Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay Kung is about to attend a conference on mathematics in Boston, where he's going to give a presentation. It's not just a simple talk to present one's research data, but rather it's like an unofficial interview. People who appreciate what he says will likely to hire him and offer him … Continue reading I Want To Be Liked (Flash Fiction #78)
Category: Short Story
The End Of The Affair (Flash Fiction #77)
Image by Sammy-Williams from Pixabay Pammy and her husband Tan are attending a backyard harvest party at Ivy's house in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Pammy didn't plan to come, but Tan's cousin Maylan is here for the weekend. She's attending graduate school in Philadelphia and is writing a term paper on urban organic farming and … Continue reading The End Of The Affair (Flash Fiction #77)
The Interview (Flash Fiction #76)
Jennifer Chung doesn't think she stands a chance, but she knows she has to go to this interview. It's a well known company and a good position, which is something Jennifer has always dreamed of but known that she won't be able to reach. She is just too nice, too introverted, too plain an Asian … Continue reading The Interview (Flash Fiction #76)
The Old Fox (Flash Fiction #75)
Ming is a poor artist who does online videos, creates cartoons and posters. He wants to marry Lily for years, but Lily's father Dun won't allow it. Dun looks down upon artists and poor artists especially annoy him. Ming and Lily could get married without Dun's blessing, but they are looking forward to some financial … Continue reading The Old Fox (Flash Fiction #75)
Change Causes Anxiety
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay One day many years ago, I was reading a romantic story about two lovers--one saves the other from an impending danger and a certain death. I thought to myself what my parents would do in such a situation. My conclusion was that they would certainly save each other, only … Continue reading Change Causes Anxiety
An Unexpected Competition (Flash Fiction #74)
Image by Manuel Alejandro Leon from Pixabay Jintu is the chef of "The Royal Garden" in New Jersey. If you talk about any other dish or any other chef in his presence, you are going to run into a big argument with him. He considers himself the king of food and cooking, and he is … Continue reading An Unexpected Competition (Flash Fiction #74)
I Can’t Believe It’s Him (Flash Fiction #73)
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay This is a sequel to the previous story "Who's More Suitable" here. However there's no need to go to the link if you review the following background. It is based on a true story. Every fall, Ivy and her husband Tom Tsai, the owners of Ivy Training Center in … Continue reading I Can’t Believe It’s Him (Flash Fiction #73)
A Passenger In The Twilight (Flash Fiction #72)
Wong looks out the window of his office and curses the passing train. He's been working all day in his accounting office, almost non-stop, just to meet a tax deadline for several of his procrastinating clients. He's a man of mild temper but he hates trains. The trains pass right underneath the window of his … Continue reading A Passenger In The Twilight (Flash Fiction #72)
Pammy’s Adventure (Flash Fiction #71)
Image by Darkmoon_Art from Pixabay Pammy doesn't know how she comes to this part of the township. She's never been here before. Why did she choose this path? The trees are so thickly grown that it feels gloomy since the sun can't shine through. Or probably it is in the dusk of evening already. She … Continue reading Pammy’s Adventure (Flash Fiction #71)
Quote Of The Day #26
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay I think these quotes should be called anti-quotes rather than quotes since they sound downright ridiculous. I like H. L. Mencken a lot but still whenever the topics of relationship and women come up, he talks like a mad man--a very entertaining mad man but still a mad man. … Continue reading Quote Of The Day #26
Who’s More Suitable (Flash Fiction #70)
Image by MarieXMartin from Pixabay "Lil is a wonderful lady, but she's not suitable to be a speaker at our event." Lulan says. Jil shows up in the previous story "The Harvest" here. "Well, she's good looking, wealthy, with a perfect husband and a brilliant kid. She's everything that we are not. We are just … Continue reading Who’s More Suitable (Flash Fiction #70)
