Book Hell (but not too dark a hell, please)

On Friday, June 25, I was pleased to be able to get the editor a complete copy of the book, though mostly still in black and white. I was definitely fretting about what this adversarial and contentious cow would have to say about it and, sure enough, the following Tuesday at the office, I received a portentous phone call from her: "I'm worried the tone of the book is getting a little 'dark'." and we set up a conference call with her, myself and my sister for July 1. I had trouble sleeping that night as I tried to guess at what she would say.

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Mr. Tutu Goes to Beijing

But enough about the silly book.

Thursday, Canada day, was also the day my didi, Xiao Tu left on his one month trip back to China to be barbecued by his mother for his lack of worldly success during his time in Canada. Ha! He sort of dug his own grave on this one (not that he had a big choice). When, in fact, he was coming to Canada to be with his lover, he told everyone he was coming to study so he could be even more of a success then he already was in China. But of course in China, he was already an old man at 27 who had not fulfilled his obligation to marry. They were already snickering behind his back at his company and tut-tutting over him in the family. He was reaching a social and career dead-end where he could not advance unless he conformed. He was so ready to leave.

But one month ago, U of Toronto failed to accept him into the Masters program and now he's at square one again. It's not a problem here in Canada in our family. He'll find a job and apply to other programs next year. But he's shitting bricks about his visit home. He has to explain to everyone why he's not been working at some wonderful high-end job, why he didn't get into school AND just who those guys he's living with are.

Poor Tutu. At my suggestion, he has spent the last four days in Vancouver where his flight to Beijing connects, and has had a good time, including meeting up with my friend there.

Meanwhile, back at home, everyone is stupid...

On Thursday, Snake accompanied him to the airport, and me and the dog went with them as far as the subway. When I got back to the house, I realized I didn't have a key and had to spend three hours in the backyard with Gougou waiting for Snake to get home. When he finally got home, I found that he also didn't have his key.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tutu had locked the door when the three of us left. So, Snake stayed in the backyard with the dog while I subwayed up to North York and got the key from my parents who have a spare copy. We consoled ourselves with good Italian food and Clint Eastwood's Charlie Parker biopic, Bird.