Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Adeline Yen Mah
- Language: English
- Genre: Children’s Books
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
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AUTUMN 1941
As soon as I got home from school, Aunt Baba noticed the silver medal
dangling from the left breast pocket of my uniform. She was combing her
hair in front of the mirror in our room when I rushed in and plopped my
schoolbag down onto my bed.
“What’s that hanging on your dress?”
“It’s something special that Mother Agnes gave me in front of the whole
class this afternoon. She called it an award.”
My aunt looked thrilled. “So soon? You only started kindergarten a week
ago. What is it for?”
“It’s for leading my class this week. When Mother Agnes pinned it on my
dress, she said I could wear it for seven days. Here, this certificate goes
with it.” I opened my schoolbag and handed her an envelope as I climbed
onto her lap.
She opened the envelope and took out the certificate. “Why, it’s all written
in French or English or some other foreign language. How do you expect
me to read this, my precious little treasure?” I knew she was pleased
because she was smiling as she hugged me. “One day soon,” she continued,
“you’ll be able to translate all this into Chinese for me. Until then, we’ll just
write today’s date on the envelope and put it away somewhere safe. Go
close the door properly and put on the latch so no one will come in.”
I watched her open her closet door and take out her safe-deposit box. She
took the key from a gold chain around her neck and placed my certificate
underneath her jade bracelet, pearl necklace and diamond watch, as if my
award were also some precious jewel impossible to replace.
As she closed the lid, an old photograph fell out. I picked up the faded
picture and saw a solemn young man and woman, both dressed in oldfashioned Chinese robes. The man looked rather familiar.
“Is this a picture of my father and dead mama?” I asked.
“No. This is the wedding picture of your grandparents. Your Ye Ye was
twenty-six and your Nai Nai was only fifteen.” She quickly took the photo
from me and locked it into her box.
“Do you have a picture of my dead mama?”
She avoided my eyes. “No. But I have wedding pictures of your father and
your stepmother, Niang. You were only one year old when they married. Do
you want to see them?”
“No. I’ve seen those before. I just want to see one of my own mama. Do I
look like her?” Aunt Baba did not reply, but busied herself with putting the
safe-deposit box back into her closet. After a while I said, “When did my
mama die?”
“Your mother came down with a high fever three days after you were born.
She died when you were two weeks old.…” She hesitated for a moment,
then exclaimed suddenly, “How dirty your hands are! Have you been
playing in that sandbox at school again? Go wash them at once! Then come
back and do your homework!”
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