China Town Saga

CHINA TOWN SAN FRANCISCO

Charlie Chong has been an agent with the Agency for two years.

He learned and trained with the best agents in the field.

His main trainer was Sam Harley.

Charlie and Sam were very much alike in personalities and skills.

They became friends quickly.

Charlie had looked to Sam for guidance but today Charlie was on

his first solo mission.

China Town, San Francisco.

Charlie suspected he was chosen for this assignment because he spoke Chinese.

There had been suspicious activity in China Town regarding stolen artwork.

This fit Charlie’s background in Hong Kong.

His father and family dealt in museum pieces.

Charlie studied art in Paris and graduated from Yale University in business.

The night before last a young woman was murdered, and all signs led to

a gang of thieves operating out of China Town.

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #28

RED ROSE.

A red rose is like love,
a red rose bares airs like sweet like love,
a red rose is the color of the heart
.

Lily Lee Jamison was finishing her third glass of Champagne at her Tea Party alone.

Her last day in Paris before she flies home to the states.

“Did you drink all of the Champagne, or did you leave a glass for me?”

Swirling around in her chair Lily saw her husband James standing

behind her holding two dozen red roses.

“Oh, my gosh, James.”

“Miss me?”

Lily wrapped her arms around James and cried.

“Yes, you missed me.” James laughed a little making a joke

and then kissed Lily.

“How did you know I was here?”

“The Agency told me were still in Paris and I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you did surprise me, James.”

“Are you up for our Paris honeymoon, Mrs. Jamison?”

“Yes, Yes, I am.”

THE END

By BARBARA KISKIS

February 14, 2024

Fortune Cookie Saga #27

MADAME WONG’S FORTUNE COOKIES.

Many superstitions surround that of a fortune cookie.

From closing your eyes before you pick one to reading your fortune out loud,

fortune cookie messages have offered others a lot of humor

and enjoyment for years.

Did the fortune cookie in this saga come true

for CHARLIE?

“A secret admirer is now plotting how to win your heart.”

Madame Wong thinks it’s still true.

To win someone’s heart takes time.

DREAM LOVER

By Bobby Darin

Every night I hope and pray
A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms

[Chorus]
‘Cause I want (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone

[Verse 2]
Dream lover, where are you
With a love, oh, so true
And the hand that I can hold
To feel you near as I grow old?

‘Cause I want (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
A girl (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
To call (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
My own (Yeah-yeah, yeah)
I want a dream lover
So, I don’t have to dream alone

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #26

LILY’S LAST TEAPARTY WITH FRENCH CHAMPAGNE.

Lily Lee Jamison’s final day in Paris was a celebration of love.

Love of her husband, James and the love of French Champagne.

She was ready to toast to love and all that it meant to her.

I Will Wait for You Forever

The days are cold, the nights are long,
but my love for you stays strong.

I hold you in my heart
and have you on my mind.

I’ll wait for you; however long,
my love for you is blind.

You are my lover and my friend,
you are my everything.

I shall remain here waiting,
even if for eternity.
– Diana J. Briones

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #26

BACK IN WASHINGTON DC.

“Congratulations Miss Lee or shall I say Mrs. Jamison. Job well done.

We are all excited that you brought Mr. Chow on board as an agent to our Agency.”

It was the head of the Agency, Mr. Williams that was calling Lily Lee to confirm

that Charlie had signed on the dotted line.

Making him an official agent for the Agency.

Lilly Lee was very proud of herself.

Assignment was a success.

She was instructed to send Jasmine back to Washington DC.

Mr. Williams asked Lily to stay in Paris a few more days to wrap up her work

and relax before returning stateside.

That sounded perfect to Lily.

She was looking forward to doing some serious shopping in Paris.

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #25

A JOB OFFER &TEATIME ARE CALLING.

Charlie Chow invited Ming Wu for afternoon tea at his hotel.

He had plenty to say to Ming especially

since aunt was rude to Ming at dinner a few nights ago.

“Ming, thank you for coming this afternoon.

I want to apologize for Madame Wong’s behavior.”

“Charlie, I understand completely where your aunt is coming from.

I have been wanting to talk with you privately.

Is your aunt joining us this afternoon?”

