The Magic Fish

The next day, at school, Tiền and his friend Claire watch their friend Julian’s soccer practice. Julian complements the patches on Tiền’s jacket. Tiền’s response makes Claire realize that Tiền has a crush on him. Tiền tells her not to speak so loudly because he’s not ready to tell anyone. Claire tells him that Julian’s aunts are gay and that he would be okay with it. She asks if he’s told his parents that he’s gay, and he says that he tried to ask the librarian for help finding the word for being gay in Vietnamese. He’s worried that his parents won’t love him anymore and that his mother has a lot going on.

After practice, Tiền, Julian, and Claire go for ice cream. Claire asks Tiền what his jacket size is. 

When Tiền gets home, his mother is still working on the same dress. He asks her who it’s for, to which she replies that it’s for a “special assignment.” They pick up where they left off in the fairytale.

Back in Alera’s world, Alera tells Prince Maxwell about the peach tarts that she used to make with her Aunt Velvet. She offers to make some for Prince Maxwell’s birthday party coming up.

The night of the party, Gracia suggests that she should go since she’s been working so hard. She tells Alera that she can find something for her to wear. Alera says that she has something packed away, pulling out one of the three dresses she had stored in a magical walnut.

At the party, Prince Maxwell doesn’t recognize her, and she doesn’t’ reveal herself. They talk all night and she says that her name is Alera. She sneaks away as the night ends. The next day, Prince Maxwell tells “Al” all about Alera, wondering if he’ll see her again. He says that his mother is going to host another party in three weeks so that he can.

Tiền cuts into the story and asks his mom what’s it’s like to fall in love. The panels shift from blue to red, then quickly to yellow as Hiền remembers the passing of her father, who was killed by the Vietnamese government. She remembers telling Tiền’s father Vinh about it and him asking her to escape Vietnam with him. Emerging from her memory, she tells Tiền that she doesn’t know how to describe it. She says that she and his father got their marriage documents before they escaped. She notices that Tiền seems to be thinking of someone and inquires who. Tiền quickly says, “nobody.” He adds that he likes the patches. 

The next day, Claire meets Hiền, who shows her the dress she’s been working on. Claire is the secret client. They talk about the upcoming dance at school, and Hiền says she never went to anything like that. She doesn’t want Tiền to miss out on anything. Claire promises that he won’t.

At home, Tiền’s father goes to work the night shift. On the news, Tiền sees a story about Matthew Shepard, who was murdered for being gay.

The next day at school, Claire convinces Tiền and Julian to go to the school dance. Tiền tells his mom about it at home, and she shows him a jacket that was donated to the store where she works. She plans to tailor it for him.

The narration reverts to the story of Alera, who arrives at the second party wearing another dress that the Old Man of the Sea made for her. She and Prince Maxwell again spend the whole night together. He wants to know more about her, and she replies that he should focus on what’s in front of him. He asks about her ring.

Hiền thinks about her own ring and remembers her husband asking if she wanted to get married. She says that they are married already, and he asks about “do[ing] it for real. In a church” (84). He gives her two rings, which were made by melting down the cross he used to wear. She smiles at the memory.

Tiền thanks his mom for making the jacket. After he goes to bed, Hiền sneaks out to see her husband as he waits for the bus, kissing him on the cheek before he goes to work his shift at the diner. Meanwhile, Tiền thinks about Julian.

Hiền speaks to her mother on the phone, telling her that she misses her. 

At school, the kids talk about Tiền’s jacket, and Tiền says how excited he is. His mom is working on it when he gets home. His dad is also home, and he compliments Tiền’s reading ability.

They jump back into the fairytale. Prince Maxwell tells “Al” that he wants to tell Alera how he feels. At a third party, he tries to convince her to stay, but she says she can’t. They kiss before she says goodbye. Her glove comes off as she leaves and, with it, the ring from Velvet.

The next morning, Prince Maxwell can’t find Al. Gracia tells him to check by the ocean.

There, the Old Man of the Sea appears atop the shoulders of Alera’s father, whose soul he has stolen. She tells him that he cannot take her. Then, Velvet, in the form of a giant sea creature, stops him from hurting Alera. She explains that the ring had protected Alera from the Old Man of the Sea. Velvet asks if she is happy, and Alera says that she is. They say goodbye, and Velvet reminds her that she now knows where to find her.

Maxwell appears. He sees Alera’s hat and believes her to be Al. However, once she removes her cloak, he realizes that Al and Alera are the same person. The story ends with Max saying, “You’ve been here with me the entire time” (112).

Just as the story ends, Tiền sees his mother looking at his father lovingly. He starts to say that he has something to tell her when the phone rings.

He doesn’t hear the conversation, but Hiền drops to her knees. The panels shift to a dark blue with her narration reading: “The space between two shores is the ocean…and being caught in between feels like drowning. And, really, what is the point of tears among so much salt water?” (117).