What's up readers? I'm VickyT36 and I think Turning Red is a great movie. This idea popped into my head, so I thought to turn it into a story. Enjoy!

A New Little Panda

It was the month of April in the year 1989 in Toronto, Canada. A couple who lived in Chinatown Ming and Jin Lee were getting ready for a big event; the birth of their first child. Currently they were at Toronto General Hospital for a check up.

"Well everything's looking good, Ming." the doctor told her.

"Any idea when the baby's going to come?" asked Ming.

"I'd say with the next couple weeks."

"Soon we're going to be parents, Ming." Jin told his wife.

"Excited?"

"Very." Ming replied.

When the appointment was over, the couple went back home. Jin helped Ming out of the car, and the two went inside to the baby's nursery. Inside was a crib, rocking chair, changing table, drawers, and shelves filled with diapers, baby toys, and books.

They didn't know if they were having a boy or a girl so they made the room generic.

"I can't believe soon we're gonna have a little baby to put in here." Jin said.

"I know." Ming agreed, putting her hands on her swollen stomach.

Jin walked up behind his wife, and hugged her. The two shared a nice moment, but it was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

"Now who is that?" wondered Ming.

They went to the front door, and Ming opened it. To her surprise, she saw her sisters, Chen and Ping, and her cousin Helen. Ming looked completely dumbfounded.

"What on Earth?" she whispered.

Not even a second later, they all started gushing and surrounding her. Some put their hands on her big belly or on her cheeks.

"Ming look at you." gushed Chen.

"You beautiful." added Ping.

"You're carrying high." observed Helen.

"No, she's carrying low." protested Chen.

"Ladies please." called a calm yet firm voice.

From the four woman, came Ming's mother Wu.

"Mother, what are you all doing here?" Ming wanted to know.

Jin came into the room, and was too surprised to see the relatives.

"You really didn't think I was going to let one of my daughters have their first child without the family did you?" Wu replied.

"So we came up to help." Chen said.

"Well...we really appreciate it." Jin told them.

And Ming invited them in.


About an hour later the relatives had taken over. They had made Ming sit down on the couch and put her feet up on an ottoman. Tried to get her to drink different kinds of teas or eat different foods.

"Try green tea it's good for the baby." Helen.

"No that'll give her gas, drink black tea. I drank it when I was pregnant with my Lily." protested Ping.

"Not she needs more than tea, here Ming have some dumplings." Chen piped up.

"Ladies please I appreciate it, but I'm not hungry right now." Ming told them, as she slowly got up.

"Jin get over here and help her up." Lily called.

"I'm coming." Jin said quickly, as he hurried over to the couch.

"It's okay, Jin. I can get myself up." Ming told him.

It was a little difficult, but she managed to get herself up to her feet.

"Well I think we should be getting to our hotel ladies." Wu informed.

"Oh, sorry you have to go so soon, Mother." Ming replied.

"Do not worry, we'll be back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, uh how long are you planning on staying around?"

"Until the baby's born and then for about two weeks afterwards."

The family members then said their goodbyes and left. That night the couple got ready for bed.

"I can't believe they're going to be staying for at least four weeks." Ming replied, as Jin helped her into bed.

"I'm sure it won't be so bad. After all they're just trying to help." Jin comforted.

"I know, but you remember how they can be."

"Well we'll get through it all together." Ming smiled at her husband, and after a kiss, they both went to sleep.


A couple days later, Ming was coming home from the grocery store.

"Whew, I got everything for dinner tonight. I hope you enjoy it." she said to her belly.

When she opened the door, she was met with a surprise.

"Surprise!" yelled her family members and some of the neighbors.

The living room was decorated with streamers, balloons, and pictures of baby stuff.

"W-what is all this?"

"A baby shower, silly." Chen replied.

"We set it all up, and they even bought presents." Jin told her, taking her grocery bag.

"Come now, Ming. Now that the guest of honor is here we can start." Wu urged.

The baby shower did turn out well, they played games, ate good food, and Ming and Jin opened the presents. They received toys, baby clothes, blankets, and baby tools.

