just north.

Milwaukee, the city my mother called home after arriving to the States fleeing communist Viet Nam in 1975. I frequented this location thousand times throughout my existence, but within recent years, I have been absent. Aboard the Megabus--$8.50 ticket mind you--I sat listening to Vietnamese tunes, trying to reacquaint myself with my culture. Soft lyrics and soothing beats, I entered a deep slumber. Two hours later, awaken by the sudden stop, I stumbled off. My cousin Viet, in a VW Pasat, sit comfortably across the street. "Shotgun, no blitz" unnecessary to be mentioned for it were only us two.

Lunch at an eclectic cafe followed where cigarettes are permitted, and ice cold beers appear on the menu. Thuy, already seated, yelps, "Cousin Hac!" I order the artichoke dip, for I am in a struggling battle with myself to burn the fat. Talks of life, self, Viet Nam, jokes of the past dominate the conversation. To where my other cousin, Khanh, works; Whole Foods. Hoegarden, a German beer, we purchase, to return to the abode of my kin where Viet and I engage in a lopsided battle of a great mind game, chess. Six to two, advantage Viet; I ought to practice--I used to be a tough, feared opponent. Our other cousin Andrew arrives. He, a high schooler recently discovering the joys of higher education and social life. Enduring a drive which felt like hours, we arrived to Co Chau and Chu Steve's suburban home. Being Asian, we decided to order some not so bad Chinese. Feeling swell from the hoegarden amongst other beverages, I divulge the greasy, hardy meal--perhaps filled with ingredients not beneficial to my personal struggle of burning fat. Nonetheless, delicious. What ensues are irrelevant interactions and a lot of sitting on our bosom, eyes fixed on UFC fighting; pure violence.

Andrew drops us off. A local bar Viet and I head to where a very personal conversation surfaces. I miss these conversations; always triggering true feelings and thoughts. Turn right, walk straight, turn left, straight some more, we arrive to what my cousins call home. Sitting in the dark, we enjoy the nice cool, crisp Midwestern summer night. Complete silence, peace beside our monotone voices. This night forever will be imprinted in time; our existence infinite then? Just another experience up north.

Tran, Quy Hac