The Language of Threads Read Free Page A

burial gown, walking down the steps toward her.
    â€œI’ve been waiting for you,” Lin said, smiling.
    Pei opened her mouth, but at first no words emerged. She felt so dizzy she thought she might faint.
    Lin answered her question even before she had asked it. “Yes, it’s me.”
    â€œI’ve missed you.” Pei finally found her voice. “More than you can know.”
    â€œI do know.” Lin took her hand. “Now come along. Everyone is waiting.”
    Pei held onto Lin’s hand, never wanting to let go. It seemed so real in hers she squeezed it tighter, feeling Lin’s warm softness in her own large, rough hand. “But who’s waiting?” she asked.
    â€œStill so curious.” Lin smiled. “You’ll soon see.” She swept a strand of Pei’s hair away from her face, then swung open the double doors to the reading room.
    Pei’s heart raced. She glanced around the crowded room. The smell of burning incense was overpowering. Shadows flickered across the walls. The chairs were filled with women dressed in the white cotton trousers and tunic of the sisterhood. Pei closed her eyes and opened them against the thick, stinging air. She touched Lin’s sleeve to make sure she was really there beside her. Faces from the past appeared fresh and young.
    â€œCome, come in,” called a high, shrill voice. Pei knew it immediately: It belonged to Auntie Yee.
    Pei rushed toward the older woman, fell to her knees before her chair, and threw her arms around her. She breathed deeply. The faint clean smell of ammonia rose above the incense. “It’s been so long,” Pei whispered into Auntie Yee’s neck.
    Auntie Yee squeezed her tightly before letting go. “You’ve grown into a fine young woman, just as I knew you would.”
    â€œYes, you have,” another voice added.
    Pei faintly remembered it. She stood up and looked closely at all the faces that surrounded her. “Who?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s me,” the voice said. Moving out and away from the other sisters was Mei-li, who appeared just as she had so many years ago, before she had drowned herself.
    â€œMei-li?” Pei asked.
    â€œAnd don’t forget me,” another voice rang out.
    Sui-Ying stood by the side of Mei-li—kind, sweet Sui-Ying, who had been killed during their strike for better hours.
    All through the years Pei had prayed to the gods that these two friends would find the peace they so richly deserved. Like Lin’s their lives had ended much too soon.
    Then, from the corner of her eye, Pei saw movement from behind the others. The flash of gray hair stood out among the rest. Pei strained to see beyond the sisters in front of her, hoping to catch another glimpse. She wondered if this could really be. The last time Pei had seen her mother, Yu-sung, she had been so thin and fragile. “Ma Ma,” Pei said softly, then again, louder. The hum of voices died down around her.
    Yu-sung stepped forward. Her gray hair was neatly combed back. She smiled widely and said, “Yes, my tall daughter. I’m here.”
    Growing up, Pei had rarely seen a smile cross her mother’s lips, Now it glowed before her as bright as any light. Pei took a step forward and began to say something, but the words became confused and caught in her throat. Tears blurred and burned behind her eyes.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Ma Ma said. “You have done well in life, just as I always knew you would. After you and Lin visited, I knew I could leave your world in peace.”
    Pei hung on to her mother for as long as she could, but soonshe felt Lin lean near and heard her whisper, “You have to leave now.”
    Pei shook her head. “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with all of you.”
    Yu-sung pulled away. “That can’t be. It isn’t your time yet. There are too many things you must still do. Don’t forget your