Le Ly, yet again trying to find a better way to support her son and mother, is in search of getting a job with the Americans. In order to do so, though, she needs a birth certificate. Le Ly was able to set up for a police officer to make her a birth certificate. Le Ly is then able to get a job as a cocktail waitress at the United States Army Officer's Club. Le Ly meets Paul. Le Ly asks him to move into his apartment, but he leaves suddenly to return to the United States.
Next, Le Ly meets an older man, Ed. Ed becomes a close friend of Le Ly and he asks her to marry him and move with him back to the United States. Le Ly and Ed do not love each other but Ed wants a companion to take care of him as he is much older than she is. "It's time for me to settle down, Le Ly - to quit pretending I'm going to live forever. I've got another year in my contract and then I'm going home to San Diego - permanently. I've got a nice house there and I've decided I want a wife to share it with me - a good oriental wife who knows how to take care of her man. Le Ly: I want you to be that woman - to come back with me to the States. If you'll have me, I want you to be my wife" (333).
A play I read last year in my English class,
The Taming of the Shrew, reminds me of the relationship between Le Ly and Ed. The characters in the play are to court each other. The marriage is decided on money and stability, not love or caring of one another. Men choose their women by their looks and "fall in love" quickly. Le Ly does not share real love with Ed, he is more of a friend and parter than someone she is in love with.
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