To be filled with such music, yet be unable to play.
She was not unfamiliar with what that could do to a soul.
Shizuka nibbled absently on a potato pancake. Suddenly her mouth encountered something familiar, yet unpleasant.
“I put some of the Lieus’ bitter melon in the r?sti. It adds a nice color, doesn’t it?”
Shizuka nodded weakly, then reached for the honey.
In front of her was another note from that violin teacher, another invitation to hear the Grohl girl play. Shizuka gently tossed it into the trash.
“Going to the park again?”
Shizuka did not even need to nod.
“I’ll pack some leftover bread. And some tangerines.”
* * *
“Have you aligned the donut with the local continuum?” Lan asked.
“Yes, Captain,” Markus said. “But the ground here is unstable, so we’ll need to compensate with a probability algorithm. Shall I create one?”
Lan nodded. “Yes, but work with Windee. I want her to learn, so be sure to explain everything as you go. When you are done, let me verify your figures.”
Lan checked the time and headed to the elevator.
“Captain, what about Edwin?”
“Well … he’s probably in the kitchen with Aunty Floresta.”
Markus nodded. Nothing more needed to be said.
Lan walked to the front of the shop. The soft, yeasty glazed donuts, twists, and maple bars were to her right; the colorful cake donuts to her left. In the seating area, some maintenance workers from the city were on morning break. Two young mothers chatted, with babies and toddlers firmly in tow. In the corner, some boys already circled the Stargate machines.
All systems were go.
Captain Tran couldn’t help feeling proud. She had brought her family here, escaping the war, to cross a galaxy, to all of this. And she would protect all of this, no matter what.
But then Lan noticed someone at the counter.
Sunglass Lady.
Where was Shirley? The last time Shizuka had visited, Lan embarrassed herself in front of the entire store.
But Shirley was wiping down tables and chatting with the moms.
Nervously, Lan approached the counter.
What was she going to say? What would she call her? Should she use her name? Was it proper to use her name?
Her name was Shizuka. She had very nice hair …
“Good morning. Can I try one of those?”
And her voice, it was prettier still …
“Um … please?”
“What? Oh, donut hole?” Lan speared one with her tongs.
Shizuka sampled it and nodded. “I would like a half Alaska Donut and regular coffee. And may I have a big bag of donut holes?”
“Throwing party?” Lan congratulated herself on maintaining a proper donut shop accent.
“In a way.”
She was probably throwing a party for her children. Shizuka would be married, of course. She must have a family. Lan felt an unexpected little ache in her heart, but she kept her smile and motioned to Shirley, who came out with a paper grocery bag.
“Wait. I give you something better. These donut are two day old, so we can’t sell them as one day old. They still good, though. Just don’t tell. Then people ask around and Health Department show up.”
“Mother!” Shirley scolded.
“I’ll keep it secret.” Shizuka smiled. “Besides, who knows what else you donut people keep back there?”
“No, no.” Lan waved her hands. “Nothing special back there. Nothing special at all. Just donut stuff.”
“Excuse me,” Shirley apologized. She pulled Lan away, and the two started arguing in what must have been Vietnamese.
They were peculiar, but in a very non-musician way. In fact, watching them made Shizuka feel refreshed. So Shirley was Lan’s daughter? Of course she was. Shizuka had never seen any sign of the father. Not that it was her business …
Ah, but enough with the daydreams. She had somewhere to be.
“Well, I should be getting to the ducks.”
“Ducks?”
“I am off to feed the ducks—not to imply your donuts are duck food, but…”
“Ducks?” Lan asked again.
The way she asked it was peculiar, as if … No, surely Lan knew what a duck was. Did they not have ducks in her country?
“If you want, I can show you.”
“Oh! Um, no. You see, I have to work.”
Shirley tapped Lan on the shoulder. “Mother, take a break. You worked a triple shift yesterday. We can handle the shop while you’re gone.”
“Yes, but—”