"Might I get you anything, mother?" Tierra asked timidly, tip-toeing around the rocking chair her mother sat in. No answer was given from the woman, who seemed to be in a trance for a while. She did not blink or deter her gaze from some unknown spec on the adobe wall. Finally she spoke.
"No, I'm alright," she said distantly, eyes not moving, feet still rocking in their mechanical way. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin. "Buy yourself a cup of tea. At the shop. Up the hill‚" Tierra took the coin and bowed, even though she was sure her mother couldn't have cared less.
"The Jasmine Dragon‚" Tierra said to herself as she read the sign atop the teashop. Rarely had she ever left her ailing mother's side. And when she did leave, never did she receive such a luxury as tea. Tentatively, she entered.
In one corner, two old men were playing a game she thought she recognized as Pai Sho, although she had never truly seen a game being played up close before.
"Hello, little one‚" It was the voice of an old man who was cleaning a teapot from behind the front counter, a huge grin upon his face. Tierra's face turned into a grimace.
"I am not little‚" she replied smugly. It was true she was shorter than most other twelve year olds, but she hated being deemed as small.
"My mistake. I do believe I meant to say young one. As you can see, you are much younger than I‚" said the old man with a little laugh. Tierra did not like him. He talked so very slowly, and as if he were wise. She didn't think he knew anything. He was probably losing his mind, like her mother. "What can I get for you today?"
"Chamomile tea please. Whatever cup I can get with this coin‚" Tierra said in a bored voice, fingering the coin her mother had given her.
"Forgive me, but it seems I am currently out of the ingredients to make chamomile. However, you may be in luck. This lovely lemon tea is in season, and simply delicious‚" he said, offering the cup to her. Tierra rolled her eyes and took it. Instantly the juicy and tart flavors took over, at just the right temperature where the tea didn't burn her tongue but was still a cozy sort of warm. Her eyes relaxed in pleasure as she gulped the rest of the cup down.
"Are you enjoying your tea?" the old man asked, an eyebrow raised.
"It's perfect‚" Tierra sighed with content, knowing she would never have a better cup in her life.
"I'm glad you enjoy it. I'll pour you another cup free of charge, Young One‚" he said as he took her cup to fill it with the most perfect liquid Tierra had ever known. Tierra readily took the cup again, this time enjoying the tea more.
"You know I have a real name, right? I'm Tierra‚" she said.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Tierra. I do hope you'll stop by again‚" said the old man.
"What about you? Don't you have a name?" Tierra asked. At this the man's face changed demeanor. He was suddenly far more serious and even older looking. He thought to himself for a few moments, and when he did speak, he did not meet Tierra's eyes.
"I have been called many names, mostly stranger, foreigner, or refugee. All these names are true for me for I am not of Ba Sing Se‚" he said.
"Surely you have a real name?" asked Tierra.
"Not one that I like to go by‚" he said, sounding melancholy. He then looked at her, an idea behind his eyes. "How about you just call me Grandfather? I am old enough to be your grandfather now, aren't I?"
"Yes, but you're not a grandfather, really you aren't‚" Tierra looked closely into his face, thinking hard. "You're more of an uncle."
"Now that is something I have not been called in a very long time‚" he said, his happiness back.
"Uncle it is then‚" Tierra said, and lifted her glass in a toast to their new friendship.