The Greatest Lie Part 9

We pulled up to my family home in Brentwood, on a shady stretch of upper class privilege. Viewing the manicured lawns and large, lovely homes, Tran said "Alexandra, I never knew you a rich girl."

"I’m not. Rich, that is." We laughed.

My mom loved Tran at first sight, and announced "I think I’m going to like having a daughter. You’ve had a hard day already, and a long trip coming up." Tran and I smiled at each other knowingly. "Let’s have some retail therapy," she said cheerfully.

My mom was quite generous when she was spending the money. She bought Christmas gifts for Tran and me, and several things for herself, at Neiman’s and each of the other half dozen shops we stopped in along Rodeo. As we passed by an office building on Canon, she confided "That’s where I’m getting my eyes done next week. When you and Tran get back, we can all recuperate together. I can even have a manicurist and a masseur come to the house. It’s going to be such fun." Yeah, I thought to myself bitterly, maybe we can pop "Transsexual Hookers" into the VCR and share a bowl of popcorn.

Still, it was nice to get a load of half priced bras (in my soon to be C cup size), panties, nighties, tops, skirts and dresses on Mom’s plastic. The back seat of her Honda was fully loaded by the time the stores started closing. It was a Merry Christmas after all.

The day after Christmas, my mom took Tran and me to LAX, and we began our long ride to Phuket, Thailand. I think that you’ll agree that it had been a long strange trip to get there. It also was a long and winding road from there on. But that’s another story.