My Asian Dragon

Joy’s body began to tremble, and she wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. Longwei took her in his arms and led her out into the playground, where the two teachers had the students gathered for safety. He exchanged words with the teachers and students, reassuring their fears, before leading Joy away and under a nearby tree. “Sit,” he said, helping her to the ground. Joy collapsed, her breath coming in harsh sobs. “You were very brave.”

Joy sobbed, the sobs interlaced with hacking coughs as she cleared the smoke from her lungs, and let Longwei hold her. “Is the school damaged?” she finally asked, as the coughs subsided. “How is Ying-ying?”

“She is being taken to the doctor’s now,” Longwei replied. “How are you?”

“Just a bit of smoke, I’m fine,” Joy replied.

She moved to get up, but felt Longwei’s arms wrap tighter around her. She turned to look at him, and was shocked when she felt his lips kiss her. She resisted for a moment before she relaxed into the feeling, enjoying the sensuous play of his mouth against hers. When it stopped, she sat back down next to him, catching her breath. “Well now.”

Longwei sighed, and let go of her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“I should not have done that. You just had a shock, you’re vulnerable, I reacted out of my own stress and….”

“And it was a very nice first kiss,” Joy finished for him. “Longwei, you don’t know as much about American women as your education may have led you to think. If I didn’t want you to kiss me, I would have stopped you, regardless of whether you can change into a dragon or not.”

Longwei laughed. “I think that’s why I kissed you, too. You’re the first woman in a long time who has acted like I am a normal man.”

Joy chuckled. “Well, other than that one little thing, from what I can see you are a normal man. Unless you’re hiding something else from me?”

“Hmmmm….. well, there is my dragon mate and our three little hatchlings, and the fact that I enjoy dressing up in women’s clothing on festival nights, but I think that is it.”

Joy’s smile at his over the top silliness caused Longwei’s face to break into a grin. “Longwei, are you trying to be a comedian?”

“Only with you, Joy.”

“So? You spend two weeks calling me ‘Miss Roberts,’ and one little kiss and suddenly we’re on a first name basis?” Joy asked saucily, a twinkle in her eyes. “All right then. But, as much as I’d like to kiss you again, let’s check on Ying-ying.”

Joy let Longwei help her to her feet, and brushed the dirt off her pants. Longwei did the same. “You know, that’s not her name. Ying-ying. That’s a name the government would give a panda they are sending to a zoo in the West.”

Joy smiled bashfully. “I know, but she only told me her name once, and I couldn’t understand it. I heard a sound like Ying in it, and she has a quirky habit of doubling almost everything she says to me, it sounds like. I would appreciate it if you could help me more with my Chinese.”

“Of course. And her name is Yingtai. So you weren’t too far off.”

The two walked to the doctor’s office, where a small group of villagers were gathered outside. Longwei approached the group, which parted without him saying anything. Still, Longwei smiled his thanks and stepped inside the doctor’s office. Joy followed, and inside could see Yingtai laid out on a bed, her hand immersed in a cold water bath. The water was already cloudy with coagulated oil, but still Joy could see the deep burns and blisters on her hand. The doctor gave her an injection, and her eyes fluttered shut. He turned and spoke to Longwei in rapid Chinese, Joy picking up a little. The doctor was not born in the village it seemed, and his accent was easier to understand. Still, Joy was a bit lost.

“How is she?” she asked quietly.

“She’ll be scarred, but you most likely saved her hand,” Longwei replied. “It will be a long process before she can use the hand again, but he thinks she can eventually use it without pain.”

“Can you send her for treatment, skin grafts and such?”

“No,” Longwei replied. “The government would not approve such things for someone from her economic status. She’s just a peasant in their eyes, not deserving of such expensive medicine.”

Joy felt tears come to her eyes as she looked down on the pretty girl’s sweating face. Even with the injection, she moaned thickly in her drug induced sleep, her eyes squinting against the pain. “Is there anything we can do?”

“Not right now,” Longwei replied. “But her family will need help to take care of her during the rehabilitation process.”

Joy nodded. “Tell her when she wakes up that I will do what I can to help her family, and she should just concern herself with getting better and listening to doctor’s orders.”

Longwei turned to look at her. “Let’s talk outside.”

Longwei led her out of the doctor’s office, and towards the temple. “Joy, what you offer is a very serious commitment. Much more than a typical American offer.”

“I know,” Joy said, reaching out and taking Longwei’s hand. They walked down the dirt road together, quietly enjoying the simple pleasure of the hand hold, before Joy spoke again. “Longwei, what do you think of me staying here long term?”

“I think you would be out of a job,” Longwei said. “Can you really be happy being a village girl?”

Joy thought deeply. “For the rest of my life? I guess I can ask you the same question. You have a Master’s Degree. Can you be happy being a dragon shifting village leader for the rest of your life?”

“Yes and no,” Longwei replied. “The villagers expect much of me, much more than just being a village leader.”