Read Online Out of the Dragon's Mouth by Joyce Burns Zeiss - Free Book Online

her chopsticks.
    â€œDon’t worry, little one. I’m always careful.”
    Mai watched as Hiep turned, walked out of the tent, and strode down the beach.
    Lan turned to Mai. “I know he feels bad, but don’t worry. I think Small Auntie just likes to talk.”
    Mai nodded, but she knew Small Auntie would not forgive them and that somehow she or Sang would punish them. She shivered, even though the heat of the day was already seeping into the tent.
    A young man about Mai’s age walked toward them, swinging two buckets and whistling.
    â€œKien, are you going for water?” Lan asked.
    â€œSure. Can I help you?”
    â€œNo, but you could help my friend Mai.”
    Mai blushed. How did Lan know that she was afraid to go to the well?
    Kien turned toward Mai, his dark eyes smiling. “Of course. I’m glad to help.”
    Mai got her metal bucket and walked with Kien along the rocky beach, too shy to talk, but glad to have a distraction from her worries about Small Auntie.
    â€œHow long have you been here?” Kien broke the silence.
    â€œAbout four months.”
    â€œI haven’t seen you down here before. Where have you been?”
    â€œWe were living in a boat in Trung Dao, but we had to move.”
    â€œLook.” Kien stopped and pointed to a small, black, worm-shaped creature among the rocks in one of the tide pools.
    â€œWhat is it?”Mai asked as Kien bent over to pick it up.
    â€œIt’s a sea cucumber. Here, want to hold it?” The sea cucumber wriggled in Kien’s hand.
    Mai shook her head.
    â€œEver eat one of these?”
    â€œNo.” Mai wrinkled her nose. “Why would you want to?”
    â€œDon’t you ever get tired of canned food?” Kien asked.
    â€œOf course, but I just wish for fresh fish like we had in Vietnam.”
    â€œMe too, but they’re hard to catch. You have to go out in a boat, and we don’t dare do that or the soldiers would never let us back on the island.”
    â€œWhat does it taste like?” Mai asked, her nose wrinkling.
    â€œSort of like squid. You have to clean them right or they taste bad. Lan and some of the other girls at the camp know how to do it. They grill them or stir-fry them with some of our canned vegetables. I like them. After we get the water, let’s come back and collect some for dinner tonight; then you can see if you like them.” Kien dropped the creature back into the tide pool and watched it burrow down into the sand.
    Mai gave a weak “okay,” and she and Kien walked on down the beach to the well, where a line had formed to draw the daily water. A line for everything, thought Mai. How tired she was of standing in line. When it was their turn, Kien took her bucket, stepped to the edge of the well, and, grasping the rope tied to the handle, lowered the bucket until Mai heard a splash, and then he carefully drew it up. Kien lowered his own buckets and then he and Mai carried them away from the well and back to camp.
    Mai glanced up at Kien as they walked along, grateful for his help, surprised at how easy it had been to talk to him. She’d never been friends with any boy outside of her family. Kien whistled as he walked along, his golden skin glistening in the sunlight, the muscles in his arms tight from the weight of the buckets. It would be nice to have a friend like him, not a boyfriend, just a friend , Mai thought.
    When they got to camp, Kien set down his buckets and Mai put hers next to his, their arms bumping as they stood up. She jerked her arm away, embarrassed, but he seemed not to notice.
    â€œWant to go catch sea cucumbers now?” he asked.
    â€œI have to go line up for food. Could we do it in the morning?” Mai hoped Kien wouldn’t think she didn’t want to go.
    â€œSure, I have to go for food too. Let’s go together.”
    Mai’s heart sang. He liked her, but why? She’d always thought of herself as very