Trying to enjoy the Chinese New Year festivities with Michelle.

The clicking sounds of Michelle's high-heel boots mix in with the sounds of the ongoing festivities, as people of Chinese descent continue to celebrate the new lunar year. She takes you back to the central square in Chinatown, where most of the festivities are taking place. Although this is reasonably new to you, you do your best to enjoy it with her, while she tells you some of the history behind the performances, and what they emphasize. The sights of men dressed as ancient Chinese warriors, doing various battle stunts with recreations of the weapons used at the time captivates you, as Michelle stands by your side, holding your hand in hers. A group of martial artists are next to perform, and you can see the amount of training and practice they've put in to the performance, as a few of them do the kinds of battle stunts that would make a perfect action movie. One of the last performances of the night, was done by a group of women, dressed as geishas. Their folklore dances are graceful, as they dance in their oriental silk dresses, with decorative fans in their hands.

"My grandmother was a geisha in her days." Michelle tells you. "During WWII, she entertained soldiers and other military personnel. After she retired from such performances, she opened a tea house in Hong Kong. She wanted to open one in Shanghai, but feared the communist government would not let her do that. My mother carried on the task of running the tea house, along with my aunts. Then when she met my father, they moved here to the states, a few years after they got married."

"They sought to build & operate a tea house here?" You ask her.

"Yes." Michelle replies. "My mother worked part-time as a front office clerk, while my father worked as a businessman, during the time they went through the process of obtaining a business license, then getting the financing they needed to open the cafe you see today. Of course, it was an early struggle, but my parents managed to pay off all of the loans, a year before they gave birth to me."

"It's grown in to a popular destination in Chinatown." You tell her.

"It has, indeed." Michelle looks to you, smiling. "As you know, sometimes, I help them out, when things get really busy, whether it's pouring tea or coffee for the customers, or cleaning the pots, or checking the inventory. I'm also learning the business aspect of it, whenever I'm not dancing, or being a part-time masseuse, or doing the occasional cosplay. My father is trying to open another cafe in a suburban community that is full of people of Chinese heritage, and he wants me & my older brother to be ready to run it."

"The same brother that is finishing his apprenticeship with a franchisee?" You ask her.

"Yes, him." Michelle tells you, turning to see the performances ending, then looks to you. "It looks like the festivities are done, Eric. Shall we retreat to my home?"

"A good time as any, Michelle." You tell her.