Lunch time scene

Grandma, Grandma's friend, Mum, Dad and me at Dining table having lunch. Loud chatters of Hokkien across the table. Rong looking silently at everyone, listening intently to their conversations, trying to understand. They commented on the new furniture from someone who gave them away to my family and my grandma and my Grandma's latest story from the wet market.

GRANDMA ( in hokkien)
Since Ah Dai went to China, Ah Zai and I just eat simply at home, so I go to the market less often nowadays. Then the market lady sao asked me how come I haven't gone to the market much now. Is it I jia hong (eat air) at home?

Rong laughs.

Everyone turns to Rong surprised.

DAD ( in mandarin)
Eh? You understand what she said?

RONG ( in mandarin)
Can understand a bit la.

GRANDMA'S FRIEND (In mandarin)
Alot of people can understand when they listen but they cannot speak.

RONG (smiles)
mm... mm...

As we all finish our meals, Dad turned around and asked Rong.

DAD ( english)
You want 7-UP?

RONG (english)
You have 7-UP? We have 7-UP?

DAD
yup. Do you want it?

RONG
YES! AMen! Yes I want!

DAD laughs. He brings the 1.5l bottle of 7-UP to the table. Mum looks surprised and asks a string of questions.

MUM (in mandarin/hokkien)
How come we have 7-UP? Did you buy it? What's the occasion? Who's birthday is it? Did someone give us or did you buy it?

DAD shrugs silently and chuckles. Rong tries to read his non-verbal language.

MUM (to GRANDMA in hokkien)
So funny, for no rhyme or reason he buys a 7-UP.

Rong laughs. She picks up the bottle of 7-UP on the table as Dad gets the cups.

RONG
Err... The 1.5l bottles nowadays seem to look smaller and smaller.

(pause. Dad returns from kitchen. He keeps smiling. )

(TO DAD in chinese) It's so funny when we don't have this kind of drinks at home often, everyone gets so surprised over a single bottle of soft drink.

Everyone gets one cup of 7-UP and the whole bottle is finished. Everyone satisfied with lunch and the table is cleared. Rong retreats to her room and turns on her laptop while everyone else hangs around at the new sofas. A while later, MUM enters Rong's room.

MUM ( in chinese)
Just now, Ah Ma told me that Ah Yi wants me to go over to US to help her when she give birth to her twins. She says if I can go to Korea for 3 weeks, then I can go to US to help her. But it's different! I didn't have to cook in Korea! She thinks I can cook all those confinement stuffs.

RONG (in chinese)
Maybe you can learn! Then after you help her, in future you can help me also! haha.

MUM (in chinese)
aiyo, you go and find someone else to help you la. I want to retire.

Mum walks out of room.

RONG
huhhhh.....

Rong laughs at everything.