Tali held her breath and stared at the weird animal feet in her soup. Another strange object floated in the broth next to the feet. ”What is this?” she asked her friend, Liang.
“Pig’s brain soup! Very popular in China,” replied Liang. She slurped her broth. “Yummy! We’re lucky the grocery manager put the feet in too!”
Tali shoved the bowl across the table and accidentally tipped it over. The soup spilled all over the table.
“I’ll get you another bowl,” Liang said, as she grabbed the paper towels.
Tali coughed and gulped her soda. “Noooooo... thanks. I’m Jewish and I can’t eat pork.”
“Sure you can,” said Liang as she dipped out more soup. “Your parents adopted you from China. Chinese people love pig’s brain soup.”
“But I’ve lived in America since I was a baby. My family is Jewish. We don’t eat pork.”
“You were Chinese first,” insisted Liang. “Try it,” she said, lifting a spoonful of soup up to Tali’s mouth.
Tali turned her head to keep from eating the soup. “Who cares?” Tali said, as she bolted from the table.
“I guess you can’t be both,” said Liang. “Pick one.”
“If being Chinese means I have to eat that yucky yellow goo, I choose Jewish,” cried Tali. She stomped out the door, slamming it behind her.
The next morning as Tali left for school, her mom handed her a paper sack.
“Here’s a surprise for show and tell,” said her mom, smiling.
“Thanks,” said Tali.
When she got to school, Tali hurried to the rest room. She peeked in the bag.
“A Chinese doll?” she mumbled. “I don’t want this. I’m not Chinese anymore.” With that she threw it in the trash.
Tali dashed to her classroom. Show and tell would start soon. What was she going to do?
The first one up was Alex. I hope he didn’t bring that boring baseball card collection again, thought Tali. But there he was showing it off.
“Excellent, Alex!” exclaimed the teacher. “You’re next, Tali.”
“I didn’t bring anything,” Tali whispered.
“Yes, you did, Tali,” said Liang as she jumped up from her seat. “I found your doll in the garbage!” she said, trying to hand the doll to Tali.
“That’s not mine,” Tali lied.
“Yes, it is. The doll has your name on its foot!” Liang turned the doll over and showed Tali. “Look!”
All eyes focused on Tali. Her face turned redder than strawberries.
“This is just a stupid doll my mom gave me, “ said Tali. “I don’t want to tell the class about it.”
“That’s fine, Tali,” said the teacher. “Let’s move on.”
Tali snatched the doll from Liang and stuffed it in her backpack.
As the last bell rang, the teacher reminded everyone, “Tonight is International Night. We get to sample food from other countries. Don’t forget to wear clothes representing your culture.”
That evening, Tali’s mother yelled, “Where are you? It’s time to get ready for International Night.”
Tali ran to her room. On her bed lay a traditional Chinese dress. I won’t wear this, thought Tali. I’m not Chinese.
Tali grabbed a ballerina dress from her closet and put it on. She hurried down the hall to her father’s bedroom. She found the yarmulke that he wore to temple. Tali tried it on, and it fit just fine on the back of her head. “I look perfect,” she said.
When Tali got to school, she lined up with the other kids for the parade of flags.
“Tali, we saved the flags from China for you and Liang, but Liang couldn’t come,” said her teacher.
“I don’t want the Chinese flag. I’m Jewish. I want the Israeli flag,” said Tali.
“The Israeli flags are all taken,” explained the teacher.
“Then I don’t want a flag,” snapped Tali.
“Are you sure?” asked her teacher. “You’ll be the only one without a flag.”
“I don’t care,” declared Tali as the children marched into the cafeteria.
The principal walked to the stage. “Could I please have your attention? Our honored guests from the Chinese Community Center will be performing a dragon dance to kick off the Chinese New Year.”
Then a beautiful Chinese woman from the group stepped up to the microphone. “My name is Mrs. Chang. I don’t see anyone carrying the flag for China. Can I have a volunteer to lead our dragon dance with me?”
Tali stood on her tiptoes to look at the colorful dragon that seemed as long as a train.
She waved her hand high, but the lady chose a girl in the front row.
The long body of the dragon began to weave its way through the cafeteria. The dragon flashed its eyes as it moved up and down to the beat of pounding drums and clanging cymbals.
“I should be the leader!” Tali shouted. She grabbed the Chinese flag and started running toward the front of the dragon when she slipped and fell.
Mrs. Chang helped Tali to her feet. Then she reached to pick up something from the floor.
“Sorry,” muttered Tali.
“Don’t worry about it,” said Mrs. Chang. “Is this yarmulke yours?”
Tali nodded and took the yarmulke. “Thanks.”
“My husband has a red yarmulke,” said Mrs. Chang.
“You mean you’re Jewish, too?” asked Tali.
“Yes, I am,” said Mrs. Chang, smiling.
“Do you eat pork?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Chang.
“I don’t,” said Tali.
“That doesn’t matter,” said Mrs. Chang. “You can be Jewish and Chinese and not eat pork.”
Tali grinned.
At the next show and tell, Tali wore her Chinese dress and her dad’s yarmulke. “I’m a Chinese Jewish American. That’s really cool because I get to celebrate all of the Chinese, Jewish, and American holidays.”
As Tali returned to her seat she leaned over and whispered to Liang, “I changed my mind. I choose both.” She giggled. “I found out there are Jewish people in China and they don’t eat pig’s brain soup, either.”
Tali stood up with her hands on her hips. “Soooooo.... no pig’s brain soup, please.”