The Proposal - Chapter 12

Liang's Journal

I turned into a young adult today and wondered what was I really going to do with the rest of my long life.  I knew I wanted to spend as much of it as possible with Sam.  Oh, speaking of Sam, I called him and he should  be over any minute.

Not quite sure what that look is for on Mo Li's face, she is going to turn into a young adult tomorrow. She can be a spoiled sport sometimes....

I look more like my dad as I get older, don't you think?

Sam finally arrived and gave me a big ole hug!  I guess he was glad I was a young adult now, in more ways than one.

I was really glad to see him, because I have a suprise for him.........

Gotta love the expression.

Mom took me in her room and she showed me this wedding dress that was gorgeous.  I had never seen a more pretty dress.  She said a friend of hers, named Pam had gifted it to her and she wanted me to wear it.  It was to be worn by all future brides.  We went shopping and I got a really different looking necklace, mom said she didn't like it, but I am the one wearing it.  After we got home, father wanted to show me something out back and told me to close my eyes.  When he told me to open them, I saw he had transformed some of the backyard into a wedding theme.  I loved it and gave him a hug.  He said it wasn't much, but he wanted to do something special.

We are going to wait a few days, until we can get straightened out.  Daddy also had to build an upstairs since our family is growing.  Will write more in my journal when the big day arrives and will take lots of pictures.
Liang

Settling Down - Chapter Eleven

Things have settled down a bit since Agnes and I had our talk with the girls.  They are both straight A students and on the honor roll.  Liang is doing well on painting and should be able to do portraits later on.  I have death flowers and life fruits fenced in, so no one can harvest them, including me, haha.

Agnes had a birthday and I had found an uncut luminous gem, which is her favorite, and sent it off to get the sculptors cut.  She loved it, it was by the cake when she came to blow her candles out.

I think she was more interested in the egg than blowing out her candles. 

Liang is still head over heels with Sam, except he had a birthday, so they cannot really see each other romantically until Liang has her birthday.

At the moment we are all caught up on portraits and the like.  I am getting ready to do my 22 sculpture, so it won't be long,  I really want to do one of Agnes before it is too late.

We have all gotten so much closer and do things together.  The girls are constantly around me, finding things to do, whether homework or just reading.  So far, life has been great.  No telling what the future will hold.  Agnes just told me there was a letter from China for me to read, gotta go.

Life Isn't Fair - Chapter Ten

I layed in bed on the night before that I knew I was going to talk with Lieng.  Agnes was going to talk to Mo Li.  I don't think I slept a wink that night.

I am not sure how this is going to go.  The two girls are so close, so I am really not doing to well with this whole situation.  I know it has to be done.  Lieng is getting pretty close to a young man at school and he is all she talks about.  I hope he is an understanding sort of fella, because he is going to have to be to come into this household. 

Li-Liengs story:

I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  I met a boy at school and his name is Sam Sekemoto.  He is so gorgeous, is that a good word for a guy, who cares.  All I know, I really, really like him and he likes me. He ask me over to his house after school on Friday and dad said I could go. Yay!

We started talking and talking.  We were in this baby's room or something, but I don't remember seeing a baby.  He said his grandma couldn't bear getting rid of the stuff right now.  Anyway, out of the blue, I kissed him.  I do not know what made me do it, but I did and I am glad.

It was so romantic, I guess, I barely know the meaning of the word.  He said he liked me from the moment he laid eyes on me, I thought I was going to melt.  My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty and I know I was two shades of blush, from the way my face felt.

All I could do was stare, but I had to quit, it is so rude.  He was looking into my eyes and I knew that we were going to be together.  I told Sam I had to go home, he said he didn't want me to, so I stayed a little longer and we kissed some more and I felt so safe and secure when he put his arms around me.  Oh my, look at the time.  My parents are going to have a fit.  I ran out and got in a cab.  That is when I saw the lights, oh no.  I am in BIG trouble.

When the cop pulled up, mom was waiting for me and wasn't too happy.  She told me to get to bed and she would talk to me in the morning.  Oops, she was not thrilled, at all with me.  After I knew mom was in bed, I called Sam and told hin that I really enjoyed our talk and he said he did to and would probably see me over the weekend.

The next morning, I did not want to get out of bed, so I kept laying there, hoping no one would bother me, too late.  I heard dad calling me from the basement, so I went to take my punishment.  After I got down there, he said he wanted to show me something.

Wow, those were pretty good.  I knew mom had been working on something, but I never came down here.  I asked where Mo Li's pictures were.  Dad got a sad look on his face and said there is something he had to explain to me.  I listened very carefully as dad explained about the immortality and heirs and ambrosia and yadda, yadda........everything seemed to run together.  I didn't hear anything about my sister and then it dawned on me, I was the one that was going to be immortal.  I wouldn't have it! Not fair!!

