A history of tea

Conflicts - author's conflict with her 'cousin' Beverly who was not really her cousin (pg. 109)
- conflicts with classamtes, they thought he had a eurasian girlfriend Beverly. (pg. 109)
- Uncles, aunties, mother don't believe grandma tee's stories about granffather chang being tortured and fed to death which she claims is true. (pg. 120-121)

Climax - when grandfather chang was tortured because he helped the english who escaped, he was also a merchant who supplied food. They forced fed him all the food from his warehouse, different types of teas. This seemed unbelieveable to tien yee's aunts and uncles. (pg. 120-121)

Resolution - complete resolution as beverly told her story and tien yee knows some of the family's past history.

Characters:

Tien Yee - observant (pg. 109) he notices beverly's structure of long limbs and neck. her copper skin tone.
- high-class (pg. 109) goes to a tea house.
- careful (pg. 111) to wards beverly's feelings and try not to agitate her with any of the past bad memories.

Beverly - high-class (pg. 108) she has a tea pot imitating royal doulton with matching cup, saucer, tiny jug of milk, plated spoon and tea strainer.
- laid-back (pg. 109) she slouches while sitting probably due to english blood.
- out-going (pg. 113) like to travel around asia to parts that attract her.

Aunt Sherrie - patient (pg. 115) with grandma all these years.

Uncle Raja - humourous (pg. 111) he had a crooked sense of humour.
- smart (pg. 111) went to university.
- athletic (pg. 111) had a built of a long-distance runner.

Grandmother Tee - racist (pg. 116) she called uncle raja a black man to differentiate their colours.
- disapproving (pg. 111-112) tells stories to children to scare them so that they would not want to marry a different coloured person.
- stubborn (pg. 113) even on her deathbed she would not forgive aunt sherrie and recognize her.
- responsible (pg. 116) brough up all the children on her own.

Grandfather chang - brave (pg. 120) brave to leave home with nothing on him, and break taboos.

Reginald Jones - persistant (pg. 116) tried to woo grandmother despite strong parental objections.

Interesting part about the story - it was interesting to know about the reason why grandpa chang died. What he did in the past. as a merchant it somehow seems related to everything as he died being overfed and drank almost all of the tea. Tea being the main topic of many incidents, Aunt sherrie's addictions with teas. though having a complicated family background, tien yee surprisingly is still family with beverly.