The Fold Read Online Free PDF Page B

like we’re going to get popular overnight just because we dress differently or style our hair a certain way. I stopped believing in that summer Cinderella dream in middle school,” Joyce lied, purposefully keeping her voice gruff and low. She knew if Gina even got a whiff of her plans to get rid of her chubby knees over the summer in an attempt at transforming herself for senior year, it would become a full-blown episode of
Makeover Madness
. Gina would have an exercise plan worked out, with daily eating charts, and would make Joyce shop all the time to buy the best clothes at the cheapest prices. Gina always went the whole nine yards and then some.
    Gina chuckled to herself. “Remember that summer before eighth grade when we got those bad perms?”
    “Trying to get that corkscrew hair effect.” Joyce laughed. “God, that was awful. And then you made us get another perm to try and correct the first bad one.”
    “Hey, that wasn’t just my idea. Wait,” Gina said,her neck craning to look out the window. “Speaking of makeovers, I think your aunt just pulled up.”
    Joyce whirled around. “Gomo? What is she doing here so early?”
    An older woman in a matching argyle sweater suit was just stepping out of her Mercedes.
    “Maybe she wants to put her order in before the dinner rush,” Gina said.
    “I better warn Uhmma and Apa.” Joyce rushed off to the kitchen and poked her head in. “Gomo is here!”
    Uhmma looked up from the stove. “What?”
    Apa was sitting at the back table eating and reading his book.
    “She just pulled up in front,” Joyce said.
    Apa quickly stashed his book under some napkins and stood up.
    “What is she doing here so early?” Uhmma pulled off her kerchief in a panic and began madly fluffing up her hair with her fingertips.
    Joyce turned around to go back to the front but spotted Andy crouched behind the register counter. “Andy!” Joyce yelled. “You little spy!”
    Andy whispered, “Michael’s here!”
    Joyce smiled despite herself. Andy and Joyce calledtheir aunt by a code name for the singer who had altered his appearance beyond recognition.
    Joyce crooked her finger at him and Andy stood up reluctantly. As weird as Gomo was, she was still their aunt who had made it possible for the entire family to immigrate to the United States, and Gomo wasn’t about to let anyone forget.

FIVE
    on-young!” Gomo called out as she pushed open the glass front door of the restaurant.
    Joyce stepped forward to greet her aunt and bowed deeply from the waist as she said, “On-young-ha-say-yo, Gomo.”
    Gina waved from the table where she was topping off one of the soy sauce containers. “Hi, Gomo,” Gina said.
    Gomo frowned at Gina’s casual greeting.
    “Joyce-ya, go get your uhmma and apa,” Gomo commanded and walked over to a table, carefully brushing off a chair cushion before sitting down. Gomo never entered the kitchen, preferring to be treated like a customer. A customer who ate at their restaurant nearlyevery day and never paid, but a customer all the same. Gomo’s heavily made-up face hardly moved when she spoke. “I have exciting news for everyone!”
    Joyce turned around to rush her parents, but they were already stepping out of the kitchen with Mrs. Lee close behind. Uhmma bowed deeply from the waist, her hair brushed back, a coat of lipstick shining and her apron off.
    “On-young-ha-say-yo, Gomo,” Uhmma said.
    “Oh-young-ha-say-yo,” Mrs. Lee chimed.
    Uhmma rushed over to the table where Gomo was sitting. “Is everything all right? You are here so early today.”
    Gomo examined Uhmma closely. “You look tired, Helen’s uhmma. Have you been applying the cream I gave you?”
    Uhmma smiled awkwardly and nodded.
    Apa walked over to his older sister and patted her hand to distract her gaze. “Gomo, what would you like to eat tonight? We have mackerel, fresh. It came in today. Shall I grill it up for you?”
    Gomo shook her head and motioned for Apa to sit down. She