FORTUNE COOKIE SURPRISE

Ling pushed through the frosted glass doors of the Dragon Inn, closely followed by Annie.

- A short story by Fiona Keating

“It's going to be fine. Just stay close to me.”

Annie gave Ling’s hand a quick squeeze. “I’m not worried, I'm really excited to meet your relatives.”

Ling looked nervous.

“You don't know my family.”

A blast of humid air hit them both, along with the aroma of honey roast pork as they walked into a scene of raucous laughter and chattering, babies crying, and waiters in white shirts scurrying around.

They looked around at the resplendent restaurant, a riot of colour in eye-popping turquoise, scarlet, yellow and gold. The ceiling lights were huge, glass-panelled Chinese lanterns with long red tassels, the thick black carpet had yellow roundels with the Chinese symbol for good luck and the back wall was decorated with paintings of roaring dragons. Ling was scanning the room for Auntie Wei, the family matriarch.

Annie was delighted to see so many of Ling’s cousins, aunts and uncles.

Ling whispered to Annie, “That's my Auntie Wei.” She nodded at the centre table. “The woman with suspiciously dark hair - a trip to the hairdressers every three weeks, like clockwork. Follow me.”

Ling, with a knot in her stomach, led the way through the maze of tables.

“Ling! Why so late?” exclaimed Auntie Wei as she stood up and hugged her niece tightly. “Say hello to Grandpa.”

An elderly man with bright eyes smiled up at her. Ling smiled and hugged him too. Annie hovered awkwardly while Ling made her way around the table hugging each relative. With a nudge from Annie, Ling announced to Auntie Wei, “I want you to meet Annie. We've just moved in together.”

“How many bedrooms, two or three?”

“Well, it's a just a one-bedroom flat,” muttered Ling as her cheeks reddened.

“Oh,” Auntie Wei laughs. “You have to share the bedroom! That's like the old days. We had to sleep six to one room - so much noise! All chattering at night.”

“No, I mean, um, Annie and I, well, um, it is just one because -”