girl this time. Wayan was a handful. Always getting in trouble as boys do. Girls were easier. She could've gone to Kuta, work in a hotel come home weekends. The money'd been better. In Ubud most jobs were taken. She didn't want to end up walking up and down Jalan Raya Ubud with her breast hanging out, baby in a sling, tot teetering behind her, holding out her hand because Ketut had crashed their moped, hurt his foot and lost his job waiting tables up on Jalan Tegallalang where tourists stopped to photograph rice terraces, where the government had killed their business selling sarongs because they'd set up shop right in the middle of the padi. Seemed smart, but tourists complained. Wanted the view clear of business. Good luck with that! When the foot bath job had come along she'd taken it. The other girls had uniforms, she didn't. That's how shitty her job was. The Chinese boss had not even wanted to try her out, but Sari was getting older, fatter, didn't want to always squat anymore. Learned to cut hair. Badly, but the foreigners didn't complain. To them Bali was cheap. She looked up at the guy's haircut. Uneven, like she expected. Caught him looking down her blouse. She smiled. Not much there with her knees pressed against her chest.
She should say something. Make small talk. They tipped you for that Sari said. Easy for Sari. Chatted all day long. She only knew five words. Then Melati. Had come from Bandung. Spoke Ingris so easily. Even had foreigner boyfriends, because she was Catholic she could. One Australia. One UK. One America. If true! She never shut up about it. Not much else to talk about anyway. Boyfriends! She never had one, except Ketut, but they knew each other from the Banjar. Didn't even date. Just marry, then pregnant and now again.
Siapa nama? You name?
John.
Sure! John. Most common name, like Made or Ketut.
Melati walked in, finished massage. Going out for a smoke, sit on her moped, talk to tourists, saying, How about relaxing massage, everything included? Winks, laughs. Javanese girls are easy, especially Bandung, is what she says. You'd believe it, how she brings them in by the elbow and she's not even a woman. Had sex change in Singapore but hair on her lip keeps growing back. Still prettier than Sari. Chinese boss thought Melati be good for business. Tried her out. Many tourists like happy ending. Maybe this guy John too.
You try, she said. Melati very good. Many come back for her.
I bet, he said, but she didn't know what that meant so she smiled and scooped water over his ankles.

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