Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 279
The New Tales of Old Shanghai
Kingston International School, Yan, Pely – 11
I
t was a pleasant day in the city of Old Shanghai, 1948. The whole world was the colour of black and white and
the trains and cars were very unusual. Best friends Mary and Helen were walking down the uneven streets to
the market. “What’s on the shopping list?” asked Mary. “Lettuce, eggs and strawberries.” answered Helen, licking
her lips hungrily. They walked to the very short-looking market and started heading into directions to look for
food. While Helen was looking at the Sweets Aisle, she bumped into an old woman.
“Oops! Sorry mam!” apologized Helen. “Oh don’t worry, my dear! Actually, I am looking for a place
called Hong Kong. Do you know where it is, by any chance?” explained the old woman. “Oh! By the way, the
name’s Judy, and who might you be, my dear?” “I’m Helen, and this is my friend Mary!” said Helen, pointing to
her friend, who was walking towards Helen and Judy. “Hi! Who is she, Helen?” asked Mary. “Mary, this is Judy.
She wants to find Hong Kong!” said Helen. “Hong Kong! But that’s in the other side of Shanghai, mam!”
exclaimed Mary. “Yeah! You’ll never make it! It’s at least about 3 days to get there!” said Helen. “Oh don’t
worry, kittens! I’m sure I’ll make it.” said Judy, mostly sure but not really. “Well, okay. Be careful, though.” said
Helen, worried that the poor woman might be in trouble along the way.
Suddenly, Helen thought Mary might have seen her face expression because she asked Judy if she and
Helen can come with her. Judy thought for a moment and then agreed. “Of course you girls can come! I could
use a little help.” she said, smiling. Then the three of them started their journey to the mysterious Hong Kong...
While they're riding on a fish boat, Helen was kind of nervous. What if they never come back to
Shanghai? It’s their home. “Wait, stop!” she cried alarmingly. The boat stopped. “What is it?” asked Mary. “I was
just thinking, will we ever come back to Shanghai again? Because if we don’t…” Helen’s voice trailed off
wondering what would happen if they really can’t go home. “Don’t be ridiculous, Helen! That’ll never happen,
unless we’re lost or something, right?” said Mary. Helen gritted her teeth because she wasn’t so sure about it.
Finally, after a few days of drifting in the ocean, they finally came to Hong Kong, which was mostly like
Shanghai but a little bit changed. The cars were like cars, policemen's stood on a stand where you act like a red,
yellow and green light. Wow! This is just like home, except just a bit…..different! Thought Helen. Mary looked a
little weird because she saw a wire with light. “We’re here! Hong Kong, also known as HK!” chirped Judy. “This
is a very nice place!” commented Helen. Mary nodded with agreement but then she got worried because when
she glanced around, she could see their fish boat floating away. Uh oh, trouble… Helen and Judy were just
enjoying the view when Mary tapped Helen on the shoulder. “Um, Helen? Our boat just floated away so how are
we supposed to get home?” Helen turned around “What! We didn’t tie it up, did we?!” she cried. “What is it,
girls?” asked Judy, interested in the conversation. “Judy, Mary thinks our boat floated away! We were supposed to
get home with that! What are we going to do?” said Helen, worried. But Judy wasn’t listening, she was saying
something…
“Mwahahaha! I didn’t think you pathetic girls were so foolish!” said Judy evilly. “Wh-what do you
mean?!” asked Mary, a bit scared. She then started magically transforming! Blue, black and purple light began
swirling around her. “What’s happening to her?!” asked Mary loudly. “I don’t know! But it’s definitely NOT
something good!” answered Helen. When they turned back, before their eyes stood a mean and nasty looking,
WITCH!!!