The Piano

[Fiction, Aura Estrada short story contest winner] A Chinese American woman meets her neighbor under unfortunate circumstances:

‘So where are you from?’ the woman asked me.

‘We just moved up here from the city.’

‘No, I mean originally.’ I knew what this question meant.

‘I was born in China but I’ve lived in New York all my life. I came here before I even turned one.’

‘Oh, China. My sister took a trip to China last year. She said it was very beautiful.’

‘I’ve never been,’ I said. ‘Since I was born, of course.’

‘But your husband, he’s not Chinese.’ Her brow was furrowed as if she was trying to recall a complicated chronology of events. I was tempted to tell her that Daryl was Chinese, just to see if she would believe me.

‘No, he’s not Chinese.’

Source: Boston Review
Published: Jul 26, 2012
Length: 24 minutes (6,081 words)
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