For Cherry’s thirtieth birthday Weng gave her a silk scarf.

They celebrated in a small restaurant where three roads meet.

When Weng asked if she liked her present

Cherry told him she was married.

“I also have a daughter named Shirley,” she said.

All the uneaten dishes of food on the table
made Weng feel foolish.

He put some money down and went outside.

Cherry appeared a few moments later.

“You should have told me before I gave you
one of my mother’s scarves,” he said.