Almost in Paradise

Le Ly begins her new job at the hospital in Danang at the beginning of this chapter.  She loves the people that work with her and the sense of satisfaction she gets from helping people.  After her first day of work, Hayslip says, "As good as I felt about being able to support my mother and son through honest wages, I felt even better about doing so in a way that helped other people and hurt no one in the process."  However, her feelings quickly change when one of the administrators takes an interest in Hayslip.  One of her work friends, Red, was able to have her moved to a different part of the hospital.  Red and Le Ly began to develop a bond through which Red was able to have influence over Le Ly.  After she was pressured by Red into quitting her hospital job and being a dancer at a night club, she rejected this idea and severed the relationship they had.  Le Ly was once again hurt by somebody she thought she could trust.  Their relationship ended in an argument in which Red called Le Ly many hurtful names.  She is now glad she got out of the relationship that Red exploited for his own good.  Amanda Grahn presents a good point that many people feel the same way about the war today in Iraq.