The Harvest (Flash Fiction #69)
Image by Jerzy Górecki from Pixabay Lulan sees Lil in the grocery store from afar and she immediately turns around for the purpose of avoiding her. Lil is one of those forever positive people that Lulan can't understand and can't communicate with. When all the women are whining about the lack of attention from their … Continue reading The Harvest (Flash Fiction #69)
A Little Disturbance (Flash Fiction #68)
Image by Maciej Cieslak from Pixabay This is a sequel to the previous story "Ida And Superstition" here. However there's no need to read the previous story to follow the little plot here. Yik opens a new takeout restaurant in Edison, New Jersey. Expecting a slow start, he is prepared to struggle for several months … Continue reading A Little Disturbance (Flash Fiction #68)
That’s Not What I Had In Mind (Flash Fiction #67)
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay "Sixty years ago your grandfather studied abroad. He aspired to be an engineer before he went away, but coming back he's bitten by the literary bug and was a man of literature. In his hometown on the island of Penang, off the coast of Malaysia, he built a theater … Continue reading That’s Not What I Had In Mind (Flash Fiction #67)
I Am Not Negative (Flash Fiction #66)
Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay Whenever Ivy meets Dan, she feels a pang of regret. Dan is a distant relative of Ivy on Ivy's father's side. If this were in Ivy's hometown in Southeast Asia, Ivy wouldn't even think about Dan since Ivy has dozens of relatives who are closer to her. However this is … Continue reading I Am Not Negative (Flash Fiction #66)
Ida And Superstition (Flash Fiction #65)
Yip and Yik are two brothers who used to run a restaurant together on Old Post Road in Edison Township, New Jersey. However after their father died, the two brothers split. Their wives didn't get along for years and everybody said it was inevitable that the two owners would go their separate ways. Yip is … Continue reading Ida And Superstition (Flash Fiction #65)
Man And Woman (Flash Fiction #64)
Image by Digital Photo and Design DigiPD.com from Pixabay "Pan, this weekend when we meet Wendi, make sure you compliment her. You know her little surgery on the lips, eye corners, and upper arms cost a pretty penny. I think she's a little hurt you didn't say anything last time. We are old friends and … Continue reading Man And Woman (Flash Fiction #64)
The Open House (Flash Fiction #63)
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay "Look. That's the cat I was talking about. She's the head of the cat colony headquartered in the backyard here," says Manak, a precocious girl of 13. "Tragedies follow the little feline like a shadow--her partners run away one after another, and half of her offspring die of mysterious … Continue reading The Open House (Flash Fiction #63)
The Royal Garden (Flash Fiction #62)
Image by Manuel Alejandro Leon from Pixabay Let's just suppose, for the sake of the story, the name of the Asian restaurant is "The Royal Garden" and the name of its owner is Jinmu, who is of indeterminable age, average height, slim, quick of steps, keen of mind. It's a popular restaurant. The interior is … Continue reading The Royal Garden (Flash Fiction #62)
Man And Woman (Flash Fiction #61)
This story is a sequel to "Cheetah vs Ostrich" of three days ago. "Can you believe that he laughs when the two cheetahs devours the female ostrich?" Pammy says to her friends Armei and Lulu. This is at a weekend picnic Pammy has organized for the three families. Their husbands and children are also present. … Continue reading Man And Woman (Flash Fiction #61)
The Gift (Flash Fiction #60)
Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay "What am I to do with this gift?" Ivy sighs when she stares at the plastic tree, which is about four feet tall with a base made of indeterminable material painted brown to look like a real flower pot. It was sent to her by one of her clients. … Continue reading The Gift (Flash Fiction #60)
Cheetah vs Ostrich (Flash Fiction #59)
Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay Two ostriches, obviously dating, the male being a little bigger than the female, are walking leisurely on a grassland sparsely donned by trees. Suddenly two cheetahs jump out of nowhere. They chase after the male ostrich first since he's closer to them. The male runs for his dear life. … Continue reading Cheetah vs Ostrich (Flash Fiction #59)
