Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Flash Fiction #152 Lea and I have been acquaintances for years, and then about two years ago, I started to talk with her about narcissism. At first she laughed and brushed my idea aside, but then she started to tell me about her mother-in-law Sandi who's a super sized narcissist … Continue reading The Sacred Myth (Flash Fiction)
Tag: Asian
The First Breakfast 2023 (Flash Fiction)
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Flash Fiction #151 Pammy, her husband Pan, and their son Sam, who's a sophomore in high school, are having their first breakfast of the new year. Sam: This homemade soy milk is a little ... Pan: You are right, Sam. It is diluted. I've told your mom several times. Pammy: … Continue reading The First Breakfast 2023 (Flash Fiction)
The Beautiful Mountain (Flash Fiction)
Image by Reimund Bertrams from Pixabay Flash Fiction #150 Aila and Nali have been long time friends since their high school days. Nali and her family just come back from a trip to California where they visited places in LA, and drove along the coastal Highway 1 up north until they reached San Francisco. "Oh, … Continue reading The Beautiful Mountain (Flash Fiction)
I Just Microwave It
Image by Chris Hilbert from Pixabay It's only Wednesday but the grocery stores are filled with busy shoppers. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow would be rainy and then freezing, which makes today the best day for weekend shopping. Usually in HMart, we only see Asians. I rarely see non-Asians there. Wait, I can't say … Continue reading I Just Microwave It
A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay Flash Fiction #149 Mother: It's the story of my life, but I've never told you about it for fear that you were too young to understand. Now I think you are old enough to digest the information... It all happened in America twenty years ago. Daughter: Is it a … Continue reading A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Who’s Coming To The Party? (Flash Fiction)
Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay Flash Fiction # 148 "Hi, Lulan, how many narcissists do you think I am going to meet this holiday season?" Mali says jokingly to Lulan. The four women are sitting in Pammy's living room to plan their year end party together. It's going to be held in Pammy's place … Continue reading Who’s Coming To The Party? (Flash Fiction)
2022 Surprises
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay 2022 is almost gone and 2023 will be here soon. And I will be one year older, but not any wiser. And life is largely the same old same old forever. When I was young and impressionable, I often indulged myself in the thinking that some exciting surprises would … Continue reading 2022 Surprises
King Lee (Flash Fiction)
Image by James from Pixabay Flash Fiction #147 I have known King Lee for more than ten years. I've always wanted to write about him, but have never come around to do it. It is not that I don't want to write about it, but rather that I've always felt that I'm not ready. The … Continue reading King Lee (Flash Fiction)
Of Mice And Men
Image by Prawny from Pixabay For two or three weeks, an ad and an accompanying article have appeared on the local Asian newspaper about a position called Director Of Rodent Mitigation in New York City. It is not just a regular pest control position that offers a low salary, which is insufficient to pay for … Continue reading Of Mice And Men
A Real Life Romance (Part 3)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 3. The first part of this story is here and the second part of this story is here. I want to say something here before I proceed with the main story. I wrote about my grandpa Zili from my mother's side who blamed my father for my … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 3)
A Real Life Romance (Part 2)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 2. The first part of this story is here. While my father was engaging in a correspondence with his future second wife living in a faraway big city, he also attracted the attention of several single women who lived locally. After all, my father earned a good … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 2)
The Gossiping Dream
Image by Gerhard from Pixabay I had a very strange dream this morning right before waking up and running to the bathroom. Actually it was so strange that one hour after that, I was still thinking of it while drinking soy milk for breakfast. I dreamed that I was with two friends and we were … Continue reading The Gossiping Dream
Alexa Goes Wild (Flash Fiction)
Image by Michael Pointner from Pixabay Flash Fiction #141 "Hi, Alexa, tell me how to say 'I hate laundry' in Spanish." She asks the little ball like gadget she got from Amazon at a promotional price. "I don't know." The little machine answers. "What? What do you mean you don't know? You are supposed to … Continue reading Alexa Goes Wild (Flash Fiction)
