It was a gray morning when I passed by a busy street in Ho Chi Minh, and I saw a movie theater. They were showing Hollywood films. I was about to see some places of interest in this former capital of Vietnam, and I was afraid that I wouldn't come on time. I was a few minutes late, but I apologized in my best English. My guide, a college student, didn't seem to take offense at all. It was hard to tell if she had lots of patience or she was glad to hear me speak a few sentences in English.
I found out that Mandarin and Spanish were among the widely spoken languages, but English would connect the most people worldwide. It made me recalled my holiday in the Far East, where there was hardly any trace of the war several decades ago. I might be forgetting the Reunification Palace, but ornate objects won't say a word. Hollywood would play a major role, as American films would travel across the Atlantic. I didn't think if it was a poor adaptation of a Rick Riordan book, even another forgettable remake. I just read the tale of Ymeene, who happened to be the first Ymbrne. Most of them were women, who could turn into birds. And they have the ability to create a time loop. It would keep the inevitable from happening. In Ymeene's case, she became the unexpected guardians of peculiars. They have special abilities, which would frighten the normals. The gifted ones would be lucky to flee from the humans, and Ymeene would be a Mary Poppins of a sort.
My mother reminded me to look at my cave. I was slightly annoyed, as she might have entered my room. I wasn't hiding a rare collection of condoms, but there Frosties and Cookie Crunch under the bed. There were refrigerator magnets, which I haven't organized. Yet. The coursework was demanding at times, and I don't want to miss on the parties. But I would have the time now.
Young people have a choice
The story of Ymeene was one of the few tales I read these last few months. I wasn't thinking of reading a book sooner or later, but there weren't better things to do. I haven't clicked the remote control for the past year, and I found out that I didn't miss it at all. I surprised myself.
"Following the hearty, blood-enriching meal, you will be left to sleep in luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins in the seclusion of the Count's crypt.”
Dacre Stoker, Bram Stoker's great-grand-nephew, teamed up with Airbnb to offer two people the chance of a lifetime. A night at Dracula's castle in Transylvania. I assumed it wouldn't be targeted at older people (or those approaching middle age). After all, young people would love telling scary stories. I was tempted at a moment, as I recalled the tacky horror films of the 1970s. Mom didn't fancy it at all, even asked me why I would waste my time watching it. Guilty pleasure. The same thing could be said of this Halloween treat, but I figured roaming the Carpathian wilderness would be scarier. It may be better.
