Family With Six Treasures (11)
Downstairs, Mrs. Li saw her husband slumped on the couch, so she hurried into the kitchen to get him a cup of tea. Silently, automatically, he took the cup and blew slowly on the floating tea leaves.
Quietly Mrs. Li started to talk. “Celia may not be on the same level as her sisters, academically. You know, in the
Her husband still said nothing.
She also sat without talking for quite a while. Then “Remember when we prepared that list of names of the Chinese graduate students? Do you still have it?”
He nodded.
Very carefully, without haste, Mrs. Li continued. "Now that summer vacation is starting, we must insist that Celia leave the dorm and live at home. We will have to watch her more closely and not permit her as much freedom as we have.” Mrs. Li paused to observe her husband. “Once more, let’s invite all of the Chinese students to our house; but this time, no Caucasian bartender to mix drinks!”
When Celia found out that she was under house arrest, she became agitated. She cried bitterly, refused to eat, and in general caused great turmoil in the Li household. Attending a party to be matched for a husband is the last straw.
Celia refused to cooperate until her mother diplomatically put a new light on the entire situation.
"It's not the way you think. This party is like a showcase for you and interesting oriental entertainment for these Chinese students who are so far away from home," her mother explained.
This idea intrigued Celia. "Well, I'll have to practice my Chinese songs. And, if I sing in Chinese, the entire atmosphere will have to be Chinese. There must be books which illustrate Chinese dance steps and offer other material on Chinese music," She became quite excited and then very involved.
There were tapes to find, songs to locate, books to peruse if she were to stage a professional show. Celia asked her mother and her Number One sister to make her a Chinese costume. By the time it was finished and ready to try on, she could hardly wait to look at herself in the mirror.
When the professor and his wife observed that Celia had thrown herself into this project, our Number Three daughter Celia calmed down.
“When is the party?” Celia’s sisters wanted to know. “She’s been practicing day and night; our eardrums are broken and our nerves are frayed.”
This time Professor Li dedicated his old body entirely to getting the guests to the party. He brought two car-loads of Chinese graduate students to
Mr. Chow, one of the graduate students, borrowed a brand new Cadillac from his friend's butler. Mr. Li's second trip from the city, Mr. Chow followed Professor Li with the big borrowed car carrying a third load of Chinese graduate students. The Li's guest list has grown somewhat from its original size.
Both cars arrived at Li's house, where the door was standing wide open, and Mrs. Li waited to greet the last group of guests with a broad smile.
Would you think it peculiar if each of your guests had a funny look on his face as he got out of the car and looked at your house?
Guess what?
Elaine, their Number Five daughter, and her red-headed friend Elsa were standing outside the house. Both were wearing bright yellow sweaters, each with two great prominent red Chinese characters sewn to the sweater's front. The symbols on Elaine's flat chest translated to "Extremely Delicious." On Elsa's well-developed bosom were characters which in English meant "Very Nutritious."
Would you be embarrassed if these were your family?
Professor Li called Mr. Chow aside and asked, "Would you please act as host for a few minutes? As you see, we have a small emergency to take care of."
The Li's herded Elaine and Elsa into the kitchen. Professor Li was too embarrassed to say the words, which would eliminate the girls' puzzled look. "Elaine, please have Diana come downstairs. She can read Chinese and will enlighten you by translating these four Chinese characters. No. Better go upstairs and have Diana explain. And, for Buddha's sake, change out of those sweaters. I never want to see you wearing them again."
Before they can leave, Diana enters the kitchen wearing a stunning new Kung Fu outfit, with a real sword in hand.
“Here I am. And, Celia is not the only one who practiced regularly," Diana tells her shocked parents. "I also practiced my Kung Fu routines with great diligence," implying that she wanted to join Celia’s showcase.
“Oh Diana. This time our guests have been invited for Celia. They're not here for you," the low flustered Mrs. Li told her Number Four Daughter.
“ Oh. Ohhh! You’re going to have a party for each of your remaining one thousand ounce of gold.” Finally, Diana understood.
Their Number Five Daughter, who had been listening, protested, "We don't want any of your old Chinese graduate students. We want to invite our own friends as guests."
She spoke with the vehemence that only a disgruntled 15-year-old girl could muster.
"Elaine's absolutely right. If you throw a party for me, you'll have to select only avid Kung Fu fans," Diana made what she thought was a most reasonable request.
The Li's had no time to argue with either of them at this point. Guests were waiting downstairs, and Professor Li and his wife were anxious to join them. Because their parents had said nothing, based on the girls' faces' content expressions, it was clear that the daughters thought their Mom and Dad had agreed to their requests.
On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Li's faces looked as if something occurred, which they may regret for a long time. But, there was no time to worry now. There were priorities, and when the eyebrows are burning, one must extinguish that fire first.
Professor and Mrs. Li went downstairs to be with their guests that Mr. Chow has been holding the fort very diligently. He has been a great help to his host and hostess. Everyone seemed to be enjoying himself; the food consumed happily, and conversations appeared to be flowing along with the food.
(To Be Continued)