It was Wednesday evening. Since Mama had a class, Munch, that man and Lolly had gone over to the trailer to have supper with Grandma Toady. Max was at a basketball game. In the porch light they could see Mitzi on the bottom step with Puccini snuggled in her arms. As soon as she saw Lolly, she jumped up and ran right into Lolly’s arms. She pouted, “I miss you when you’re not here.”

Lolly hugged her and said, “I miss you too. I’ll be home tomorrow night.”

“Really?”

“Yup.”

Mitzi held out her stuffed bear and asked, “Do you miss him?”

“Very much.”

“He misses you very much too. But he don’t miss Fluff. He hates Fluff. He wants Fluff to live with them.” She jabbed her little thumb in Munch’s direction.

When they got inside, the kitchen table was already set with chicken quesadillas and chips. Grandma Toady was at the stove dressed in her best jeans and a big shirt with tiny red stripes. Her hair was done up carefully. Munch wondered, had she done that just for church or did it have something to do with the fact, she would be dropping him off for his ink brush lesson?

They sat down at the table. Mitzi said the prayer, “Dear God thank you for this food. Thank you for my family. Please help Grandma Toady know that I should go to Ong noi’s cause he really misses me. Amen.”

That man looked at Grandma Toady and said, “Seems like you aren’t the only female taken with that man, Ma.”

Munch couldn’t help but notice that, that man called Ong noi, that man.

Slightly flustered, Grandma Toady said, “I am not TAKEN with anyone Trace, so stop teasing me.”

He grinned and said, “Whatever you say Ma.”

Mitzi asked, “Can I go?”

Grandma Toady said, “You haven’t been invited.”

“Yes, I have.”

“When?”

“Ong noi told me I was welcome anytime. And now is anytime.”

Grandma Toady shook her head. “Sweetie, he will be teaching Munch and its not fair for Thahn Ho to have to watch you and Le.”

Munch thought, that is WAY not fair. Putting those two brats together was inviting trouble.

The face Mitzi made to wind up for her next fit was a warning sign. Grandma Toady took one look at her and said, “Remember who you are dealing with.”

Mitzi dropped her eyes and said, “Yes Ma’am.”

After supper, Munch, Grandma Toady, Mitzi and Puccini got into Grandma Toady’s truck and headed for Thahn Ho’s house. Grandma Toadywas humming under her breath as she drove. When they pulled into the drive, Grandma Toady didn’t get out of the truck and she kept a firm grip on Mitzi’s arm. Munch got out with his painting supplies.

Mitzi shouted, “Ong noi we’re here!”

The garden gate opened and Ong noi stepped out. He was wearing a long brown shirt with white trousers.

Mitzi jerked free of Grandma Toady and leapt out of the truck. She reached Ong noi before Munch did. She threw her little arms around him and gave him a big hug. She tilted her head back and said, “Ong noi can I stay here with you?”

Ong noi laughed. From the truck cab, Grandma Toady scolded, “Mitzi! You know what I said.”

Certain she would get her way, Mitzi grinned. She turned her gaze back to Ong noi. He said, “If it is alright with your Grandma, you can stay.”

“Can I?”

Though Grandma Toady shook her head, she replied, “Yes.”

“Yippee!” Mitzi did a little dance with Puccini and headed for the back yard.

Ong noi walked to Grandma Toady’s window. He placed his hands on the frame and asked, “Would you like to have tea when you return?”

“That sounds lovely.” The smile Grandma Toady gave Ong noi was different from any smile Munch had ever seen her smile. Feeling like an intruder, Munch ducked into the back yard.

In the yard the light of day was fading. Perched in the yard swing sat Thahn Ho. She glanced up at Munch and gave him a smile that made is toes curl in the best way possible. Behind her, Mitzi was hopping from one paving stone to the next. She stopped long enough to ask, “Where’s Le?”

Thahn Ho said, “With my parents.”

“Oh.” Mitzi didn’t look disappointed.

Ong noi came through the gate. He asked Mitzi, “Would you like to paint?”

She shook her head. “I’d rather play out here.”

“Very well. Michael, follow me please.”

Munch was secretly relieved Mitzi would NOT be part of the lesson.

When they entered the studio it was set up differently. In the center of the room was what looked like a coffee table with a cushion on either side of it. On the table were two ink blocks, cups of water, bamboo brushes and rice paper. Munch liked the texture of rice paper, but it was tricky because it was a delicate paper that absorbed water and ink quickly. An entire page could be ruined with one bad stroke. Rice paper was not forgiving.

Ong noi said, “This evening we will practice suiboku-ga. This style of painting was developed in China around 960 A.D. during the Sung Dynasty. Observe as I paint.”

This was what Munch had been waiting for. They were going to do more than letters. He watched Ong noi dip his brush in water and then pass it over the ink block with delicate precision. The magic began when the inked brush touched the paper. With a few strokes the ink bled into a sky and mountains appeared. It was magic. Again, Ong noi dipped and inked his brush. This time a lake appeared that reflected clouds. He painted delicate trees along the banks of the lake. Dimension was created by using more of less ink. Not once did he make a false stroke. Munch had no idea how much time passed as he watched. One day he hoped to be as good as Ong noi.

