One Amazing Thing

Cameron rushes to break up the fight and is forced to use his inhaler again, although he has very few doses left. Tariq, resentful at his intrusion, punches Cameron in the nose. Tariq is subdued by the others and Lily leads him away. Seeing the distrust and despondency amongst the others, Uma feels compelled to stand up. She decides to address the group, despite her fear of speaking in public. As a way to keep the others from fighting or panicking over their predicament, Uma proposes that everyone share an important story from the lives. It takes some convincing to get everyone to agree, but Uma convinces them all that everyone has “at least one amazing thing” to tell (73).

Jiang, the Chinese grandmother offers to go first. This is a shock, since everyone, even her own granddaughter, believes she can only speak Mandarin. Before Jiang begins to speak, they establish some ground rules—no interruptions, no questioning, no judgment. Afterwards, Jiang begins her story. She grew up in Calcutta’s Chinatown, in a house fronted by a brick “spirit wall” which kept others from looking in. Behind the wall was a courtyard, a banquet hall and beautiful collectibles, all of which Jiang was taught to keep a secret from the non-Chinese.