Searching for Sylvie Lee

by Jean Kwok

when I had thought about Holland, Grandma was the one I held to my heart. I had blocked out Helena. That was how the mind worked, deceiving us so we could bear the many sorrows of life.

So quickly did we shed the wisdom and kindness of accumulated years, how easily we reverted to our former selves in the company of those who had known us before.

Absolutely. Like how I see my parents and am instantly 15 again.

“She is incorrigible. Her name is Couscous.

My Husband knew a cat named Couscous.

But Amy did not need cosmetics. Her beauty glowed from within, whereas I was all about the surface.

Both of us put on our huge eyes and stared at him as if we saw water burning.

"put on our huge eyes" - what a great phrase.

Estelle tells me it is a mini stroopwafel.

stroopwafel!! and a mini one!

I was horrible at something for the first time in my overcontrolled life and I reveled in it.

Kind of how I felt with guitar . . .