Chapter 6

Is later while boys are cleaning up mess on floor that I pull trunk from under bed and lift lid to look. Many things, packed carefully away and carried to this place — hidden, like my hopes for New Year. I pull them out, one by one.

Red paper and gold ink — this is good. Red candles. A few firecrackers — boys will like. Candied lotus seed and candied melon and some candied coconut … rest of the Chuen-ho — tray of sweets — I will have to create. We have honey and some oranges Missa Cartwright's friend bring from California …will be American Western Chinese Chuen-ho, then. One or two of bad-laying chickens for supper maybe; chickens for New Year supper mean prosperity in New Year.

I hear running scamper of feet and sigh. This family. Never quiet.

Little Missa Hoss appear at my door.

"Hop Sing! We cleaned the floor real good!" He see me at trunk and come in to look. "What's that?"

"For New Year celebration. I show you. You and Missa Adam can make while I kill chickens — then you want help Hop Sing cook?"

"Yes!"

I smile. Food and this one — always food. I see he is thinking hard.

"But why are we cookin' now if New Year's Eve ain't till tomorrow?"

"Must cook now; cannot touch knives at start of New Year. Might cut luck." His hair is in eyes and I push it back. "Cannot cut hair either or might cut prosperity. Before bed, I cut hair for both you and brotha."

He look serious. "Sure are a lot of rules."

"Very fine rules for making New Year. You see."

I hand him paper to carry and go to break bad news to chickens that they greet New Year from our stomachs, not their nests.

0

Is new and is familiar at same time, this feeling — this rush and bustle and excitement for entrance of New Year. Sounds are different — some smells too — but feelings are same.

We have hung pine over door to ensure long life for all who enter there — that part easy; plenty pine here. Missa Adam sit at kitchen table and paint Chinese characters I show him on red paper to create fai chun to hang on walls and bring New Year blessings. He is very clever at this — could maybe write Chinese with much practice. Little Missa Hoss help me cook until I think maybe I get nothing done with so much help.

Missa Adam see and call him over to watch him work.

Chickens done, and I place on sideboard to cool. Missa Hoss run over to look.

"Not too close!" I tell him. "Hot."

His face screw up tight, like monkey. "You forgot ta take off the head and feet!"

"Not forget — must have whole chicken. Symbolize family unity in New Year."

"We gonna eat the head and feet?"

First time I see little Hoss doubtful about food I think.

Before I answer, Missa Adam call him. "Hey, Hoss! I could use a hand here."

Little Hoss run back to Missa Adam, who give him some red paper.

When he is busy I catch Missa Adam's eye and bow my thanks.

He grin at me.

I look around kitchen. Much done, I think. I can use leftover chicken carcass to make broth for Missy Cartwright, too. I look to see how Missa Adam do.

"Missa Hoss, you make fai chun too?"

Missa Hoss shake head so that fine hair fly about. "I'm makin' flowers. You said there should be flowers openin' on New Year's Day."

I look at him, then look at brother, feeling tightness around my heart. Such a small one — how does he remember this?

Missa Hoss hold up his paper flowers. "Do ya like 'em?"

Not look much like plum blossom or peony — not look much like any living flower I ever see.

"Very beautiful," I tell him at last. "Bloom all time — what could be luckier?"

Missa Hoss smile like sunbeam. "Where do we put 'em?"

"Look very nice by mothers' pictures I am thinking. Is good day to honor ancestors. Maybe keep one for Missy Cartwright; good day to honor parents, too."

The little Hoss jump up. "Kin I bring 'em to her?"

Ai, what I start?

"Yes, yes — if she awake. If not, come back down; do later."

Missa Hoss run for stairs, clutching limp paper flower.

I pick up Missa Adam's fai chun to study. "Very nice."

He look at them very hard. "Sure looks different from English."

"Very different. Very different thinking, so very different writing."

He sigh. "Wish I could read it."

I chuckle. This one's appetite for knowing like other one's appetite for tasting.

"Maybe someday. Someday know much, I think. We hang now, then eat. Remember, early bed tonight."

He cock head at banners. "What do they say again?"

I point. "This one say, 'May you have happiness and great fortune.' This one say, 'May you have wealth and treasures'."

Missa Adam nod, eyes trying to unravel mysteries of Chinese writing. "Are fai chun always about money?"

I raise eyebrows. "Who say treasures mean money? Ask fatha what he think are his treasures."

His ears grow red like fire, and I know he understand my meaning. He look to window, filled with early winter darkness. "I wish Pa was here," he say at last.

I frown. A hundred times each day I know he think this, but never have I heard him say.

"You think Burl and Jake caught up with him?"

I am cautious. "Who can say? Snow very deep. Tomorrow, maybe."

His eyes stay on window. "I should have gone. They should have come and got me."

I purse my mouth. "You go with them, who watch Little Hoss and animals? I must watch tiny one and Missy Cartwright — cannot watch everybody. Much to do here."

He nod, but his eyes do not leave window.

I frown deeper. "Missa Adam. Remember what you promise me."

He give little jump, then hang his head. After second, he nod again.

I nod back. "Good. Hang fai chun, then maybe you set table for Hop Sing?"

I watch as he hang banners by door as I have shown him, then go to bring food while he set dishes around.

As I place the serving platters I praise his work and shoo him off to fetch Missa Hoss for dinner.

I do not want to embarrass him more, so I pretend I not notice he has set place for Missa Ben, too.

TBC

I know, Tauna - poor Hop Sing is stuck being both mom and dad right now. We'll see if we can't get him some help!

And Barbara, thank you so much. I think any writer will tell you reviews are never too long, unless they're bad. Those are always too long. :) Anyway, I really enjoyed your feedback, and it's my birthday today, so it was a nice present!