My Beautiful Cousin (Flash Fiction)
Image by Alexa from Pixabay Flash Fiction #140 "Oh, my beautiful cousin Alia again. Every time my mother posts a family photo with Alia in it, she has to mention that Alia was in competition for Miss Malaysia in 2007. She just has to. And if I don't give a star or click 'like', she … Continue reading My Beautiful Cousin (Flash Fiction)
Different Opinions
Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay This is a story I heard when I was a student of a university not too far away from Philadelphia. I lived in an international house with a rule -- no more than two people from each country. And in this house, most students are doing humanity science, … Continue reading Different Opinions
A Real Life Romance (Part 1)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 1 I want to talk about my step sister and her husband. Since her name means ocean, I will call her Oshina and her husband Oland for the sake of the story. I liked her and her husband a lot, and still like them, but due to … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 1)
Stolen Ghosts (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by vishnu vijayan from Pixabay Flash Fiction #139 "Here's my idea. You know we Asians are really afraid of ghosts, but more than half of our students are American born and grew up here in New Jersey, who are not really afraid of ghosts like us. We grew up in Asia and we are … Continue reading Stolen Ghosts (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Stolen Ghosts (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by vishnu vijayan from Pixabay Flash Fiction #139 The rivalry between the "Ivy Training Center" and "Step By Step Academy" has been well known in the Asian immigrant community and it was elaborated in a previous story. Recently Ivy, the owner of the "Ivy Training Center", is a little worried about the student enrollment … Continue reading Stolen Ghosts (Flash Fiction Part 1)
I Used To Drink Like That
Image by Pexels from Pixabay It is said Chiapas, Mexico is the capital of Coca-Cola--not that they produce the fizzy beverage, but rather they drink it more than any other places in the world. In certain towns in this state, people drink on average 2 liters of it per day per person. That's more than … Continue reading I Used To Drink Like That
Real Life Ghost Stories
Image by Enrique from Pixabay A Haunted House This is a real story, which was told to me by my friend H. She lives in Queens, New York, in an area with more and more people of diverse ethnicity moving in since about 15 years ago. And most of the original residents have moved out … Continue reading Real Life Ghost Stories
The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Arton always speaks with his daughter in a tone that is a mixture of politeness, humor, and whining. Yilan has always enjoyed conversing with her father, basically following her father's train of thoughts and agreeing to his ideas. However recently Yilan has started to see a psychiatrist and has … Continue reading The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 2)
The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Flash Fiction #136 When Yilan's father Arton and her mother Mi were about to get married, it's the local tradition that they should go to a local psychic, who would examine their family background, temperament, and other aspects of their life, from which their fortune would be told. So … Continue reading The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 1)
It’s An Interesting Phase Everybody Goes Through (Flash Fiction)
Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay Flash Fiction #134 "It's an interesting phase everybody goes through." Armei, Lulan look at their friend Pammy and reach a consensus. If somebody asks them what "an interesting phase" really means and why everybody has to go through it, neither of them can give a satisfactory answer. But … Continue reading It’s An Interesting Phase Everybody Goes Through (Flash Fiction)
What Can I Say To Her? (Flash Fiction)
Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay Flash Fiction #133 "Look, Ivy, nobody wants to tutor Susu. We are here to tell you that we don't want Susu." Lulan says. Ivy looks at Lulan, Tin, Cindy, and then the new employee San. They all look back at her while nodding their head to agree with what Lulan … Continue reading What Can I Say To Her? (Flash Fiction)
Can I Take The Heat?
Image by Pexels from Pixabay Remember I have been talking about a friend who refuses to listen or discuss about narcissism? Remember I said that I talked about my own narcissistic parents, and she tried to defend them as normal parental weaknesses or misunderstandings? Remember this friend? Let's just say her name is Aya--a fictitious … Continue reading Can I Take The Heat?
