Front Desk

... a mistake isn't always a mistake. ... Sometimes a mistake is actually an opportunity, but we just can't see it right then and there.

Sometimes terrible things happen, but there's nothing more terrible than not having anybody to tell it to.

It's going to be okay. I'll make friends, and if I don't, I'll borrow books from the library.

So what'd you write about?' 'I wrote about how last weekend my parents and I waited in line at the movies for an hour, and when we finally got up to the ticket booth lady, they were sold out! Isn't that sad?' 'That is super sad,' I said, wishing, hoping, one day that would be my super sad.

You know what you are in English? You’re a bicycle, and the other kids are cars.

We’re immigrants,” she said. “Our lives are never fair.

I wondered which was better—to have had something for just a second and then have it taken away, or to have never had it at all.

Sometimes, problems seem humongous in your head, but if you tell someone, you'd be surprised what can happen.

That was the problem with keeping a secret—you are all alone, on your own little island.

Sometimes a mistake is actually an opportunity, but we just can't see it right then and there" -Dad

Just because you have an important job doesn’t mean you’re better than everybody else.

Lupe explained. According to her dad, there were two roller coasters in America—one for rich people and one for poor people. On the rich roller coaster, people have money, so their kids get to go to great schools. Then they grow up and make a lot of money, so their kids get to go to great schools.

Why are Americans always asking kids to go out and play? In China, kids almost never played....every minute after school was packed with homework, drilling, revision, and dictation. When I went to first grade in China, I got only two minutes a day to play. That's literally what it said on a schedule I made for myself: 5:00 - 5:02: Play

Is China in Japan?” Stuart asked. Jason turned around and glared at him. “No, idiot, it’s not in Japan.” Stuart shriveled in his seat. “Well, where’s China, then?” he asked. “In China!” Jason said. “Oh.

We have to try and accept our fate.

The next school day, I went very early to school to put the letter on Lupe’s desk. I also had something special for Jason—but it wasn’t the letter I wrote him. It was something else I had picked up recently from another Chinese immigrant. When I was helping this uncle with his luggage, I had pulled too hard and got a blister on my hand. The man said he had just the thing, and gave me a little vial of Chinese medicine. It felt minty and cool on my finger, but when I reached up to tuck my bangs behind my ear, my minty finger got a little too close to my eye. I was crying in seconds. So after I set Lupe’s letter down on her desk, I practically soaked Jason’s pencils with the same stuff that had made me cry. Let’s see him twirl these suckers now! Jason did not notice the gleam on his pencils when he sat down later that morning. He was too busy bragging about Las Vegas and all the great food he ate and the luxurious suite they stayed in. “They had a pool with three pool slides! There was even a restaurant right smack in the—” “When are you going to give me my pencil back?” I asked. I wanted to cut to the chase. I couldn’t care less about his fancy pools, considering I stared at one all day. “You mean my pencil?” He shrugged. “I gave it to my dog, Wealthy. It’s probably all chewed up by now.” He would give it to his dog. And he would have a dog named Wealthy. Jason smirked, picked up one of his pencils and started twirling. He twirled it a little too close to his face and just as I predicted, the strong minty smell made his eyes water. He put the pencil down and began rubbing his eyes furiously with his menthol fingers. Big mistake. “Oh my God, Jason’s crying!” one of my classmates exclaimed. “No, I’m not!” Jason insisted, blinking furiously. But it was too late. Everyone ran over and huddled next to Jason. It wasn’t every day a kid in fifth grade started bawling—fourth grade maybe, but not fifth grade. We watched with wide eyes as Jason cried and cried. Sunlight flooded in through the tall glass windows, and Jason’s tears glistened in the warm peach glow. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time. It was a beautiful, beautiful day. The only thing that could make that day more beautiful was the chance of Lupe forgiving me.

sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands.

My parents told me America was this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers till we were red in the face. So far the only part we’ve achieved is the hamburger part, but I was still holding out hope. And the hamburgers here are pretty good.

You gotta listen, you gotta care, and most importantly, you gotta keep trying. Sometimes terrible things happen, but there's nothing more terrible than not having anybody to tell it to. It's going to be okay. I'll make friends, and if I don't, I'll borrow books from the library.

YES! We got the Chinese girl!

The kind people at Pizza Hut let me keep my coupon as a souvenir. Carefully, I taped it up next to the front desk so I could look at it every day while I worked.

If we can’t have the American dream ourselves, maybe we can have it together!” the immigrants exclaimed.

How could I feel this way about my own cousin? He was family. If he was doing well, I should be happy for him.

Oh, wait, there’s been a mistake. Was this going to be like the chocolate notebook again? I told myself, Don’t. Do not feel warm and fuzzy. Not yet.