Dad didn't know what to do except stand there and listen to me rant and rave.  I felt betrayed for some reason.  I finally stopped and started crying, daddy put his arms around me and I apologized for behaving so badly.

I told daddy I had some thinking to do and I was going to my room and I left the poor man to lick his wounds.

Mo-Li's side:

It was such a sunny, warm day.  I decided to go fishing, but mom said she needed to talk to me.  She had a serious look on her face, so I thought I had better not argue.  She started explaining about some stuff about gardening, cooking, something fishy and some kind of fruit.  I tried to pay attention, but my mind kept wandering.  Then she said something about Lieng being immortal and daddy being immortal.  I didn't believe her at first, but the look on her face told me it was true.

I got angry at first and then, I realized mom and I were in the same situation.  She explained that she was angry too, but it was daddy's heritage and we had to respect that.  I couldn't get angry with sis, it wasn't her fault either.  I had to talk to her, she was my best friend and I had to let her know we were in this together.

Li-Liang's Side Again:

Mo Li and I decided to run across the street and go fishing for a bit and get our mind off of things.  I might as well get started if I am going  to have a Perfect Aqairium.  After a couple of hours of fishing, we went home and the phone rang.  It was Sam and we talked for a few minutes.  I asked him over, I just had to see him and I needed a hug, boy, that sounded corny.  Oh well, he said he would be right over.  Mom said it wasn't the right time for company and I told her, he is not company, he is going to be the father of the next immortal.  My mom kinda  looked shocked, but I guess she understood.

After Sam kissed me hello, I guess it looked like I was about to cry and he asked me what was wrong.  It all came out in a burst of tears and he probably didn't understand a word I said.  After I was done, he just stood there and looked at me....

and then he said something that I thought I would never hear.  "I love you Lieng".  I started crying all over again.  This was just too much news in one day, not sure if I could handle too much more.  I guess mom and dad heard all of the crying and the four of us stood there and chatted for a while.

I am standing there looking at Sam and then looking at my dad and I realized that Sam had some of the same features as my dad had.  I never ask Sam where he was from, so that might be a good subject to bring up, but not now.  I think mom and dad really like Sam from the looks of it.  After quite a bit of talking, Sam said he needed to go because he didn't want to be out past his curfew, we kissed goodnight and he left.  I found Mo Li and took her hand and told her to follow me.

We went to Mom's thinking place and stared at the stars and just stood there.  After all, we were twins and we already knew what each other was thinking.

The Teenage Years - Chapter Nine

What can I say.  I never thought in a million years, that if and when I left China, that my life would end up like this.  I am so happy with the way it turned out.  Lieng and Mi Lo have turned into beautiful and smart teenagers.  Lieng really took on my features,

and Mi Lo really looks like her mom,

Mi Lo goes to her mom for advice.  I am not quite sure on how to answer some of the questions these teenage beauties ask me as of yet, but I am learning.

Mi Lo getting advice.

Lieng with new friend.

Agnes is smart and seems to know all of the answers, but we still have to sit the girls down and have a talk with them.  We did learn that Lieng met a boy at school, his last name is Sekemoto.  She said he is dreamy, whatever that is.  I hope she leaves her options open and doesn't jump at the first boy she meets.  We tried to raise the girls with both of our values and they are interested in my heritage.  I just wish my parents could see the girls.  I think when they turn young adult, we will all go to China.  I would love to show them the Scholars Garden and the Temple of Heaven, I spent many a day just sitting and thinking, maybe I should have learned to meditate.

Growing Up is Hard to do - Chapter Eight

It has been real busy around here with the twins and getting each one to walk and talk and potty trained, plus, poor Agnes and her painting and my garden.  It has been rough, but I would not trade this life for anything else right now.  After the girls birthdays, we had to fix the house some, we have stairs, but no second floor yet, but, we will build that all too soon.  Here is a few pictures and you will probably get the meaning of them without me rambling on about my angels.

Father, Daugher moment

This is a Masterpiece?

Family Night

The girls started school and it did not take them long to get A's.  We were so proud of both of them.  They did their homework, even if they were tired, so on the weekend we would have family night, we would help them with their homework and then watch tv until we couldn't keep our eyes open.  We all enjoyed that.

Helping with Homework.

