Masterson dreamt of traveling to foreign lands almost every day. It was an obsession.

He
could barely contain his excitement at the thought of flying to another country, and Masterson
loved to fly. Hed been flying since he was a baby, going cross country to visit relatives with his
family. The airport was a special place, a convergence zone for the entire world, and there was
nothing quite like the sight of an airliner, particularly if it was from another country. They were
like emissaries, the flag carriers from distant nations. Those Boeing jets were so big and
beautiful, with their sleek bodies and artistic livery and logos.
Masterson could recognize dozens of airlines just by their logos on the tails of the planes.
One night, while waiting to send off a family member at LAX, he spotted an Air China jet
taxiing away from the gate. It was spectacular. The Chinese calligraphy printed along the side of
the body, the phoenix on the tail, and seeing people through the little windows all made
Masterson practically squeal. The flag carrier of China! Mastersons favorite country.
There was something about China that never ceased to fascinate him. Their language was
so ornate and different, so beautiful. It was too difficult for Masterson to learn on his own, but he
tried. The thought of being on a plane like that made him itch with excitement. What would it be
like to step off a plane and be in a different country, a totally new world? Masterson could only
wonder. Someday he would know what that feels like
Until then, first grade with Mrs. Apelsin and Co. would have to suffice. It wasnt too bad,
I mean, Masterson always enjoyed recess and lunch, but everything else kind of blew. One
particular day, however, a classmate named Francine had something to share with the class.
Class, lets all give Francine our attention as she has a very exciting announcement to
share with us, said Mrs. Apelsin.

Me and my mom and dad are going to Hong Kong next week, she said.
Time slowed to a crawl. Francines words hit Masterson like a sonic boom. Everything
was in slow motion. Hong Kong She...gets to go to Hong Kong? Thatsthats all the way
over in China! Thatsa bustling international Cantonese business hub! Thats So unfair!
said Masterson out loud.
I cant believe she gets to go to Hong Kong! Thats so unfair, repeated Masterson. This
time Mrs. Apelsin overheard him. She walked over to Masterson and kneeled down in her typical
lecture fashion.
Dont talk that way. We need to be happy for Francine, she said.
Does she even know where Hong Kong is? Masterson asked, exasperated.
Im sure she does, but it doesnt matter, said Mrs. Apelsin.
Of course it matters. Im talking about responsible tourism here. An eight-year-old
shouldnt be going to Hong Kong if she has no idea where that is. Does she know they speak
Cantonese there? Does she know that Hong Kong belongs to the British? How about the food?!
She doesnt even know what to eat!
Now, Masterson, thats very rude. Just because Francine doesnt know much about Hong
Kong doesnt mean she cant go there. Youre jealous of her and you need to apologize, said
Mrs. Apelsin.
Masterson rolled his eyes.
Fine, he said.

Masterson walked over to Francine, who was talking with some other classmates. She
turned to him.
Sorry, Francine, he said.
For what? she asked.
She didnt even hear me.
For being jealous and saying its unfair. Mrs. Apelsin wanted me to apologize, said
Masterson.
Oh. Okay, said Francine.
Do you know which airline youre flying? he asked.
No, she said.
Masterson sighed. Shes an oblivious traveler. Totally unappreciative.
Mrs. Apelsin told him he was being jealous. Of course he was jealous. A classmate with
no international awareness gets to go to Hong Kong. Masterson gave up trying to fight it and just
accepted the fact that life was unfair, at least, for the day.
There was a Japanese girl in Mastersons class. She was native Japanese, from Kobe. Her
name was Naomi, which, believe it or not, is a native Japanese name. Masterson was attracted to
Naomi simply because she was a foreigner and he loved all things Asian, especially Japanese.
But Naomi was an odd girl. To Masterson, Naomi was like a scared animal that you have to
approach very slowly or else it will clam up and ignore you. Sometime early on, Masterson made
a wrong move around Naomi, most likely in the form of a silly joke, and Naomi retreated into
her shell like a turtle. It was the oddest thing. Every time Masterson approached her and tried

conversing with her, she would turn her head up and away from him in a deliberate effort to
ignore him, which bugged the hell out of him because he wanted to ask her so many questions
about Japan and Japanese culture. She made it hard to resist, too, with her iconic Hello Kitty
bento box and the fact that she ate her traditional Japanese lunch with chopsticks. I mean, the girl
was a wonder to behold for Masterson. She was legit Japanese.
One day she gave a show-and-tell presentation to the class about her home life and her
family. Everything was super Japanese and she showed photos of a house with tatami mats and
rice paper screens and summer kimonos-- the whole deal.
That is so unfair, said Masterson. He just lived in a boring old American house.
Mrs. Apelsin frowned and shook her head at Masterson.
Remember what we talked about with Francine? Dont be jealous; be happy for others.
Fine, said Masterson.
Every once in awhile Naomi would come out of her shell for no apparent reason and
answer some of Mastersons questions, like how to count in Japanese or how to use chopsticks.
But then she would retreat as if she had seen a shadow move and the conversation would be over.
Head up and turned away, lips pursed. She wasnt just shy and easily startled, she was prissy, too.
One day, Naomi had an announcement to share with the class. She would be moving back
to Kobe with her parents.
That is so unfair! cried Masterson.
Mrs. Apelsin was ready to go crazy again.
Masterson, what did I tell you about being jealous of others?! Its not polite! she said.

Mrs. Apelsin, for once can you cut me some slack? asked Masterson, surprising Mrs.
Apelsin.
My greatest passion at this stage in my life is traveling to foreign countries and
experiencing foreign cultures and languages. Here we have classmates going to East Asia like its
no big deal, not paying attention to which airline theyre flying, and not giving a rats ass about
it. I think its safe to say that, yeah, this makes me jealous and annoyed. Is that wrong? Only if I
stew in it. But Im not. Im just expressing my feelings in the moment. So just let me feel
annoyed for a minute before I move on.
Mrs. Apelsin didnt quite know how to respond.
Welljust be sure not to stew in it then, she said.
Yeah, it was unfair, but Masterson had a feeling that he would one day travel to very far
away places, just like he dreamed, and he would be old enough to remember the trip, too. Until
then, hed just have to learn to be happy for others.