Matchmakers

In Shanghai's People's Square, I unwittingly wandered into Matchmakers' Corner. I surreptitiously read classifieds for a bit, before being dragged into a fairly trite line of questioning: "How many years have you lived in China?" "How old are you?" My suitability as a groom began to more closely scrutinized: "If you're American, why don't you have blue eyes?" "Why aren't you taller?" A woman who insisted on speaking bad loud English finally asked: "You come here to look for a daughter, yes? I mean boyfriend?" I failed to get her card.