Chapter Twenty-Seven: Ho Chi Min City:

We now go from Thailand to Vietnam. Yes, they celebrate Christmas there too. It’s more in the commercial Western way though. Jasper doesn’t do the big celebrations. This year, she is just staying in with her brother and sister.

Quan and Mai sat at the dinner table, waiting. Jasper had just finished stirring the stew. She closed her eyes and took a taste.

“Mmm,” the priestess said. Her mother was out shopping for Christmas presents. She wasn’t going to be back until four. Jasper didn’t mind. It was just her and her siblings. Quan tried to look up with his chopsticks in hand.

“Hurry up! We’re hungry!” he shouted. Jasper smiled as she rolled her eyes.

“You can hold on for two more minutes,” she said. Teenage boys could be so annoying at times. Quan didn’t understand that this stew had to be just right. This was almost ready. It just needed one thing. Jasper knew what it was.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said moments later. The priestess walked over with a huge pot in her hands. Her brother and sister looked thrilled.

“Hurry up!” Quan shouted.

“Yeah, yeah,” his older sister said. Jasper picked up the ladle and began pouring out the stew. First, it went to Mai. The little girl stared at her as if she was performing a magic trick. Next was Quan’s bowl. He was quiet then. Jasper served herself before sitting down. The three of them began to eat.

“So… How is it?” Jasper asked. Quan nodded with food in his mouth.

“This is yummy!” Mai shouted. The priestess smiled to herself.

“I’m so glad you like it,” she said.

“Hey, Jas,” Quan said.

“Hm?” the priestess asked.

“What’s in here?” her brother asked. He tried to fish around for the taste in his mouth. The boy narrowed his eyes as he tried to think.

“Is this… cinnamon?” he asked. The priestess perked up.

“That’s right! How did you know?” she asked. Quan shrugged.

“Just a guess,” he said. Jasper took another bite of her stew.

“So what is everyone doing today?” she asked.

“Playing video games,” Quan said.

“Can we go caroling tonight?” Mai asked. The brother rolled his eyes.

“Sure,” Jasper said.

“Yay!” the little girl said as she pumped her fist in the air. The older sister couldn’t help but laugh.

“I have cake for you after this,” she said. “I bought it this morning.”

“Yay!” Mai said again.

“Nice,” Quan said. Jasper sat back and took another bite. She missed moments like this. Soon, their mother was going to be home. They would have dinner and have the cake Jasper bought. And tomorrow it was going to be Christmas Eve. She couldn’t wait to have dinner with her family again. Jasper smiled to herself as she took another bite of her stew.