Tea Leaves and Diamond Bracelets

End of Summer, Family, and Worry

Match Thirty-One: End of Summer, Family, and Worry:

-Ju-

Summer is going to end in a few days. It makes feel a little bit sad every year. I guess it's because I know that more work will be coming soon. I should be used to this by now and I am. But that feeling always manages to come back. I shook my head as I looked out the window. Funny, I would be happy were summer break was over that meant I could get away from my father again. Summer was like boot camp with him. I told you already that he trained me to be the next clan leader. He took that seriously. Too seriously, I may add. My days were spent practicing writing, how to eat, walk, and speak properly. He would use snacks and treats as a way for bargaining chips. If I made a bad deal, I wouldn't get anything. Hen-to and Bik were have to come up with "day passes" just to get me out of the house to be a normal kid on the playground. It got a little bit better in high school. After his death, it didn't really change. I was still work-minded around the summer. Only this time, it was school and the clan.

I frowned and shook my head again. I needed to think about something else.

As per the end of every summer, my father would go and visit the other families on the property. That is one traditional will be keeping up. They were the only family that I have left now. It wouldn't hurt to give them a little visit today. I walked over to my closet and picked out another dress to wear. Once I changed clothes, I made it down to the front door.

"I'm leaving now," I said. "I'll be back."

"Okay," Yao said. I walked out to the front door.

-Ju and Chang Family-

My first house was the Chang house. I rang the doorbell.

"Coming!" I heard Bik shout. I stood back as she opened the door.

"Ju," she said. "What brings you by?"

"Just thought I would stop by for a visit," I said. "I barely get to see you anymore."

"Do you want to come in?" Bik asked.

"Sure," I said. She moved aside and let me into the house. It felt like walking into my own house again. The living room looked the same as it always had. I shielded my eyes from the sunlight through the windows. Hen-to used to have something delicious waiting for me when I came by to visit.

"Hey, Ju," Hen-to said from the kitchen. "I just put some doughnuts in the fryer." My eyes instantly lit up.

"You're making doughnuts again?" I asked.

"Yeah," Hen-to said. I tried not to squeal aloud like a little girl. When was the last time I had something so good like that? I cleared my throat.

"Are they ready yet?" I asked.

"Just about," he said. "I think we have about three minutes left."

"Sweet," I said. I sat down at the kitchen table. "I'm going to visit the family around the property."

"Ah, I remember those days," Hen-to said. "Your father would pop in before the summer was over."

"Yeah, I figured that I would do the same," I said. I smiled as I spoke.

"How's Little Bean?" Bik asked. I put my hands on my belly.

"Good," I said. "They are doing good."

"Are you having twins?" Hen-to asked.

"No," I said. "It's gender neutral. I don't feel right calling them 'it'."

"You still don't know the gender?" he asked.