story is about Amy's mother moving to the U.S after losing everything in China. Amy's mother came
to live in San Francisco in 1949. This story took place on Sacramento St. In China town in San
Francisco. First of all, her mother was a very ambitious dreamer, her being Chinese and had lived in
China almost all her life, she had goals, dreams, and expectations for her kids. Around the years of
1960's when Amy was growing up, her mother had very high expectations of her being the best she
could possible be. Her mother wanted her to be the best at playing piano. Amy's mother signed Amy
up for piano lessons where she will learn to play perfectly and please not only her parents, but
everyone in the room with her talent. And be the best that she is. But prior to these piano lessons her
mother had her go and get a hair cut that was known as the "Peter Pan" hair cut. Amy hated it and for
that moment she hated her mother for it as well. After so many weeks of piano lessons her mother
had signed her up for a talent show that was held in the church hall. Amy was to play a piece called
"Pleading Child," when it came down to her playing her piece, she was so caught up in the moment
that was surprised when she hit the first wrong note, and then another. When she was finished she felt
the shame of her mother and father. She knew her mother would want to talk about how horrible the
show was but on the ride all the way home her mother was silent. Even when they arrived home her
mother did not say a word. Two days after the talent show, her mother still expected her to continue
to practice her piano lessons, Amy became a whole different person and thought to herself that she
will not do as her mother says anymore. Amy and her mother then had an argument about how Amy
was only trying her best but she can't be perfect like her wants her to be. Her mother then told her that
there are only two kinds of daughters, Those who are obedient, and those who follow their own mind.
Amy then ended the fight by saying she wishes she had never been born. That statement changed
everything. Amy was only trying to show her mom that she didn't want to be what she wanted her to
be, she only wanted to be an American girl. Nothing more and nothing less. Later on her mother
decided to surprise Amy with the piano as a gift. Amy knew she couldn't jump right back into playing
the piano but years later her mother passed away and months after her passing, Amy had gotten the
piano tuned and that is when Amy played "Pleading Child" once again.
