Boys or Girls

The days went by quickly, and Mara found herself anxious to see her first-born as a toddler. She aged her up quickly, and couldn't help but stare at her daughter. Marri was stunning! She had skin darker than her father's, with a combination of green eyes. Mara was a little jealous of the fact that Marri had indeed inherited Salline's "Trish" family eyes, and Mara herself had not. She shrugged it off though, prizing how beautiful Marri was.

While her husband was sleeping, Mara taught Marri to walk, and talk. Mara found herself growing even more attached to her daughter, but still knew her husband wouldn't have much to do with her. All men only seemed to want sons; why couldn't most see the value of a daughter?

 After teaching Marri to walk and walk, Mara quickly groomed herself for the day and fixed her hair, pulling it back into a loose pony tail.

Mara let Marri sit in her swing while she gathered her things, seeing as Marri seemed to love swinging back and forth. After which, Mara took Marri on a visit to the park.

The journey to this park would be a long one, but this was a secret park. It would be well worth the trip, and it is very beautiful. It's a great place for someone to relax, and just lose their troubles.

Just as she remembered it. The park was fabulous, and Mara already began to feel her body relax as she listened to the water murmurs, and the flowers' song ringing in her ears as they moved in the wind. "Isn't this fantastic, Marri?" she asked her daughter. "Oo! Pwetty, Mommah," her daughter responded, just as entranced as Mara was.

 "Sure is, ain't it?" another voice said. Mara turned, and her eyes widened as she stared into his fine blue ones.

"Oh, hello, how are you?" Mara asked the man.
"I'm fine, thanks. And how 'bout you?" he returned the question.
"Stressed," she sighed.
"Why is that? If you don't mind me askin'."

"None of that matters now," she said, trying to forget about how awful husbands can be.
"Right. So what's your name, Darlin'?"
 "I'm Mara."
"Jason," he said, extending his hand. Mara shook his hand politely.

"Jason, what are you doing here in China?" she asked, smiling. It wasn't not obvious that he was a foreigner, or at least here.
"Ah, you know. The scenery, the girls . ." he chuckled. When Mara didn't respond, he smiled. "I'm kidding!" She laughed too.

"And who is this cutie-pie?" Jason asked, tickling Marri.
"Mawwi," the toddler responded, giggling.
"Marri," Mara decoded. 
"Well you're adorable, Miss Marri!" He exclaimed. Mara smiled at him. He seemed to be great with children.

"Do you have any family of you own?" Mara asked curiously.
"Nope. I wish I did. Sometimes my niece and nephew stay with me, though, so I get to spend time with them. They're only 10 each, they were fraternal twins."

Marri yawned. "Sweepy, Mommy," she said, wiping her eyes.
"Oh, dear! It's getting late. I'd better get home," Mara told Jason.
"Alright, well, you two take care."

When they were safely home, Mara read Marri to sleep. She fell asleep quickly, and Mara began tidying up. She put a blanket over Marri and pulled her hair behind her ear. Mara was putting up Marri's toys when  Lee appeared in the doorstep, hardly glancing in Marri's way.

 "We need to go try again," he said. Mara nodded; she knew what he meant. He wanted to try again for a son, no daughters were wanted.
"I will be there in a minute," she responded. Lee left the room, only to come back a hour later.

He frowned, pouted, and squinted his eyes at Mara. "I said now!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" she exclaimed, immediately jumping to her feet and rushing out of the bedroom.

The whole process seemed to last forever this time. Lee was more forceful with her, and seemed to lose any respect that he may have gained in the past few months. It would have been a nightmare for Mara, had she not have had her mind on someone else . . .

"Jason!" Mara screamed in her fantasy.

***

"Mama . . Wake up, Mama," a sweet sing-song voice interrupted Mara's dream. Mara's eyelids fluttered, and she took a look at the person standing in front of her.
"Marri?"
"Yes, Mama. Dad said I could age up early." Mara sighed, and sat up.
"And why did he tell you that?" Mara asked her.

"I don't know. He just said it was important."
To get rid of you quicker, no doubt, Mara thought but didn't say.
"Well aren't you so beautiful, Marri," Mara stared, noticing Marri's Trish eyes still very apparent. "So what should we do today?" 

In that instant, Marri's stomach growled, as if on que. "I guess we should start with that. Marri, do you want to help your mother in the kitchen?" Marri squealed, answering. 

"Yes, yes, yes!" Mara laughed, and they headed down to the kitchen.

