It was a beautiful sunny Sunday in August and Mei and Tyler were sitting in the park, they were on a bench sitting close to each other looking at a pregnancy test Mei had taken before she met Tyler that she purchased and used in the bathroom of the supermarket.
"I can't believe it," said Tyler in disbelief.
"Neither can I," said Mei in disbelief.
The pregnancy test read positive, the two were staring at it feeling numb on the inside. How would they explain this to their folks? Especially Mei because she couldn't hide her belly forever, eventually the baby would grow.
"You know I thought you said you used protection" Mei gritted through her teeth.
"I'm sorry...I thought I did" said Tyler frowning.
"Well, whatever in any case what do you wanna do?" said Mei.
"I mean...I would want to be a dad but I don't know how you feel about it" replied Tyler.
"Well I'm not getting an abortion, it takes two to tango and we're sticking it out," said Mei.
"Deal," said Tyler.
The two spent some time on the bench, Mei resting her head on Tyler's shoulder thinking about what happened in New York a month ago. Never did they expect something like this would happen. After a couple of hours passed the two decided to go home and try to plan out how they were gonna break the news to their folks.
"My mother is going to kill me," Mei said to herself.
Mei pulled her phone out and decided to video call her friends, they were always there for her in her time of need and she needed them.
She did a group video call and all the girls picked up.
"Sup Mei?" said Miriam.
"What's going on?" asked Priya.
"Hey girl, you okay?" asked Abby.
The girls could tell Mei was visibly depressed and they wanted to figure out what was up, Mei was on the call sniffling.
"What's the matter?" asked Miriam.
"I'm...p-p-pregnant" sniffled Mei.
The girls' eyes all went wide.
"Are you sure?!" exclaimed Abby.
"Yes I'm sure, and it's Tyler's...it happened when we all went to New York last month" sobbed Mei.
"Are you gonna keep it?" asked Miriam.
"Yeah, I don't believe in getting an abortion" sniffled Mei wiping tears from her eyes.
"Understandable" replied Priya.
"How does Tyler feel about it?" asked Abby.
"He's onboard, he's gonna stick it out with me but we don't know what to do right now, my mom doesn't even know!" sobbed Mei.
"Hey, it's okay don't worry about it," said Miriam.
"My mom is gonna flip when she finds out!" exclaimed Mei.
"Girl, easy...take a breath," said Miriam.
Mei closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you Mir" replied Mei.
"It's alright, just let us know if you need anything" smiled Miriam.
"Thanks, I love you all" smiled Mei, wiping more tears from her face.
"We love you too, girlfriend!" the girls said in unison.
Meanwhile, Tyler was walking home and he decided to call Brendan and let him know the news of what was going on. Brendan was at home watching some TV when he saw his cellphone ringing.
"Sup Tyler?" asked Brendan.
"Hey man...I gotta tell you something" said Tyler fairly ashamed.
"Yeah man, you alright?" asked Brendan concerned.
"Not really...I got Mei pregnant" said Tyler feeling more ashamed.
Brendan winced hearing that.
"This is my fault...I never shoulda bought alcohol and I never should've gone into the other room with Miriam" said Brendan feeling guilty.
"Dude, how is any of this your fault?" asked Tyler.
"Was I speaking Chinese?" asked Brendan.
"No, we were all drinking, and Mei and I got a little carried away, it's no fault of yours," said Tyler reassuringly.
Brendan felt a bit better but still felt responsible for what had happened.
"Thanks, man, you guys gonna keep the baby?" asked Brendan.
"Yup" replied Tyler.
"Well that's good, let me know if you need anything dude," said Brendan reassuringly.
"Appreciate you man" smiled Tyler.
Unfortunately for Mei, it was going to be a little more difficult to hide seeing as she's carrying the baby and the ensuing morning sickness which had come into play for the past couple of days, and soon Ming began to grow suspicious. One Friday, Mei had woken up at seven in the morning feeling unwell and threw up in the toilet. Ming heard her and sprung to action and stood outside the bathroom door.
"Mei-Mei, are you sick?" asked Ming.
"Ummm...yeah mom...just a stomach bug" stammered Mei wiping vomit off of her lip.
"For almost a week? Mei-Mei meet me in the kitchen" said Ming sternly.
Mei knew the jig was up, she couldn't hide it from her mother who was as sharp as a knife. When Mei finished in the bathroom she saw her mother and father standing near the kitchen counter and there was a chair.
"Sit down Mei-Mei," said Ming in a very serious tone.
Mei was scared to death, she knew Ming was going to be very upset.
"Mei-Mei...look me in the eyes...are you pregnant?" asked Ming staring daggers into her daughter.
