Shan and Mei Lin turned eighteen, so they went to the village up north, for jobs at the coal mining plant. Now it is only me in our row and Yu Ming, who is still very mean. The rest are the little girls. Auntie Lan Lan said more older girls are coming next week, from the hospital.
Write me back about how your plan is going.
Love,
Shu Ling
P.S. I am sending along a picture one of the adoptive parents took of me. See, I am wearing your bright red tunic. I know you picked the red for good luck!
Wen reread the letter, then folded it back in the envelope, along with Shu Ling’s photo. She stuffed the thick packet into her chest pocket, to keep her strong as she waited for the sign that her parents would keep her forever.
“Guess what’s coming, Wennie? Halloween!” Emily announced later that week.
“What is this Hall-oh-een?” asked Wen. “A festival?”
“Festival?” Emily stopped to stare at Wen. “Well, yeah, you could say it’s a festival. I guess you don’t have Halloween in China, right?”
“This festival we do not have.”
“On Halloween, kids get dressed up and trick-or-treat. I’m going as a cat.” Emily curved her hands like paws and purred. “Anyway, we go trick-or-treating and get lots of free candy.”
“Candy for free! This I cannot believe!” Wen opened her eyes wide.
“Much as you want,” Emily said. She licked her lips. “Yummy!”
“Jolly Ranchers?” Wen asked. Shu Ling loved Jolly Ranchers. Maybe she could go to the Halloween festival and get lots of Jolly Ranchers to send to Shu Ling as a surprise.
When the American parents had come to the orphanage with candy, the aunties made the children line up so they could each pick a piece. Everybody pushed and squabbled to get to the front first.
“Don’t wait for me,” Shu Ling would call. They both knew her leg would slow her down. So Wen would get in line and, if she was lucky, scoop up a package of Jolly Ranchers. She’d return to Shu Ling, carrying her prize.
“Oh, mei mei, you did it,” Shu Ling would say. “My very favorite candy!”
“Jolly Ranchers?” Emily repeated, now. “I guess. If that’s what you like. What are you going to be, Wennie?”
“Be?”
“Kids wear costumes. Funny clothes, for trick-or-treating. You’ll love Halloween, Wen!” Emily whooped.
Just then, Wen’s mother came through the front door and dumped bamboo-shaped rolls, like paper towel holders, on the kitchen table.
“Mom, you are back to the architecting again?” Emily asked.
Wen’s mother nodded. “They’re even letting me work from home lots of days.”
“What is this architecting?” Wen asked.
“Means she makes maps of houses on big papers with a ruler. Right, Mom?” Emily asked.
Wen’s mother laughed. “Right. So girls, how was school today?”
With her toe, Wen kicked her backpack under the kitchen table.
Should she show her mother the breakfast invitation after all? Maybe her mother would be mad because she had something else more important to do, like this architecting. But suppose her mother really wanted to go? Then she’d be angry if Wen didn’t invite her.
Wen pulled out the folded piece of paper. “Have something. Made this for you but you could forget it.”
Her mother read the paper. “This is great, Wen. A parent breakfast!”
“OK if you not go. Maybe Dad already at work. Maybe you too busy making house maps,” Wen said.
“Of course we’ll be there.” Then her mother looked her in the eyes. “Remember, we’re your parents, Wen, and we’d love to come. We’ll come to all your class breakfasts and your class plays and science fairs. When you move from sixth grade to middle school next fall, we’ll go to everything you invite us to,” her mother went on. “We’ll go to your graduation from middle school and we’ll chaperone your high school prom, if you let us. We’ll be there with bells on for your high school graduation and we’ll cheer at your college graduation. If you decide to get married, we’ll sit in the front row at your wedding, and if you have children, we’ll bounce them on our knee and spoil them rotten!” Her mother swept her arms through the air, as if she were gathering up Wen’s life, right in front of her.
Wen felt a flash of recognition, a stirring of joy that made her want to dance and scream out loud. Wen knew what her mother’s words were.
The keeping sign, at last!
eleven
“Wennie, save me a doughnut, OK?” said Emily, sitting in the backseat with Wen. Wen’s father had offered to drive the whole family to school on the day of the parent breakfast.
