My birthday indulgence

I turned into a dimly lit, but pleasing massage palour, and attempted to explain with very explicit sign language, that I wished to have a massage. What I did not realise was that this massage palour was one which specialised in foot massage and reflexology. I felt a bit like a lamb being led to the slaughter as a young man escorted me into a room with 2 reclining couches and indicated that I should remove my jeans. I gazed around me.
The room was designed for comfort and exuded a calm and serene atmosphere, so I sunk back into the chair and sighed deeply.
A cute little Chinese lady cautiously entered and turned on the TV. I tried to indicate that I really did not want it on, but the message did not get through. She simply made it louder, obviously thinking that my frantic nodding of my head was because I could not hear ir. I resigned myself to watching the latest in Chinese Soapies which was an education in itself. Lots of stares, sighing and dramatic music.. The gentleman then returned with a tray tastefully arranged with cookies and fruit juice, while the lady filled a bucket with boiling water and indicated my feet were to be immersed there-in. Horrors! It was so hot but she seemed unconcerned and kept pushing my feet back, and proceeded to massage my hands and arms, as I surreptitiously raised and lowered my feet until all nerve endings were deadened.
I started to relax and enjoy this luxury and self indulgence. The little lady started on my feet- and a look of utter disbelief appeared on her face. What she did not appreciate was that I have been cycling in sandals for the past 3 months and my heels are cracked and layered with dirty dead skin. She resolutely set to correcting this sorry state of affairs.
She tried once more to communicate with me and when I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, she wrote an sms on her phone and presented it to me. I thought perhaps she was writing down the cost - but it was a message in Chinese! So she really did think I was deaf!
The entire experience was wonderful. From the elbows in my back muscles to the deep pressure on my calves; from the bags of scalding stones rolled along my spine to the cracking of all my toes and finger joints. And on departing, to protect my uncared for feet she gave me a pair of socks and inner soles for my shoes!
I staggered out, smiling , happy and knowing that my birthday in Lanzhou would forever be one to remember