Use your manners!
Mei Lin woke up on a bright sunny morning. She jumped out of bed and walked cautiously over to her window. There she saw her beauitful street. All her neighbors were ready and excited for Chinese New Year. For the day had come already. It was just around the corner. Mei Lin couldn't wait to go to dinner with her relatives and siblings. On Chinese New Year they would give out money at the table during dinner. But this was just the beginning of Chinese New Year! It would last for 2 weeks.
Mei Lin walked downstairs to her kitchen. Her feet pressed against the cold tile floor. Mei Lin has a big brother and a little sister, she lives with her mom and dad as well. Mei Lin lives in New York. Mei Lin asked her mom when the parade would start. Her mom said soon, but not soon if you keep asking. That was her mom's way of keeping the children from annoying her. Soon it was the quiet exciting evening. Mei Lin was energetic at that time of the year. It was time to go out to Hop Ling's!
Mei Lin was hyper! She couldn't stop thinking about all the fun she would have. She would give and receive money. But that wasn't her favorite part, she liked to eat her favorite chinese dishes that they would put on one large rolling glass plate and spin it around in the center of the table.
When Mei Lin and her family arrived, Mei Lin saw her Popo and her Gong Gong and her Uncle's and Aunts and cousins. Mei Lin saw the prepared tea sitting at her spot they had reserved for her. Mei Lin grabbed her chopsticks and shouted "Where's the food?". Her mother said that is very bad manners. She should say hello to everyone instead of shouting that. Mei Lin was just so hungry for the chinese rice and duck , and all the other chinese dishes and desserts.
Soon, it was time to order. Mei Lin ordered rice, dumplings, cabbage, and duck. Her family ordered other dishes. The whole family shared all of the dishes set out on the rolling plate. After they ate their scrumptious satisfying meals, they all sat and gave money to each other in a red filed chinese envelope. Each envelope had their own style/design.
They had fortune cookies , and each read their fortune out loud. Mei Lin had a great and fun day and realized that using manners was the way to go.
