The Harvest

I was born during the harvest season...

In the season of fire.

- -

But where there's destruction...

There's birth.

- -

Hey, Mah.

Yeah, I'm like...

three hours away.

I'll go pick up Sue.

Okay.

I'll see you soon.

Bye.

- -

- -

-Sorry. -

So, what did you think?

So I saw the whole thing,

and it's come to my attention that you dance like a frog.

At least I don't look like one, though.

I'm thirsty.

If we could work twinkle fingers into our routine,

that'd be great.

- -We're gonna win...

- -

Did you have to do that?

Do what?

The big brother thing?

Yeah.

I'm kinda entitled to it.

-Yeah, kind of. -

Did you see it happen?

Mom was doing overtime, and Dad got pissed,

so he took our car to a chicken fight, and then totaled it.

Now I won't have a car to drive for at least two weeks.

So who was supposed to pick you up today?

Chuck was gonna take me home.

Chuck?

Is he like your boyfriend?

Mom and Dad know?

What, are you gonna tell them?

Yeah.

Right.

And drive Dad crazy?

He finds out that you're dating a Black guy,

he's just gonna marry you off

to the first Hmong guy he sees.

Don't say that.

It's not funny.

Your great son is back.

You too skinny now.

You don't eat enough?

I eat enough, Mom.

Aw, you a handsome man now.

Stop.

-Well, welcome home. -

Dinner is almost ready.

Right.

Hey, Dad.

The house looks good.

What's for dinner?

- -

- -

I'm not hungry.

Your father is not supposed to eat anything with salt.

The doctor say it's bad for his kidney.

But he doesn't like to listen.

Here, Thai.

Look, Mama cook your favorite.

That's good, Ma.

Thank you.

So...

Yesterday, your father and I was at the store.

There was this white lady that come up to him,

I think she thinks he's a worker,

so she asked him, "What type of tofu is the best?"

Why don't you tell Thai what you say to the lady?

No.

Your father say to the lady,

"This dou-foo is good."

And...

The lady was so confused,

because...

your father kept saying dou-foo,

dou-foo...

dou-foo.

over and over again.

Oh my God.

And then she got so mad, she say,

"Are you even speaking English?

I want tofu."

- -

And then your father look her in the eyes and yell...

"Dou-foo!

You say it correctly!"

She was so embarrassed.

- -

She walk away so fast.

Ai-yo!

So...

How much it costs?

Your apartment

in San Francisco?

$1,500 a month.

For half a room?

No wonder you look so skinny.

So, do you have a girlfriend?

Yeah.

Is she Hmong?

Yeah, Thai.

Is she Hmong?

Hey, you're not supposed to eat the tip.

Why not?

Because you'll be cursed with bad marriage.

And yeah, she is Hmong.

So, what's her name?

Casey.

What's her last name?

Yang.

Oh, Yang girls are always pretty.

So, how about your job?

How many student you have?

Dad...

I stopped tutoring.

What?

Yeah, I work at a restaurant now.

Why?

Tutor is a better job.

Yeah, but I have more flexibility.

So I just could do more stuff.

Yeah.

So now you can come home more, right?

- -

How's Dad?

Well, now that his second kidney is not working,

he's more tired.

More and more dialysis.

Now they don't even call it kidney disease.

Sue...

what do you call that?

End stage renal failure.

- -

Hey,

-now I work double. -

Need more pills.

And look...

All these forms, huh.

For this drug discounts, and all kinds of