Two Kinds Summary

In the story of, Two Kinds, Amy Tan talks about her mother who move to San Francisco in 1949 after losing her husband and twin daughters at China. Amy’s mother works as a housekeeper, and got remarried. Amy lived with her mother and father in Chinatown on a street named Sacramento in San Francisco, California around 1969. Her mother have always tried to make Amy be a prodigy because her mother thought she was one. It all began when Amy’s mother and she watch a movie with Shirley Temple. Amy’s mother took her to the salon to make her look as Shirley, but Amy ended looking as Peter Pan. Then, her mother saw a nine years old girl playing piano on TV, so she set an appointment with Mr. Chong. He is a deaf man who lived with he’s mother. Afterwards, Amy’s mother set her up to perform at a talent show. Amy thought that she could slack off, and nobody would notice; however, everyone notice her mistakes. Her parents, who invited their workers and family, felt embarrassed on their daughter performance. After, the performance, Amy’s mother did not say a word, and went straight to her bedroom when they got home. Amy thought she was not going to practices piano again, but her mother reminded her that she had practice. Amy did not listen. At that point, they began to fight. Amy told her mom that she can’t be the daughter she wanted; therefor, her mother began to scream at her, “You need to listen!” Amy pause her by reminding her mother about the baby she lost, and how she wish to be died as them. Her mother stop, and went to her room. They never spoke about it again. Amy wanted to be just an American girl who is independent; however, her mom saw Amy as a prodigy. She saw Amy as that she could be anyone and do anything if she set her mind to it. On Amy’s thirtieth birthday her mother gave her the piano for a gift. Amy thought of it a forgiveness of that day they fought. Amy did not took it at first, but then her mother pass away. Therefore, she accepted the gift. Amy’s mother did not get to see the prodigy that her daughter created in her life. Amy got marry with a white man, and she became a famous writer. Amy have found her prodigy.