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A yard and driveway in the suburbs. Riding tricycles up and down the street. Sidewalk chalk. Mom draws a big clock face on the concrete. I get a watch if I can tell the time.

The babysitter’s house. She’s old. I play with toys on the carpet. The Jeopardy jingle in the background. Her backyard had a pecan tree. Pecans are strewn across the lawn.

First snow I remember. The yard is white. Dad tries to make a snowman. “It’s too wet.”

I open the front door into my big toe. The toenail—

Eating at the dinner table. Dad says he has something to tell us. “We’re moving to Taiwan.” “It’s Thailand, Honey.”

Yard sale. “Bye, House!” Bangkok. Tall buildings, narrow streets. Lots of walking. Hot, hot, hot. Dad and a neighbor modding a video game with a cheeseburger-headed enemy. Very scary.

Twelve-hour road trip. Carsick. Dramamine. Gross. There’s our new house! Mom calls it a barn on stilts. Log, fog, dog, learning how to read. A cicada interrupts Mom’s shower. Icky. Mom catches Dengue fever. Very icky.

Dad works on a farm. There’s goats! The only one that let us pet it is called Blondie. Weird food. I get used to it. The Thai ladies like to pinch my cheeks. I don’t get used to it.

Watching Thai-dubbed anime at our neighbor’s house. They feed us fruit. Trying to bicycle without training wheels. At house church, sitting on mats and bored to death. Disney on VHS. How many times have we watched The Aristocats?

Wake up early. Excited. Run into Mom and Dad’s room and jump on the bed. “I’m five now!”