“What is this doh-nut?”
“Food. Big circle with hole.” Emily arched both hands over her head.
Suppose she got caught, like the time at home with the muffin and the banana? Suppose she got in a lot of trouble, just when her parents had decided to keep her? And all because of Emily.
“Maybe,” Wen said. “If possible.”
On the way to school, Wen thought about how this breakfast had led to the sign, and now she could ask her parents to adopt Shu Ling.
Of course they’d say yes. They had to. But just to be sure, Wen decided she’d bring it up next Wednesday, at her father’s birthday dinner. Her mother, Emily, and she had already planned out the party. Everybody would be there; nobody could be late. Emily had asked her father to bring home pepperoni pizza—for no reason special, Emily had told him, winking at Wen. Wen and Emily would bake a chocolate birthday cake, frosted with chocolate icing and lots of sprinkles. Her mother was picking up her dad’s favorite ice cream, Moose Tracks. Everybody would be in a good mood at this wonderful birthday party. It would be the perfect time to ask about Shu Ling.
After the last of the ice cream, Wen would say, I have a friend who needs a home. Can you adopt her, too?
And she could almost see her mother nodding, saying there was always room for one more, there was plenty of love to go around. She could hear her father asking if Shu Ling liked bacon.
As Wen and her parents walked into the classroom, Wen wanted to put her hands over her ears. People were chattering in English so fast they seemed to be spitting out their words.
“Hi, Christine!” A woman wearing a butter-colored jacket rushed up to her mother and hugged her.
“Oh, Susan, it’s been an age!” Wen’s mother and the other lady held on to each other for what seemed to Wen a long time.
Unexpectedly, Wen felt an ache that had nothing to do with skipping breakfast at home that morning. She longed to hug her mother that way too. Something always made her hold back.
“Hey, let’s get some of that food.” Wen’s father led her toward a long table where bread slices, muffins, and circles with holes were arranged on plates. But Wen moved toward the windows to get away from all the people whose English seemed to get louder and louder.
In front of her, she saw Hannah and Michelle. Hannah was gazing out the window, toward the school parking lot, while, beside her, Michelle munched on a muffin.
“He said he’d come,” Wen heard Hannah say, twisting the silver ring on her littlest finger.
“Hannah, your father never shows up. Period. Don’t waste your time.” Michelle rolled her eyes.
“He promised!” Hannah wailed. “He knew Mom had to work, so he said he’d be here!”
“So what else is new? I’m going to get some orange juice.” Michelle steered through the crowd.
Very quietly, Wen took a step and stood beside Hannah. She watched the parking lot too. Maybe if the two of them stared very hard, they could see the car better when it came.
“What color is car?” Wen asked.
“Wen!” Hannah turned to her. “I didn’t see you there.�
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“You are looking for someone.” Wen kept her eyes focused on the parking lot.
“It’s my dad. He’s late,” Hannah told her. “His car is red.”
“I help you look.”
“Thanks.” Hannah smiled at Wen and then returned her eyes to the window.
“He gave you the beautiful ring?” Wen asked.
“How did you know? See, it’s a special present!” Hannah held up her little finger to show Wen the tiny ring.
“Ring is nice. And your father, he is many times late?” asked Wen.
“Well, actually, he usually just never comes at all,” Hannah said flatly.
“You miss him greatly,” said Wen. “You not see him much?”
“They’re divorced.”
Wen tilted her head. What was this di-vorce Hannah spoke of?
“Divorced. Split up.” Hannah put her arms together across her chest then thrust them apart.
Divided, like pieces of an orange, Wen decided.
“Di-vorced long time?” Wen hoped she had said this new word right.
“Since last August. My dad lives in Rhode Island now. I miss him so much!”
“He was in your life, now nothing,” Wen said.
Turning toward Wen, Hannah blinked. “You get it. You actually get it.”
“This missing, I know.”
Hannah took her eyes off the parking lot and studied Wen as if she were just now seeing her. “Of course you do. You must miss your friends back in China.”
