Front Desk

“I looked up to see my mother crouching in front of the front desk, holding her hands up like she was going to take a picture. It’s this thing she does. My mom says it’s important to take pictures of the nice moments in life, even if it’s just in your head.”

The Tangs use an imaginary camera to capture the rare moments of joy in their lives. Over the course of the story, only a handful of events are commemorated this way. Happily, the story ends with a moment just like this one.

“‘Hey, Hank, what’d you mean by what you said earlier about Mr. Yao?’ I asked. ‘That he was anything but all right?’ Hank’s jaw locked. ‘You’ll soon find out, kid,’ Hank said. ‘The man has coal for a heart.’”

Initially, the Tangs can’t believe their luck when they are hired without any prior experience as hotel managers. Hank’s comment foreshadows the Tangs’ realization of their employer’s true intentions. Mia’s innocence during this conversation offers a painful contrast to Yao’s calculating agenda.

“When you’ve moved as much as I have, checking out schools is like checking out shoe polish.”

Mia is less than thrilled to be receiving a tour of yet another school. The reader becomes aware of just how different Mia’s childhood is from most others. The migratory nature of her family is expressed by Mia’s lack of excitement at a place she’s bound to leave soon.