Measuring Up

In a small town in Taiwan…
Chapter 1
My favorite is mango flavor but Siu-Lian and Siu-Khing always get lychee.
My life in Taiwan is sweet.
We never get tired of watching the panda…
… or running on the Dragon Bridge…
but A-má is the best part- Grandmother.
Every Saturday after A-má finishes her second cup of jasmine tea, we head to the morning market.
Mmmm. It’s my favorite part of the weekend. The morning market smells like a candy store. Bitter melon is healthy. Yuck! A-má only speaks in Taiwanese.
“I promise. You won’t have to try it until you’re ready.” A-má keeps her promises.
“Let’s surprise your mom and dad with tsu-kiáu* (*boiled dumplings) for dinner.”
“Yay! I want to help.”

A month later….
“Cici, come help us get ready for our going away party.”
My parents decided
to move to America.
I do NOT want to go.

“Cici, come here. I need you”.
A-má to the rescue!
See how the water is cloudy?
Like soybean milk.
Like my future. You must wash the rice until the water runs clear.
“Come with us to Seattle.”

“I wish I could. It’s very hard to get a green card.”
It’s like a part of me washes away.
“Come visit for Moon Festival!
Lunar New Year!
Lantern Festival!
Children’s Day!
I know!
You will finally be old enough to have a big birthday party!”

“I’ll be seventy in a year.”
“That’s forever!”
“A year is not that long.”
Just as A-má made me a promise, I make a promise to myself that she will come for her birthday.
Maybe even sooner, if I keep asking her.