Author: ngankim

I was worried about my daughter at her father’s house. When my ex-husband called, I heard my daughter: “I wish I had a blue marker so I could draw blueberries.” My blood ran cold. “Blueberries” was our emergency code word. I fought to stay calm, but the next thing I told her was: “Listen, don’t say anything else. I’m coming right now.”

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When I was a little girl, my mother taught me something I never forgot: the power of a secret code word. I remember the day vividly.…

My sister called me from a five-star hotel, sobbing: “He’s throwing my things into the hallway! The manager said my card was declined and that ‘people like me’ don’t belong here.” I asked, “What’s his name?” — “Peterson.” I said, “Go to the bar, order a glass of water. Twenty minutes.” I didn’t call customer service. I called his boss.

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1. The Call The first call came from an unknown number, a local area code I didn’t recognize. I answered it with the professional, detached calm…

A thin, homeless girl was being escorted out of a lavish charity gala by two security guards. She looked at the piano and screamed, “Can I play the piano for a plate of food?” The guest of honor, legendary pianist Lawrence Carter, stepped forward, brushed the guards aside, and said: “Let her play.” What happened next left the room silent.

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I. “A Song You Will Never Forget” The annual gala for the “Opportunities for Youth” foundation was the glittering, suffocating apex of the Los Angeles charity…