This is the writer's voice, new fiction from The New Yorker.

I'm Deborah Treesman, fiction editor at The New Yorker.

On this episode of The Writer's Voice, we'll hear Yian Lee read her story, A Small Flame,

from the May 8th, 2017 issue of the magazine.

Lee is the author of two novels and two story collections,

Gold Boy Emerald Girl, and a thousand years of good prayers.

She has been publishing fiction and nonfiction in the New Yorker since 2003.

Now here's Yi and Lee.

A small flame.

A girl, no older than tan, accosted Bella and Peter as they left the restaurant famous for its peaking duck.

Adrian, Peter's boyfriend, was lagging behind, practicing his mentoring one last time before the end of their trip. By a rose, the girl said to Peter in English,

for your girlfriend.

Thank you, my dear, Peter said, but she's not my girlfriend.

The girl did not understand English.

She prompted him again with the memorized line.

"'Cliot,' Bella said in mindering. "'He's not my boyfriend.'

"'How can it be, sister? He's handsome, and you're pretty.

"'Sister, I'm old enough to be your aunt.

Then tell my ankle to buy a rose for you, the girl said, gesturing towards the cardboard sign she wore like a bib.

Tian Ramin B, it said, with crudely drawn flowers surrounding the price.

Peter shook his head and stuck both hands determinedly into his jacket pockets.

Listen, I'll give you the money for a rose, and you leave us alone, Bella said.

...