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

plain, and she never knew what to say. Kien was quite handsome, with kind eyes that looked straight at you when he was talking, straight teeth that were as white as the sand, and an infectious smile that made her forget how alone she was. He seemed at ease with himself; something she had never felt.
    They walked along, listening to the waves, watching the seagulls circling in the cloudless sky, breathing in the mingled smell of wet sand and sea air. When they came to the rocky inlet, she was relieved to have Kien’s hand to grasp as they crossed.
    â€œWhere is your family, Kien?” Mai asked, looking up at him, glad that he was taller than her.
    â€œI came by myself. Mother didn’t have the money to come too.”
    â€œBut what about your father?” Mai kicked the sand with her feet.
    â€œMy father was an American soldier. When he had to go, he wanted us to come with him, but my mother wouldn’t leave my grandmother behind.”
    â€œAn American soldier?” Mai looked at Kien again. Except for his blue eyes, he didn’t look like an American. “What happened then?” She hoped he would not think she was prying.
    â€œThe Viet Cong came. My mother was afraid they would kill us if they knew we had an American connection, so she burned all the papers my father had given her to contact him.” He shrugged his shoulders, and his head sagged.
    â€œHow will you find your father?”
    â€œI don’t know. If I can just get to America, maybe there will be a way.”
    â€œI have an uncle in America.”
    â€œYou do?” Kien stopped and put his hands on his hips. “Have you heard from him?”
    â€œNo, but the Red Cross is contacting him.” She wished she hadn’t told him when she saw the pain on his face.
    â€œI’m glad for you,” Kien said. “I don’t know where I’ll end up. They say America needs lots of unskilled labor and that it’s the easiest place to go. I hope that’s true.”
    Ahead, they saw Hiep hurrying out of the Red Cross tent.
    â€œWe got a letter from Older Brother in America,” he said, pulling an envelope out of his pocket. “He sent some money.” He opened his fist and showed her a green bill with a 50 on it.
    â€œWe did! What did he say?” Mai wanted to see the letter herself, but she waited for Hiep’s reply.
    â€œHere, read it,” he said.
    Mai took the letter and held it in both hands as if it were a sacred scroll.
    Dear Hiep, Younger Brother,
    My wife and I are happy to hear that you and Mai have arrived safely at the refugee camp. We are filling out the papers to sponsor you, but you must know life here is very hard. The streets are not paved with gold. We have to work twelve hours a day seven days a week. We only have time to shop once a week. The weather in Chicago is not like Vietnam. It is winter now and the temperature is 0 degrees C and there is snow on the ground. Very cold.
    Anh, Older Brother
    Mai handed the letter back to Hiep, her eyes bright with excitement. “He’s going to sponsor us. We’re going to America.”
    For the first time since she’d left Vietnam, Mai’s depression began to lift. Uncle and Auntie wanted them. They would have a home, and they weren’t going to spend the rest of their lives on this island. Her dream of life in America was going to come true. But she did worry about the snow. The coldest she had ever been was in the spring on the Mekong when the winds blew. She had no warm clothes.
    And the streets. Everyone had said they were paved with gold. What were they really made o f ? How did you eat if you couldn’t go to the market every day? She hoped she would be able to go to school. Grandfather had big plans for her. He wanted her to be an international lawyer.
    â€œIt could take a long time, Mai. Remember, Small Auntie has been waiting a year now,” Hiep said.
    Small Auntie. She had forgotten