Wongs Of Riverside
The Family of Voy and Fay Wong - Riverside, CA
Uncle Poy was our favorite uncle. My parents were the strict disciplinarians so he could spoil us. On weekends, if we got ready earlier enough we could walk with Uncle Poy to the restaurant where he worked as the host and cashier. On our way, we would go by the small market where he would buy us snacks and comic books. One of my favorite things to do was buy a five cent trinket from the gumball machine.
Our only Christmas gifts were from Uncle Poy and Harry, our favorite cook from Chungking. They both lived in our home. Uncle Poy took us to the Toy Box and let us pick what we wanted. The gift would then be wrapped and opened on Christmas day. Harry would take us to Kress, the dime store. When we were in high school, my dad started leaving money in an envelope under the Christmas tree for us.
After the lunch rush, sometimes we got stuck with the chore of pinching off the tips of a huge bag of snow peas. A waitress or Uncle Poy might help; we always enjoyed Uncle Poy’s company as we would have discussions about school, current events and politics. He was a good balance to our father who was serious, stern and busy running the restaurant. Uncle Poy once told me that he was grateful that he had the opportunity to help raise us since he was separated from his daughter, Mil, living in China. She was eventually able to reunite with him when she immigrated to the United States as an adult.
