Cute That’s because you don’t live with them True she said Have fun Wanna help I’ll probably need backup Sorry Yulia held up her clarinet case Mr Byrd gave us new music to play at the Snow Ball How could I forget It was our first week back to school after winter break And the annual winter dance was coming up soon I’m guessing we couldn’t get a real band this year So we’re stuck with the Band O Geeks instead The Band O Geeks is what I call our school band Playing clarinet in the band is Yulia’s life just like snowboarding is mine But I don’t get band I mean sitting around blowing hot air into an instrument Snooze fest We are a real band And we’re playing a love song Yulia wiggled her eyebrows up and down And hey she laughed watch it with that geek stuff 6
Sorry I laughed too But you know I’m not talking about you Yulia You’re a cool geek I meant the rest of the Band O Geeks Yulia shook her head At least we’re not a bunch of park rats She teases me about snowboarding as much as I tease her about band Whatever band girl Go practice your new song And you go practice uh whatever park rats practice Later I said jumping up and grabbing a pretend snowboard Yulia laughed as she left When I opened the front door it sounded like a live band was playing inside I plugged my ears all the way to the family room where my grandparents were still dancing The entire neighborhood can see you you know I shouted above the music Let them see I don’t care Pop twirled Grammy around a few times before dipping her 7
Grammy giggled and slapped Pop’s shoulder Let me up Quan He did And then he kissed her cheek Silly man Grammy said But I knew she loved it And she loved him It showed in her sparkly brown eyes And in the way she tickled his cheek with her boa So what’s for supper I asked turning the music off and heading toward the kitchen I smell chè b(cid:823)p Grammy still cooks a lot of Vietnamese foods and chè b(cid:823)p is sweet corn pudding Yummy I couldn’t resist dipping my finger into the bowl before Grammy swiped it away Uh uh uh Grammy’s voice rose higher with every uh What I asked licking the sticky pudding from my finger That’s for dessert Please use your manners Tally 8
I grinned Taste testing is good manners Grammy And your chè b(cid:823)p is officially the best She tried to frown but her lips curved into a smile instead Supper will be ready soon We’re having cá kho t(cid:865) tonight Mmm Fish simmered in caramel sauce and spices in Grammy’s clay pot It’s one of my favorites I rubbed my stomach Good I’m starving I said And I need my energy for snowboarding practice Grammy patted my shoulder Your grandfather and I want to talk to you about that She pulled out a stool Sit I hopped onto the stool But I didn’t like the serious look on Grammy’s face What’s up If it’s about dipping into the pudding I promise I’ll never do it again Until the next time you make chè b(cid:823)p I tried to joke It’s not that Pop said joining us in the kitchen Is it my grades Because I’ve kept them up No way will I get kicked off the snowboarding team 9