Zina’s Game Plan (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by AnjaGh from Pixabay This is the 2nd half of the story. The first half can be found here. Soon after they settle down in the Mount Oak Township, Zina starts to feel that something is happening to her son Chris. He's not as chirpy and happy as before. When his mother asks him … Continue reading Zina’s Game Plan (Flash Fiction Part 2)
A Surprising Piece Of News
Image by Автошкола ТЕХНИКА from Pixabay It's a beautiful day today. When I was taking a break and driving past Mahul Auto, I thought I just drop by to get my windshield wiper replaced. Last weekend, in the misty rain, I realized that my wipers were not working--the wiper blades almost fell off. How did … Continue reading A Surprising Piece Of News
The Lunar New Year Party (Flash Fiction #102)
Image by k-e-k-u-l-é from Pixabay Armei has had relatively good relationship with her mother-in-law Nana, who has been living with them in New Jersey for seven months for the purpose of taking care of the grandson. However Nana is about to leave, flying across the Pacific and going back home, where her other son and … Continue reading The Lunar New Year Party (Flash Fiction #102)
That’s Fate (Flash Fiction #99)
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay "Where are you going? You are going to the tournament, right? How much I wish I can stop such an event. No participation. Just observe. You promised." Maylan says to her husband Jay Lai. "Of course. The tournament is half way through already. How can I participate now?" Jay … Continue reading That’s Fate (Flash Fiction #99)
Dreams And Miracles (Flash Fiction #97)
Image by Leandro De Carvalho from Pixabay Rida has been battling her husband Mung for years, but today's battle is more severe than any of the previous ones. Mung took out a loan of $5,000 from their insurance policy without telling her and then sent the money to his hometown in Southeast Asia to buy … Continue reading Dreams And Miracles (Flash Fiction #97)
A Night To Forget (Flash Fiction #90)
Image by NickyPe from Pixabay It takes Nali the whole Saturday to troubleshoot the database, pinpoint the reason why it is slowing down, rewrite queries, and reconfigure essential tables. When it's all over, it's seven o'clock at night. She drove from Edison, New Jersey that morning, up the Garden State Parkway and the I-87 Highway. … Continue reading A Night To Forget (Flash Fiction #90)
Pursuit Of Happiness Part 3
Image by inno kurnia from Pixabay This is the last part of the story. The first two parts are here and here. Taimu starts his long soliloquy about this party, this award, the culmination of twenty years of tireless research. Lulan listens to him and wonders why he wants to talk about his work on … Continue reading Pursuit Of Happiness Part 3
Thanksgiving Family Stories
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay There are several Thanksgiving stories I can write. I haven't formed them in completion yet, but the contents are already there, except an interesting ending. Often there are so much time spent on ending while other parts of a story are not getting enough attention. A Thanksgiving Wedding Chef … Continue reading Thanksgiving Family Stories
The Alternative Life
Image by John Hain from Pixabay I read a post about two days ago concerning the alternative life. If we had made different choices in those crucial moments of our life, what would have become of us and what kind of better outcome can we expect? Actually I should link back to that post here, … Continue reading The Alternative Life
Thanksgiving Options
Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay I've never attempted to roast a turkey. And there are several reasons for that. Reason number one: The oven has always been an extra storage space for pots and pans for me. No other functionalities. So my skill in managing the process of roasting or baking is non-existent. Reason … Continue reading Thanksgiving Options
Sugarcoating (Flash Fiction #83)
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay "I want to stop all the lies. From now on, no sugarcoating, no spinning, no prevarication. I will be honest, straightforward, open." Pammy says to her friends Armei and Lulan. It's Sunday morning. The three women are sitting at one of the outdoor tables of the Korean bakery Paris … Continue reading Sugarcoating (Flash Fiction #83)
Ivy And Tom (Flash Fiction #79)
Image by Kiều Trường from Pixabay "You know Tom just repeats himself so often. I really want to ask him to stop, but I just can't do it." Ivy says. She's talking about her husband Tom Tsai. They've been married for twenty years now and have a good manageable relationship. Ivy's idea of a good … Continue reading Ivy And Tom (Flash Fiction #79)
I Want To Be Liked (Flash Fiction #78)
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)
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)
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)
A Habit Outliving Its Usefulness
Image by naoamano from Pixabay My grandmother on my mother's side spent the first thirty years of her life in a fishing village, where the only livelihood was fishing or fishing related trades. That was before the arrival of modern boats and other modern equipment. Needless to say, unexpected weather conditions or ocean waves could … Continue reading A Habit Outliving Its Usefulness
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)
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)
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)
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)
Sunday’s Story
Image by justraveling from Pixabay I went to the grocery store this morning. As I was pulling in the parking lot, I saw a woman sitting in the car next to me--she is crying while talking on the phone. I felt the urge to go comfort her, but I knew this couldn't be done since … Continue reading Sunday’s Story
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)
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)
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)
New Word #14: Is There A Word For This?
