Image by stokpic from Pixabay Flash Fiction #168 I didn't know how to name this story. So I thought of an episode of "Seinfeld" that's called "The Soup Nazi". I could have named this story, "The Dim Sum Nazi", but then I thought I was pushing emulation and imitation too far. As an immigrant, it … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Tag: immigrant
The Real Diversity
Image by xiSerge from Pixabay The concept of nuclear family is very much like the English language--they both came from one specific area and one specific group (or several specific groups) of people, and for the last two hundred years or so they have spread to every corner of the world and dominated our life … Continue reading The Real Diversity
The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by kiquebg from Pixaba I've never been able to imagine a story before, and most of my stories, except a handle of them, have been real. I want to change that. So here I am imagining a robot translator, who is going to replace Ayun, a legal assistant in a law office. The robot … Continue reading The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Unsolicited Advice
Image by ShonEjai from Pixabay She really didn't want my advice, which was unsolicited in her unexpressed opinion towards me. However her mother insisted that I talk to her about how to improve her English and how to incorporate new methods of learning. So I was obliged to share with her methods like "comprehensive input", … Continue reading Unsolicited Advice
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
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)
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
Knowing Yourself And Others
Lulu has finished a long day's work at the Ivy Training Center, which has established classes from 4PM to 9PM every weekday, and all day weekend to cater to students of all grades. She calls it Ivy, never using the full name, just like everybody else. Before 4PM, Ivy also helps translate, fill forms, make … Continue reading Knowing Yourself And Others
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)
Computer Puns
I only knew cat lovers love to conjure up puns for their purr-fect pets, but I didn't know computers have so many pun-able words too. I only just discover this. One can never underestimate one's ignorance. It's not that I didn't know these words; I just never connected them with puns. They are hiding in … Continue reading Computer Puns
Mini Story: The Battle Of Love
"Yesterday I threw all his books out the window." Lulu says to me."Really?" I feign surprise but I'm not really surprised."I made sure the car is not parked in the driveway first and the screens were taken down for the winter." Lulu and her husband Tun live in a tenement style townhouse and the driveway … Continue reading Mini Story: The Battle Of Love
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
Short Story: Trouble With Language (Part 2)
Click Here For Part 1 One week later, they met again. Pammy looked haggard, her under eye circles darkened, her eyes more guileless and fierce than usual. "My old man (her term of endearment for her husband which sounds more of a term of respect in her native tongue than in English) and my father-in-law … Continue reading Short Story: Trouble With Language (Part 2)
Lost In Translation
No matter how I explained, he just wouldn't understand. Or probably it's just his pretensions which offer him his rights to insist on his own idea. Show your stubbornness long enough and other people would mistake that for your strength. What a wish. Go your own way; enjoy your freedom of making your own mistakes … Continue reading Lost In Translation
Haoyan Do 