Dorsai - Kelly's adventures

She looked at me as though she couldn't believe I was saying all of that as matter-of-factly as I was.

I told her "Kelly, I'll tell you again: this is a poor country. Up until the end of World War II, the Philippines was a U.S. possession that we got when we won the Spanish-American war. After that war, the U.S. government really screwed them over when they started fussing that they wanted to be their own country. Try reading up on the Philippine 'Insurrection' sometime. We didn't get around to 'giving' them their independence until after World War II. For the last couple hundred years, they've always been under someone else's control; it's taking them a while to figure out how to do stuff on their own. Shucks, our country had a tough time getting going after we got our independence from England."

She looked at me doubtfully, and I went on "It's true, Kelly. None of the countries that has had control over the Philippines has done them any favors. The Spanish laid the Catholic religion on them, and look what's happened: the Church doesn't believe in birth control, so they've got more people than they know what to do with here. There are only so many jobs and other work to go around, so the surplus population is left holding an empty bag – if they're lucky enough to have the bag. They've also got a corruption problem; I expect that's a freebie from the Spanish, too – it seems to be a pretty common problem in all the countries Spain 'discovered'. So, because of the corruption, the people with power and money tend to get more power and money, while everyone else loses out. It's almost as though the average person expects their politicians and government officials to be crooks; the only time anything significant happens about it is when it gets too blatant. Hell, look at what Marcos did here: when they got fed up enough to chase him out, he left the country with many, many millions of dollars – on a salary of a few thousand a year. Part – no, most – of the reason Marlyn is with us is to help me figure out who has to be paid how much for what, if my client builds a facility here. Sure, my client is going to get tax breaks and all that – but they'll be paying some of it back under the table, you can bet on it.*I* know it, my client knows it, and Marlyn knows it. The definition of an honest politician here is one that stays bought after you've paid him.

"No, it's not 'right', by our standards. But it's their country. It's up to them to decide what to do with it, and when. The only problems they have are the ones they recognize, and decide to change their way. All we can do is offer help they're willing to accept: bringing in jobs and money to help them develop a larger middle class, and stabilize a shaky economy. We can come in, and when they let us, show them the benefits of some of what we do; and help them recognize the problems they have, and show them possible solutions. But until they decide what changes they want to make, and how to make them, all we can do is let them run their country their way. We wouldn't like it if they started trying to tell us how to run our country, so we have to show them the same restraint in return."

I finished up by telling her "I'm not sure why Marlyn took us by those places; I know there are other ways out of the airport. When we've gotten to know her a little better, I'll ask her – but I'm not really expecting any kind of real answer, either."

Kelly listened to all of this, and when I was done, I saw her give a small shudder as she thought about what she'd seen.

The only consolation I could offer her was to say "I know, Kelly. I don't like it, either. But by being here, we are helping; and if things work out, we'll have helped even more."

"How?" she asked.

"While we're here, we're spending money – good old U.S. dollars – that they didn't have in their economy before. The money we're spending is going into the pockets of the people here, more than the politicians.

Marlyn has as much as a couple months of work while we're here – and the money she earns will be spent on things that make jobs for other Filipinos. We've got a driver and bodyguard; he only has to work because he wants to – but the money we pay him will be spent to increase his life style a little. For all we know, he'll throw away enough aluminum and other stuff to feed a couple of those families on the garbage mountains for several days. When we leave Manila, more of the money we spend will stay in the local economies – which means that they'll have that much more for things like schools and such; maybe some child will have a textbook that they wouldn't have if we hadn't come here. If my client builds a facility here, they'll be hiring Filipinos – creating jobs that wouldn't have existed otherwise. The folks they hire will spend their money, making jobs for the things other Filipinos make – who will spend their money, and so on. Yes, a fair chunk of the money will be wasted because of the corruption. but, and this is important, most of it won't – there will be kids that are able to go to school and learn that it doesn't have to be this way. There will be parents that don't have to spend all their time just trying to survive; and with more 'free' time, they'll be able to pay more attention to what's happening around them, and why it's happening – and change things, if they want.

When they've had a taste of a better life for themselves and their kids, you can be damn sure they're not going to want to go back – which will put pressure on the corrupt politicians to actually do something to help the people – if for no other reason than to stay in their profitable government jobs."

"It isn't much, is it?"

"No, not really. But it's something."

"It won't happen very fast, either, will it?"

"No. But better to happen slowly, than not at all."

Kelly sighed deeply, and said "I guess when you've got nothing, anything is something."

A moment later, she looked at me and said "Promise me that if we get a chance, we'll do something more – even if it's just for one person."

"If we can, we will. You already know that."

She sighed again, and answered "Yeah, I know – but I just wanted to make sure."

By unvoiced agreement, we decided to let the subject drop in favor of a good cuddle. When Kelly saw my eyelids start drooping, she got up to dig out the wind-up alarm clock I'd brought along. She quickly set the time, then the alarm; after making sure it was fully wound up, she set it on the night stand and lay next to me again. I don't think that it was more than a few minutes before both of us fell asleep, exhausted from the flight.

It wasn't the alarm clock that woke me up, but the feeling of Kelly's warm mouth wrapped around my erect penis. When I looked down at her, her eyes gleamed as she released me long enough to tell me "This seemed like a much nicer way to wake you up than that damn clock!" We'd tested it before we left, and both of us found it an extremely effective – if unpleasant – way to wake up.

Taking me back into her mouth, she easily slid her lips down me until her nose was touching my pubic hair, before lifting her head again.

After all the time that we'd lived together and been married, it still amazed and delighted me that she was so able to get me going like this.

I watched her for a minute or so, enjoying the sensations she was creating, and the effect she was having on my libido – but it wasn't much longer than that before I wanted to return the favor. We'd been together long enough that she recognized the signs, and without prompting, started to move herself around so she could straddle my head.

When she got close enough, I helped guide her leg over me, and quickly lifted my head to sample the nectar that I still loved: spicy and sweet at once, it was a flavor I never got tired of.