It was Manchu's sixteenth birthday and he had been taken to the DMV to get his driver's license by one of the guards. At Jiaoshu's a big party was being set up in his honor. Whether he aced his test or not, today was a very special day for him. Today was the day he found out if he had been accepted into the Triad or not.

Dee and Li Mei set about icing the giant cake in the kitchen, smoothing the white icing over the layers of coconut cake, Manchu's favorite. One of the ladies in the kitchen was making colorful lotus flowers out of sugar to decorate the cake. By the time they were all done with it, it looked almost too nice to think about slicing up.

{Did you get him a present, Xiaohu?} Li Mei asked.

{Months ago! I had Li Rong send a package from China. Let me show you!} Dee ran over to the pile of presents and pulled out a neatly wrapped box. {She knows it's a special birthday. No matter what happens today, he will love this!}

Pulling the top off the box, the women in the kitchen hovered around and looked down into it. The most beautiful and thick jade green robe rested in the bottom. Carefully Dee lifted it out to show everyone. Along the back of it, picked out in black embroidery was a large tiger. The front remained unadorned. The inner layer of material was silk, but thickly woven to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It looked akin to one of Jiaoshu's expensive robes.

{Xiaohu! Where did you get the money for such a thing?} demanded Li Mei.

{I had some saved away. And it wasn't that expensive. Li Rong chipped in half for the material she sent. I had Madame Hsia make the robe for me.}

{What if he doesn't get in?}

{He will. Half our class has already been accepted into the Triad. Why would Manchu be overlooked?} If anyone gets overlooked, it'll be me, Dee added in thought. Gently she put the robe back in the box exactly as it had been and replaced it with the rest of the presents. She blinked back a tear. Today was all about her best friend, Manchu. She would not ruin this day for him by turning the subject onto herself!

{Come help us set up the buffet table, Xiaohu-ai! The boys will be back soon and the Elders will arrive before them!}

{Coming, Li!}

~ ~ ~

The party was in full swing the second Manchu came back to the house, sweeping Li Mei and his friend up in joyous hugs as he waved his license around. For the first hour, Manchu wandered around the party, greeting his guests and showing off his driver's license. All the younger boys, and a good few of the older ones, gave him pats on the back and whispered suggestions of what he could do now that he had access to a car. Those suggestions met laughs as they added that he first needed a girlfriend.

Much rejoicing was heard when the announcement of the food being ready was made. The Elders, Jiaoshu, Li Mei, and Manchu were served first, followed by the guests. Sitting in a side alcove, the older folks ate, softly discussing Triad business. Li Mei chose to ignore half of what was said to pay attention to the celebration.

{Excuse me all,} she said with all the giddiness of a schoolgirl as she hurried to the kitchen.

The lights dimmed and voices rose to sing "Happy Birthday" as the great cake was wheeled into the room. Ooos and aahs spread through the room as the candles flickered and sparklers sparkled on top of the cake. Manchu took great delight in blowing the candles out and passing the quickly fizzling sparklers to the nearest children.

{I wish to thank you all for coming tonight to my party. I don't think it would've been complete without my best friend, Xiaohu helping with this magnificent cake. Let's hope she didn't burn it!} he teased as he sliced into it. For the next few minutes Manchu passed back plate after plate of the gooey confection before relenting and letting one of the kitchen staff finish so he could have a piece of his own cake. {Wow. You did good this time, Xiaohu! It actually tastes like almonds!}

{It's coconut, you louse!} she teased back. {Better finish your cake so you can open your presents.}

He lowered his eyes to the plate and turned to her. {Do you think I got in?}

{Of course you did. Why would they pass you up, of all the people in our class? You were one of the top students.} Dee stabbed her fork into a mound of cake, crushing it into crumbs.

{Dee, you will get in as well. You still have a few months to go. If they tell me that you can't go in, then I'll...I'll...}

{You'll what, Ping? If you get in, you have to take this. It's only offered once. Don't throw it away for me. There's bound to be opportunities for someone like me later on.}

He took the plates and placed them on the tray of a waiter going by. Pulling Dee into a tight hug, he whispered in her ear, "No matter what happens to either one of us, you are still my sister and I am still your brother. We will be there for each other, always and forever."

{Manchu! Time to open your presents!} Li Mei called.

Dee hung back letting him know that she would watch from where she was as he opened his gifts. What mattered to her was the final present. All the rest were just filler, even the one from her and Li Rong. Dee watched halfheartedly as he unwrapped books, stationary sets, knick-knacks, her robe (which she failed to see that he put on immediately), and numerous boxes filled with sweets and other delicacies he favored.

The room went quiet as Kueng himself carried the final present up to the dais where Manchu stood in his robe. With great pride, Manchu accepted the offer of the envelope, becoming extremely nervous the second the old man turned and went back to his seat. His eyes sought out Dee's across the room.

Open it, Ping! she mouthed.

Taking a deep breath, Manchu lifted the fold of the envelope and pulled out the small slip of paper. On the paper was a neat calligraphy Chinese character. The character read:

{Jie shou!} Manchu said softly at first. Then he said it louder and waved it paper about. The presence of the Elders sobered him as suddenly as a bucket of cold water. Turning to them he dropped to one knee, bowing. {You have done me a great honor in accepting my to the Jade Tiger Triad. I will do my best never to displease you, good Elders.}

The Elders lined up then, each presenting Manchu with a present signifying his joining of the Triad. He received the black outfit like the ones the guards all wore, a piece of jade carved into the Triad tiger and marked, and a very fine pair of tabby boots. Dee knew that within the next few days her friend would go in for his Triad tattoos, a sign he was truly a part of the Triad for life.
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