I encountered the word “Tsundoku” in heterodoxbuddhism’s post here. Tsundoku is a Japanese term that means one who buys books but don’t read them. And this inspires me to think of other words that should have existed but for one reason or another don’t exist in English. Conversationer. This is not a word, but I … Continue reading New Word #14: Is There A Word For This?
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)
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
A Message From LinkedIn
I can't believe I am still following him. LinkedIn sent me a message last night telling me that he posts one new year message and he hasn't been posting any message for a while. He is not into social media; he doesn't post messages or write blogs. Actually we have no contact in the last … Continue reading A Message From LinkedIn
Jack Of All Trade
Susan the director: "Nora Dickinson, you look exactly like Jane Millay I interviewed yesterday." Lan the actress: "My name is actually Lanlan Wong, but I have to change it. Otherwise I can't get any interview for any part in Hollywood. You know Nora Ephron, Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen and Edna St. Vincent Millay are my … Continue reading Jack Of All Trade
New Year’s Resolutions
Avoid carbohydrate as much as possible. I know this is impossible to achieve. I've been trying to do this for years, only succeeding in making carbohydrate more appealing to me. It's with great self restraint that rivals the most lauded stoic figure in history that I stopped myself today from buying sticky rice snacks at … Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions
November Reading Wrap-up 2
Click Here For Wrap Up 1 What's the point of making a to-be-read plan, but leaving most of the list unread in the end. I knew I was not going to follow the list anyway. When it turned out just as I predicted, I felt vindicated of my own wisdom. "Knowing yourself, that's knowledge." An … Continue reading November Reading Wrap-up 2
Dreary Topic And Dreary Day
I really don't want to write this since I have no interest in politics. I uphold the long Asian tradition--staying away from politics and governments as much as we can, even to our own disadvantage. However I have to write this to get it off my chest. There's no better time of doing this than … Continue reading Dreary Topic And Dreary Day
Mini Story: The Bamboo Palace
The Bamboo Palace is owned by Victor and his wife Mai. Victor is the owner's English nickname, which was chosen when he first arrived in America more than thirty years ago, obviously for its victorious meaning. Since then, people have gradually started to call him Brother Vi due to his rising reputation in the immigrant … Continue reading Mini Story: The Bamboo Palace
Mini Story: Three Women (Part 2)
Click Here For Part 1 "I don't understand why Democrats are so happy? I mean the election is so close even if there's a pandemic and there's a big unemployment number. Four years later, I bet it's going to be Republican again. Probably somebody more extreme." Lu said. Armei and Pammy paused their conversation and … Continue reading Mini Story: Three Women (Part 2)
November Reading Wrap-up 1
"Pangs of Love" by David Wong LouieI suffered a lot while reading "The Barbarians Are Coming", but as soon as I finish it, I take on this book. Do I ever learn? Am I an incorrigible self torturer? The first story "Birthday" is like "The Barbarians Are Coming" (BAC), deja vu all over again. The … Continue reading November Reading Wrap-up 1
Mini Story: Three Women (Part 1)
It's Nov. 9, 2020, a Monday. Every Monday afternoon, Lu, Pammy, and Armei met at Armei's little cosmetic store, specializing in Asian cosmetic brands. It's not really Armei's store. She's just a shop assistant. Monday is slow and a perfect time to meet her friends. If the owner of the store happened to come in, … Continue reading Mini Story: Three Women (Part 1)
Blocked And Unblocked
I am completely and probably irreversibly blocked right now after reading a book about blogging, which says what one wants to write is not what others want to read. It sounds really true. Just think about our own life experiences--what we really want to say is often not what other people want to hear. The … Continue reading Blocked And Unblocked
Feeling Today’s Right Yesterday’s Wrong
