The New Tales of Old Shanghai – the pirate raid
Good Hope Primary School cum Kindergarten , Lui , Sum Yuet – 10
L
in ! Hide our stocks !” Mum ’ s voice rang through my ears . “ There ’ s a pirate invasion !”
My ears pricked up when I heard the word ‘ invasion ’. Grandpa told me stories of pirate invasions when he was a little kid . It was happening to me now ! I was more excited than afraid . I shoved my homework away , hoping the pirates would steal the neat pile of papers . I quickly hid the stocks of mum ’ s shop into small cracks and big cracks on our stone wall . Mum was mumbling to herself , “ How could ’ ve the pirates gotten in ? There were … these security walls ! And … the moat !”
After hiding our stocks , mum did her best to seal the cracks using soft clay . Then , we heard some men shouting with triumph . I looked through the window . They were scaring away the villagers . Mum tried to escape , but they were heading towards our small house . Mum shoved me under the bed and hung a blanket over it . Then , she gave me a key and locked herself in our drawer . “ Keep it !” she hissed before she closed the door with a small creak . The next thing I knew , the pirates were here !
They spoke in a very weird language of gabble gabble . I tried to hold still . Suddenly , my nose started to itch . Oh no , I thought . Not now ! I gave a light sneeze , a very light one , but the stupid men heard . They searched the house . I manage to see them through a small hole . Unfortunately , a man in a green torn shirt stiffened and looked towards my direction . I tried my best to shrink into a small ball and hid in a corner . He uncovered the draping blanket and looked left and right . Thank goodness I was wearing my black shirt , so he couldn ’ t see me with my ash black hair . They managed to find a couple of gold and cloth and also my homework , so they stole them away along with some food like fruit and vegetables . They finally left the house .
I climbed out slowly from my hiding place and took my key . I unlocked the closet door and mum stepped out . “ They took my best dress !” She grunted but I see in her eyes she was very much more relieved that we weren ’ t hurt . We were too relieved to remember they were still outside when we stepped out of our door . A pirate saw us and hollered like crazy . A dozen of pirates turned and started chasing us . We shrieked and tried to run away , but we had an obstacle . We had no place to go when we arrived the protecting moat surrounding our gates . Ah . The pirates swam here ! But how ? I thought too much I forgot to run . Mum pulled my arm and tried to splash into the cold icy slimy yucky moat water , but I had a fear of dirty water so I just whimpered on the spot .
Mum grunted as the pirates captured us and cackled their evil … disgusting little laugh . “ Oh why didn ’ t I visit the gods last week ?” Mum wailed . The Japanese people just continued laughing . Just then , an extra bulky looking man shouted at us in bad Chinese . “ Tell your village of cowardly people we will kill your mother if they don ’ t each bring 100 Chinese dollars tomorrow by dawn here ! And we know the brief number of your people ! Ha !” They released me and shooed me away , but they locked mum up ! Admiring the jewellery they stole , they chatted like nothing happened and kept laughing . Mum let out a piercing scream . My heart ached for her but I knew I had to go to save her . I swallowed down big fat tears as I rushed around , trying to find my fellow villagers . “ Yan ? It ’ s your best friend , Lin !” “ Uncle Gao ! It ’ s me , Lin !” I screamed as I circled the humungous village . Suddenly , I saw a hand . It was waving . I cautiously tip toed towards the person .
It was Yan ! “ Oh , Yan !” I cried as I felt hot , baby tears run down my red cheeks . Yan shushed me , smiled at me warmly and led me to a cave . Three dozens of people were huddled there . They all cheered when they saw me . “ We heard you !” Said my teacher , Mrs . Kahn , patting my head . “ Where ’ s your mother ?” Hua , my friend , asked , looking puzzled . She have always admired me having this wonderful mother .