OUTING (memoir)

I woke and knew this day would be different, although I didn't know how different. Initially, it seemed like it was going to be a bad day. The sky was gray and my room was cold. Today, a wintry Saturday, I had to crawl out of my bed and head not to church, but City College. I and the rest of my advanced science research class were mandated to go and drop off our boards for the New York Science and Engineering Fair tomorrow. Our teacher was a judge, so she would know if we stayed under the covers and failed to show up. I was convinced that this was a waste of time. Could we not just bring our boards with us the next day? I pondered this as I gulped down my cereal and headed out the door that morning.

Despite my reservations, I was a dutiful kid and reached there on time. So did everyone else, and the lines to turn in our boards were long. It seemed like every high school kid in New York was here, but really it was only four hundred sleepy-eyed teenagers. The coordinators set up lines according to the letter of our last names. I spotted my friend Kareen* far away and made a mental note to run into her later. Meanwhile, the line inched forward at an abominable pace. Finally, I reached the table and signed up with, guess who, my science research teacher. What made everything worthwhile was the ticket for a free lunch that she handed me and 399 other disgruntled youths.

I set up my board in Shepherd's Hall, and headed to lunch with some semi-friends. In the cafeteria I saw Kareen and another friend, Angela, and sat down with them. There wasn't much to talk about; this outing was pretty much over. Inside my head, I was irritated. I had spent money and traveled across the city, and climbed a huge hill just to get here, and for what? I needed something to do to justify coming all the way out to Manhattan (I live in Queens). I could have just gone home, but church would have been over and I wouldn't be able to do homework until sundown, the end of Sabbath. And then Kareen mentioned Chinatown.

I did not latch on to the idea immediately. The three of us left City College and went back down the hill. All of us were taking the 1 train to 59^th Street and naturally we discussed who would be going where and which train would be taking who. I decided to tag-along with Kareen to Chinatown. Visiting Chinatown was always pretty cool, but I could never go there alone because I would get terribly lost. Kareen did not care either way, and at 59^th Street we got off together to take the B.

When we left the subway station, the sun had begun to come out and I was in better spirits. The first place we went was to the music store, so Kareen could get a metronome for her little brother. Kareen plays the piano and she had started to give him lessons. I wasn't bored. I was on my toes. Funny how one listens when everyone is speaking a different language. In the store, I didn't say a word. I guess I was little self-conscious. I didn't want to do something stupid and have my friend have to apologize for me in Cantonese. She did not expect me to be afraid to breathe the wrong way, but she didn't expect me to come either. I just wanted to uphold my image as a "good kid," especially in front of strangers.

My "good behavior" was rewarded. Kareen said the cashier liked me. Both of us seemed to relax at this point. She took me to her piano school. Actually, drums, guitar, and violin are also taught there, but she referred to the place as such. It was a small, neat little place, with little cubicles where people practiced their various instruments. I was surprised to see an entire piano and bench fit into such a small place. I was in awe; this little room was not lonely or pitiful but gave an aura of solitude and inspiration much like a monk's cell in a monastery.

Kareen took off her coat and sat at the keys. I was so excited; she had played for me over the phone before, but nothing compares to a live performance. She played Liszt, and then some Rachmaninoff. I stood behind her watching her small, thin fingers splay over the piano keys. It was beautiful. I was moved. So moved, that I hugged her after the performance, to which she squealed and claimed that she was no good. Kareen played a bit more, before shooing me out, saying that my presence flustered her.

I obeyed, and read Freud on the seat outside. I was somewhere in the third chapter of Civilization and Its Discontents some twenty minutes later, when Kareen appear outside, in her coat. "Let's go," she said, all manly, and strong. I didn't even say "To where?" I just went.

Kareen took me out around town. We visited mainly candy stores, and she insisted I buy something. I do wish I had brought more money, but I hadn't expected to go on such a cool outing. Chinese New Year was next week, and all the stores has paper lanterns and other displays out. Anytime I would see something amazing, like a one-foot jade dragon, even if was across the street, she would say "Go and see." Kareen kept asking "So where do you want to go next?" to which I responded "Wherever you want to go."

I was having so much fun I did not realize it when we arrived at the Canal Street station. "See, I did lead you to the train station" she said with pride, responsibility or both, knowing fully well I wouldn't have found it on my own. At that moment, my heart was full. Here it was, that Kareen, not knowing I would come today, still played for me, adjourned her practice to take me around Chinatown, and topped it off by dropping me off at the J train station. I wanted to hug her again, but embarrassed, she said "You hug me, and I'll kick you." I laughed, and we said our goodbyes. And that was it.

On the train, passing over the Williamsburg Bridge, I reflected on the day, examining the candy I bought. I never expected to spend a whole day with Kareen. Still elated, I noticed the man sitting next to me who happened be reading a Chinese newspaper. There were ads about New Year's celebrations for the Year of the Rat. I wished him happy new year in Chinese. He smiled. A cap on a glorious day.

* name changed for privacy