Duty Free

I’m not a fan of Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh city if we are being correct. I think the issue is that when I arrived I was ill, either from the drink or the change in temperature, probably a bit of both, and I hadn’t had enough sleep. The last two days had been mostly booze filled and the heat kept me from sleeping too well. It didn’t help that the hotel was above a street of late night bars and clubs. We had been out the previous night, Neil and me.

Neil hadn’t been laid yet this year and thought he would try his luck. Tinder wasn’t as popular in Vietnam as he had hoped and it was time to meet some real people. We wandered into a white karaoke bar, where you sing to the bar instead of hiring a room, we have no class. We had been steady drinking all day and it had been a mixture of Neil’s horn and the fact that I’d run out of beer that had driven us out of the hotel at 10pm. Normally we wouldn’t have been in so early but we had an early flight then next day, then again there are some drives stronger than common sense.

We got into the place and I went to the bar, ordered two beers, opened both and headed to the microphone to sign up, no one else had so I jumped on, singing Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams classics, badly, as Neil went around talking to every woman he could find. In the end, it was for naught, the ones that seemed interested he thought were prostitutes the ones that weren’t interested were the non-professional bar going type. I drank the last of my drink stepped of the stage and we left. Had I not been half cut when I arrived I would have noticed the beer tasted bad and I probably had sour belly in my future. Then again knowing me I still would have drank it.

The next morning was a shambles. As to be expected, somewhere along the way we had picked up more beers and stashed them in the mini bar to keep cool, there’s no better breakfast or way to fight off a hangover. If you don’t sober up it can’t get you. Much the same as avoiding dragon breath, hint- don’t go to sleep. We dressed and grabbed a taxi from the hotel throwing the key towards the dick at reception as we left. He had compounded my hatred for all people when we had checked in by asking unnecessary questions and taking his sweet goddamn time checking us in. I may have been in the wrong all along but karma will catch up with me eventually and I am admitting nothing here.

Through the rigours of check in and security we made it to the departure lounge, Neil took off to the gate to find seats while I ambled at the souvenir shops. This trip had been an eye-opening look at how far behind in sleep I had become and as I had dozed in the taxi I knew that sitting down would mean an almost certain nap. I am not responsible with many things but flight times are something I take seriously.

A two hour delay on the way here had started off the bad feeling, that coupled with the bar charging 7 times the price for beer that I ended up buying in a small shop which was tucked away at the opposite end of the departure corral.

I met Caroline there. Not her real name, but the one she gave me. She was working at a jewellery counter and was being chewed out by her boss, either her boss or just an old bitch she worked with. Either way Caroline came to where I was standing while the older woman sat down grumpily to watch a small television whine the counter. I have a bad habit of trying to cheer people up. It was especially so with her. She had a round face and pale skin, this woman hid from the sun like a champion, a beauty ideal in Asia, and o e I can get behind a lot more that the orange paint women back home cover themselves with to look tan. Honestly they would be better off covering themselves in oxo, at least they would smell appetising then. Caroline had died her hair to a lightish brown with slightly blonde highlights. Her hair framed her face and was cut flat at shoulder length. It would have looked nice if it didn’t sort of match her work uniform of plain mustard colour traditional style dress with brown trousers, not a good look in any language. She stood small and slim, about as tall as my shoulder. I made her smile and chatted to give her time to relax. She asked my name and I told her, she didn’t believe me, but then having what sounds like two first names confuses everyone so I’m used to it. We talked backwards and forwards for about ten minutes as I told her she should escape work and jump on one of the many planes around her to escape from the witch at the other end of the counter.

Caroline smiled and nodded laughing at the older woman who understood very little English but was trying to listen in anyway. Caroline smiled and giggled to herself as she turned without explanation and looked through a handbag beneath the counter. She stood up and rounded the counter and called something to the old woman and walked slightly ahead pointing as if giving me directions that I couldn’t remember asking for.

I followed obediently glad that she seemed more cheerful and was rebelling slightly, I am always happy to get along with rebellion. She led me along to concourse to the area above gate 27, coincidentally the gate I was leaving from (Bangkok here we come). Laid around were long sofa like seats designed to be lain and slept on and towards the “sleep zone” a series of pods at the end of the walkway. My mind raced and my heartbeat quickened in the greatest of cheap “romance” novel tradition as she led me to booth one (the furthest away) and opened the lock with a key she had carried from her stall. She entered the pod without waiting for me and as I followed her in she pushed the door shut and locked it.

