From The Great Wall of Lucy Wu At the end of the report folder aisle stood Talent Chang, steering a cart overflowing with school supplies. A huge econo-pack of tape was preparing to fall off the tip of a mountain of colored pencils and manila folders. "Hey, Talent," said Madison cheerily. "Don'tcha think you're getting carried away," I asked. "Even for you?" Madison elbowed me gently. Talent laughed. "I'm not shopping for myself, of course. I completed my shopping as soon as the school list became available." I imagined her breathlessly checking the school website until the supply list was posted. "I'm here with my parents. They're helping start a Chinese school." She looked at me. "It's going to be on Saturday mornings. You should come." Arrgh. That was so Talent. Such a know-it-all. Not would you like to come or maybe you'd be interested. Just assuming she knew everything and what everyone should do. "No thanks," I said, as if I were refusing a piece of gum. "Madison and I have basketball practice on Saturday mornings." This year, if the team made it to regional's, we got to stay overnight in a hotel. I think I would have chosen laundry-folding classes over Chinese school just to get back at Talent. "Lucy," Talent scolded, "Chinese school is much more important than basketball." "Really?" I raised my eyebrows as high as they would go, pretending to be surprised. "Do you need to speak Chinese to play basketball?" If she says that I need help on how to be Chinese, I'm going to wrap those eight rolls of tape around her mouth. Excerpted from The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.