"And here's one from me." Wu told her daughter, giving her a bag.

"Thank you, Mother." Ming replied.

She opened it up, and pulled something out. It seemed to be a soft baby blanket tied with a ribbon. Then Ming realized something.

"Hey, this is my old childhood blanket."

"Yes, I found it to fixed it up. I figured it would be a good gift for your little one." Wu explained.

Ming was very touched.

"I love it, Mother. And I'm sure the baby will love it too."

Wu smiled at hearing that. About a week later, Ming and Jin were at their family temple. Ming was simply sweeping the ground, when she felt something. She looked down, and saw a little puddle.

"Uh oh...JIN!" she called.


Soon, the Lees were pulling up to the hospital.

"Are you sure you can walk, Ming?" Jin wanted to know.

"Should I get a wheelchair?"

"No, Jin, I can still walk." Ming assured.

He quickly grabbed her suitcase, and helped his wife out of the car. They went into the hospital, and checked in. As the nurses worked on getting her a room, Ming sat in a wheelchair, and Jin made some calls to the relatives.

Soon Ming and Jin were escorted up to the maternity ward by a doctor. Once she was in a room, Ming changed into a hospital gown. While Ming was usually a calm woman, the pain she was starting to get to her, she began sweating and began to get agitated.

"How you holding up, Ming? Can I get you anything?" Jin asked.

"I want this baby out of me." she replied in a strained voice.

"That'll happen soon...I hope." Jin replied.

Then the door opened, and Wu and the others came in.

"Ming there you are." Wu said.

"Are you okay?" asked Chen.

"Of course she's not, she's in pain. She's having a baby." Ping told her.

"You should be in holding your legs up." Lily informed.

"No, no it's legs down head up." protested Chen.

"Ladies please. Ming does not need any stress right now." Wu announced.

The other three ladies immediately quieted down, and backed off.

"(Sighs), thank you, Mother." Ming said gratefully.

Wu smiled a little smile. Then another contraction hit, and Ming yelped in pain. Just like that a doctor and a couple nurse came in.

"Okay, ladies, we're going to need you to step out, it's showtime." the doctor informed.

"Of course." Wu replied, and they all left the room.

Jin took hold of Ming hand, and Ming began her breathing.


"(Groans), how much long is this going to take?" Ming groaned, as she finished a push.

"We're almost there, Ming." the nurse said.

"You're doing great, honey." Jin encouraged as he wiped sweat from her forehead.

Then Ming squeezed his hand hard.

"(Ah), just breathe through the pain."

"All right, just one more." the doctor urged.

Ming did so, and then a small cry filled the room.

"There they are." said the nurse.

"(Sighs), what is it?" Ming asked breathlessly.

"You have a beautiful little girl." the doctor replied.

Ming and Jin looked at each other lovingly. They then took the baby to get cleaned up, and get check over to make sure she was healthy.


A while later, they brought the baby back.

"Here she is, all clean and healthy." the nurse said, giving the baby to Ming.

Ming gently held her, and uncovered the baby's face from the blanket. The baby was small, pink, had chubby cheeks, and little black hairs coming from beneath her pink hat.

"She's beautiful." Ming said.

"Just like her mom." added Jin.

Suddenly the door opened, and the relatives came pouring in.

"Hey." whispered Chen.

"There she is. The doctor said it was girl." added Ping.

"Look how precious." gushed Helen.

"My new granddaughter." observed Wu.

She went over, and gently stroked the baby's cheek. A nurse stepped forward with a clipboard.

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Lee what's this little one's name?" she asked.

"Her name is...Meilin." informed Ming.

"Meilin Lee, that perfect." said Jin.

"Meilin Lee. Congratulations."

And the nurse wrote that down on the clipboard.

"Another little panda." mentioned Chen.

"Little panda? That's a cute nickname." the nurse replied, as she left the room.

"If she only knew." Ping said.

Everyone burst out laughing, while baby Meilin smiled being the presence of her new family.

The End