The General (Bandung, Indonesia)

“Who are you with? What’s her name?” my Gmail vibrated on my Blackberry Bold.

I shook my head and took another swig of my beer. Deepak was rubbing his knee. “Hey man, I better call her. She is going postal.”

Deepak smiled. “Settle the home front.”

The woman who was nearly 50 and wearing scantily clad clothes put her hand on my knee as I pushed off my barstool. “Where are you going? Are you leaving?”

“I will be soon. My girlfriend is in the hotel room. I am going to meet her.” I said lying through my teeth.

“A girlfriend?” she worded slowly.

I was a little agitated. “Yes, I told you several times now.”

She paused. “I am okay with that.” And I could smell her breath.

I pushed off onto the sidewalk. She then struck up a conversation with Deepak who was also trying to ignore her.

Braga Street in front of Escobar was dark except for the motorbikes and scooters that beeped past. Just then, I could hear another bar in the distance kick start with their local metal band. The band was playing a Metallica cover. Quite remarkable.

I switched through my numbers and hit dial. Sophia answered right away. She was quiet when she answered. “Hello.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Of course I am not having sex with anybody. I just got off work. We have been working straight for 10 to 12 hours.”

She lit up. “Then what’s all that noise behind you? I hear a band! I hear a woman’s voice! Who are you with?”

“Deepak and I are having a beer.”

“I don’t believe you. What’s the girl’s name you are with?”

“There is a 50 year old prostitute that has been trying to talk to me and Deepak. But I keep ignoring her.”

“You are not ignoring her! Are you with her?”

I blew out a breath. “Look babe, I promise. I am not with anyone. I have been chatting with you all day long. And I just went back to the hotel to drop my bags. And now Deepak and I are grabbing a beer.”

“Fuck you!” And with that Sophia hung up.

I came back to my bar stool. Deepak was playing with his phone as if he had someone he was chatting with. The prostitute smiled a yellow smile.

“How did it go?” Deepak asked.

“Man, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Just be patient, man. Its tough on those that stay behind.”

“But god there has to be some inkling of trust. You know?”

The prostitute broke in, “Do you guys want another beer?”

Just then Hannara came up while talking on a phone and talking in a very excited way – which was Hannara’s custom.

I breathed out. “Thank God.”

The prostitute was still looking for my answer.

“No, I am going back to the hotel to be with my girlfriend. She is pretty mad.”

She meekly sipped on her beer glass. “Can I join you?”

“No. I am sorry.” And I was already standing. Deepak had to hold onto the bar to steady himself. “Damn, my knee is killing me.”

Hannara was off the phone now. He saw the prostitute. He spoke Indonesian and they greeted. But Deepak and I were fast to wobble out near to the street. Hannara came out laughing. “Man, you know how to pick them.’

I rolled my eyes. “She found us.”

“Poor girl, she definitely needed a Tic Tac.” Deepak said.

Hannara rubbed his hands through his hair. “Guys, I am tired.”

“So you want to cancel tonight?” Deepak asked sadly.

Hannara laughed. “Of course not. I just need a Red Bull.” And he was walking fast to the Circle K and we followed.

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