“Mom? Why not? Not everything was bad. Why do you always have to try to forget we had one? You’re the one who thinks it’s so important to remember where we came from. Well, we came from her.” I scraped the body of the crab for the remnants of meat, ginger, and chili sauce.

“That’s right, Lily. We had a mom. She left her responsibilities and forgot about us.” Bea was vigorously wiping her hands with the few napkins left on the table.

“We don’t know that she forgot about us.”

“You’re a lawyer. Look at the evidence. All she taught us was how to be a bad mom.”

“You’re just remembering the end. Mom was good before she left. She taught us how to cook Chinese food. All the words we know in Chinese are from her. Dad didn’t teach us anything. Mom made us celebrate different holidays, like the Mid-Autumn Festival, even though Dad thought it was silly.”

“You have a selective memory. Dad cooks Chinese food, and he’ll go along with anything Auntie Choo Neo celebrates, including Lunar New Year. I really hope you’re not taking any lessons for being a good mom from our mother. All I remember is her crying a lot, lying around in despair, and neglecting her duties. Kind of reminds me of you right now.”

I stared at my sister, dropping the nutcracker, its jaw stuck on a trapped piece of crab. “Maybe this is why you’re alone. Your heart is stone cold. You can’t even feel for your own mother.”

“Feel for her? What about us, Lily? She definitely didn’t feel for us when she abandoned us. Maybe it’s a good thing we’re having this conversation now. Keep going this way and I’ll be raising your baby.”

“How can you say that? You know what? This lunch is over. Get out!” I yelled, pointing at the front door.

“Gladly.” Bea violently pushed her chair back and stomped out.

I gazed at the empty shells spread before me, unsure what to do first: wipe my tear-streaked face or wash my sticky hands.

舌Tongue

“AYA!” AUNTIE CHOO NEO EXCLAIMED, grabbing the baby from me. “Lu jin niao siao! Clever one! Already causing problems.”

A week after I fought with Bea over plates of Auntie Choo Neo’s chili crab, Auntie decided to make an appearance herself.

“Come in, Auntie. Do you want some tea?”

“Yes! It will go nicely with the scones and clotted cream I brought. A good British treat for breakfast.”

“Thank you, Auntie. How nice of you,” I said dutifully and placed a few scones from the box on plates. “Would you like me to put some cream and jam on your scone?”

“I’ll do it. We have lots of time to eat.”

“Okay … Auntie, you remember I have my appointment with the nurse at ten, right?”

“Aya, you act like I don’t know what it’s like to be a mother! I don’t mind if she’s here while I’m here.”