Ong noi lifted his brush and stopped painting. He looked up and said, “Now Michael, your turn. Go slow. Trust yourself and trust the paper and the brush. They will teach you.”

Though fear tried to get a hold of him, Munch pushed it back. He dipped his brush in the water and then pulled it across the ink block. The ink was sucked up into the bristles. With a slow stroke he put ink to rice paper. He watched the ink bleed into the paper and spread out forming a gray sky with white clouds. It was incredible. As he worked he forgot everything. All that existed was the landscape he was creating.

Too soon, Ong noi said, “Michael, I am afraid our time is up.”

Munch didn’t want his time to be up. He didn’t want to stop.

Ong noi smiled at him and said, “We will continue this lesson next week. Continue to practice your letters, but also feel free to paint.”

“Thank you Sir.”

Ong noi attempted to get up. Frustrated, he said, “I need a bit of help standing.” Munch went to him and extended his hand. Ong noi grabbed hold of it and levered himself up. He laughed and said, “My knees are unhappy. They have lost the skill to sit on the floor.”

They went to the sink and washed out the brushes with cold water and placed them in a glass with the bristles pointed up to dry. Before they left the studio, Ong noi said, “I trust you to be good to my granddaughter. When I was a young man I cared for a girl whose family were servants. My father was the magistrate of our village. He tried to beat my affection for her out of me. When that did not work, he had her father beaten and they left our village. People can be very cruel. I will not ask you to not care, because I know from my own experience it is not possible, but I do ask you to always give respect.”

Ong noi’s words explained a lot. With a lump in his throat, Munch said, “Yes Sir, I will.”

He laid a hand on Munch’s shoulder. “I believe you. Now it is time for me to make tea.” They went outside. The sky had filled with stars.

Munch’s eyes strayed to the yard swing.Thahn Ho’s eyes met his.The garden’s hanging lanterns cast her in an other worldly light. She looked like princess placed in a secret garden.

Zooming around behind the swing, Mitzi wore a pair of fairy wings. She called out, “Ong noi, look at me!”

Ong noi said, “Ah, a magic person. Come magic person, help me make some tea.”

“Sure!”

After they went inside Munch made his way to Thahn Ho. In her lap was her decrepit cat, Hoa. Why girls liked cats was beyond Munch. If he ever had an animal it would be a dog, a small dog that did not shed. He didn’t want a pit bull giant like Max had. He started to sit in one of the chairs, but she patted the space beside her on the swing. “Sit here.” When he did she reached out her hand and took his. There was excitement in hr voice when she said, “Tomorrow we go to The Museum of Fine Arts. Have you ever been there?”

“Yes, a few times.”

“You are so lucky. I have never been to a real art museum before.” She squeezed his hand and said, “Tomorrow we will have a good day.”

He liked it when she said, we. “Yes, we will.”

Head lights flashed though the gate. “That will be my parents.” Munch started to get up and move, but she said, “Stay.” Still she released his hand and scooted away from him.

The gate opened. It wasn’t Mr. and Mrs. Duong, it was Grandma Toady. She waved and asked, “Is Mr. Phan inside?”

Thahn Ho said, “Yes Ma’am.”

Grandma Toady went through the back door.

Thahn Ho stood and put Hoa down. The cat was so old she staggered a bit. Thahn Ho said, “Come see Ong noi’s night lilies. They should be opened by now.” She held out her hand and he took it. They went to the far corner of the yard. The lilies were like delicate cups in shades of yellow, orange, white and red. Thahn Ho told him, “I am going to paint them for my next class project.”

“That’s cool.” Munch drew her to him and asked, “Will you be my girlfriend?”

With bright eyes she said, “Of course.” Briefly they clung to each other. He leaned in and gave her one gentle kiss.

Head lights flashed from the garden gate. Thahn Ho pulled away from him. “That is my parents for sure.” They made their way back to the swing.

Car doors opened and closed. The garden gate burst open and Le came flying through. He saw Munch and shouted, “OH CRUNCHY I’m so glad you are still here! I didn’t want to go to church I wanted to have class with you.”

Having never had a sibling, Le’s continued admiration of him, and even his teasing meant more to Munch than he was willing to admit. He said, “Yeah, I missed you in class too.”

Mr. and Mrs. Duong entered the yard and waved at Munch before they made their way inside.

The back door opened Mitzi ran outside. She asked. “Where is Le?”

Munch saw the little boy hiding behind a crepe myrtle tree. As soon as Mitzi and Puccini reached them, Le jumped from behind the tree and shouted, “Boo!”

Startled, Mitzi squealed.

Le burst into giggles. “I scared you!”

Fear that Mitzi and Le were about to get in a roaring argument rushed through Munch.

The winged little girl, grinned and said, “Yeah, you did.”

Crisis averted. THANK GOD!