The Unexpected Party (Flash Fiction #58)
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay It's during the late afternoon hours when the door bell sounded and the guests arrived. However the hosts Pammy and her husband Pan had no idea what's going on. They had not invited anybody for dinner, not that they knew of. The guests included Armei and her husband Arhu, Lulu … Continue reading The Unexpected Party (Flash Fiction #58)
Let’s Meet For Dinner (Flash Fiction #57)
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay Cindy wonders if Amin is going to breakup with her. "Let's meet for dinner. Our usual place." That's what his message says and that's what Cindy is worried as she arrives at their usual place. The hour is early and there are not many patrons in … Continue reading Let’s Meet For Dinner (Flash Fiction #57)
What Is Happening To Her (Flash Fiction #56)
Pammy drives as fast as she can. Actually she has never driven so fast before, but what can she do? Is Armei really killing herself? It is too frightening to even think about it. The business is slow in Armei's little cosmetic shop, and the relationship between Armei and her husband Arhu is strained. But … Continue reading What Is Happening To Her (Flash Fiction #56)
Is That What You Want (Flash Fiction #55)
Image by Pezibear from Pixabay "You know Mencken once described an average person's life in New York as a sardine in a can while the grass and the so called parks look like embalmed sauerkraut." Lulu says. Pammy says, "what is a sour craft? I don't know any sour craft, but I do know that … Continue reading Is That What You Want (Flash Fiction #55)
Father And Son (Flash Fiction #54)
Image by Pexels from Pixabay "Can you talk with your son Jack? He's really not study very hard at all. His grades are falling and he's more interested in playing video games than anything else." Armei says to her husband Arhu one day. Whenever Armei says "your son", Arhu knows that Jack has been doing … Continue reading Father And Son (Flash Fiction #54)
An Unlikely Love Story (Flash Fiction #53)
"I can't remember a thing. I don't know what I did." Jina says repeatedly but no one believes her. It happened a week ago when the most handsome and popular boy on campus asked her to go out for bubble tea and talk over an article. Jina is the acting editor of the college newspaper. … Continue reading An Unlikely Love Story (Flash Fiction #53)
A Wonderful Girl (Flash Fiction #52)
Pammy and Lulu come to the little cosmetic shop Armei is running, next to an Asian grocery store in a popular plaza. The three haven't met for a while and they have quite a lot of catch-up to do. The customers are scarce and the cosmetic store is not doing very well these days. People … Continue reading A Wonderful Girl (Flash Fiction #52)
The Battle Of Love (Flash Fiction #51)
Image by gene1970 from Pixabay "I am going to kill him. This is too much. I've spent all my life trying to please him, coddle him, and chase after him, only to be rewarded with his evasiveness and his pathological lies. Now this plane ticket is the last straw. Where is he going? Who is … Continue reading The Battle Of Love (Flash Fiction #51)
A Trip To New York City (Flash Fiction #50)
Image by Frank Winkler from Pixabay "Why is New York City called Big Apple?" Hitan asks "I don't know." Ivy replies. "As a tour guide, you really don't know your stuff." Hitan jokes good-naturedly. "I'm not a tour guide. I'm the owner of the Ivy Tutoring Center. Since most of the bilingual tour guide companies … Continue reading A Trip To New York City (Flash Fiction #50)
The Backyard Party (Flash Fiction #49)
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay They grill hamburgers, onions, fish cakes, pineapple slices in the backyard and the food is so good. Mrs. Yee surely knows how to prepare all the ingredients. At first everybody is very interested in what Mr. Yee has to say. He tells one anecdote after another, to his own amusement … Continue reading The Backyard Party (Flash Fiction #49)
Girl Fight (Flash Non-Fiction #48)
"To fight, you have to get yourself dirty." George Orwell says that, but who wants to be dirty? We all want to be as clean, tidy, and pretty as we can, and often we worry that we are not clean, tidy and pretty enough. There are certain movies which can combine prettiness with a fighting … Continue reading Girl Fight (Flash Non-Fiction #48)
