4 Ama’s Tea House

4 AMA's TEA HOUSE Ama's Tea House was smoky and dimly lit. A woodstove and several oil lanterns cast a cozy light over the room. Mina and Fuli placed their baskets inside the door. Jack and Annie dropped their backpacks there, too. They hung their parkas on hooks on the wall. A woman in a long brown apron came out from the kitchen. "Ama! We brought new friends home!" Fuli called out. "Jack and Annie!" The woman smiled. Her black hair gleamed in the firelight. "Welcome, new friends!" she said. Annie pressed her hands together. "We salute you, Ama," she said. Ama laughed warmly. "And I salute you. Who are you? Where are you from?" "We're Jack and Annie," said Annie.

"A brother and sister from America!" said Fuli. "Wonderful," said Ama. "But you are so young. Where are your parents?" Jack cleared his throat. "Well…actually, we'll see them tomorrow." "They gave us a day on our own," said Annie. "Really?" said Ama. She shook her head. "They must trust you very much to give you such freedom. But please, allow me to take care of you before they arrive." "Okay, sure. Thanks," said Jack. "Sit at a table," said Ama. "And we will bring you some dinner. Come, girls. Help me." The two sisters followed their mother back to the kitchen. Jack and Annie sat at an empty table and looked around. Through the smoky haze, Jack saw men playing cards. They looked like they came from the village. They had weathered faces and wore long shirts and vests. At another table sat a group of young hikers. They had large backpacks and walking sticks. They were laughing and looking at maps. Ama and her daughters came out of the kitchen, carrying food. "For you, Jack and Annie!" Fuli said. She put down a plate of fried bread.

Mina set down little pots of butter and honey. Ama gave them bowls of lentil soup. "Thanks!" said Annie. Jack thought the soup smelled like a dish their mom made at home. It made him feel a little homesick. As he and Annie started eating, Ama and the girls sat down at their table. "So you have traveled here for the festival?" asked Ama. "No, not really," said Annie. What festival? Jack wondered as he spread butter and honey over a piece of bread. Before he could ask, Fuli jumped in. "They came here to find a story about a gray ghost!" she said. "So we took them to meet Tenzin!" said Mina. "We told them he was a great storyteller."

"Tenzin said he will help them tomorrow," said Fuli. "Oh?" said Ama. "That's wonderful! Tenzin hardly ever sees visitors now. He's not been well. And he certainly doesn't tell stories anymore." "Why? What's wrong?" asked Annie. "Tenzin has a broken heart," said Fuli. "What happened to him?" said Jack. "His wife and daughter died of the fever last winter," said Ama. "He couldn't get them to a hospital in time. The closest one is far away." Tears came to her eyes. Jack thought of the man living all alone in his mountain hut. Then he thought about how he would feel if he didn't have Annie or his parents. "That's terrible," he said. "Yes, it is," said Ama. "The whole village has missed him. Before he lost his family, he would stop by the tea house every day. He carried wood for the elderly. He taught climbing skills to the little ones. It is good that you are going to visit him tomorrow." "I hope we can cheer him up," said Annie. "Me too," said Ama with a smile. "Come, girls, we must clean up now. Mina, collect payments. Fuli, clear the tables, please."

Mina and Fuli jumped up and started helping their mother. "Poor Tenzin," Annie said to Jack. "Yeah. Really," he said. The other customers were starting to leave. Soon they were all gone. The lanterns were nearly out, and the fire was low. The tea room had grown chilly. "Jack and Annie, since your parents do not arrive until tomorrow, you must stay with us tonight," said Ama. "Thanks!" said Annie. "The girls and I sleep in the small attic upstairs. But you and your brother can sleep in this room. We will bring you some blankets." "That's okay, don't worry," said Jack. "We have sleeping bags in our backpacks." "Wonderful," said Ama. "Come, girls. To bed. Tomorrow is a big day." "The festival!" said Fuli, clapping her hands. "Good night!" said Mina. She and her sister followed Ama up steep wooden stairs to the attic. Jack and Annie pulled off their hiking boots. They unrolled their sleeping bags and crawled inside them. "Ohh, this is nice," said Annie. "I feel warm and toasty."

"Me too," said Jack. "It's so quiet and peaceful here," murmured Annie. "No cars. No trucks. No computers. No television. No radio. No phones…." She yawned. "Yeah, it is a peaceful place," said Jack. But he thought it was a sad place, too. The people worked so hard, yet they seemed poor. And there were no hospitals nearby. "I'm wondering what that festival is," said Annie, yawning again. "Tomorrow we'll check our guide book," said Jack. "I feel bad about Tenzin," said Annie. "Me too," said Jack. "Maybe tomorrow we can…" Her voice trailed off. "We can what?" said Jack. Annie didn't answer. She was asleep. Jack finished her sentence. "Maybe tomorrow we can help him…," he said softly. Then he closed his eyes. And he, too, fell fast asleep.