Elle said, “Can you fry up the lop choeng?”

Viet asked, “Do you notice anything different?”

They looked him over and Michelle asked, “Did you get a haircut, Dad?”

“I cleaned all day today.” He waved his hand like a magician in the air pointing all around.

They glanced around and Elle said, “It does look nice,” nodding in concession.

He knew they were kids and didn’t notice details but he couldn’t resist. Viet swung open the closet door to show them the Kirby. “Take a look at this,” he said.

They didn’t seem overly enthused.

Michelle eyed the red Hoover, “Did that other vacuum break or something?”

Then Elle asked, “How much did it cost? Was it expensive?”

His spirits fell. He said, “You can split a package of Top Ramen but I’m not frying up the Chinese sausage. It’s greasy and I don’t want to stink up the place and ruin the surprise after all my hard work.”

Huong came home, dropped her purse on the floor and ran to the bathroom. It wasn’t the romantic homecoming he had envisioned. From the bathroom, she said, “Wow, the bathroom is so clean. Did you clean? It smells lemony in here.”

He stood on the other side of the door with his arms crossed. He heard the roll of the toilet paper and then her flush. “I just thought the place needed a touch up,” he said with a self-satisfied smile on his face.

She came out and fixed her eyes on him. Her gaze held steady for the first time in months. “That was nice,” she said. Huong went to kitchen, greeted the girls, and opened the fridge. She held the refrigerator door steady and the ring winked at him from across the room. Her rump was in the air and her head was inside the fridge and even after fifteen years of marriage, he still felt a deep carnal stirring for her.

She said, “Maybe we can make something special for dinner tonight. Let’s steam that sea bass. And how about we fry up the lop choeng to go with some fried rice.”

The girls’ ears perked up like rabbits when they heard this. Michelle said, “We asked for the Chinese sausage earlier but Dad wouldn’t let us. He said it would make the house stinky and ruin his surprise for you.” At this, Huong turned to Viet and smiled her closed-mouth girlish smile. His heart leapt.

Elle said, “If someone has a surprise, you’re not supposed to tell them they’re getting a surprise stupid.” She rolled her eyes at Michelle.

Huong said, “The cleaning was surprise enough. There’s more?”

Michelle said, “A present. Go look!” She pointed down the hallway.

Huong said, “I don’t want a present. We can’t afford any presents.”

Viet hurriedly crossed the kitchen, went down the hallway and said, “Follow me.” He then opened the closet door, pulled out the Kirby, and with a flourish of his wrist said, “Voila!”

Huong crossed her arms. With utter disapproval she said, “I know that’s not for me because I already own a vacuum.”