Sports, Grammar, And Love (Flash Non-Fiction #47)
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Every four years when Olympic ads hit the TV screen, I would think of him. Not that he's an Olympic athlete or anything. He's not, but he's the only one among the people I'm familiar with who loves sports and is pretty good at it. It was 8th grade … Continue reading Sports, Grammar, And Love (Flash Non-Fiction #47)
Language And Custom (Flash Non-Fiction #46)
Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash This morning, as I spent ten minutes to review some Thai phrases from a website, I suddenly remember several strange incidents happened in school when I was learning English as a second language. I can't remember exactly when this happened, but it could be when I was a forth … Continue reading Language And Custom (Flash Non-Fiction #46)
A Relationship Speculator (Flash Fiction #45)
Image by Jamie Nakamura from Pixabay Pammy: "I've never seen Armei and Arhu quarreling this much before. Almost everything Arhu said, his wife Armei objected. I wonder what has happened to the two. I observed them at the party. Glad the party is over and we are home now." Pammy's husband Pan: "Really? I hardly … Continue reading A Relationship Speculator (Flash Fiction #45)
The Presentation (Flash Fiction #44)
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash Pam is going to give a presentation in a conference and she comes to Ivy Training Center to seek help. Since everybody is occupied, Ivy ends up assisting Pam. The Ivy Training Center almost went out of business several months ago--business was slow to a crawl due to pandemic … Continue reading The Presentation (Flash Fiction #44)
The Superstition (Flash Fiction #43)
Photo by Jari Hytönen on Unsplash Pammy finally gets her real estate license after taking the real estate test several times. And she helps Mr. Goh Yee and his wife to purchase their house in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey. Goh is a businessman from Malaysia and the only reason he wants to buy a house … Continue reading The Superstition (Flash Fiction #43)
In Six Languages (Flash Fiction #42)
The Yang family has been running a takeout restaurant in this northeastern New Jersey town for 17 years. They have a daughter Lisa who's a 15-year-old and a son who's 10. When Lisa was born, the Yang family couldn't afford a babysitter. Lisa spent all day in the kitchen of the little takeout restaurant with … Continue reading In Six Languages (Flash Fiction #42)
The Herbal Medicine (Flash Fiction #41)
Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay "I'm afraid I need to return this." Penni stands at counter of the vacant little grocery store. "My store has a no return policy for any package that's opened." Leong, the store owner says sternly. "It's opened, but I couldn't use it. I got cold feet and dropped the … Continue reading The Herbal Medicine (Flash Fiction #41)
Romance And Pandemic (Flash Fiction #40)
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash Here is another story of the family of Nita, her husband Lian, and her son Kevin. There's a previous story about the family here on the topic of superfluity--the two stories are not related and there's no need to read the previous story to understand the current story. Nita's … Continue reading Romance And Pandemic (Flash Fiction #40)
The Russian Friend (Flash Fiction #39)
Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash Lia is a new part time hire at Ivy Learning Center, which has many overqualified full time and part time teachers to tutor local kids--mainly from the surrounding middle schools and high schools. Summer is usually the busy time when anxious parents want to push their kids on SAT … Continue reading The Russian Friend (Flash Fiction #39)
The Italian Name (Flash Fiction #38)
Image by Pexels from Pixabay "Can I also have a can of orange soda?" Armei says to the kid behind the counter, who looks like he's hardly out of high school. Armei can't even remember the days when she's out of high school. That's so long ago and she's growing old. "You mean the 'San … Continue reading The Italian Name (Flash Fiction #38)
Pammy Wants Justice (Flash Fiction #37)
Image by Alexas from Pixabay This story is a sequel to the previous flash story "The Cynic", which talks about the lunch Pammy had with her husband Pan at a new Asian restaurant opened up in Edison, New Jersey. There they met Brother Tai, who came to their table to sit with them for a … Continue reading Pammy Wants Justice (Flash Fiction #37)
