8
"Koh Fu, I'm tutoring children piano tonight."
"Ok Xiao Su," Koh Fu said mindlessly,
"And Koh Fu?"
"Yah what now?"
"I'm staying the night at a friends' place on tomorrow night, alright?"
"Ok, ok," he waved her away, Xiao sighed. Yay for America. She thought walking up the stairs,
"Je," She heard Richard call,
"Here," she said, in her room. Rich knocked on her door, "Come in," Rich came in and shut the door,
"Hey what's up?"
"Not much, got tutoring at 7:30,"
"You, need a tutor?"
"No, I'm tutoring piano,"
"Oh, sounds… fun,"
Xiao smiled, "Yeah whatever,"
"Je,"
"Hmm?"
"My friend wants to take you out on Valentine's Day,"
Xiao frowned, "I don't know who you're talking about,"
"He's a footballer at your school,"
Xiao sighed, "They never give up,"
"What?"
"Nothing, sorry I can't go, I'm staying at a friend's place for the night," Xiao told him,
Rich laughed, "Ok, so I'll see you later,"
"Bye" Xiao said, as Rich shut the door after him.
~
Joan opened the door into Kevin's room,
"Hey", he said, "what's up?"
"The sky,"
"That's old,"
"Yeah, I know, it's always hanging up there," Joan told him, Kevin laughed,
"So…"
"So…?"
"What'd Xiao say?" Kevin said, trying to make it sound like it meant nothing.
"Oh, um, she said hi back," Joan mumbled, Kevin smiled,
"That's cool,"
"You like her don't you?" Joan asked,
"Yeah," Kevin admitted,
"Why don't you ask her out?" Joan suggested,
"Ask her out?"
"Yeah, why don't you?"
"Why don't I? Why don't I? Who… who would want to be seen dating a cripple?" Kevin said a little angry, a little upset. Joan's eyes widened,
"What makes you think she's like that?" Joan said softly,
"Everyone is like that,"
"Not everyone,"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah,"
"Like who?"
"Mom, Dad, Luke, Me, and Xiao," Joan listed, "and many other people," Kevin didn't say anything, "Look Kev, it doesn't make you less of who you are," Joan reassured him, and herself. Kevin sighed,
"Sure Joan, whatever,"
"Seriously!"
"I'm not Kevin, I'm Kevin the cripple,"
"That's not true!"
"Sorry Joan, but it is,"
"No! You are still my brother!" Joan cried, tears stung her eyes.
"Sorry Joan," Kevin wheeled over to give her a hug, Joan shook her head,
"You'll always be the same, amazing brother, always," she whispered, "You've just got to try," she told him, Kevin sighed,
"I'm going for a drive," he said, Joan nodded, and he left. Joan stared at his shelf where his lines of trophies were, and she turned away.
~
"Je" means sister, and traditionally, cousins are also called brothers and sisters but with "Piu" in front i.e. "Piu Je" = Sister Cousin, "Piu Goh" = Brother Cousin. It's different I know.
~