I sat down in the small bed and smiled, happy for her to take the lead, this was her rebellion (or hobby, not really my business, but who doesn’t like to pretend they are a hero every so often). She took the two steps from the door to wear I sat, stopped slightly and brought her mouth to mine. She kissed me hard, there was urgency there, not so much longing, whether she wanted me or just anyone was in that moment irrelevant, we were both living in that moment and it was a welcome break from reality that as I get older are less and less frequent and more and more required.

I stood and picked her up easily, her mouth still on mine, our tongues dancing indelicately and her hands in my hair pulling me to her. I turned and aimed her towards the bed, our lips broke apart and she took her hand from around me and reached to her left shoulder and began to loosen the small clasps of her dress. She lifted the dress over her head and off as soon as she was able and dropped it onto a small bedside table. Her bra followed quickly afterward, there was no need for it anyway. Her breasts fit perfectly the size of my hands and stayed where they were when her bra was gone. She unwrapped her legs from around my waist and I gently lowered her to the floor. She smiled and turned away, bending at the waist to slide

Out of her trousers and underwear. She turned to me naked and held out her arms as if presenting herself to me as a prize. I smiled and nodded to her, I would have been more vocal in my praise but the walls were thin and discretion was paramount seeing as how she worked there. She stepped towards me and lifted the bottom of my t shirt, I took up the job and pulled it off over my head. As I did she fumbled with my shorts and pulled them to the floor. She gave me the same smile and nodded at my nakedness and added a thumbs up. I smiled back and she dropped to her knees and took me into her mouth, I gasped at the sudden change from frantic anticipation to pleasure. I stroked her hair gently as she set about me with lips tongue and hands. She was magnificent, and I could feel my body trembling as a result.

I stopped her as I thought I would soon lose the strength in my legs and fall to the floor. She smiled up at me and I took her hand, guided her to her feet and lay her on the bed. It was my turn to kiss and caress that beautiful body, her breasts, neck and stomach were first, then my tongue was between her legs, tasting her excitement and enjoyment. Her left leg found its way over my neck and drew me in closer. I could hear her breathing getting deeper and quicker. My fingers entered her and her body stiffened and trembled. She was gripping the bed hard and biting her lip. I felt her body stiffen and slowly relax as she came. She exhaled deeply, sounding almost shocked by the result. I repeated the act twice more for luck.

Her hand went to my face and I followed up her body finding her mouth once again on mine. The urgency was gone. There was a moment of calm serenity that seemed to stretch on indeterminably. There was no fiery passion, though we both wanted each other greatly. She reached down and guided me inside her, I moved slowly, enjoying her every inch movement and heartbeat as she seemed to enjoy mine. When I was fully inside her she held me close and gently bit at my ear.

We seemed to move in unison. There was no race to the finish. We moved positions without awkwardness or words. She kissed me and bit at my chest as she came more than once, I kissed her neck or moved closer to her ear as I tried to stifle a moan.

I was behind her, she was bent over the bed when I felt I could take no more and withdrew. She turned and went back to her knees, taking me once again in her mouth as she did so. I winced and bit my lip, she looked up at me and smiled withdrawing me from her mouth and continuing with her hands. My climax was ecstatic and transcendent. In a way suited for the tiny room and the silence required. She bit her lip as she watched me, the result of my pleasure present on her breasts and chest. I took a deep breath and steadied myself, she giggled quietly and kissed my chest before moving over to the small sink in the corner and cleaning herself with one of the small hand towels underneath.

I sat on the bed and watched her, trying to get my breath back. She came over and kissed me once again, long and deep. She stood up and stroked my face.

“Wonderful” she breathed as she stepped back to look at me. I smiled, suddenly shy.

She returned to her pile of clothes and gathered them up in her arms. “I must work” she said in the same tone. I nodded and pulled on my clothes, kissing her once gently on the back of the neck as she dressed. She turned and topless pulled me to her and kissed me. I tasted her for the last time. She finished dressing and checked her hair and make up in the mirror. She opened the door and gestured me out. She closed and locked the door, turned and kissed me on the cheek. “Good flight” she offered as she turned and started back to the routine of work. I was snapped into the real world soon after when the gate for my flight opened and it was time to find Neil. I was almost sad to go.

I’ve always liked Saigon.