The New Tales of Old Shanghai Dulwich College Beijing , Jiang , Eddy – 11
S houting and howling woke me from a sound sleep . I bolted up , expecting the worst , but all I could see was the vast ocean and my mum sitting beside me . “ Honey !” mum yelped , “ You nearly gave me a heart attack ! What ’ s the problem ?” “ Just a bad dream ,” I replied . We looked far ahead into the deep blue sea . Then a wooden dock came into sight with many people standing on it , both locals and foreigners . On it was a sign , which read : ‘ SHANGHAI ’. As the port got closer and closer , I realized that we approached our new home !
As soon as we arrived , we joined the group of other migrants who were also escaping the war . Everything seemed so different , but at the same time , so similar . There was familiar writing everywhere , and many western activities were happening near and far . As we were pushed into the sea of people , something caught my eye . A clock tower ! I stared at it , watching the hands of the clock spinning around . My vision blurred and I felt drowsy . But before I even knew it , I blacked out .
I woke up to the sound of the clock chiming . Gradually , everything became clear again . I looked around and a thought sprang into my mind - my mother ! I called for her . No answer . I yelled for her . No reply . I howled for her . No response . Then I lost it . I began to cry .
My cheeks were damp and my clothes were ruined when a voice asked , “ What ’ s the matter ?” I looked up and saw a British-looking man with brown hair talking to me . He wore a black tuxedo and had a tie around his neck . “ I- I ’ ve lost my mother !” I managed before I burst into tears again . “ Everything will be all right ,” he said when his warm hands held my arms , “ Follow me , I know a good place to look for her .”
As we walked , we passed the police station , and then the hospital . “ What is your name ?” I asked . “ Edward .” he replied , “ What does your mother look like ?” I described my mother and he nodded . I followed him to a building made of bricks . It had a sloping roof and was bigger than the other structures . Its entrance was supported by many carved pillars and had numerous amounts of blue windows . When we were in , he led me up to the front desk and started asking if the man there had seen my mother . “ You haven ’ t ? Oh , thanks anyway .” I felt hopeless . “ We ’ d better keep looking ,” he said as we walked out .
All of a sudden , a masked man rushed out of nowhere and grabbed Edward . I didn ’ t know what to do ! I tried to run , but my legs wouldn ’ t budge . I tried to yell but my mouth wouldn ’ t open . All I could do was stand there and watch Edward get dragged away . Then I knew what to do before the man came back for me . I ran over to the police station as fast as I could .
The officer was eating when I burst into the station . Before he even reacted , I told him the whole story , barely taking a breath . “ We know some foreigners are being kidnapped for money recently ” he said , “ Where was the place you last saw Edward ?” “ Come , I ’ ll show you !” I replied . He followed me to where Edward was kidnapped . The crook was gone .