"--and then you stir it up, and put in on to cook," Mara said, demonstrating how to cook Pancakes.

"Can I try?" Marri asked. Mara nodded, handing her the spoon and bowl. Marri took it, and began stirring the batter. 

"Good, good. Now, bring it over here and pour it in the pan." Marri did so, with the help of her mother.

"Flip it, flip it! See--like this," Mara showed her. Marri twirled the spatula in her hand, and commenced to flipping the Pancake. She did so so skillfully, Mara didn't even have to help her. Mara turned off the heat and served the breakfast.
"Excellent, Marri! I think you're a natural!"

Since Marri had not yet picked up the skill to use chopsticks, they thought it would be a better idea to use a fork, instead of the usual traditional utensil. They could practice later.

***

Over the next few days, nothing changed. Except the fact that Marri was obsessed with her room now, which would be pretty obvious. She hardly comes out of her room except for things she needs, or to speak to her mother. As usual, Lee had nothing to do with either one of them.

The Trish's have adopted a bird, whom they call Lago.

Mara has experienced numerous accounts of nausea, normal symptoms for pregnancy.

Often Mara would think of Jason. She had a slightly guilty conscience, feeling as though these feelings toward Jason were cheating on her husband, but the way he'd been treating her lately made her so lonely, and she longed for a good man such as Jason. Lee used to be a good man, and she used to love him, but then he became just another one of the other men in the world. She doubted if she would ever see him again, however.

Mara sat quietly in her town's library reading a Chinese biography. She heard the chair slide in front of her, but ignored the sound as she was caught up in her reading.

"What'cha readin', Miss?" Jason's voice echoed. Mara looked up from her book, stunned.
"Jason!" she exclaimed. He grinned. Then Mara blushed, noting how quickly she responded to his voice. Did he notice? Would he care? She cleared her throat. "I-I thought maybe you might have gone back to Sunset Valley."

"Nope, not yet anyways. Besides, how could I just leave without telling you goodbye?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him. "Ah. I see you've got another one on the way. . ." She nodded slowly, remembering the night. It was the first night she'd dreamed of Jason, instead of her husband. "How far along are ya?"
"Nine months."
"Has it really been that long already?" She nodded again. He sighed, and bolted from his seat as he heard her screams. "What's wrong, Mara?!"

"The baby!" she screamed. "It's coming now!" Instinctively, he rushed her out of the library and to hospital, constantly telling her that he was taking her and that was final. She didn't need to thank him, either. 

Janna Trish, wouldn't be what Lee was expecting, or hoping for. . .

And The Plot Thickens!

Mara felt so alone, and she couldn't help but think, was she doing the right thing? Was it right to move away from it all? Away from the accident. . . The terrible accident that seemed to kill them all on the inside.
She found her father outside, practicing his Martial Arts, typically. Tears brimmed her eyes. "Father?" she asked, nearing break-down. "Yes, D-" he started, but turned and saw her face. "Aw, my precious daughter," he cooed.

He pulled her into his arms fondly, and breathed in her familiar perfume. "My sweet daughter, she still lives with you, in here. ." he said, pointing at her beating, aching heart. She pulled away from him, and wiped her watery eyes on her bare arm before looking deep into her father's wise chocolate eyes. "You always know what to say to cheer me up," she mumbled. "Shouldn't I?" he asked, chuckling. She smiled again, and turned as she heard her father clear his throat. She turned back to him. "Yes, Father?" He motioned for her to follow him, and she did.

Shing Hong, Mara's father, led her to a small little secluded place with a man, standing. Mara blinked, wondering why she'd been brought here, and soon it was answered. The man bowed to Mara. "I am Lee Kei, coming to you for a personal request." Mara was confused. What request? Her father must have noticed, because he spoke up. "Mara, Daughter, Lee and his family have presented Bride Price." Mara turned and glared at her father. He shrugged. But why would that have been his fault, it was a tradition. Mara sighed, thinking it over. She couldn't disgrace her Chinese-ancestors.

Lee raised a hand to her cheek and caressed it. She knew better than to pull away from him, and she she stayed frozen, but smiled nontheless. "You have gifts waiting for you at your home, Mara."

-Days Later-

Mara could hardly believe it was the day of her marriage. This marked an important part of her life, and even though she didn't get to pick the man she married, she was glad it was Lee and not some other Chinese men. Lee is actually pretty sweet, yet perfectly aware of his position as the traditional man. She was beginning to hope she was the perfect wife, and could give him many sons. Even still, she still wished to have a few daughters of her own, and couldn't fight that urge.

