Let me get back to what happened today. This afternoon after Ma and Pa had finished eating and Pa Edward had read the newspaper like he does everyday, they called me to their bedroom. At first I thought it was to send me for something, but it wasn’t.

“Gunoweh,” Pa pushed his reading glasses up on his nose and sat on their  king-sized bed, “we’re happy with your work around the house and in school.” He cleared his throat; I smiled. “You’re a smart young man with a bright future.”

“And, you get along well with our children,” Ma said it like she couldn’t wait. She was on the bamboo chair with soft cushions in their room. This room alone with its closets and bathroom was big pass our whole house in Worteken. I was only here a few days before I stopped trying to understand why anyone would need such a big space just to sleep.

“Yeah, that’s true too,” Pa agreed. “So because of those things Linda and I decided you will take our name.”

I didn’t say anything, so Ma asked, “Did you hear what he said?” She had a wide smile on her face. I nodded. “Well, then, you should thank us.”

“Give the boy a chance,” Pa said, “he’s probably so happy he can’t talk. Anyway, Gunoweh, we wanted you to know about this.”

“Take your name?”

“Yeah, and because I like you, you can have my favorite uncle’s name, Bernard,” Ma gave a small laugh as she said this. “Bernard Cooper—it sounds good.”

“It does,” Pa said while taking off his glasses.

“Um, are you saying that–”

Ma cut me off, “Yes you-boy, from now on your name is Bernard Cooper. We’ll change the roster at your school tomorrow.”

“And after that happens,” Pa was talking, “there should be no reason for people to call you by your old country name anymore.”

“In fact,” Ma broke it down, “I was the one who brought up the name change because I’m tired calling that name of yours. Bernard, Ber-nard,” she rolled it around her tongue as if eating some sweet palm butter, “you’re getting a really nice name.”

“Eh, thank you,” my voice was so low I wasn’t sure Ma and Pa heard me. I moved my eyes to one of the large sliding-glass windows. Their children were playing in the yard. My eyes were batting fast, but I wasn’t making them do it. “But, um, everybody already knows me as Gunoweh, especially my people in Worteken.”

Pa’s mouth was opened to talk but Ma jumped in front, “Look, let me tell you something—your so-called people will be happy to hear that you have a civilized name, an English name. Trust me.”