TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Family Ghosts Chapter 2 Red Velvet Box Chapter 3 Me Why Me Chapter 4 First Ballet Class Chapter 5 Cooking Lessons Chapter 6 What It Means to Be Vietnamese Chapter 7 Making Bánh Xèo Chapter 8 In a Bad Mood Chapter 9 What’s Wrong with Me Chapter 10 Everyone Loves Spring Rolls Chapter 11 Holiday Party Chapter 12 Something Isn’t Right Chapter 13 Our Ancestors Are in Us Chapter 14 Family Spirits 1 7 14 21 28 35 42 50 56 64 71 77 85 92
CHAPTER 1 Family Ghosts I Anne Nguyen believe in ghosts Not the kind of ghosts that hide in dark corners and yell boo Not scary ghosts but family ghosts Dad and Mom say we Vietnamese believe the spirits of our family our ancestors stay with us after they pass away They hear our prayers They watch out for us 1
My Grandma Nội died in early spring but we still remember her Today is the new moon the day each month we make offerings on her altar It’s my job as the eldest child I’m nine to clean the altar set up in our dining room As I wipe down the framed picture of Grandma Nội’s smiling face I smile I look forward to offering days They make me feel closer to her On the altar there are three ceramic bowls of jasmine rice three cups of black tea barbecue pork kale salad lasagna apples and oranges We invite the ancestors to share in our meal My seven-year-old sister Elizabeth brings out the chopsticks and I line them up neatly next to the bowls 2
