Day 262: Oregon

Talk to my dad in the morning.

Tell him I won’t sponsor him for his green card.

He tells me not to worry. Uncle might be able to help after all and if not, he has friends at church he can ask.

I hope that he’s right. My shoulders feel lighter.

We have lunch together and for the first time in a long while, I look him in the eyes as we talk and laugh together.

Airport.

Flight to Sacramento.

I wake up to find the snacks have already been passed out. Rats.

Plane lands.

If you’re going to Portland, please stay on the plane.

I stay on the plane.

This time I stay awake for the snack.

I ask for two and get it.

I am a greedy boy.

Portland.

It’s raining.

David and Ranna pick me up at the airport.

We go to 99 Ranch and when we check out, we get $20 worth of certificates for their bakery.

Ranna picks out moon cakes, and I grab a Honey Cake Roll for David’s landlord. It comes out to exactly $20.

There’s no sales tax in Oregon, Ranna says.

City buildings turn into fields. No more lights on the side of the road.

I meet Jennifer, her son, and their dog, Winston. Jennifer shows me my room.

It’s big. So much space for activities.

She hands us slices of banana bread she made earlier.

I shower and unpack while David cooks lo mein downstairs.

Winston trots into my room and sticks his nose inside every bag.

I put together the pull-up bar I brought with me and realize Winston’s eating something.

I turn around to find the receipt from 99 Ranch torn to shreds.

I try to get Winston to spit out the bits of paper but it’s too late. I hope he’ll be okay.

He flops onto his back and looks at me expectantly.

I rub his belly.

New city, new state, new house, new room, new housemates, new environment.

And so it goes.