Then, I had a birthday.  I wasn't too thrilled about getting older, but then I remembered my purpose and I somewhat felt better.  It wasn't going to be to long before the girls were teenagers.  Time goes so fast.  Agnes completed Lieng's portrait of her youth and is starting on mine as an adult.  My garden is getting bigger and my cooking getting better.  Everything is moving along as scheduled.  Agnes was painting the portrait of Lieng, when Mo Li walked in.  She asked her mom why she had not painted a picture of her.  I heard her question and decided to save the day and  take Mi Li to play and help with homework.  Whew, that was close.  If Agnes has time, she said she would try to paint one of her, but she wasn't sure.

She looks like me, huh.  I think so, she has my eyes, but not my hair color, when she turns into a teenager, that will change.

One night, before bed, Agnes asked me about a vacation.  I told her that we really couldn't take one until the girls were young adults.  She didn't quite understand and she still has her quiet moments where she must do alot of thinking.

I try not to bother during her quiet times, because we both know it is not too long before we have to explain to the girls what is going on, but how do you tell one daughter that the other is going to be immortal.  So Agnes and I lay in bed and talk, usually for hours about all sorts of things and of course, the inevitable.

But it all boils down to this.  I can't change my heritage, I may have ran from it, but I am not changing it.  It is something we are all going to have to live with, like it or not.  I love my angels and adore my wife, at this moment that is all that matters.

Agnes Story - Chapter Seven

Li-Liang has taken the spotlight up until now, so I would actually like to tell my side of the story.  I was minding my own business at the junk yard, I know, right, when I met this dark haired man and I instantly fell in love with him.  I didn't even know who he was, but from the looks of him, I assumed he wasn't from around here.  Oh my, he was heading in my direction.  I could tell my face was flushed and my palms were sweaty.  Good grief, Agnes, get a hold of yourself, he is just a man and he was going to be mine, ok, get a grip.  He smiled at me and walked past me and then turned around and introduced himself as Li-Liang.  I told him my name and then we just took off talking, for what seemed like hours.  He told me he grew up in a small village in China and that he just had to get away and he explained how he ended up here.  Poor guy, he didn't even know what a theatre or diner was, or a junkyard.  I was getting tired and hungry and I saw that he was to.  I so wanted to invite him over to my house, because he told me he had just purchased a lot and had not built on it yet, so he was staying at the firehouse.  We went our seperate ways and he said he would call me the next day.

I could not hardly sleep that night.  I felt so silly and so much like a school girl.  Finally it was daylight and I made my way to the kitchen to get me some cereal.  I decided to paint and get my mind off of things when my phone rang, my heart about jumped from my throat.  It was Li-Liang.  We talked for a bit and then he invited me over.  I didn't want to seem to anxious, but I couldn't wait and drove over there.  He had just put his treasures from the junkyard out to be repaired when I got there, so there was really no place to sit, but that didn't matter.  We got into some deep conversations and then, out of the blue, he kissed me, wow, I saw stars and then he ask me to move in with him.  Without even thinking, I said yes and there we were, on an empty lot, with no furniture, no bed, no nothing.  He looked really sad when he saw my face and apologized and I told him that I had some money and I would sell my car.  He said no, but I insisted.  So that was the beginning.

We built the house kinda big, but he wanted a big family.  I didn't say too much, I was kind of a loner, but I just wanted to make this man happy, I was so in love with him.  We furnished it with modest furniture and settled in.  A few days later, I found out I was pregnant.  I was so giddy and he was jumping up and down.  When it was time, I wanted to go to the hospital, but he said that where he came from, the women had the babies at home, I said, excuse me, in between contractions, oh well, too late.  Our little angel was born, wait, what is this, another one, oh my gosh, twin angels.  This cannot be happening, but they were adorable and their daddy was beaming.

When Li-Liang came in from getting the mail, he had a strange look on his face.  I asked him what was wrong.  He sat me down and explained what was in the letter from his dad, about the dynasty and only heirs being immortal and a bunch of other stuff about portraits, gardens and ambrosia.  I am not sure, I was so mad, I couldn't even think.  I thought for sure he had set me up.  I went down by the water for a while and finally went back inside.  He looked so forlorn and upset, that I knew he didn't do this on purpose.  He put his arms around me and felt so safe, that I just let it go for now, because I know that this is going to be hard on the family.  He told me that the first born twin would be destined for immortality.  I put my head on his shoulder and wept.

Now for a little more upbeat part.  The twins are toddlers and they are such good babies.  They love their daddy.

He basically taught them to walk and and talk all himself.  I secretly did a portrait of Liang while she was a toddler.  I know one thing, these little dickens are handfuls.

She wanted her daddy. What a face, how can you resist.

I just couldn't imagine my life without my family, but, there is no guarantee about anything.  All I know is right now, I am happy and in love with my wonderful husband and my two adorable girls and nothing right now is going to take that away.

I will tell you one one thing, he can still make me swoon like a school girl.  Love Agnes