Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper

Author:Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper [Batson, Wayne Thomas & Hopper, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ages 8 & Up
ISBN: 9781400315055
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2009-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

23

Cast into the Night

“MOM? I’M home,” Kiri Lee said as she put her key in her coat pocket, turned the deadbolt, and waited for the bombardment to begin.

No answer. Then she remembered her parents were performing tonight. She plugged her cell phone in to charge, set her violin case down, traded her boots for slippers, and reluctantly began walking the hall to the kitchen. But surprisingly there was a delicious aroma in the air. Kiri Lee wasn’t entirely sure what her mother had left her for dinner, but it sure smelled tasty. She poked her head around the corner to find place settings for three on the breakfast table. On the counter sat the classic white to-go containers from any one of a dozen Chinese restaurants. “Mom?”

Born Alyona Mihailov to Russian parents, Kiri Lee’s adopted mother married a studious Majesty School graduate, one Myung Yuen. Upon completion of their degrees in music, they had traveled incessantly, taking up residencies with numerous orchestras, never landing the dream jobs they wanted, and thus continually struggling to make ends meet.

They had been unable to have children on their own, but Mrs. Yuen’s deep desire for family eventually helped her convince her husband to adopt. When their adoption agency found them a Korean child just a few months later, they couldn’t refuse. Though busily immersed in their music careers, neither felt like they could keep up the pace forever. Little did they know that their new baby girl would carry a an aptitude for music that was similar to their own . . . only more so.

Now, looking around the breakfast room, Kiri Lee saw no one. She turned to go toward the den when she heard, “Hello, dear.” Turning around, Kiri Lee saw her mother standing before her. Mrs. Yuen brushed her long brown hair over her shoulder to keep it from dangling in the rice bowl she prepared. She was dressed for an evening orchestra show.

Hello, dear? Kiri Lee was a bit taken aback. She glanced at the clock, then to her mom. “You’re . . . you’re not mad?”

“Mad? Whatever for?”

Now Kiri Lee was stumped. Need she point out the obvious? “I’m late, and that’s running you late to theatre.”

Mrs. Yuen placed the bowl on the table and turned to look at her daughter. “Not by much. We can’t control all the unexpected events that delay us, can we? I’m just glad you’re home.”

Not mad for being late? Something was definitely up here. The last time Kiri Lee had been three minutes late for practice, her mother had made her run through scales an extra hour before bed.

Kiri Lee knew her mother loved her and wanted to do the best by her, but there wasn’t a bone in her body that wasn’t strict to the core. From practices and timing to schedules and courtesy, Mrs. Yuen was as punctual and meticulous as a Swiss watch. And despite that, they were a close-knit family. Creating a family ensemble, practicing popular tunes together, and always making time to make one another laugh.

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