The Cynic (Flash Fiction #36)
Photo by Atul Vinayak on Unsplash A new Asian restaurant has opened up in Edison after New Jersey lifted most of the restrictions for dine-in places. However there's rumor that this is just an old restaurant, which shut down in the nearby township and moved to this new more popular location, to take advantage of … Continue reading The Cynic (Flash Fiction #36)
The Taste Of Chocolate (Flash Fiction #35)
Photo by Serghei Savchiuc on Unsplash When Apei was a little girl, her mother--for the sake of the family economy--would never buy chocolate for her. Thirty years ago in Penang--a tropical island off the coast of Malaysia-- chocolate was very expensive. Other candies made of coconut and durian are readily available. Apei had plenty of … Continue reading The Taste Of Chocolate (Flash Fiction #35)
Local Politics (Flash Fiction #34)
"Oh, you are so naive. You have no idea of the numerous little things. New Jersey has a unique party line politics." Dodo says. "What is party line?" Pammy asks. "It's too complicated to explain to you. If you participate in our meetings, gradually you will know. You've never come to a political meeting before? … Continue reading Local Politics (Flash Fiction #34)
A Happy Accident (Flash Fiction #33)
Arjian is a local hairdresser and a regular gambler at Atlantic City--a casino town at the southern end of New Jersey. There's a previous story about him here. On Saturday morning, when Arjian's wife Mei goes to the drive-by ATM machine, she finds that the balance is increased by about $10,000. She doesn't know where … Continue reading A Happy Accident (Flash Fiction #33)
The Controversy (Flash Fiction #32)
Photo by Providence Doucet on Unsplash "There's an ancient fable about a vendor selling spears and shields by the road. A bunch of spears are displayed tidily on his left with a sign that says,'the world's best spears that can puncture any shield.' On his right, there is a pile of shield on which there … Continue reading The Controversy (Flash Fiction #32)
How To Talk (Flash Fiction #31)
Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay "I love this house when it's in my dream and it's being built. Once I live here, it’s a very different story." Armei says at the dinner table. Armei and Pammy and Lulu are good friends and also their husbands get along with each other. For this Saturday, the … Continue reading How To Talk (Flash Fiction #31)
The Neighbors (Flash Fiction #30)
KPhoto by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash Kyi-sook has this continuous feud with her neighbor Joe. Kyi-sook's husband Kai is a very laid-back guy and doesn't want to make a fuss at all. After prodding her husband numerous times without seeing any results, Kyi-sook realizes that she is the one who has to go out there … Continue reading The Neighbors (Flash Fiction #30)
A Book Of Ancient Tales (Flash Fiction #29)
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash "You know Armei tells me that her daughter Lily says she wants to be a YouTube star. Armei is furious. All those tuition fees Armei has to pay, only to see her wasting her time..." Pammy says as the whole family sits down to dinner. Armei's husband Pan just … Continue reading A Book Of Ancient Tales (Flash Fiction #29)
Energy (Flash Fiction #28)
Photo by Susanna Marsiglia on Unsplash "I am so bored." I hear myself saying. Nalan and I have evolved from talking on phone to talking on Zoom. "I am more bored than you are." Nalan says. That's just typical of Nalan. Whenever I say something, she will say she is more than me. If I … Continue reading Energy (Flash Fiction #28)
She Has News (Flash Fiction #26)
Image by jplenio from Pixabay "Yashin, you can't stop talking, can you? Every time we chat, you have such bad news about mass shootings, Asians being attacked on the streets of New York, or some other disasters. When you exhaust the U.S. news, you talk about Mongolians' invasion of Burma in the 13th century." Lalin … Continue reading She Has News (Flash Fiction #26)
Good Or Bad Suggestions (Flash Fiction #27)
Image by marcelkessler from Pixabay It's an weekend afternoon at Pammy's place. "What am I going to do?" Lil asks, staring at her friend Pammy and then Armei. "Just confront him. Just be straightforward and open about it. Of course you want to have solid evidence first." Pammy says. "OK, let's go then." Lil says. … Continue reading Good Or Bad Suggestions (Flash Fiction #27)
