Full Cicada Moon

In “Since Never,” Stacey explains what happened at the dance over the phone. While she was dancing with Victor, David, Tony, and Carl repeatedly asked Stacey to dance. She kept saying no until they stood against a wall, talking and staring. When the dance was almost over, David told Victor to let others have a turn. Victor responded that Stacey could dance with whomever she wants before David grabbed Stacey’s arm. When Victor pushed David away, David shoved Victor down and sat on him. Mimi wishes she hadn’t gone outside, saying she would have “piggybacked” (326) David to make him stop. Though Papa would have reminded her about the difference between raindrops and hammers, this was different. Mimi reassures Stacey that she didn’t do anything wrong. In “Making Sushi,” Mama shows the home economics class how to make sushi. They fill their rice with cucumbers, carrots, fish cake, and scrambled egg, and sliced hot dogs for girls who don’t like fish. Mimi is happy that Mama is showing the girls a part of herself. Mrs. Whittaker suggests they share sushi with the boys, but the girls groan and say they can make their own. When Mama sits next to Kim and Karen, they bow and say, “Thank you, Baka-san” (329). Mama’s eyes widen before she covers her mouth and laughs. Mama asks if Mimi taught them the phrase and says Mimi will explain. After school, Mimi explains to Kim and Karen what she did and why she lied. Though Kim thinks it was a little mean, they giggle and think it was funny too. They tell Mimi that her mom is nice and cute. Mimi offers them to come to her house after school someday. They agree, saying they can make more sushi.

In “Decisions,” Mimi is called out of history class to go to the principal’s office. The principal asks how she is doing and if she is making friends. He tells her that he hears good things from her teachers and that she is a “real credit to her race” (333). Mimi wonders if anyone ever said that to him, and if he has any idea how much that hurt. He tells Mimi he was going to make a decision about the “ruckus” she and Stacey “instigated” (333). Mimi takes a deep breath and tells him that she wanted to stand up for what she believes in, which is equal rights and protection under the law. He admits that at first, he didn’t like what she was doing because it was rebellious. However, after seeing the support of other students, he realized it was courageous. He decides to have two new after-school clubs, a Carpenter’s Club for girls and the Chef’s Club for boys. Though Mimi says it’s great, she thinks it isn’t the same as having classes. The principal believes the subject is closed, but Mimi says that maybe later they can have classes. As she is dismissed, Mimi thanks Mr. MacDougall for being a “real credit” to his race. 

In “Best Prize,” Mimi is in Science, her last class before Christmas vacation. When the bell rings for the last time in 1969, Mrs. Stanton asks her to stay behind. Smiling, Mrs. Stanton reminds Mimi what happened last spring with her science project, expressing how unfortunate it was and how impressed she was with the project. She hands Mimi an envelope with her name on it, hoping it makes up for the incident. Last year, Mrs. Stanton nominated Mimi to join a group of students from all over the country to go to Camp Kennedy over the summer and learn about the space program. Mrs. Stanton reassures her that all expenses including housing, food, and travel will be covered by a scholarship. Mimi hugs Mrs. Stanton, who laughs and takes it as approval. In “Shopping,” Mimi and Stacey are shopping for Christmas gifts at Cottle’s boutique. Mama would love a blue-and-yellow scarf with irises, daffodils, and buttercups Mimi finds. Mimi already bought an album for Papa, and Stacey bought presents for her parents and a record for her sister Ava, who is visiting from college. Mimi wants to give Stacey the record because Stacey loves it. A salesgirl arrives to ask if the girls need help and eyes Mimi’s pocketbook. She asks Mimi if she put anything in there and tugs the strap. Mimi tells her there is a record in there, and the salesgirl tells her that they don’t sell them and asks the girls to leave. Mimi wishes she could bury herself in a hole for the rest of her life. Stacey tells Mimi that the salesgirl didn’t know who she was talking to—a future astronaut.

In “In the Mirror,” Stacey and Mimi sit at the counter of the general store and order sundaes, but Mimi isn’t in the mood to celebrate. Though she can tell Stacey anything, she doesn’t want her to know how horrible she feels. Stacey admits she wanted to “piggyback” the salesgirl for her. Mimi feels better when the sundaes come. The “nice soda jerk” (344) tells the girls happy holidays and gives them the sundaes on the house. Stacey decides that there are jerks and nice people everywhere. When Victor walks in and sits at the other end, Stacey admits that she is too embarrassed to talk to him after what happened. Though Victor avoids looking at her, Mimi tells Victor to look in the mirror. Stacey crosses her eyes at him, and he smiles. David shows up and apologizes to Stacey. Stacey tells him that she isn’t the one to apologize to and looks at Victor. David sighs, walks to Victor, and says something. Victor nods solemnly. Though it doesn’t look like forgiveness, it’s a step. Mimi suspects David took the moon from her science project and asks him where he put it. He frowns and walks out. Stacey asks why she let him get away with it. Mimi explains that he knows that she knows, and that is enough.