LITMIR.BIZ

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old dog thought, ‘Oh, oh. I’m in deep poo-poo.’”

      Tex laughs uproariously. “‘Poo-poo.’ That funny.”

      Samuel smiles patiently at his friend. “Anyway, about then, the old dog found some bones on the ground. He quickly laid down with his back toward the approaching panther and began chewing on them. Just as the panther was about to leap, the old German shepherd smacked his lips, and exclaimed, ‘Boy, that was one delicious panther. I need to find another to eat.’

      “Hearing this, the young panther, with a look of terror on its face, stopped in mid-attack and slinked quickly away into the trees.

      “As he was trying to calm himself after such a close call, a squirrel who had witnessed what had happened, saw a way to put his new found knowledge to use and trade it for protection.

      “So the squirrel went to the young panther, told him what the dog did, and made a deal with him.

      “The panther was embarrassed and angry that he was made a fool of, and said, ‘Get on my back, squirrel, and watch what I do to that old dog.’

      “The old German shepherd once again spotted the panther creeping toward him, this time with a squirrel on his back. So the dog quickly devised a plan. Instead of running, the wise dog sat down with his back to the panther and the squirrel, and acted as if he hadn’t seen them.

      “Just as they were close enough to hear, the old German shepherd said, ‘Where’s that squirrel? I sent him away an hour ago to bring me another panther to eat.’”

      Tex laughs hard, a sort of high-pitched cackle. “Understand, Sam? It means… I do not know how to say. Tell him what means, Samuel.”

      “Okay,” Samuel says, smiling at his friend. “The moral of the story is you should not mess with old dogs because the years have given them much smarts, much b.s. ability.”

      I laugh and Tex extends his hand for a fist bump.

      A middle-aged woman dressed in a white áo dài and white pants enters the room carrying a tray of cups, a teapot, and what looks like white face masks, the kind that fit over the mouth and nose.

      “Thank you, Ly,” Samuel says, picking up the masks. He hands one to Tex and one to me. “Mother is coming to meet you so we need to put these on. TB is very communicable.”

      I wear these when I mow my lawn because of my allergies, but I didn’t expect to wear one here. Mai enters a moment later, pushing a woman in a wheelchair, both are wearing masks. The woman’s eyes find mine.

       *

      “Please sit down, Sam,” Kim says, with just a touch of an accent. She’s wearing a rich burgundy áo dài over white satin pants. She’s more frail than in the painting, but the TB hasn’t dimmed her beauty. Actually, her mask underscores her incredible eyes. I sit on the long sofa and she gestures for Mai to push her up until we’re nearly knee to knee. Sam has joined Tex on the love seat and Ly is nearby preparing the tea. “Mai did not exaggerate. You are quite handsome and your body is well developed.”

      About to sit, Mai quickly straightens, her face suddenly crimson. “Mother!”

      “Sit down, Mai,” Kim says with merriment in her voice. “I love to tease my girls.”

      Mai sighs and does as she’s told.

      “I am glad to meet you, Sam. Your father has been very excited since he found you.” She gestures with her chin. “So has my daughter.”

      Mai sighs again, plops herself down and folds her arms across her chest.

      The delicate white cups filled, Ly carries the tray over, stopping in front of me. I’m not sure of the protocol. Shouldn’t Kim take one first?

      “Please,” Kim says, apparently seeing my awkwardness. “Take a cup. It is a very special green tea. Mai said that you would like it. It is most good for you.”

      “Thank you. I love green tea.”

      When everyone has a cup, Kim lifts hers. “Một, hai, ba, yo!” she says loudly. Everyone takes a drink from their cups. I follow.

      “That means one, two, three, down the throat,” Mai says. “It is said when drinking alcohol but Mother says it to welcome you.”

      “It is more fun with alcohol,” Kim says with a wink. “It is sad, but my doctor says that I cannot drink because of all the medicine I take.”

      I’m liking this woman. Bet she was a feisty one when she was younger, a trait I can see Samuel liking, and one I like in Mai. He seems to have relinquished the floor to his wife.

      “You will be staying with us, of course,” she says.

      “Oh I don’t want to be a bother. I have a reservation at the Majestic Hotel that—”

      “No, no,” Kim says, waving me off. “Your father has fixed a room in the small building in the back of the house. It is very comfortable. This will allow more time for you to visit and for us to know each other.” She looks over to Ly who has been standing dutifully by the tea tray. “So sorry. This wonderful lady is Ly. She lives with us. She makes things run smoothly around here and she…” She says something to Samuel.

      “Doubles,” he says.

      “Sorry,” Kim says to me. “I did not know that word. She doubles as my nurse.”

      Ly’s eyes crinkle into a smile. She nods.

      “Ly,” I say.

      “She helps me and so do my wonderful daughters. And of course my Samuel.” She smiles at him. “Tex is responsible for everything outside the house, the parking area, the back garden, the fish pond, and he helps Samuel with the old soldiers. We consider Ly and Tex important members of our family. Loved members of our family. Now we also have you, and I welcome you.”

      I bow slightly. “Thank you so much. I am excited to be here and honored to stay with you. I have been looking forward to it for weeks.”

      Kim returns my nod, her eyes studying me. Clearly, this woman is the hub of the wheel around here. The power of her presence when she first came into the room camouflaged for a moment just how pale she is, and how deep the lines are around her eyes. But there is no hiding the clarity in them, the intelligence, and the watchfulness.

      “Mai is my oldest daughter, Sam, and she is everything to me.” Kim’s tone is just short of driving home a point. “She is much more than a beautiful woman. She is attracted to you—”

      “Mother, please,” Mai says, without raising her downcast eyes.

      “Aaaand,” Kim continues, hushing her daughter with a raised palm, “because she is attracted to you I have concerns. I can tell you that a mixed-race relationship is not easy. There are many, uh, obstacles. Problems. Your father and I have experienced them all, and still do occasionally. I want to protect my child, all of my children, but I also recognize that she is a thirty-three-year-old woman, one who is highly intelligent, educated, and experienced. I trust her judgment. Still, I am a mother and mothers worry.”

      “Thank you for explaining your feelings, Kim. I’m not a mother but I understand as much as is possible. My mother worried about me all the time, especially when I joined the police department.” Kim’s eyes don’t just look at me; they watch me, like a mother lioness. “I promise you that my intentions are honorable.” Okay, that sounded stupid. “What I mean is that I’m very fond of Mai, and I will treat her with respect and kindness.” That was lame too, but it’s all I got on such short notice.

      “What year were you born?” she asks.

      Curious question, and abrupt. “Uh, nineteen seventy-four.”

      She nods, looking intently at me. “In the Vietnamese zodiac, you are a tiger. Quick to anger, indecisive, but you can easily, uh…” She looks at Samuel but figures

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