Mei closed her eyes and began to sob...she nodded yes.
Ming felt a vein throbbing in her head.
"Was it consensual?" Ming gritted through her teeth with her eyes closed in anger.
"Ummm...sort of...we were both hosed" sobbed Mei.
Ming felt rage deep in her stomach.
"Was it Brendan?" growled Ming.
Mei, sobbing still shook her head no.
"It's Tyler's" cried Mei.
Ming feeling fire in her stomach reached her hand out and proceeded to grab the handle of a knife and pull it out of the holder, prompting Jin to react and rush up to her and grab her hand.
"Honey, honey we're gonna settle this like adults," said Jin calmly pushing her hand and the knife back into the holder.
Ming let go of the handle of the knife.
"Jin honey...if you'll excuse me, I need to go out" growled Ming.
"Where?" asked Jin.
"To either go commit premeditated murder...or get a pint of ice cream, I'm gonna decide in the car," said Ming furiously as she walked towards the door.
"I think I should come with you," said Jin concerned.
"I don't think that would be a good idea, you'd be a witness if I chose the former," said Ming with a serious tone and blank face. She left their home and headed to the car.
"She hates me now" cried Mei into her arms on the table.
Jin seeing his daughter upset sat down next to her.
"She doesn't hate you, in fact to her this is like looking in the mirror" chuckled Jin.
"W-what do you mean?" sobbed Mei.
"Well, back almost thirty years ago when we were in our early twenties I worked as a busboy at a restaurant called Moon Over Shanghai, it was a Chinese restaurant but not your typical one. I wanted to be an apprentice to the head chef...his name was Sonny and his dad owned the restaurant, he was very rebellious and hated traditions but he was an amazing cook who could cook your left shoe and have you asking him to prepare the right one for dessert" said Jin.
Mei chuckled at the last part.
"Well, you see your mother and grandmother used to frequent that spot and that's how she and I began to talk. Well, your grandmother wanted your mother to go out with Sonny who had an attraction to your mother but she didn't feel the same way towards him. Anyways one day I got my shot to interview to be his apprentice and he called my dish basic and essentially humiliated me in front of the whole restaurant and staff and your mother" said Jin.
"That's terrible!" exclaimed Mei.
"The worst part was that when your mother and I started dating, your grandmother disapproved of me and would say nasty things every chance she got but your mother's and my love never wavered. Then on our wedding day, which was at the temple your mother and grandmother had a huge argument after your grandmother said something to her and that's when I saw it..." said Jin.
"Mom's panda?" asked Mei.
"The one and only, I was scared but I didn't let that detract from my love for her. I said she was the one I would be with and that was that, the point I'm making sweetheart is that this is your life now and your decision. Your mother may not like it but it's what's going on, I am a little upset myself but you are my daughter and I love you and will be by your side through all of this" smiled Jin hugging his daughter.
"Thanks, dad" sobbed Mei, her tears falling onto Jin's sleeve.
Meanwhile at the supermarket Ming was talking to the cashier while her pint of ice cream was melting away on the conveyor belt.
"And then I find out she gets pregnant? I feel like a bad mother! Do you think I'm a bad mother?!" exclaimed Ming to the cashier.
"Ummm" stammered the cashier.
"Thank you, I'm glad you agree I'm not. Then not to mention she got knocked up by someone with no future meanwhile she turned down a guy who OKAY plays hockey but he's smart as a whip! Don't you think that's unfair?!" exclaimed Ming.
"Well-" said the cashier nervously.
"I'm so glad you agree with me! Insult to injury her best friend who's a troublemaker lands the smart one and a troublemaker lands my perfect little Mei-Mei, I'm sure you can see how messed up that is right?!" exclaimed Ming referring to the fact Miriam and Brendan were dating.
"I guess-" stammered the cashier nervously.
"See?! I knew I was right! You're such a-" Ming paused and noticed her ice cream was melting.
"Oh, do you mind if I grab another one this one is melting! Thank you!" smiled Ming.
She went off to get another pint of chocolate chip ice cream, she soon returned with one and stopped to talk to the cashier one more time.
"You know, I don't usually fill out these employee surveys because I think they're pointless but I'm gonna sing your praises! You should be running this joint with your superior listening skills! Thank you so much for listening, goodbye now" smiled Ming leaving with her ice cream.
The clerk stood there, left eye twitching when his manager walked up to him.
"What the hell was she babbling about?" asked the manager.
"I have no idea, all I know is I'm going to take my first break, there's some microwave poutine in the fridge with my name on it," said the cashier.
"Alright enjoy it," said the manager relieving the cashier..
