Girl in Translation

Mr. Bogart assigns a diorama depicting conflict resolution skills. Annette and Kim decide to work together, and Ma allows Kim to go to Annette's house one afternoon to work on it. Kim greets Mrs. Avery formally, which seems to surprise Mrs. Avery. Annette and her little brother fight over a comic book on the drive to Annette's house, and Kim is immediately struck by how grand the house is. There's a chandelier, fresh fruit, and pets. Kim is scared of the animals; she believes they bite and have fleas and germs. Mrs. Avery shows Kim how to pet the cat and assures her that there are no fleas.

Mrs. Avery introduces Kim to the housekeeper, whom Kim greets with a handshake. The housekeeper makes Kim and Annette a snack of yellow cheese on Ritz crackers and finally, Annette leads Kim to her room. It's filled with toys, and Kim feels the warmest and happiest she's felt since arriving in the U.S. As Annette's brother pesters them, Kim wishes that Ma could worry about her behavior. Finally, Kim and Annette turn to their diorama. Mrs. Avery has laid out all manner of materials and the girls finish quickly.

When they're finished, Kim asks Mrs. Avery to drop her off at the school. Mrs. Avery starts to protest, but then agrees. As she lets Kim out, she invites Kim for dinner any time. Kim feels lonely as she walks home. She dreams about the Averys’ warm house often, though Ma forbids Kim from going over again. Ma insists that they wouldn't be able to invite Annette to their apartment to repay the debt.

Though Ma has a green card and is legally allowed to work, she still gets paid in cash like the illegal workers so that Aunt Paula and Uncle Bob can take their debt payment directly from Ma's paycheck. By the time they've taken money for the tuberculosis medicine, rent, and immigration fees, Ma and Kim get very little money. One afternoon, Ma tries to ask Uncle Bob about getting a new apartment, as Kim is still sick from the cold. He insists that Paula will take care of it and buys Kim an iced tea.

As Christmas approaches, Kim agonizes over what to get Annette for a gift. Ma isn't sure what they should buy for a white girl, but they eventually decide on a plastic plant that costs $1.99, or 133 skirts. On the last day of school before Christmas vacation, Kim presents the plant to Annette as she gets out of Mrs. Avery's car. Annette is puzzled and asks if it makes noise; Kim later realizes that Annette thought it was a toy. Mrs. Avery thanks Kim and Annette gives Kim a small package. It contains a panda bear keychain and Kim loves it immediately.

On the last day before vacation, Ma walks Kim to school instead of heading straight for the factory. Much to Kim's horror, Ma walks into the school and offers Mr. Bogart a takeout box, saying "Merry X-y-masy." Mr. Bogart opens the box, which contains a drumstick. Kim can't read Mr. Bogart's expression. The female teacher next to Mr. Bogart saves the situation, telling Ma that Kim is adjusting well.

At the factory several days later, Kim approaches Matt, tells him "joyful Christmas," and offers him the panda keychain. She tells him that it's in exchange for all his help. Gently, Matt gives the panda back, and Kim is torn between feeling relieved and disappointed. She asks about a bruise on Matt's face. He tries to sound nonchalant as he says that he was standing up for Park. Later, Kim and Ma give Mr. Al an elephant from Chinatown to bring him good luck.

Kim had heard of Santa Claus, but she'd always been told that he didn't visit warm places like Hong Kong. She fully expects him to visit her now that she's in the U.S. Carefully, Kim lays out one of Ma's socks and wakes up on Christmas to find $2 in the sock. She realizes that there's no Santa Claus, but thinks that Ma is more than enough.

Not long after the Western new year, Ma and Kim pass a dumpster overflowing with faux fur from a toy factory. They decide to go to work as usual, hoping the fur will still be there when they head home. Fortunately, it is. With the lime green fur, Ma makes robes, sweaters, and pants, as well as curtains and tablecloths. Though it's scratchy, Kim and Ma are finally warm at night.

The Chinese new year arrives at the end of January. The factory closes, as no Chinese person will work on that day. Per Chinese belief, all the gods leave at midnight the night before, and return on the new year. Ma and Kim carefully prepare by performing ceremonies to honor the dead and making offerings to the altars in the kitchen. When this is done, they burn sacred papers in their backyard and pray together for their future.

The next Sunday, Ma and Kim notice lights on at Mr. Al's shop, an unusual occurrence. They decide not to bother him, but he notices them and invites them inside. He explains that he's sorting things in preparation for moving, something that shocks Kim: Mr. Al has become their friend and advocates for them at the local grocery store. Mr. Al says that the street is going to be demolished, though it could happen next year or in ten years. He insists that the landlords won't do anything about the apartments on the block because of this. He's leaving in March.