My grandmother saw the emperor cry the day he lost his golden dragon throne.
She wanted something to remember him by, so she snuck down to the silent palace, near the River of Perfumes, and plucked a seed from a lotus pod that rattled in the Imperial garden.
She hid the seed in a special place under the family altar, wrapped in a piece of silk from the ao dai she wore that day. Whenever she felt sad or lonely, she took out the seed and thought of the brave young emperor.
And when she married a young man chosen by her parents, she carried the seed inside her pocket for good luck, long life, and many children.
Comprehension Questions
1. What did the grandmother keep in her pocket?
A. A golden dragon
B. A seed from a lotus pod
C. Perfume from the river
2. Why did the grandmother keep the seed in her pocket?
A. To plant more flowers
B. To bring the emperor back
C. To have good luck, long life, and many children
A. To plant more flowers
B. To bring the emperor back
C. To have good luck, long life, and many children
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.