A Thank-You to the Interpreter

Dear Ms. Pham,

You probably don't remember me. Two years ago, you interpreted for my mother at the bank, the pharmacy and the DMV, one long Tuesday after we moved from Vietnam. I was fourteen and my English was not good yet.

You were so patient. You explained everything twice, once for the clerk and once for my mother, and then once more for me in a whisper, so I would learn. You made the man at the DMV laugh. You told my mother she had beautiful handwriting.

At the end of the day, you bought me a bubble tea and said, "In two years, you'll be the one interpreting." You were right. I translate for my mother everywhere now, and I'm in honors English.

I wanted to say thank you. You made a new country feel a little smaller that day.