Green-Eyed Monster

I had heard of these people. Americans. I would be living among them soon. I heard they had pink skin. Some had yellow hair. And orange. Their eyes could be blue, or even green. I tried to picture them in my 6-year old mind, only half believing my grown cousin who told me this. After all, people have black hair and brown eyes. PERIOD.

Then, I saw one. Clack-clack-clack. Another trip with my mom to the U.S. Embassy in downtown Seoul. 1966. And there she was. The tallest human being I'd ever seen in my entire little life. She had cottony, orange hair and skin so pink she looked like a dime-store doll. She leaned down to me, parted her big red lips and said "Wpoarr arrrttarirr riryrrir!"

She scared the hell outta me.

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