Kessan’s Defense

Based on David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries

            Where I grew was very different place.  It just me and mommy, ever since I remember.  We were poor.  Had no money for fancy clothes or even automobile.  Government try and take care of us, but they have little money themselves.  They say they have more money if U.S. not invade their country, but I later learn that no true.

            My mommy was hard worker.  She wash clothes for whole village.  When I turn 11 years of age, I help.  Then we have enough money to eat every day.  Mommy and me, we not have much things, but we have each other.  I have mommy and mommy have me.  Mommy all I have, but when I turn 21 years of age mommy get real sick.

            We no have doctor, but lady in village make medicine for mommy.  Mommy still get worse.  One day, she pull out piece of paper, Mr. Tippit  have it now, it say my daddy American GI from war.  Mommy tell me to take that money to big city and they know what to do.  Mommy die that night.  Me have nothing now.  Me all alone, so I take paper and go to big city.  It tough journey but I make it because I am strong.

            I show paper and they put me in hotel and then on plane.  I meet Mr. Tippit and he take good care of me.  He bring me to U.S., he get me nice clothes and he find my American GI daddy.   He nice man.  He bring me to my daddy house.  I no speak English at first, so Mr. Tippit tell lady who answers what happened.  I no think she liked me, but she let me meet daddy.

            Daddy nice man too.  He have own family, but took me in his home.  He have nice home, three other kids.  One girl and two boys.  They all nice people, except that Mrs. Dunbar.  She no like me.  Always give me hard time.  I try help around house?  She yell at me for not do it right.  She talk really fast and I have trouble hearing her, so she yell at me.  I wear only clothes I have and she yell at me.

            Daddy tell her to take me and get new clothes.  She not let me get clothes though.  One sweater really warm.  Store lady say half off, but Mrs. Dunbar say no.  She make dresses out of really hard, scratchy stuff and say wear that.  I no wear that, it hurt.  It start to get cold and only clothes I have is what Mr. Tippit get for me, but still Mrs. Dunbar make me stay cold.

            She turn into real mean lady.  Soon, she not let me do anything.  She not let me go out, she not let me watch TV, she not even let me talk to family!  All Kessan do is stay in room, come eat and go back to room.  She no let me help out, she no let me do anything.  Then one day older boy come home.  He real nice. 

            We have big dinner and come down in clothes Mr. Tippit buy and Mrs. Dunbar yell at me!  She yell at me a lot.  I no think she like me.  Older boy real nice though.  He talk to me and help me with English.  When he home he come to my room and teach me English.  He real nice we talk for long time. He treat me good too.  That make Mrs. Dunbar mad.

            She tell me no Kevin.  She say no talk to Kevin, me bad Kessan, he good Kevin, me no talk to her Kevin.  Kevin belong to her, so I not talk to him, ever.  He real nice though, so I still talk to him.  This make Mrs. Dunbar mad and she yell at Kessan even more.

            One day she tell me she gonna get me good.  She make big show of going shopping for Christmas, Ho Ho Ho, she say.  Good thing she say, Christmas for Kessan she say, but she come home right after she leave.  She take baby and put him in washing machine.  I tell her that not right but she yell at me again.

            She tell me Kessan no good.  Kessan should never come to U.S. American GI daddy.  She going to fix Kessan good.  She really mean.  She even hit Kessan!  I get scared and run up to bedroom and lock the door.  She leave for many hours.  I no hear her come home until she yell for me and say police here.

            Police and Mrs. Dunbar look for baby, but I scared.  I know where baby is, but Kessan too scared and English still not good when Kessan nervous.  We all go down to laundry room and police put me in handcuffs.  They bring me here and Kessan sit in cell for long time.  Then you come and bring me to this room and talk to Kessan.

            That all I have.  That how Kessan come to U.S. and that what happen to Dunbar baby.

Signed

Kessan Ngyen

END OF STATEMENT