Red Lanterns Overhead
By: Breanna Lowman
Tags: Short Story, Storytelling, Fiction, Culture, Immigration

A slender woman with long black hair walked briskly beneath hanging red lanterns. She didn’t look up. The crowded streets were lined with restaurants and small shops labeled with symbols she could not read or understand.

She came upon a run-down apartment building, opened the door, and took the elevator to the eighth floor. She knocked on a door bordered in red with the number 889. After the sound of shuffling feet came the clink of the door as it was unlocked.

“Lina, you are here. Come in, come in.”

“Hi Ma,” Lina said as she stepped inside and took off her high heel boots.

“Put on the slippers, your feet will be cold.”

“Ma, it’s like summer in your apartment.”

“The tile is very cold. You will get sick. Put the slippers on, yes?”

“You’re impossible,” Lina whispered under her breath as she slid the slippers on.

“Have you eaten? I will make you noodles.”

“Ma, I’m just here to check on you. I only get 30 minutes for lunch. You said you had something important to talk to me about. And I’m not hungry.”

“Oh, no, no, I will make you noodles. You are too thin child! Do you ever eat?”

“Ma, really, what did you have to talk to me about? Was it the doctor appointment? Did they find anything?”

“Oh child, do not worry, it is not that. Your Ma is healthy and strong. Nothing to worry about. Come sit while I make noodle.” Lina sat down in a slump and stared out the window at the red lanterns strung across the alley.

“You know, it will be New Year soon. Will you travel to China with me this year? All your relatives miss you and want to see you and hear about your luck and fortune in America.”

“Ma, you know I am too busy. And last time…well, it wasn’t for me.”

“Oh, you can make time for this. It is the most important holiday. And I have something special planned for you. You don’t want to miss it.”

“Who am I meeting this time!?” Lina said as she crossed her arms.

“Oh, child, don’t be like that! I hear he is good man. And very rich too.”

“I don’t care who he is Ma, I don’t want to be set up! You do this every time I see you!”

“Child! You must be realistic. You are getting old and running out of time to have children. I only try to fix your problem.”

“Uhh, Ma, I’m not interested in this matchmaking nonsense. And I’m only 31. How many times do we have to talk about this before you will leave it be!?”

“I am just trying to help! You seem to need lot’s of help in this area, no?” Lina took a deep breath and stared silently out the window again. Her mother set a bowl of noodles in front of her and the steam floated up between her and the red lanterns.

“Eat, child,” the mother said as she laid a pair of chopsticks on the table. “You know, everyone asks why you do not have a husband. They say you are pretty. They say you are successful and have a good job. But no husband. No children. It doesn’t make sense. We just want to help you. It’s how I met your father. Nothing wrong with this way.”

“Ma! I don’t need a husband. I am happy.”

“No, you’re not! Look how skinny you are. And so busy. You need to have family.”

“Can we just stop talking about this. I’m not going to China. And I don’t want you and your relatives to be my matchmakers. Just leave it alone. I’ll meet someone in my own way and in my own time. This is my life.”

“This not just your life. You are here in America because of me and your father and our relatives. We made a way for you to have a better life! Don’t be selfish.” Lina rolled her eyes and took a bite of noodles.

“I’m still not going to China, Ma.” Silence hung in the air.

“What if I was sick? Would you go then?”

“Ma! Are you sick? Really, what did the doctor say?!”

“I go to China for second opinion. You come too, okay?”

“Ugh, you are impossible!” Lina said as she slammed her chopsticks down and got up to head for the door.

“Wait, child, let me wrap this up for you. You need to eat more.”

“Ma, for the last time, I am not hungry,” Lina said as she flung the slippers off and managed to push her sweaty feet back into her boots. “I’ve got to get back to work. I will see you next week. Thanks for the noodles.” She closed the door behind her, leaving her mother standing in the hallway with a bag of noodles to go.

Lina walked quickly out of the apartment complex and back through the market. She gazed ahead at the city scape of New York, glistening in the setting sun and took a deep breath. The red lanterns hung above her head and swayed in the wind, but she didn’t look up.