i swam laps at the harbin flying fish pool. washed, got dressed and stepped into the cold city air, rain spitting down all around. it’s ok to leave your plastic water bottles on the street; there are people who come and pick them up. through the nighttime darkness and across the pock-marked asphalt, rain and mud and oil fill up the pits and make them puddles. plod around them, save your shoes. a different shortcut now, this time the first alleyway, cutting through the tall dilapidated apartments. a more treacherous path, a taxi pushes its way through; its lights fade and my eyes adjust again. on the other end, city lights break through, and all the plastic bags have been blown against the wall to the right (nobody collects the bags). bus 109, bus 108 rocket by. waiting for 107; i’m hungry, catch it later.
enter the 4 table establishment and sit down, tomatoes and eggs over rice. In come 3 chaps, saw them at the pool too. an unusually handsome bunch, i think to myself. not students, they say they are models. 24 yrs, 23 yrs, and 20 yrs of age. benefits: lots of pretty girls. salary: so-so. requirements: exercise and don’t get fat. negative: once you get old, you can’t do it anymore. the talkative one bought me a bottle of pepsi (glass, but don’t take it away, the restaurant gets to recycle). they are taking the train to beijing this weekend, soft sleeper, company pays— some show to get to.
Q. how did you all decide to become models?
A. we didn’t study well.