Summer Activities (Flash Fiction #25)
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash Father: Son, what are you doing? Are you writing poems again? You know I want you to get involved in some useful activities, like math camps, music, painting etc. Son: Dad, I don't like those things. Father: We are not talking about your preferences. We are talking about usefulness … Continue reading Summer Activities (Flash Fiction #25)
The Vegan (Flash Fiction #24)
Photo by Sascha Bosshard on Unsplash When Tony Tung suddenly announces at the dinner table that he is going to be a vegan starting the following week, his parents are totally confused what he's talking about. They've never heard the word before and have to consult the online dictionary. "It means a person who does … Continue reading The Vegan (Flash Fiction #24)
The New Chef (Flash Fiction #23)
Photo by Alexey Savchenko on Unsplash Ada and her husband Taich are the managers of an Asian restaurant in northwestern part of New Jersey. They are new in the business. When they need a chef, one is recommended to them. It is said the chef has great skills and has worked in the most prestigious … Continue reading The New Chef (Flash Fiction #23)
The Shocking Consequence (Flash Fiction #22)
This story is a sequel to "An Afternoon With Champ" and "The New Teacher". However there's no need to read the previous two stories. Here is a brief summary of the background. Jasmine met Champ at a mixed martial arts competition in Penang, Malaysia. Jasmine was a spectator while Champ was a contestant. The two … Continue reading The Shocking Consequence (Flash Fiction #22)
The New Teacher (Flash Fiction #21)
Tom Tsai, the owner of the Ivy Training Center, has just hired Cindy Wong, a high school senior, as a part time teacher for one of the weekend ESL classes in Edison, New Jersey. ESL stands for English As Second Language, and ESL students are children who can't catch up with the regular classes at … Continue reading The New Teacher (Flash Fiction #21)
The Ex-Boyfriend (Flash Fiction #20)
"Sulun, I heard that you were promoted to a position in Washington DC. Are you going to come back from time to time?" Pammy says. Sulun was Pammy's college friend and he's a dinner guest at Pammy's place with Pammy and her husband Pan. "Promotion? It's more like a demotion in the disguise of a … Continue reading The Ex-Boyfriend (Flash Fiction #20)
The Learning Environment (Flash Fiction #19)
"You have been watching soccer for two hours." Pammy says to her husband Pan, "and look even Armee is addicted to TV now." Armee is the couple's tabby cat, who's sitting on the sofa right next to Pan, assuming a similar posture as Pan, except that the little feline occasionally licks himself. "It's my favorite … Continue reading The Learning Environment (Flash Fiction #19)
Love’s Manifestation (Flash Fiction #18)
Pammy and her husband Pan, the forever arguing and loving couple, come home from a dinner party at the house of Pan's office manager of the financial company Pan works for. "How nice Mrs. Marino is. She gives me her recipe for her risotto." Pammy says. "You praised that rice dish too eagerly, almost like … Continue reading Love’s Manifestation (Flash Fiction #18)
At The Hair Salon (Flash Fiction #17)
Arlan, Maylin, Wani are doing their hair at the hair salon, although only Maylin has the money to do the flat ironing and highlighting. They always book the same time so that they can talk and catch up with each other. Sometimes if they don't think they have talked enough, they would go to the … Continue reading At The Hair Salon (Flash Fiction #17)
The Acupuncturist (Flash Fiction #16)
For some reason, New Jersey has a higher rate of spring allergy than other places, which is puzzling since there aren't more flowers or trees here than other states. People will tell you when you first come that you won't have allergy for several years, and then gradually you will develop itchy eyes and running … Continue reading The Acupuncturist (Flash Fiction #16)
A Mafia Romance (Flash Non-Fiction #15)
Photo by bantersnaps on Unsplash Ever since I watched the video "Bullets Over Broadway", I've been interested in stories of mafia romance--maybe it is already a literary genre. In this early Woody Allen production mixing anxious witty remarks with some gangster flair, a cash starved Broadway play desperately seeks financial backing, and one of the … Continue reading A Mafia Romance (Flash Non-Fiction #15)
