Page 24 of Love Unlimited

Ash twisted to face him, signing with one hand while the phone wobbled in the other. You didn’t tell me that!

They’ve been saying they’re going to send it for most of a year. I just got the email yesterday that it might actually be coming.

Ash turned back to their mother, using SimCom again. Zhong is going to read Chinese poetry to me. I want to make some illustrations.

Zhong raised one eyebrow. They’d mentioned something like that in passing once before, and he’d assumed they’d forgotten about it.

Do you speak Chinese also? Ash’s mother asked.

Zhong wavered his hand in a so-so sign. I had a tutor as a child who taught me the form of Chinese Sign Language that’s based on ASL. She taught me to read, and since the written language is all ideograms, I can figure out most of the words I encounter from context. The grammar is much easier than in English, so reading and writing isn’t a problem. My verbal knowledge is pretty limited, though. I know hundreds of written words that I don’t know how to pronounce, and since I can’t hear the tonal parts of the language, people usually can’t understand me when I speak it. It’s a lot harder for me to speechread, too, since I’m missing out on the tones. So… kind of. It was a lot to explain, but he paused after each word or two to make sure Ash’s mother was following, fingerspelling when needed.

Ash still looked up at him adoringly. Yeah, but you can read it well enough to translate poetry. I tried to learn Spanish in high school and I can only remember about ten words.

Zhong shrugged. Maybe. But I could never draw like you do. I don’t have any of your creativity.

Awwww… Ash’s mother stroked her two fingers down her chin to show how cute he was apparently being. You love my child, don’t you?

Zhong was only taken aback for a moment. It wasn’t a question he’d been expecting to answer. Certainly not something his mother would even think to ask. But he still knew what he wanted to say. Yes. Very much.

I can see it, she confirmed happily. Well, I should go take a nap. I need to get back onto a normal sleep cycle. I’ll let you get back to your workout. She turned slightly in the frame of the phone to address Ash with a wink. I see what you mean. He has nice shoulders.

Zhong put his hand over his face in mock embarrassment, though he was more surprised than embarrassed. He kept his fingers from obscuring his eyes, so he could still see Ash’s mother signing.

You’re going to come visit soon, right? She turned to Ash. Make sure to bring him over.

Sure, Ash agreed, saving Zhong from having to answer.

So, it looked like he’d be meeting Ash’s mother in person. He found himself feeling surprisingly happy with the idea.

They all waved goodbye.

Ash disconnected the call, then turned around on the bench and tangled their legs together. Was that OK? They looked nervous.

Yeah. I mean, some warning would have been nice. But your mother is lovely.

That was all it took to have Ash happy again. She really is. She’s always been my biggest supporter, and now she’s more like a close friend.

I definitely want to get to know her better, then. I hope you don’t mind that I haven’t introduced you to my family yet. They’re… a bit much.

Do you want me to meet them sometime? Ash kept their expression neutral, but that in itself was rare for them. Were they worried that Zhong didn’t want to introduce them?

I don’t see them often, Zhong hedged. Believe me, I’m not trying to hide you or anything. It’s just that they're very traditional.

So it will be a problem that I’m genderqueer?

Zhong grimaced. Yes? But it’s also that you’re an artist who in their eyes can’t make money from it. You’re a nurse and not a doctor, though that matters less if they think of you as my potential wife, which they probably will. You’re not Chinese, which is a big one. Gallaudet is an acceptable university, but only because you’re Deaf. We haven’t even talked about children, but that will be one of the first things that they’ll want to know. At the same time, all of this judgment won’t be about you as a person. They’ll all think you’re very sweet and kind and enjoy being around you. They’ll just quietly let me know that I should choose someone who’s either more prestigious or who they think of as a better wife, and preferably both.

I mean… I love my family, Zhong tried to explain, but their idea of who I should have a relationship with is based on traditional values that don’t cross over to U.S. culture. I actually make up girlfriends so they won’t set me up with women who will bring pride to the family name and do a good job of raising my children. If we still lived in China, I might be married by now. Or maybe not, because I’d be a less desirable husband there.

What do you mean? Ash’s brow wrinkled.

In China, the disability rights movement is pretty far behind the U.S., so a lot of Deaf folks don’t end up getting an education or working at all, which can decrease marriage opportunities. So my career choice is alternately a disappointment because I could have made more of myself and a point of pride because I’m Deaf and I can do so much. It’s all linked to their affection for me and desire for me to be the best person and have the best relationship, but there’s also a pretty heavy sense of obligation, since all of my choices reflect on my family.

Ash nodded slowly. That seems like a lot of pressure.

Zhong shrugged. It can be. It’s a whole way of thinking that’s hard to describe to outsiders. Everything that I do reflects on them, at least in the Chinese community. I care about them and I want to bring respect to the family. But at the same time, I’m really happy with my life, and I don’t want to subject either of us to their judgment. It’s hard to straddle both cultures, but easier because I live farther away.

Ash seemed to be considering that. Do you… want me to meet them eventually?