Wen nodded, gazing at the parking lot as if she, too, were searching for someone she knew. “Have good friend there, her name is Shu Ling. Miss her greatly.”
Just then, Ms. Beckwith clapped her hands for silence and thanked the parents for coming. After the parents left, Wen and Hannah went to their desks.
“Hey, Wen,” Hannah said. “Do you want to come trick-or-treating with us on Halloween? It’s Sunday night.”
“Halloween,” Wen repeated, relieved that she knew what Hannah was talking about.
“Right. We’re meeting at my house to get dressed around six. Just wear something black, OK? And sunglasses and boots, if you have them. We’re going as a rock band.”
Wen thought of all the Jolly Ranchers she could get for Shu Ling. Then, despite herself, she thought about all the new candy she wanted to taste for herself.
“I come,” said Wen.
twelve
At six o’clock on Halloween, Wen and her mother drove over to Hannah’s house, across town. While the mothers chatted, Hannah took Wen’s arm.
“C’mon,” she said. “We’re in the bathroom, getting ready.”
Michelle poked her head out of the bathroom.
“Have fun, sweetie,” Wen’s mother called. “I’ll come back for you around ten.”
“Bye.” Wen caught a final glimpse of her mother leaving.
“That was your mom?” Michelle asked. “She’s American. So that must mean you’re adopted, right?”
“You’re adopted, Wen! That’s cool.” Hannah put her arm around Wen.
“What happened to your real parents?” Michelle demanded.
Wen felt like she was being exposed, the way Cook would tear skin off a chicken to reveal the raw meat beneath. She couldn’t even begin to reply.
“Jeez, could you be any nosier, Michelle?” Hannah turned to Wen. “You know you don’t have to answer that, right?”
Wen gave Hannah a grateful smile.
Hannah steered Wen into the bathroom. “Don’t let Michelle get to you,” she whispered. “She’s changed a lot lately.”
“Say such mean things.” Twisting her head, Wen checked behind her, to be sure she was far enough away from Michelle.
“I know.” Hannah put her arm around Wen’s neck. “Try to stick up for yourself. Or I will.”
By the sink, Sophie was spraying her hair bright blue.
“Hey, Wen!” Sophie put down her can. “Do you want your hair neon blue, orange, or metallic gold? Don’t worry, it washes off; it’s not permanent or anything.”
“Orange,” said Wen. She covered her face with a towel while Sophie sprayed her hair a bright orange. Her clumps of hair, now longer, lay flat and glistened like the freshly washed tangerines the aunties passed out at Lunar New Year. In the mirror, Wen could barely recognize herself. She was beautiful.
Then she thought of Shu Ling. Maybe Shu Ling would be here next year. What color hair would she pick? She might be best in the glittery gold.
“How will people know we’re a rock band?” Michelle spiked her neon blue bangs with gel.
“Because we look cool and our hair’s weird, that’s how,” said Hannah, smearing her lids with black eye shadow. “Want some?” she asked Wen.
Wen closed her eyes while Hannah gently smoothed waxy black cream on her eyelids. Next year she’d put the cream on Shu Ling’s big eyes. Then they’d stand together in the mirror and Wen would admire Shu Ling’s golden hair and blacked eyelids. You’re just like a movie star, she’d say.
So are you, mei mei, Shu Ling would answer.
Now, through her orange bangs, Wen saw Sophie standing on the vanity chair. “Time to go,” Sophie announced. “Don’t forget your sunglasses.”
“But it’s dark out and we won’t be able to see!” Michelle complained.
“Seriously, we’d better get going or we’ll miss out on the good candy,” Sophie said. “Here, grab a pillowcase. I brought four.”
A pillowcase? That much candy? Wen took her pillowcase and followed the others.
“So you just ring the doorbell, nothing to it,” Hannah explained, wobbling on her high-heeled boots. “Then they give you candy and you’re off to the next house.”
Wen walked beside the others as they went from house to house, ringing doorbells and saying trick-or-treat. They walked so slowly, Wen knew Shu Ling would be able to keep up.
After a while, Wen’s bag got heavy and she had to lug it with both hands.
