We Should Never Meet by Aimee Phan

Author:Aimee Phan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2004-02-05T04:30:00+00:00

Her sons’ rosy cheeks stuck to the damp cotton sheet, their knees curled up to their chins. Through the gauzy mosquito netting, their bodies appeared fuzzy and delicate. Though exhausted, Hoa chose to sit on the chair by the door and watch them. It was after dawn, and outside, the crickets chirped like it was still nighttime.

She did not mind that her three sons seemed impervious to her genes, miniature offshoots of her husband. They had Lum’s crescent-shaped eyes that always appeared pleased and amused with the world. This sometimes made it difficult to speak to her sons seriously, especially when she had to scold them, because while their heads would bob obediently, those laughing eyes revealed rebellious natures. Most of the time she was proud of her boys’ adventurous spirits. But with the war, it had become another vulnerability. She hated leaving them at home while she was at work.

Unable to resist any longer, Hoa kicked off her shoes, parted the netting, and crawled into bed. She soundly kissed each boy on the forehead, stirring them awake.

Mother, you’re tickling me, the younger boy, Cung, laughed. He playfully grabbed her arm and nuzzled against her waist. Mmmm, you smell like fish.

Where were you, Mother? the older boy, Van, asked, yawning.

I was at work, child. Have you been good for Ba Minh?

She wouldn’t let us outside even once yesterday. Van poked his head under Hoa’s elbow and rested his cheek on her shoulder. We could only play in the courtyard.

Did you obey her?

He hesitated a second too long. Yes.

You must obey her, Hoa said sternly. It’s very dangerous to be out on the streets by yourselves right now.

Why? Cung asked, sitting up to scratch his stomach. Did the war come?

No, Hoa said. The war is not here. We are safe.

But I heard the Viet Cong are coming soon, Van said. Is that true?

Who told you that?

I heard someone tell Ba Minh yesterday. Now all she does is listen to the radio, but she won’t let us listen with her.

No one is coming. But you must obey her. The war isn’t here, but it is close by, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to my boys.

The war won’t come, will it? Cung asked. Father and Tan said they wouldn’t let that happen.

They’re going to try their best.

After the boys drifted back to sleep, Hoa slipped out of bed. She closed their bedroom door behind her and walked outside to the kitchen. Her bare feet chilled on the frigid tiled floor. The widow would be up soon, and she wanted to prepare breakfast before she could say anything to her about the night before.

Hoa and her family had moved to this house several years ago, located in a wealthy neighborhood they normally couldn’t afford. Her landlady, a widow with no children, had owned a fabric store that burned down several years ago, leaving her with little savings. Her house, a spacious one-floor with a central courtyard for a cherry tree garden,

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