Could This Be Home? (Beyril and Lani; Private)

Tien paused, a bit confused as to where to start, and pointed at the shortest one she saw, "a".

"A," she explained, habitually signing the letter as she explained, "It's an article... a pronoun. I'm not sure if you understand those words." A shrug followed but she pointed to herself. "I am a person. One person."

Tien bowed her head, cheeks flushing brilliant pink as she tried to hide her face, "I picked a bad word. I am sorry."

"There are no stupid questions," Eve said, smiling. "Go ahead, keep asking."

Tien sighed, "I do not understand the symbols. Is there system?"

She nodded, smiling, "Do you read? I can explain better if I know what you're used to."

"I read some in Thai." she explained, "And some in Chinese."

Evelyn nodded at this, straightening a bit to retrieve a napkin, pulling a mini pen from her pocket. As she spoke, she jotted down each of the letters of the alphabet, in upper and lower case, her handwriting a neat, tidy, legible script. "Chinese uses symbols for each word. We use symbols for each letter, different parts of the words."

"The... sounds?" Tien asked, trying to make sure she understood properly.

Evelyn nodded, pointing to each letter in turn, pronouncing them each in turn.

Tien nodded, flushing a bit, "There are many."

"Twenty-six," Evelyn clarified, nodding, lowering the hand she hadn't realized had been signing. "They make up our words. Like 'a' is both a word and a letter. So is 'I.'"

Tien nodded, "How does my name look in English?" she asked, curious.

Evelyn smiled, printing out Tien Phan at the bottom of the napkin, pointing to the syllables as she enunciated it for her.

Tien smiled, letting her fingers run over the letters on the page. "It's pretty."

Evelyn nodded at her, offering the pen. "Do you want to try to write it out?"

Tien nodded, taking the pen and slowly and meticulously working to copy the letters.

Eve smiled, searching for another pen, locating it, and grabbing another napkin, drawing out the letters slowly to help her copy.

Tien copied it down a few times, looking up at Eve, "Can I keep?"

She nodded, smiling, "I'll show you how to do them all sometime, if that works for you?"

Tien nodded, "I would like that."

Evelyn smiled, nodding in a final affirmation of the plan. "Then we will." She gestured towards the counter, and the kitchen behind it, "Our food will be out, soon enough."

Tien looked up as the waiter brought their food out and sat it down in front of them, nodding to them both with a smile and said, "Enjoy your meal!"

After he left, Tien turned to Eve, "I do not know the word he used. En---goy?"

Evelyn smiled, patient, offering a nod to the man as he left, "Do you know what joy is?"

Tien shook her head, "No..." she trailed off, embarrassed as though it were something she should have known. "I only learn English 6 months before come here."