It was my birthday, one of my favorite times of the year, obviously. After a long but fun day of control line flying at the flying field, we were going home. Actually, as it turned out, I was wrong. As one of my favorite places came into view, the excitement surged through my body.. Because there it was: the Asian Market. As I walked through the door, the smell of fish slapped me in the face, but I didn’t mind. I’d been here so many times I was used to it.

        “Mom?” I said. “Can we get some ramune?”  “What flavor?” my mom asked. “Melon and lychee,” I replied. After being handed my bottle, I smiled, looking at the reflective marble stuck in the cap, waiting to be plunked into the soda.

         She came over with the cart and we got three of each. Once we had everything we wanted, we went to check out. We paid for everything and packed it up in the truck. 

“Where are we going?” I asked. 

“Home.” My dad said.

        Once we were home, my mom pulled out some uncooked rice and put it in the pressure cooker. After thirty minutes of constantly asking to have a bite of salmon, the pressure cooker beeped continuously, letting us know that the rice was done. My mom pulled the rice out and put some “secret ingredients” to turn the regular rice into “sticky rice.” My mom let me try some, and it tasted vinegary and warm. I watched my dad cut the salmon, yearning to steal a bite while he wasn’t watching. Once he was done, my dad requested I set the table. I went through the usual routine, grabbing forks, spoons, napkins, cups and plates, putting one of each at every seat. I could smell the soy sauce as I placed it at the table. I went to sit with the others, ready for a very delicious meal. 

        When all of us were at the table, my dad opened a book on how to make sushi. He called out how to make the sushi. First we made nigiri. First he told us to make a little ball of sushi. Then he told us to put a little dent in the bottom and put wasabi in it. Then he told us to take a slice of fish and lay it on the rice. Then we dipped it in soy sauce. It was delicious beyond belief! Then we made nori. Dad told us to lay out a large piece of seaweed, put in rice and whatever ingredients in it we wanted, then roll it up. Dipped it in soy sauce, and it was so good that it felt like the ocean was swimming in my mouth!! We did all of that about four times, talked a lot, and then we put everything away. After we were finished it was on to other presents…

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