The Shanghai Cat
Glenealy School , Khaimson , Aleen – 10
I
don ’ t know why I did it . Running away is a very normal situation for kids especially when it ' s from an orphanage . I guess I did have a few friends there , but the headmistress was pure evil . You wouldn ’ t believe what she did to us . If anyone of us were to talk after bedtime we would get slapped with a belt and have to go one whole day without breakfast , lunch or dinner . We all hated her , and I guess that ’ s partly why I ran away . Lost in my thoughts I heard “ Margo ! Margo !” I turned around to see my headmistress behind me .
“ Oh great , she found me ” I thought to myself . I ran as quickly as my feet could take me through a crowd of people . As I got nearer and nearer to a high wall I tried to make up a plan . Ahead of me I saw the guards checking everyone ’ s purses . I hid behind the women in front of me . I suddenly felt firm hands grab my shoulder . “ Where do you think you ’ re going ?” said the guard “ Where are your parents ?” “ My mom just walked past you . She ’ s right there .” I pointed to a random woman I saw walking ahead . “ Okay run along little girl . Make sure to always stay with your mom .”
I walked along the streets of Shanghai , trying to figure out where to go next . It ' s not like I had any family members to go to . But I still needed a place to sleep . At that moment I felt a bump on my head and everything went black .
When I woke up , I was in a freezing cold alley where I had been strapped onto a chair . “ The kid ’ s awake boss .” I heard someone say behind me . I sat up and realized that there were two very strong and dangerous looking men staring straight at me . “ What ’ s going on ?” I finally managed to say . “ You ’ re Margo Stans , right ?” The first man asked . “ Um ... yeah .” “ And your parents are Mark and Lola Stans ?” The second man added “ Uh ... yes .” I answered hesitating . For about a minute or so we just stared at each other , until a voice broke the silence . “ Uh … are you the guys that ordered dumplings ?” said a man with a bag . “ Don ’ t move .” They spat at me . As they walked up to the delivery man , I quickly but carefully ripped off the tape and slipped out of the chair . Then I made a run for it .
Dumpling scented smoke leaked out of the restaurants and filled the crowded streets as I pushed past everyone . I ran through dark alleys hoping that soon they would give up , and they did . I could hear their furious voices shouting from the streets . I wound up leaning against a trash can . As I looked up at the sky I saw beautiful shining stars staring straight back at me . I always wondered if my parents were up there in a place called heaven watching over me . While I was sitting there I finally understood something . Those people that were after me wouldn ’ t just randomly chase an ordinary girl like me , there had to be a reason for it . I started thinking about how they knew my name and my parents ’ names . All of this was making me dizzy . Why would they be after me ? While I was thinking about that , the trash can began to shake like crazy . With my eyes bulging , I started to back away . There was definitely something in there . Suddenly , a cat jumped out of the garbage . His fur was pitch black , his eyes glowed in the dark as if there were huge suns inside them . He walked slowly towards me , as I sat there frozen not knowing what to do . Then suddenly he sat down reached his paw out to me and said “ Hello I am Mark , very nice to meet you on such a fine night .” I didn ’ t know how to respond . Still in shock so I shook his paw . “ You are Margo Stans , right ?’’ “ How did you know ?” I answered . “ I ’ d better tell you in the house .” He murmured