Over the next few years Dee and Manchu became good friends, helping one another with practice and their studies. On the weekends Jiaoshu and Li Mei would often take them on an outing to a museum, a park, or the zoo. The two loved this and would often run off together only to have one of their guardians called to come get them for causing trouble.

Both children came out of the shells they had been living in, learning to trust one another explicitly in their practices. Jiaoshu was pleased to see that the two were well matched for sparring partners. However, he was learning that both also were well matched for mischief making. So often enough he had found his tea spiked with chili powder or some other ingredient that did not belong in it, that he had become wary enough to take a small sip before drinking. The first couple of times Dee had slipped some chili powder in, he had heard the titter of children's laughter from the other side of the door as he spat the concoction out in an uncharacteristic burst of anger. Even with the punishment he had set them to, the children had not stopped giggling over the prank.

The Elders were pleased with the progress of the children, even Po Sin. He had been the one who had suggested the children be sent to China for a year for some intensive studies. Upon a vote, the decision was made and the children would be sent to China in time to join in the New Year's celebrations. That was still a month away and Dee and Manchu were excited enough that he had sentenced them to spend every free hour they had to practice in order to make them tired enough to sleep at night.

He watched now as Dee battled against Manchu, each with a bo staff. Manchu was loosing to the fierceness of Dee's attack. She shortly had the boy pinned against the opposite wall of the practice room.

{Enough practice for tonight, children,} he said as the two, breathing heavily from the exercise bowed to each other. {Dee, your fighting has greatly improved, as has your own, Manchu. You will both excel quickly in China.} He took the staffs from the children and put them away. "Everyone around here has a Chinese name, except for you, Dee. We must fix this. I think the title of Xiaohu would be very fitting to you."

"Xiaohu?" she asked.

"He is calling you 'little tiger'," Manchu said with a giggle. "If I may say so, it is very fitting for her, Jiaoshu."

The man smiled. "Very well. We shall all call you Xiaohu from now on. Unless you do not like the name?"

Dee's lower lip trembled a bit and she looked down at the floor. Blinking back tears, she suddenly threw her arms around Jiaoshu's middle and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you for the honor, Jiaoshu."

"It's only a name, silly girl," Manchu said.

"But it's the first nice nickname I've ever had, Ping," she said sticking her tongue out at him.

Jiaoshu laughed at the jib. {OK, children. Both of you go take your baths and get to bed. Tomorrow you both shall join Li Mei in her shopping. Proper clothing must be acquired for you before you leave for China.}

Their faces lit up at the prospect of a trip out. With the long hours of practice, chores, and schoolwork, they rarely left the compound. Plus, trips out with Li Mei also meant they would be allowed special treats from the seed shops and the bakeries. Cheering the two friends raced each other up the stairs, Jiaoshu watching them go in amusement.

As their voices faded, he sighed at the prospect of not seeing them for a year. He would miss them, as would everyone in the house. There were the other students, but none of them made the house feel so full of life as the pair of firecrackers that lived there.
Tiger Stripes Main / Triad Main /