Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Bud the Bear is a motif that represents good luck and overcoming discrimination. A large bear sculpture that stands in front of the Golden Palace, Bud was a gift from Happy after Lucky bought the restaurant from him; Lucky names the gift after the Chinese statue of the monk Budai, explaining that in China, people rub Budai’s “belly for good luck, happiness, and riches” (113). Lucky believes that Bud represents a “Chinese American good luck charm” (113). Bud therefore represents how much Lucky has overcome to own a restaurant. However, Bud also serves as a physical reminder of the oppression that Lucky faces, as he carries bullets from the night that a group of men tried to lynch Lucky.

Opa is strongly affected by the news of Bud’s theft because Bud signifies his grandfather’s strength to keep the Golden Palace going, even after violence and racism. Even after Bud returns to the Golden Palace, he is defaced with a racial slur that Principal Holmes removes with solvent, but which will never be removed “from [Maizy’s] memory” (180). Bud represents the dual nature of resilience: As guard of the restaurant, he is the physical representation of a large and strong predator who, at the same time, is named after a peaceful monk. This dichotomy shows that both elements are important in protecting and standing up for oneself. The fact that Bud still stands after many years and racist attempts to drive out the Chens represents the constant resilience the Chens have developed to continue amid discrimination.