Hapa (Mixed White/Asian)

"Where you from?" is a question you got used to hearing, growing up. People you met would look funny at you, at your chestnut hair glowing gold in the sunlight, your pink-on-gold skin, your face not like those they knew. They'd look and not find a match in their memory. Of course they meant, "What race are you?"

So you always said, "Around here. I've been here all my life." That usually shut 'em down.

A few read the hair, the eyes, the skin right. "Bruce Lee! Kick us some chop suey!" they'd call after you, or worse.

It wasn't easy growing up, especially since you were usually the smallest boy in class. You did your best in sports and tried harder, but bigger boys with longer legs weren't always beatable, even with the best attitude. Your mom would always scold you whenever you got dirty or got in a fight, and she made sure that even when you didn't feel like it, you did your homework.

Things got better after you left high school. A late growth spurt finally caught your height and muscular bulk up with other young men your age.

With your body finally feeling like it fits you, what do you do after you leave home?

You could get your own apartment and a part time job and kick around doing things you like the rest of the time. There are lots of interesting places in town you could move into, cheap. At least if you're handy, and your dad's taught you lots about home repair and stuff.

You could share an apartment with a roommate who could introduce you to all the fun things you've missed out on because you had a curfew till you left home and your mom scared off all your "fun" friends.

You could go to college and check out the scene there while postponing your "grown-up" future.

Or you could do something else.