STALEMATES
-AShortStorySetintheTimeWhenLoveCametoChina
Twomenandtwogirlsinaboatsatfacingeachotheronwhickerseatsundertheflatblueawning.Cupsofteastoodonthelowtablebetweenthem.Theywereeatingling,waterchestnutsaboutthesizeandshapeofaCupid&rsquos-bowmouth.Theshellsweredarkpurplishredandthekernelswhite.
&ldquoMissChouisverystylishtoday,&rdquooneofthemensaid.Itwasalsostylishtoaddressgirlsas&ldquoMiss.&rdquo
MissChouglaredathimthroughhernewspectaclesandthrewalingshellathim.Herglasseshadroundblackrimsandperfectlyflatlenses,asshewasnotnear-sighted.Theyearwas1924,wheneyeglasseswerefashionable.Societygirlsworethem.Evenstreet-walkersaffectedglassesordertolooklikegirlstudents.
Eachofthemensatwithhisowngirlbecausethelittleboatbalancedbetterthiswaythanifthetwogirlssatsidebyside.Thepalegreenwaterlookedthickandjustalittlescummy,andyethadasuggestionoflingeringfragrancelikeabasinofwaterinwhichafamouscourtesanhadwashedherpaintedface.
Thegirlswerearoundtwenty-youngforhighschoolinthosedayswhenprogressivewomenofallagesflockedtotheprimaryschools.MissChouwasmuchadmiredforherviva-cityandboldnessasbeingtypicaloftheNewWoman,whileMissFan&rsquoswasthebeautyofastilllife.Shesatsmilingalittle,herfaceaslimpointedoval,herlonghairdoneintworoundglossyblacksideknobs.Sheworelittlemake-upandnoornamentsexceptagoldfountainpentuckedinherlightmauvetunic.Hertrumpetsleevesendedflaringjustundertheelbow.
TheyoungmenwereLoandWen.Lowastallandthin.Hispaleturquoiselonggownhungwellonhiminamoreliteralsensethanwhenthephrasewasappliedtowesterner&rsquosclothes.HetaughtinthesameschoolasWen.TheybothownedlandintheirhomevillageandtaughtschoolinHangchowmerelyasanexcusetolivebytheWestLake,whereeveryscenicspotwasassociatedwiththememoryofsomepoetorreigningbeauty.
Thefourhadbeenmeetingalmostdailyformorethanayear.Theywouldgooutonthelake,havedinneratoneoftherestaurantsalongthestore,andgoboatingagai