Tori came back holding a small plate of kimbap and chewing. “You made this?” She pointed to her mouth. It didn’t have any kimchi in it, so I guess it passed her fresh breath test.
“Yes. Well, I helped Grandma.”
“It’s good!” she said with her mouth still full of food. She may be the pretty one, but she didn’t have the best manners. “Okay, take it off. I need to sew it now.”
Very carefully I took off the dress and passed it to Tori. She had a little sewing machine set up on a table in her room and she started digging around looking for the right color of thread. I left her to her work. I knew she wanted to work in peace and quiet. As I opened the door to leave, she yelled, “Hey!”
I turned around.
“Take this plate downstairs and get me another roll, would you?” she said through a mouthful of food. When did my “beautiful” sister develop such gross habits?
“Say it, don’t spray it,” I said as I grabbed the plate out of her hands.
“Don’t be a smart aleck.” She finally swallowed and threw a loose piece of fabric at me. “I’m doing you a favor remember?”
Was she? I didn’t remember asking her for help. I heard her sewing until late in the evening. When she gets an idea in her head, she really goes for it. I had to admire her determination.
CHAPTER 6
Tori gave me the dress the next day. She said, “I have something for you!”
I couldn’t believe it had only taken her an evening to finish the dress. “Try it on!” she encouraged me.
Without any more needles and pins, it was easy to try on. I looked at myself in the mirror. Tori did a nice job on my Korean dress. I was pleasantly surprised by my sister. Lately she had actually been really nice to me and it was so much better than the moody teenager she had started to become. The dress, which traditionally is very wide and flowing, was tapered and more fitted. On the upper short jacket part, she had taken the sleeves in so that they didn’t flop around so much.
“Mom!” Tori shouted downstairs. “Come see this!” I was standing in front of the mirror fussing when my mom came in.
“Tori, you did this?” my mom asked.
She looked pleased. “Yes, I did. Not bad, huh?”
“Tori, it looks amazing! I was wondering what you were doing last night. What’s it for?”
“Krista’s class project, or whatever.”
“Krista, you look stunning in it!” my mom continued to gush.
“Well let’s not get carried away, Mom. She still needs some work. You can’t wear this dress with your hair in that ponytail.” Tori flicked my hair. There she was. I had been wondering where the old Tori had gone.
The doorbell rang.
“I called Grandma to come see,” Tori told me.
Grandma? Seriously? I hadn’t even had my breakfast yet! My mom went to get the door. I started to panic. I didn’t want her to see me. We had had a nice evening making kimbap, but I couldn’t quite help the feeling that she would judge me and the dress, and she was never one to hold back what she had to say.
Tori saw the look in my eyes as I began to take off the dress. “No, keep it on. I already told her about it. Let her see, I think she might like it.”
“She’s going to be mean, Tori. She’s mean to me. You wouldn’t understand,” I told her. “Also, she was pretty mad at me when I said kimbap was like sushi.”
“Oh no, you didn’t!” Tori said. “You offended Korean people around the globe!”
“Tori, I’m serious. Haven’t you noticed? She just doesn’t like me as much as she likes you.”
“That’s not true,” she said.
“It IS!” I insisted. “Mom knows.”
“Well, maybe it’s because you don’t take care of yourself,” she said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I said indignantly.
“Well, you know, you don’t dress…”
“Like a girl?” I finished her sentence.
Tori paused awkwardly, because it was exactly what she was going to say, but she just couldn’t find a nice way to say it.
“I am almost twelve years old!” I shouted. “I can wear whatever I want!”
“Listen Krista, Grandma is just a bit old-fashioned. She’s an old Korean lady who hasn’t really come to terms with the fact that she’s not in Korea anymore. She likes things a bit more traditional, that’s all,” Tori said quietly.
We heard my mom bring her upstairs. I held my breath.
“You have to see this!” my mom said as she came down the hallway.
She came into my room, and I was frozen. Grandma stood still for a moment. It was silent for what felt like hours, but was probably only five seconds. “Tori, this is hanbok I gave you before?” she finally asked.
“Yes, Grandma,” she answered.
She took a few steps toward me. “It was very expensive.” She clicked her tongue at us, which was usually not a good sign. “Krista, turn around,” she ordered.
I dutifully obliged, feeling very nervous.
Grandma lifted up her chin and looked at me through her glasses. “Krista, you got period yet? Your body change. Look not bad. But you need visit to salon. Hair is terrible. Grandma take you next weekend before party.”
There were no words. Where was the giant hole that I could have curled up in? Could my grandmother make me feel any weirder? Was that supposed to be a compliment? I felt my entire body turn red with embarrassment. I didn’t know it could do that. At least she didn’t give me a chance to answer her.
“Not traditional dress. But looks a little Korean.” She continued to stare at me in the dress. “You wear to your Chinese friend’s party, she not know any better, but I not allow you to wear to Korean church or
