Summary

In Chapter 13, some 20 girls are gathered for the embroidery party. Mai is impressed by the intricate work. May has been surprised that she has seen nothing like the Vietnam of the documentaries, including small huts and girls wearing cone-shaped hats. Tam leads the girls in practicing a specific stitch. Renee taught Mai to embroider, but Mai soon learns her skills are lacking by Tam's standards. The only girl who has less skill is Ut.

Mai compares the parenting here compared to how the parents behave in Laguna “where parents count to twenty to let pass the urge to raise their voices ever so slightly to their kids. Admittedly, these same kids should be screamed at, they're so obnoxious and demanding” (95).

Tam's instructions annoy Mai and Ut, but the other girls only work harder. Mai discovers she does not need to sew while she...