Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 283

The food was even better than what I got in the apartment.
“Maybe we could show her around, mama”, the girl said.
“That’s a good idea!” said the lady and started rowing the boat.
I saw tall buildings along the Bund. I also saw men pulling something that looked like small wagons. The man on
the boat told me that they were rickshaws. After that, we played on board the boat. I enjoyed playing with
children who were close to my own age.
The day ended very quickly.
At night, I dreamt of my palace apartment and family. I knew it was wrong for me to sneak out of the apartment, I
knew my parents would worry. But I liked playing, I liked the attention and I liked the company. The family was
very nice.
Two months later the family were talking about something. When I approached them, the little girl held up a
newspaper, the Shanghai Xinmin Evening News.
“Did you know that Princess Kim is missing?”
“Really?” I said.
“And the guards are all over Shanghai looking for her!”
All of a sudden, the boy pointed out a picture of me on the newspaper.
“Look! The Princess looks exactly like Kim! ” he said.
They stared at me in amazement.
Before they could say anything, I jumped from the boat unto the dock and walked away. I sneaked back home.
The next morning, I woke up to see my parents standing by my bed. They looked relieved and happy. My mother
hugged me.
“We were worried about you Kim.”
“I am very sorry!” I said, tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Why did you sneak out?” my father asked.
As I explained everything to my parents, I felt miserable for sneaking out. I had only wanted to see Shanghai but it
caused my parents much pain and misery. Perhaps, I shall see Shanghai again, but only in my dreams.
THE END