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JOAN REESE









Chinese Please!


Lucky Wong’s restaurant draws large crowds at dinner.
While waiting in line I watched bubbled headed goldfish

In the window aquarium.
A seat opened up at a broad round table, blanketed with steaming plates of food,

Bowls of rice, glasses of tea; a sea of faces.
I squeezed into a young Asian couple’s conversation.

“So, what do you like to eat?” she shyly asked him.
Surprised he said, “They make my mother’s special dish!

When I was young she made me Salted Eggs with Seaweed."
“Oohh, I can make that. What else do you love to eat that your mother cooked?”

“She made braised carp belly with Ginger," he hesitated,
"I’m telling you all my secrets, I should be careful.”

With confidence she said, “I cook very good!”
Playing hard to get he asked, “Can you make Bird’s nest soup?”

“Of course, I make bird’s nest soup; my grandmother taught me all her secret recipes.
I cook very good! I would be very good girlfriend for you.

Do you speak Chinese?”
“Of course I speak Chinese!”

Happily she cooed, “Please say something in Chinese?”
Just then the waiter appeared with pen and pad.

He nodded towards the young man for their order.
The young man gestured towards the young lady and said,

“She’ll have a #5 and give me #32.”



Contributor's Note