A Fantasy

While Lily was gone, Sun Mei had plenty of time to herself. Mr. Wu was busy planning the office party, which he was very secretive about, so she spent most of her time home with Vivian or out with Yu Zan.

A few days before Christmas, while she was shopping in downtown San Francisco with Yu Zan, she realized that she had made a grave mistake. Actually, Yu Zan pointed this out to her.

"This is for your mom?" she asked Sun Mei, who was holding a nice silk shawl.

"Yes, I just said that."

"Your mom back in China?" Yu Zan asked with a frown.

"I only have one mom."

"If you buy this and ship it to China, she won't get it for a few weeks."

Sun Mei froze in place. How could she have overlooked this?

"Damn it!" she cursed. "I am an idiot!"

"What's the big deal anyway?" Yu Zan asked. "Your family doesn't celebrate Christmas, right?"

"No." Sun Mei sighed. "This isn't a Christmas present, it's a birthday present. My mom's birthday is two days after Christmas."

"Yeah, that's still not going to work," Yu Zan said with a grimace. Then, she pointed to the shawl. "Why don't you leave that and buy her something online? You could find an online shop in China so that her present will be shipped in time."

Sun Mei thought about it. "You know what, that's a brilliant idea!"

Yu Zan grinned. "Can't say I haven't been called brilliant before!"

Sun Mei put the shawl back in its place and pushed her friend out of the store with a shake of her head. "Sure you have!"

While they walked down the street and chatted, she suddenly remembered that she was supposed to tell Yu Zan something.

"Oh! Mr. Wu said you're also invited to the party!"

"The Christmas party?" Yu Zan's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes."

"The office Christmas party?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Yu Zan exclaimed. "We have to go back!"

"Go back where?" Sun Mei asked in confusion.

"To the store!" Yu Zan grabbed Sun Mei's hand and started dragging her back in the direction they had come from. "I have nothing to wear!"

"Your closet is literally twice the size of my closet," Sun Mei said in confusion as they walked speedily.

"Your closet is a poor measure of comparison. Besides, there will be important people at this party! Publishers, executives, marketing directors, authors… We might meet a famous author!" Yu Zan stopped in her tracks and looked at Sun Mei in shock.

"Ah… I don't know about that," Sun Mei said hesitantly. "Aren't authors supposed to be shy, private people?"

"That's a stereotype," Yu Zan told her as she resumed walking. "Plus, even introverts are sometimes forced to attend events."

"Yes, we are." Sun Mei nodded with a sigh.

"Just imagine…" Yu Zan gestured with her hands, opening her arms wide. "A handsome reserved author reluctantly agrees to come to this party expecting to have a dreadful time, but instead meets a lively young woman and falls in love with her!"

"I assume you are the lively young woman?"

"Yes! Wouldn't that make a great book?" Yu Zan asked excitedly.

Sun Mei, who had been about to make fun of Yu Zan, eventually said thoughtfully, "Actually, yes. I'd read that book!"