Gomo called out as she pushed open the glass front door of the restaurant. Joyce stepped forward to greet her aunt and bowed deeply from the waist as she said, “On-young-ha-say-yo, Gomo.” Gina waved from the table where she was topping off one of the soy sauce containers. “Hi, Gomo,” Gina said. Gomo frowned at Gina’s casual greeting. “Joyce-ya, go get your uhmma and apa,” Gomo commanded and walked over to a table, carefully brushing off a chair cushion before sitting down. Gomo never entered the kitchen, preferring to be treated like a customer. A customer who ate at their restaurant nearly every day and never paid, but a customer all the same. Gomo’s heavily made-up face hardly moved when she spoke. “I have exciting news for everyone!” Joyce turned around to rush her parents, but they were already stepping out of the kitchen with Mrs. Lee close behind. Uhmma bowed deeply from the waist, her hair brushed back, a coat of lipstick shining and her apron off. “On-young-ha-say-yo, Gomo,”
