"American Girl Breaking Traditions everywhere"

Chapter nine




Chrissy’s heart pumped with excitement as she thought about zhi. She found it hard to focus at work with her ring on so she had decided to remove it and put it in her pocket but it didn’t work. She knew the presence of the ring and she knew what it meant. It had her smiling and humming all day.

Chrissy washed off the conditioner in her client’s hair and lifted her head from the water. She put a towel on it and began to dry off her hair. She took a cart full of rollers and pins and rolled it over to her chair. She worked on her client’s roller for a half hour until she was finally done. She then placed a piece of sponge on each of her ears and put a cap on her head. She sent her to the machine and set it for an hour. It was Monday morning and Monday’s were always slow.

Chrissy looked at the clock and decided to take a lunch break. She grabbed her purse and waved to the busy manager. She walked out of the salon in time for a gust of wind to hit her face and cool her down. The salon was hot from the machines and the wind felt good. “Chrissy!” said a male’s voice form beside her. Chrissy turned to look at Braheem.

Chrissy stared at the dark chocolate man she once dated a while back. She smiled at his sight. Chrissy had good times with him but she figured it wouldn’t work out when she discovered they were better as just friends. He was a great guy but she wasn’t attracted to him as she desired.

Chrissy hugged him in joy. She hadn’t seen him in so long! “B! What’s up? Wow, how great to see you. You look good.” She said circling him and looking him up and down. He did look good. Just as good as he had when she began dating him and when she ended it. Chrissy found it funny how she left B and agreed to marry Z. Although Z was the last letter in the alphabet he seemed to be first on her list.


“You’re not looking to bad yourself Chrissy. Where are you off to?” he asked.

“Oh I’m just about to go to lunch.” She said pointing at a near by diner.

“How about I join you?” He said to her wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her in the direction of the diner.

Chrissy giggled and followed him reminiscing on the sweet times they had. They crossed the street together and walked to the diner. They walked in and Chrissy choose a close table. They sat down and Braheem smiled at her. “you really look good Chrissy” he said biting down on his lip his eyes glowing with seduction. Maybe if he had walked back into her life a month ago she would have melted at that look but at this moment she could careless. She loved Zhi! She loved him with a deep love that no seductive look could make her forget. Just then she reached into her pocket and pulled out her ring. She slipped it onto her finger and winked at Braheem.

“C?? Engaged? Married? NO!” He said sounding truly surprised.

Chrissy smiled and nodded her head. “It is true I am engaged to a lovely Asian man.” Braheem busted out laughing and Chrissy waved on his laughter rushing him to end it soon. B had always found her fond feelings towards Asians entertaining and so she expected this.

“Well I’m a little disappointed but I’m happy for you. I’m glad you found some one who will make you happy and remember, if he doesn’t you always have me.” Chrissy smiled at his flirtatious ways and looked at the menu. She was happy she found some one to make her happy also.

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Zhilan laid on her bed her hand over her head. The house was finally quiet as Meiling had decided she would go to her friend’s house and it was yet time to cook. The house was occupied by her husband and herself. Sighing she turned over in her neatly made bed. She was a tired woman. She wasn’t one to fake or lie. She knew she was of old age and that her age was catching up with her. Her hot flashes said so everyday and her mood changes screamed it to every one in the room. She was a woman on the edge.

Her family did nothing to help her with her menopause. They simply all avoided her. She didn’t mind so much it was just a bit hard to deal with. Her son it seemed to make it a new hobby of his to come to dinner and make her go crazy. Every night he came over for dinner he came with something new to anger her. His last stunt being the woman he had told her he would marry on her answer machine today.

The answer machine was no longer working.

Zhilan smiled at the thoughts of her smashing the machine. She had lost it and there was no turning back. Maybe America had gotten to her after all and she was just another crazy American. Her smile disappeared at the sound of the doorbell. She ignored it knowing her husband would answer it.

Minutes later her husband walked through the door. “Your son is downstairs waiting to talk with you.” Zhilan nodded her head and waved at her husband to move along. As years gone by her husband became the man she lived and slept with and not the man she loved. She left her country in search of the perfect way for them to be together and now it seemed that she could care less if they were together.

Her husband stepped closer to the bed and sat next to her. “What is going on in your head?” He asked surprising her.

She lowered her eye brows and said “what are you talking about?”

“What are you thinking when you tell him not to date her?” Yet again Zhilan was surprised.

Zhilan blew out some air mocking her husband’s words and said “who are you to decide to start talking now?”

“I am a father” He said his words stone. His eyes looked into hers and he seemed so sure of what he was getting to. He looked at her and she felt his concern.

“Go on” she said to him telling him that she was listening to his point in all of it.

“I am Zhi’s father and I want the best for him as do you but I do not believe we should band him from dating this girl. Sure she isn’t Chinese as we would like but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t worthy of his love. Did you even see the look in his eyes when he looked at her?” He questioned.

Zhilan looked at him and watched his lips move as the words spilled out and drowned her. He was right in many ways but still she could not help the feeling she felt towards this girl. She didn’t want her son to date or marry a woman who wasn’t apart of his kind. This country was an open country but the last thing she wanted was her son to forget he was still from China.

As the years passed she watched her children do American things. She watched as they grunted and complained about traditions. She wouldn’t let them forget who they were. Zhilan loved her country and adored traditions. She worked her hardest to keep them with her anywhere she went but most importantly she wanted to pass them down.

Her husband lifted her face with his hand and said “Listen to me. If you deny him of this girl he will hate us. We will loose our son because of our selfish thoughts of traditions first hearts later. Not because of America. Even worse… what if he doesn’t stay with this girl? What if she was what made him happy? Could you live with yourself if you caused his pain and removed the happiness in his life? Think about us when we were younger.”

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Zhi ran up the steps three by three eager to get to her apartment. Finally he made it to her apartment and knocked on the door multiple times. The door swung open and Chrissy looked at him confused. Smiling he lunged at her and kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. He finally released her lips and began kissing her neck and cheeks.

“Wow, what is all this for?” Chrissy said her voice breathless. Zhi said nothing but continued his passionate mission to express his love for Chrissy. “zhi, honey, you’re killing me!” Chrissy said trying to pull away.

Zhi caught his breath pulled away from her and smiled. “My mom said that she is fine with us marrying. I’m not sure what made her change her mind but she suddenly is fine with it and she even wants to be apart of the planning.”

Chrissy’s face lightened up and she jumped at him hugging him and holding him close. “We don’t have to marry immediately. I understand we need more time I’m just happy.” He said to her.

“Zhi you have no idea how happy I am also.” They kissed at her words and Zhi had trouble letting go of her until he heard the sound of an applause. It was then he looked beyond Chrissy and saw both Lydia and Ahmet on the couch clapping.

Lydia jokingly wiped at her eyes and said “Wow, this is so touching I think I just might want to start making out with Ahmet!” Ahmet smiled and poked her moving closer to her lips. Lydia laid a hand on his lips and said “I said I think I might I didn’t say I wanted to you dog!” Chrissy laughed and Zhi couldn’t imagine what lay ahead of him in this new relationship with Chrissy.