Designated Elder

Chinese New Year is a big deal in this town because many residents have ethnic Chinese backgrounds. Family obligations lead people to leave work early or skip it altogether. At our office the pace slows noticeably.

One colleague doesn’t have family here but misses the traditions he grew up with. Two years ago he began distributing the red envelopes filled with small amounts of paper money that are known locally as “ang pao.” Traditionally these envelopes are given only to children, but I haven’t noticed anyone turning down the offering when this guy goes door to door with his New Year gifts.

This year our sugar daddy stayed home on the first day of the multi-day festival because he wasn’t feeling well. A secretary who is known for her wisecracks wondered aloud if somebody else was planning to step up. She stopped me on my way to the copy machine. “Hey, John. Aren’t you forgetting something?” I checked my fly but found nothing amiss.

“No, not that,” she said. She put out her hand. “Don’t you know today is the day old guys are supposed to hand out ang pao to the kids?”