Read an Excerpt
Chapter 3
Chinhominey sniffs contemptuously and takes another sip of coffee. "What about your children?"
"Fine, fine. You saw how they are," Myung Hee says, using a smile to dilute the defensiveness of her tone.
"I wouldn't have recognized them. They have no manners. They are like Americans."
"They are Americans," Myung Hee says firmly.
"They still have Korean faces. They will always have Korean faces."
"Those are American faces, too," Myung Hee says, struggling to keep her expression pleasant. Her left eye twitches with the effort.
Chinhominey sniffs again, "It is because of you that they have such bad attitudes. They only think about themselves. You wait. When you are old and alone, they won't take care of you. They'll give you to a hospital. American people don't take care of their parents. There's no place for old people in this country."
"I am very proud of my children. Unlike American girls, Christina has come home to live until she marries. Today, even girls in Korea do not behave so obediently. You see, she is not so selfish."
"And the second? The one who does not dress like a girl?"
Myung Hee shifts in her seat and takes a long sip before answering. She returns the cup to the saucer, hand shaking slightly so coffee splashes onto the table. Myung Hee makes no effort to wipe it up.
"The second is studying in college and gets only the highest marks. She will go to law school next year." Her voice is steady but her hands still tremble.
Chinhominey leans over and stabs a piece of strawberry with a fork. She pops it into her mouth and chews thoughtfully.
"She is the one who will bring you heartbreak."
"Nonsense!" Myung Hee's voice rises.
"The one who will die young."
"Superstition!" Myung Hee cries, clapping her hands over her ears.
"You never listen," Chinhominey says.|
