Inside Out and Back Again

BOOK: Inside Out and Back Again
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Inside Out & Back Again

Thanhha Lai

To the millions of refugees in the world,

may you each find a home

Contents

Part I

Saigon

1975: Year of the Cat

Inside Out

Kim Hà

Papaya Tree

TiTi Waves Good-bye

Missing in Action

Mother’s Days

Eggs

Current News

Feel Smart

Two More Papayas

Unknown Father

TV News

Birthday

Birthday Wishes

A Day Downtown

Twisting Twisting

Closed Too Soon

Promises

Bridge to the Sea

Should We?

Sssshhhhhhh

Quiet Decision

Early Monsoon

The President Resigns

Watch Over Us

Crisscrossed Packs

Choice

Left Behind

Wet and Crying

Sour Backs

One Mat Each

In the Dark

Saigon Is Gone

Part II

At Sea

Floating

S-l-o-w-l-y

Rations

Routine

Once Knew

Brother Khôi’s Secret

Last Respects

One Engine

The Moon

A Kiss

Golden Fuzz

Tent City

Life in Waiting

N
c M
m

Amethyst Ring

Choose

Another Tent City

Alabama

Our Cowboy

Part III

Alabama

Unpack and Repack

English Above All

First Rule

American Chicken

Out the Too-High Window

Second Rule

American Address

Letter Home

Third Rule

Passing Time

Neigh Not Hee

Fourth Rule

The Outside

Sadder Laugh

Rainbow

Black and White and Yellow and Red

Loud Outside

Laugh Back

Quiet Inside

Fly Kick

Chin Nod

Feel Dumb

Wishes

Hiding

Neighbors

New Word a Day

More Is Not Better

HA LE LU DA

Can’t Help

Spelling Rules

Cowboy’s Gifts

Someone Knows

Most Relieved Day

Smart Again

Hair

The Busy One

War and Peace

Pancake Face

Mother’s Response

MiSSSisss WaSShington’s Response

Cowboy’s Response

Boo-Da, Boo-Da

Hate It

Brother Quang’s Turn

Confessions

NOW!

u
Face

Rumor

A Plan

Run

A Shift

WOW!

The Vu Lee Effect

Early Christmas

Not the Same

But Not Bad

Part IV

From Now On

Letter from the North

Gift-Exchange Day

What If

A Sign

No More

Seeds

Gone

Truly Gone

Eternal Peace

Start Over

An Engineer, a Chef, a Vet, and Not a Lawyer

1976: Year of the Dragon

Author’s Note

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Credits

Copyright

About the Publisher

PART I

Saigon

1975: Year of the Cat

Today is T
t,

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