Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong

Author:Jade Snow Wong [Wong, Jade Snow]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

15

A MEASURE OF FREEDOM

SO, WITHOUT MUCH ENTHUSIASM, JADE SNOW DECIDED UPON JUNIOR college. Now it was necessary to inform Mama and Daddy. She chose an evening when the family was at dinner. All of them were in their customary places, and Daddy, typically, was in conversation with Older Brother about the factory:

“Blessing, when do you think Lot Number fifty-one twenty-six will be finished? I want to ask for a check from our jobber so that I can have enough cash for next week’s payroll.”

To which Older Brother replied, “As soon as Mama is through with the seams in Mrs. Lee’s and Mrs. Choy’s bundles, the women can finish the hems. Another day, probably.”

Mama had not been consulted; therefore she made no comment. Silence descended as the Wongs continued their meal, observing the well-learned precept that talk was not permissible while eating.

Jade Snow considered whether to break the silence. Three times she thought over what she had to say, and still she found it worth saying. This also was according to family precept.

“Daddy,” she said, “I have made up my mind to enter junior college here in San Francisco. I will find a steady job to pay my expenses, and by working in the summers I’ll try to save enough money to take me through my last two years at the university.”

Then she waited. Everyone went on eating. No one said a word. Apparently no one was interested enough to be curious. But at least no one objected. It was settled.

Junior college was at first disappointing in more ways than one. There was none of the glamour usually associated with college because the institution was so young that it had not yet acquired buildings of its own. Classes were held all over the city wherever accommodations were available. The first days were very confusing to Jade Snow, especially when she discovered that she must immediately decide upon a college major.

While waiting to register, she thumbed through the catalogue in search of a clue. English ... mathematics ... chemistry.... In the last semester of high school she had found chemistry particularly fascinating: so with a feeling of assurance she wrote that as her major on the necessary forms, and went to a sign-up table.

“I wish to take the lecture and laboratory classes for Chemistry 1A,” she informed the gray-haired man who presided there.

He looked at her, a trifle impatiently she thought.

“Why?”

“Because I like it.” To herself she sounded reasonable.

“But you are no longer in high school. Chemistry here is a difficult subject on a university level, planned for those who are majoring in medicine, engineering, or the serious sciences.”

Jade Snow set her chin stubbornly. “I still want to take Chemistry 1A.”

Sharply he questioned: “What courses in mathematics have you had? What were your grades?”

Finally Jade Snow’s annoyance rose to the surface. “Straight A’s. But why must you ask? Do you think I would want to take a course I couldn’t pass? Why don’t you sign me up and let the instructor be the judge of my ability?”

“Very well,” he replied stiffly.

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