58 A Friend In Need (2/2)
”My name is Li Yang. I am looking for Jake Donato? He's an old friend of mine. Do you know where I can find him?”
He heard the lock being opened and the chain being slipped into its latch, and the door opened a crack. A single dark eye surrounded by deep wrinkles appeared over the stretched chain links, and regarded him suspiciously.
”What's your name again?”
”Li Yang. I've walked all the way from Mott Street. That's where Jake used to live, a few years back. We went to the same school.”
”Don't you joke with me, young man. Do you think I'm a fool?”
”I'm not joking. I swear it's true. He was my best friend.”
The door slammed shut, and Li Yang heard the lock being turned.
”No!” he shouted, and banged on the door with his fist.
”Jake!” screeched the old woman inside the house.
She sounded as if she was mocking him, and Li Yang bit his lip to stop himself from shouting again. He balled his hands into fists and stuck them in his pockets and was about to walk away when he heard another voice, a man's voice call out:
”What is it?”
”There's some fool here that claims he went to school with you.”
Li Yang waited. There were more shuffling footsteps, and some grumbling too quiet to understand, which was probably just as well. Once again, the lock snapped open, but this time the chain was left unfastened. The door swung and Li Yang saw an old but healthy-looking man with a mop of thick white hair falling over his forehead. The old man grinned, showing teeth so white they had to be false. He said:
”You're saying we went to school together?”
”No,” said Li Yang. ”I meant another Jake. My age. He is a good friend of mine. I came all the way from Mott Street. Can you help me find him?”
”Sure I can,” said the old man, and grinned again.
”Don't mind my wife,” he said. ”You know, age... You must be looking for my grandson. He used to live on Mott Street. But he's out. Can you come back in a couple of hours? He'll be coming back for lunch.”
To his great embarrassment, Li Yang felt tears of relief and gratitude prickling his eyes.
”Thank you,” he said. ”Thank you so much. Yes, I'll be here. Thank you.”
The old man stopped grinning and gave Li Yang an appraising look. Then he said:
”You know what, just come on in. You can wait inside.”
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