"No, grandmother," Thuy replied.
"But you said you are going to move out of my house to live with the foreigner."
"Yes, Grandmother."
"So you are going to marry the foreigner."
"No, grandmother."
"How can you live together if you are not married."
"He does not believe in marriage, but we must-"
"The foreigner does not believe in marriage? Is he crazy?"
"Yes, very crazy... And his name is Steven, please stop calling him 'the foreigner'."
Her grandmother thought about this. What was wrong with modern girls? She should have taught her better, but what was she to expect when the poor girl had no parents around... and there were foreigners every where, and everything was such a mess? A sly smile crept across her ancient, weather beaten face.
"Are you pregnant?"
"No grandmother!"
"Why not? Is he French?"
"No."
"Good."
"I'm very sorry, grandmother, but I really must leave soon."
"I forbid it."
Thuy left in the night, when her grandmother was sleeping.
Steven had rented a small house, using a false passport, where it would be difficult for the police to find them.
They had to go into hiding because of her Birthday.
Her birthday present was the problem.
Steven had given her a hand grenade.