I often feel today's right yesterday's wrong. I don't know why. It's strange that it is rarely the other way around, although let's be fair each has equal claim to be correct. Well, how about I grow wiser as time passes by, which obviously benefits today more than yesterday? That's possible only to a certain … Continue reading Feeling Today’s Right Yesterday’s Wrong
I Know I Won’t Finish These In November
"Nine Horses" by Billy CollinsEven his complaints are delightful to read. I wonder why? "Forgotten Wars: Freedom and Revolution in Southeast Asia" by C.A. Bayly, Tim HarperThe end of WWII is just an opening for new battles. It's as thick as two books, but I hate speed reading, which takes all the fun away. "Where … Continue reading I Know I Won’t Finish These In November
Unfinished October Reading
It's different from what I planned a month ago, but several lovable books have made it all worthwhile. "If I Had Your Face" by Frances Cha-- This is the first book I read about South Korea. Isn't it strange that I used to watch many South Korean movies, but never think of reading a book … Continue reading Unfinished October Reading
Mini Story: Chul And Jool
My friend H told me this story and H heard this story from her colleague Chung, who grew up in a town in the Midwest, somewhere within 200 mile radius of Chicago. Chung's parents run the only Asian restaurant in town, which serves a range of items from Vietnamese rice roll, Mongolian BBQ, to General … Continue reading Mini Story: Chul And Jool
Good And Bad On Standing Up
I can't remember who told me this--a person has to stand up or walk around for at least four hours a day. If not, the bones will not be healthy and the body will be in decline. Well, if the decline is impossible to stop, at least the four hour rule will help slow it … Continue reading Good And Bad On Standing Up
Backyard Farming
I call them backyard farmers, but they probably don't agree with me. It's popular among Asian immigrants in New Jersey to engage in backyard farming every year. I even know a couple who don't live in a house and don't have a backyard to grow their produce. What do they do? They rent a plot … Continue reading Backyard Farming
When You Don’t Have An Appetite
I don't have an appetite today and I don't know why. Is it because of the melatonin pills I've taken these past two weeks for my insomnia? It could be. It is said online that melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in our body and taking a little won't have any side effect on the … Continue reading When You Don’t Have An Appetite
A Mini Love Story
G is my distant cousin and he is always considered, by my parents and my relatives, to be the most intelligent and most unfortunate among all my cousins. His life started well--a cute kid, indulged by his parents, growing up to be a handsome teenager. He's half Mongolian, just like me, but he looks more … Continue reading A Mini Love Story
Ghost Arriving Before Halloween
I am talking with two friends in a cafe. One of them asks me to look at a picture on his laptop. I lean over and stare at the screen. Minutes later, when our attentions come back to the hot tea arriving at our table, we notice the other friend's absence. At first we think … Continue reading Ghost Arriving Before Halloween
The Thrill And Peril Of Imitation
Living in the Asian community in New Jersey, one can't help learning stories about engineers and scientists. One of these widely circulated stories is this: A newcomer in one of the research institutions, where people are madly nerdy and competitive, finds that everybody in the department is sharpening their pencils with a knife. Everybody has … Continue reading The Thrill And Peril Of Imitation
Things I Want To Do But Can’t
Such a beautiful day today that one just wants to go out and walk about, but instead one's stuck here staring at the computer screen. Sunny, a few clouds floating decoratively, 72 degrees, humidity not too high to mess up the hair and not too low to dry up the skin. There are only ten … Continue reading Things I Want To Do But Can’t
Event Before Election
"Have you registered to vote?" The lady behind the thick plate of glass asked. "No." I answered."Why do you answer for her? I am asking her?" The lady said, pointing to my friend W. I translated for W and W shook her head. So I said "No" across the glass barrier again."Do you want to … Continue reading Event Before Election
Haoyan Do 