Lee's family was at her home that day, paying respects to each other and to the family deities, of course. Soon everyone was settled in, and Mara was excited to get to the next part of the marriage.

 After a little while, the couple exchange rings, and stared at each other for a while after the ceremony. Mara's father cried, and looked shocked and happy. He was happy because his daughter seemed to have chemistry and love for her new husband, something that is sometimes hard to come by with arranged marriages.

Lastly, to conclude their Wedding Banquet (xǐ-jǐu), Mara offered tea to her husband's family. It was a small wedding, but that was the best of it for Mara. She preferred it that way, and her big day was a success.

-Later that night-

 Shing announced that he found a new home for himself, with Mara protesting. Shing, of course, didn't listen to his daughter's protests and went anyways, telling her that a married couple need their own space for the future. Which Mara knew what he meant by that, and knew tonight was the night.

Mara and her husband were lying on their bed, talking. They both knew it was the time, Mara needed to be pregnant. For the Kei clan to exist, sons needed to be born. Mara blushed, and attempted to cover her face with her fan. Lee smiled, and Mara put it away.

Mara pulled her husband to her, a little embarrassed by their body touching for the first time. His body was oddly warm, a little too warm. Was it his first time too? She swallowed, and they began kissing before woohooing for both of their first times. They heard the lullaby, and it was then they both fell asleep to it still ringing in their ears.

That morning, Mara was sick. That was another sign, and she was sure her husband would be proud.

As she walked into the dining/tea room, the smell of breakfast fresh from the stove turned her stomach. Her hand went up to her mouth, as if she was to be nauseous again, but then suddenly stopped, and the smell turned into food again, edible food. Lee smiled at her as she ran over to get her plate and eagerly sat down. She waited for him to be seated before they ate their waffles together.

Mara worked on her wilting garden for a couple hours. She hoped to obtain more seedlings before too long, so she could watch them grow.

Then she started practicing the traditional Martial Arts. She wished she could start at her father's level and start up, but of course that's impossible. Either way, the whole time she thought about her mother Salline Trish's death. It was odd, and miserable. Nobody in the family expected it, and Mara became overwhelmed and stressed being in the same house her mother used to live in, and especially with Mara's step-father (Alex.) Her mind played out the events of the tragic day, and how Mara had contacted her father and arranged to come 'home' to China. She'd always had contact with her father, but never visited him in China. When she got to her homeland, she found it incredible and decided to stay there indefinitely.

The sound of her husband's slowed movements caught her attention, and she turned to face him. He was sporting a new belt, the white belt. (level 1) Mara giggled. "Very good." He did a ninja-like pose to show off even more, and Mara couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked doing it. She smiled at him before returning to her own practicing dummy.

Soon after her husband, Mara was able to show off her yellow belt! (level 2) She imitated the fearless pose of her husband, laughing. Then her nausea started again, and she hurried off.

Then she took a hot bath, literally scrubbing her skin. When she finished, she felt like a new person! It was so refreshing.

That night, Mara was awoken by an eccentric feeling in her stomach. Almost like a. . kick! Mara's mouth twisted in a prideful smile, and she rubbed her stomach fondly. Her first pregnancy! Slowly, her eyes turned icy as she faded out of the reality and into deep thought.


Her mother's horrific car accident replayed in her mind. . .

It was another normal day for the Trish family, or as usual as it could have been since Mara's mother's miscarriage of her brothers. Mara knew her mother had been acting odd since she was born, the only survivor, but never expected it to end like this.

 Her and Alex were married, though had been arguing that day, and Salline took off in her SUV for some fresh air. She needed to cool down, and take her mind off of her dead children. The tears clouded her vision as she drove; she knew she needed to pay attention, but at the time she was worried about other things, and that was why it happened.

Salline hit a car head on, killing her in a matter of seconds.

 Young Mara and the rest of the family heard the information on the news, and could instantly recognize their missing mother, and wife. The family wept for a long time, but Mara felt as if it hit her the hardest. It was her fault; if she hadn't had survived, would she never have to hear her mother asking why only Mara had to live, and not the boys? Or would they all have survived the second time around? Would Salline hadn't have took that drive along fate?

~~~

Mara's mother had 18 children, Mara being the last. She knew her mother had a challenge going to have 100. "If not for me, then for her honor," Mara said as she pledged to continue the challenge for her mother's sake.

-Days later-

Mara welcomed Marri Trish to the family!