“You’re having a holiday party,”

DaeRi was having a holiday party. Well her mom was having a holiday party and told her she can invite anyone she wanted. Anyone she wanted was no one. The thought of having people from her school in her tiny house was embarrassing. The people who look up to her, think she’s cool seeing that in reality she lives on the poor side of town. No. Not gonna happen.
Her original plan was to invite no one, stick around for thirty minutes and escape to Harriette’s house where she’ll pretend that nothing was happening. But no, AeGuk ruined that when he made some vague remark about the party in front of Harriette.
“You’re having a holiday party,” Harriette asked, or said. It sounded like a statement. Daeri just had to pick something up before heading over to Harriette’s so they stopped by her house. They should have been gone by now but Harriette had struck up a conversation with AeGuk.
“Uhm, yeah,” DaeRi said, “Just something my mom’s doing. She’s been reading those home magazines and suddenly she feels like living the all american dream.”
Which was true, and weird. They had lived there for about ten years already and so far her mom had seemed happily content living their Korean lifestyle. Eating their Korean food, speaking in Korean, and celebrating their Korean holidays. Now she wanted to be American.
DaeRi assumed that it had something to do with her new job. She was working at a hotel as a cleaning lady, or janitor, or whatever you want to call it. And all her coworkers were woman who lived the all American lifestyle.
And all that meant that now she wanted to throw a holiday party.
DaeRi just imagined how horrible that was gonna be. No way was her mom gonna make the food, and if she did it was gonna come out terrible. All her mom knew how to make was Korean food. And even then she bought most of that already made. She was just not the homemaker type.
“That’s nice,” Harriette said, “Can we come?”
“No?” DaeRi said, she didn’t say no to Harriette much but she had to now.
“Why not?” Harriette asked.
“B-b-because sh-she’ss em-embarrassed of our our f-f-family,” AeGuk said.
“Why?” Harriette said, directing this question straight at DaeRi.
“Because we’re dirt poor,” DaeRi said. “And you know that. Look at our house, it’s the size of your closet.”
“So?” Harriette said, looking around, “I’m your friend, why can’t I come. You shouldn’t have to be embarrassed with me.”
Gosh, Harriette is too nice, DaeRi thought.
And that is how DaeRi found herself inviting two people to the party she wished was never happening.