The Opportunist (Flash Fiction #14)
"Look, Yinla is declaring her intention to run for the board of county commissioners." Pammy says. "What is that? What does it do?" Pammy's perpetually gentle but disagreeing husband Pan says. "I don't know. A political position of certain kind. We should donate to her campaign, shouldn't we? We need to show our support." Pammy … Continue reading The Opportunist (Flash Fiction #14)
A Trip Like No Other (Flash Fiction #13)
Although Pammy and her husband Pan live thirty miles away from Manhattan, they rarely go there during the weekend. Traveling through the Holland Tunnel and the forever congested lower Manhattan will dampen the most vivacious spirit and exhaust the energy of the best athlete. However their friend Fei and her husband Fang almost go there … Continue reading A Trip Like No Other (Flash Fiction #13)
The Difficult Decision (Flash Fiction #12)
"You know Pammy. I think your Pan is such a good husband. He is straightforward. His likes and dislikes are clearly displayed. He won't pretend to agree with you on the surface and sulk silently afterwards. He is a little nerdy, interested in eating good food and watching soccer. He is happy when he's satisfied. … Continue reading The Difficult Decision (Flash Fiction #12)
The Manchu Prince (Flash Fiction #11)
Introduction: There's a little bit of history involved in this story. Currently there are about 10 million Manchu people and very rarely they speak the Manchurian language. Manchu are descendant of Jerchen people who in 1115 AD established Jin Dynasty, which was replaced over 100 years later by the Mongolians--my ancestors--who established Yuan Dynasty. Then … Continue reading The Manchu Prince (Flash Fiction #11)
The Gambler (Flash Fiction #10)
Arjian is a local hairdresser, but his true passion is poker. He's very skilled in women's hair and very good at following the latest trend of South Korean singers and actresses. Consequently he's always in high demand. There are women who would travel all the way from Eastern Pennsylvania to come to Edison, New Jersey--about … Continue reading The Gambler (Flash Fiction #10)
The Second Job (Flash Fiction #9)
"The reason our team's sales volume is low is because many people use our flexible hour to take care of their family or even take a second job. This is unacceptable. If you are not concentrating on your sale, how can you produce?" Hana can still remember her sales manager's words as she is changing … Continue reading The Second Job (Flash Fiction #9)
He Speaks, Finally (Flash Fiction #8)
Finally Yuet's little boy starts to speak. Yuet and her husband are so happy that they phone everyone. If you don't pick up their phone call, they will text you with their happy news and wait anxiously for your reply of congratulations. If you don't reply within a short span of time, Yuet will text … Continue reading He Speaks, Finally (Flash Fiction #8)
In Shock
This story is about Wai and I talked about him in a previous post. He has two little stores and works seven days a week and more than ten hours every day. However right now the business is down due to pandemic and he went to Texas to help his cousin to repair his house, … Continue reading In Shock
The Crazy Argument
"I can't go to a friend and say to him, 'your wife is crazy', can I?" Pan, the husband, says. "You need to point out to him to get his wife some psychiatric help. At first I thought she's just peculiar and now she is getting worse. Last week, out of blue she invited me … Continue reading The Crazy Argument
The Mother-in-law (Flash Fiction #7)
Pammy says, "Your mom is taking little Sam to the park around the corner. I finally can say this to you." "What? What are you trying to say?" Pammy's husband Pan asks. "She talks about my friend Jia in a very belittled way. So Jia went to South Korea to get her lips and her … Continue reading The Mother-in-law (Flash Fiction #7)
The Dilemma (Flash Fiction #6)
They've been engaged for a year and the wedding has been planned for a lucky day this summer--lucky in its number in both the regular calendar and the lunar calendar. However she has a little something, probably a little blue bird, in her heart that she can't hush up. She's tried to silence it, but … Continue reading The Dilemma (Flash Fiction #6)