“No, she has travelled to the South of France. She has many friends

and admirers there.”

“Oh, what a shame.” Ming was sarcastic in her tone which Charlie picked up.

“Please sit down over here and I’ll pour us some tea.”

The two sat in silence as they drank Earl Grey tea.

Charlie spoke first.

“When I left Kong Hong, my father told me an old Chinese proverb.

“A jade stone is useless before it is processed;

a man is good for nothing until he is educated.”

– Education is what turns people into productive human beings.

Maybe, that is why I came to Paris. After I graduated from Yale,

I felt a need for further education especially in the arts.

It’s not only for myself but for our family business.

Ming listened carefully to Charlie.

She felt this was her chance to discuss his future.

“Have you thought about going back to America?”

“Yes, I have many times but somehow the timing was not right.

I do not have a job in the states, and I don’t have an entry Visa.”

“I could solve all of that for you, if you are interested in working

for The Agency.”

“The Agency, the same Agency that Sam Harley works for?”

“Yes, the one and the same. Interested?”

Ming knew her assignment in Paris was going to be a success.

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #23

Fortune cookies and Madame Wong.

Ming Wu left the dinner party asking herself, “Do fortune cookies tell the future?”

Her encounter with Madame Wong was a surprise move on Charlie’s part.

Cleaver young man he was in doing so this evening.

She had no idea that Madame Wong was Charlie Chow’s aunt.

How will that change her assignment in Paris.

Family members can be troubling.

Ming had learned to think on her feet

but was she stepping on someone’s toes.

The night was still young and Ming decided to visit

an after-hours club on the Left Bank.

This was her old stomping grounds many years ago.

A few strong drinks might bring her closer to solving her problem.

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #22

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

Ming Wu aka Lily Lee was stunned by the surprise appearance of Madame Wong in Paris.

“Well, my dear, we meet at last.”

“Madame Wong, I’ve heard so many wonderful and enchanting stories about you

and your famous fortune cookies.”

“Ah, my fortune cookies have preceded me. Please sit down.

My nephew, Charlie has enlightened me about your presence in Paris.”

“I’m sure he has the wrong idea.”

“Perhaps there is more to the story, time will tell my dear.

Charlie, let’s order, I’m famished.”

“Aunty, I’ll be happy to order for all of us.”

“Yes, Charlie why don’t you.” Ming replied.

Ming wasn’t sure where this evening was going but she was prepared.

The conversation during dinner was kept light with Charlie making jokes

about his experiences in Paris verses his home country, Hong Kong.

During coffee service, Charlie excused himself,

giving his aunt and Ming time to talk.

“Do tell me Miss Wu, why are you in Paris. Surely, you have better things to do

than chase after my nephew, Charlie. You are much older than him.

I do not approve.”

“I don’t understand Madame but I’m not chasing after anyone.

Charlie and I met in French class. I’m just getting to know him,

it’s all very innocent.”

“My fortune cookies do not lie, Miss Wu.”

(To be continued)

Fortune Cookie Saga #21

A DINNER ACROSS FROM THE PARIS OPERA HOUSE. (The Palais Garnier)

The opera house was constructed in what Charles Garnier (1825–1898) is said to have told the Empress Eugenie was “Napoleon III” style The Napoleon III style was highly eclectic and borrowed from many historical sources; the opera house included elements from the Baroque, the classicism of Palladio, and Renaissance architecture blended together.

The Palais Garnier has been called “probably the most famous opera house in the world, a symbol of Paris like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, or the Sacré Coeur Basilica”. This is at least partly due to its use as the setting for Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera and, especially, the novel’s subsequent adaptations in films and the popular 1986 musical.

Charlie Chow was using the Paris Opera House as a backdrop for his discreet dinner with Ming Wu.

He was familiar with its history.

Was he playing the phantom?

“Mr. Chow, I’m impressed in your choice for dinner tonight.”

“Please call me Charlie. By the way of surprises, I invited a guest to join us tonight.

I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not. I love surprises and

dining with more than one person suits me fine.”

Ming was relieved that she didn’t have to be alone with Charlie.

Charlie smiled at Ming and introduced his guest.

“Ming Wu, I would like to introduce

my favorite and lovely aunt, Madame Wong.”

(To be continued)