Measuring Up

With one week to the final round, Cici’s friends offer to help her practice. She invites them to her house, even though she is afraid. She has “always kept [her] Taiwanese home separate from [her] American life” (147). She tries to backpedal, suggesting that maybe her house is too messy, but her friends say they don’t care. She worries she’ll lose her friends if they think that she’s too different from them.

Cici is heartened when her friends explain that their families also take off their shoes in the house. She tries to hide the altar from them, but Jenna notices. Cici hesitates, but then explains that the rice is for her grandparents who have passed on. They explain the traditions their families have for remembering the dead.

Quickly, Cici calls her mother to let her know that her friends are over. She whips up a batch of cheese puffs, then caramel custard, and then chocolate and almond cake. She shows them Julia Child’s cookbook. They thank her for having them over.