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1915 Viet Thanh Nguyento no more than a dull pencil, allowing her to write in her mind with ever-increasing precision the outline of her desires and the characters in her life, none more vivid than her father, whom she pitied and, even worse, did not respect. If he were only an adulterer and a playboy, then there would be cause for resentment, but he was in decline, a failure without even the glamour of decadence and bad behavior. This was a matter of sufficient sadness and embarrassment that when her father%u2019s shadow appeared in the doorway, Phuong turned on her side as well. There, pressed into her sister%u2019s back under the weight of a humid night, she discovered that even lying down Vivien had broken into a sweat.%u2022 %u2022 %u2022At the amusement park the next morning, Mr. Ly photographed his children at the entry gates using a disposable camera, a gift from his ex-wife delivered by Vivien. After Vivien paid the family%u2019s fares, Hanh and Phuc seized the lead, the former tugging on his mother%u2019s hand. They picked their way through raucous troops of elementary school boys and girls, a battalion in red shirts and caps. A monorail traversed the park above the keen crowds, and in the distance a roller coaster rumbled. One exhibition hall soon caught Phuong%u2019s attention, its curious English name being the Ice Lantern. On a billboard outside were brightly colored photos depicting glacial facsimiles of the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, and other manmade wonders of the world, lit in a rainbow of neon. %u201cLet%u2019s save this for later,%u201d she said, %u201cwhen we%u2019ll need to cool down.%u201d%u201cGood plan,%u201d said Vivien, fanning herself with the park brochure.After driving the bumper cars at Hanh and Phuc%u2019s request, Mrs. Ly insisted on visiting 80the Japanese orchid garden. Several young couples posed for wedding photographs in different corners, the veiled brides in Western wedding gowns and the grooms in white tuxedos, red roses pinned to their lapels. Mrs. Ly cooed over the spectacle, but Hanh and Phuc rolled their eyes and asked Vivien if the next destination could be the Ferris wheel, rotating slowly above the waterslides. It was Mrs. Ly who clambered into one cabin of the Ferris wheel with the boys, while Mr. Ly declined to join his daughters in another cabin, claiming acrophobia. As they ascended, Vivien studied the scenery from the barred window on her side, Phuong peeking over her shoulder, her breath tickling a hair on Vivien%u2019s ear. Vivien tucked away the hair and pointed toward the roller coaster climbing slowly into view, an upside-down caterpillar with dozens of human arms wiggling in the air. %u201cI worked on a ride like that,%u201d Vivien said. %u201cAll my friends found jobs at the park so we could meet boys.%u201d%u201cDid you find a boyfriend?%u201d Phuong leaned a shoulder against her sister%u2019s arm. She hadn%u2019t told Vivien that she was still wearing her gift, delighting in it like a child with a new and magical toy. %u201cWas he handsome?%u201d%u201cRod was cute. He%u2019d give me rides home, and we%u2019d go on one of the side streets around my house, park, and . . . kiss. I don%u2019t suppose you%u2019ve done that?%u201d%u201cNot yet.%u201d%u201cYou haven%u2019t found any boys you like?%u201d%u201cI don%u2019t want any attachments,%u201d Phuong said firmly. %u201cI don%u2019t want anyone holding me back.%u201d%u201cFrom what?%u201dAt the center of the park was a lake the size of a saucer, paddleboats floating like crumbs on its surface. Jutting into the lake was their noon destination, a restaurant in the 85Why does Phuong think it would be preferable for her father to be an %u201cadulterer and a playboy%u201d (par. 78)?55Copyright %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.