“Let’s go back to my house and count our loot,” said Hannah.
Back at Hannah’s, the girls sat on the kitchen floor. They turned their pillowcases inside out and spilled mountains of candy in front of them. Wen saw little cups covered in orange foil, long sticks wrapped in blue, round candy on sticks, and tiny chocolate-colored envelopes.
Wen had never seen so much candy. In her own mound, she spotted Snickers, Tootsie Roll Pops, and lots of Jolly Ranchers.
“What’s your favorite kind of candy, Wen?” asked Hannah.
“Don’t know.” Wen gaped at the huge pile.
“Maybe they don’t have candy like this in China,” Sophie said.
“M&M’s, yes,” Wen said. “Not these many.”
“Hey, Michelle, let Wen try your Reese’s,” said Hannah.
“Fine. Take it then.” Michelle pushed the candy across the floor in Wen’s direction and began busily stacking up her Almond Joys.
Wen eyed Michelle, her red-lipsticked mouth pouting, her slender body hunched over, guarding her candy. Then Wen thought of Shu Ling, how her eyes would sparkle in delight at all the candy heaped in front of Michelle.
“Thanks, Michelle,” Wen said coolly.
Spoiled brat, she added, to herself.
Very carefully, Wen picked up the Reese’s, peeled off the foil, and undid the pleated brown paper around the tiny candy, shaped like one of her mother’s muffins. She bit into the Reese’s and felt the smooth peanut butter and chocolate melt on her tongue.
“Ohhh,” whispered Wen. She closed her eyes. “Oh!”
“If she likes Reese’s, give her a Twix!” Hannah offered her a rectangular-shaped candy with bright red letters across the top. “Wen, try this!”
Wen ripped open the coppery wrapper an
d bit into the candy. This one crunched, as she tasted a sweet rush of cookies, chocolate, and caramel.
“Try an Almond Joy, Wen.” From across the floor, Sophie shot a blue package her way. Now she knew how to rip open the shiny paper quickly. Wen nibbled on the oval chocolate piece and discovered a new kind of sweetness.
“What this taste?” she asked.
“Coconut. Now keep going,” urged Sophie.
Then she crunched into a nut.
“That’s the almond part of the joy, Wen!” Hannah laughed.
Wen felt the chocolate, coconut, and almond flavors blend in her mouth. She grinned. “What try next?”
“OK, tasting’s over; time for trades. I’m sure Wen gets the idea by now,” said Michelle.
Wen wanted to keep on tasting. Frowning at Michelle, she felt the sweetness in her mouth turn sour.
“Trades,” Michelle repeated. “Who’ll give me Snickers or Hershey bars for all my Almond Joys?”
“You don’t like Almond Joys, Michelle? Are you nuts?” Sophie tossed over three Snickers and took back a handful of Michelle’s Almond Joys.
“Twizzlers,” Hannah announced. “What do I get for ten Twizzlers?”
Sophie tossed six Tootsie Roll Pops and pocketed Hannah’s Twizzlers.
“Jolly Ranchers,” said Wen. “I present you all my candy. You give me your Jolly Ranchers, your cherry, your strawberry, and your grape—any kind. Just want Jolly Ranchers.” With one arm, she moved her mountain of candy to the center of the table.
“Ah, Wen . . .” Hannah nudged her. “That’s not such a great deal,” she muttered.
“This I do,” said Wen. “Give all Jolly Ranchers, take this whole ton.”
“Wen, you can’t just give away all your candy, your whole night’s candy, for a few crummy Jolly Ranchers,” Hannah said.
“It OK.” Wen dropped the little candies into her pillowcase. “Love Jolly Ranchers.”
In the end, Wen got forty-four Jolly Ranchers.
As she dumped the Jolly Ranchers into her sack, she thought about how she’d mail them to Shu Ling in big envelopes, each neatly padded with a layer of Jolly Ranchers. If Auntie Lan Lan gave out the mail, maybe she would figure out the Jolly Ranchers but let Shu Ling have them for herself. Wen pictured Shu Ling choosing a different flavor of Jolly Rancher every night.
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