“Do you remember the story I told you about the paper of happiness? And the secret, which was one word written over and over again?” The back of Ma’s head nodded and Ba allowed himself a small smile. “I have thought a long time about what that word could have been,” Ba said. “Was it wisdom or honor? Love or truth? For a long time I liked to think that the word was kindness.” Ma’s face remained hidden in Minli’s bed, but her sobs had stopped and Ba knew she was listening. “But now,” Ba said, “I think, perhaps, the word was faith.”
