Lilting Page #2

she has met a man, Alan,

and the problem is

they don't have any common language,

so I wanted you

to translate for them.

- I'm sorry.

- No, don't be.

I think it'll be lovely and...

- No, I meant...

- I know. I know what you meant.

She speaks the four main dialects,

she speaks Mandarin,

Cantonese, Hokkien?

And something else

that I can't remember.

And a bit of Cambodian

and Vietnamese.

- They're Cambodian Chinese.

- Right.

Yeah, she speaks

six languages altogether.

- Apart from English.

- Lazy b*tch.

- So selfish.

- Sounds like my mum.

I'm not a professional translator.

I can speak the languages.

Fine.

I'm just grateful that you can help.

I'll try my best.

I wish there was a

shazam for smell.

Have you been sniffing

other people?

No.

Sometimes I come across a certain scent,

I'd like to know what it is.

We should have your mum

over for dim sum.

I can impress her

with my Chinese cooking.

She won't like your cooking.

- Come on, I'm good.

- I know, but she won't admit it.

She hates me.

She doesn't.

She's jealous.

I'm her only child. No one's

good enough for me in her eyes.

You're not good enough for me.

You have to try harder.

Why? Why am I not good enough?

You'll have to stay in the spare room.

We'll have to pretend we're friends.

I know.

I think I've put her in there too soon.

I don't think sheltered accommodation

is good for her.

You should come out to her.

So she can come here

and live with us instead.

Stop doing that.

It's like walking back in time.

That's the idea.

Junn.

Junn, this is Vann.

I was just explaining who I was.

I told her I was your friend.

She asked, how are you?

I'm good. Well, I'm OK.

How's she? How's her health?

She's fine.

She's... so-so.

Shall we sit down and

I can explain to her?

So this is Vann.

Sorry. You've already met.

And she is here

to translate for you and Alan,

so that you can

get to know each other better.

She's surprised you

want to help her.

How does she feel about it?

She doesn't mind.

Can you say to her that I'm sorry

I didn't come and visit her sooner,

but that there was a lot to do

after Kai's death,

a lot of reorganising and so forth.

And obviously I don't speak Mandarin

and she doesn't speak English.

Shall I say that again?

No. I got it.

There's still a lot to organise,

but if she would like to come round

one day when she's free,

she could look through his stuff

and take away what she likes.

Are you giving her the belongings

you no longer want to keep?

No, no, they're not his rejects.

They're his things.

I'm only keeping what...

No, they're Kai's belongings.

She's always free.

You just have to make a date.

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