We Are Not Alone

"How many children you have?" he asks in his broken English. 

"Oh, none. I'm not married." 

"Not married!?" He is shocked. "How old you?" 

"26." 

"Good age to marry." 

He is Korean, and a very religious one as well. He confesses to me his worries—his daughter, who is 32, is still single, despite the fact he has sent her back to Korea more than once to find a like-minded spouse.

"I have trouble sleeping," he says sadly. 

"You and my grandmother both," I laugh. 

"What do you mean, 'grandmother'?" Ma says. "My nights are shot!"