How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #4
I think the only children who thought he was the real thing were too young to know that Santa Claus was not Chinese. (13)
Looks like Santa isn't crossing the boundary between Chinese and American cultures nearly as elegantly as Waverly does. He's awkward and cheap and not fooling anybody with that beard… at least according to Waverly. What do you make of her assessment that Santa can't be Chinese?
Quote #5
"This American rules," she concluded at last. "Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward. They say, Don't know why, you find out yourself. But they knowing all the time. Better you take it, find out why yourself." (24)
Waverly's mom claims that these are "American" rules, even though the rules for chess are universal. It's really one big metaphor for Mom's immigrant experience, though—figure out how things work in America on your own, or you're out.