Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 320

The New Tales of Old Shanghai
Marymount Primary School, Berry, Natalie - 11
L
ily had not wanted to come to Chinese City, but Maya got lost so easily, and had promised her that it was
beautiful.
Maya had been right— Chinese City was beautiful. There were dwellings and markets and statues, all more
ancient than Lily’s great-great-grandparents—or anyone's great-great-grandparents. For some reason, Lily was
strongly reminded of her childhood home, if London’s architects had been devoted experts on Chinese culture.
She might’ve felt homesick, had London ever been her home.
Lily and Maya wandered around with much difficulty. Lily would stop to draw whatever tower had interested her,
and Maya insisted on photographing of every archway they encountered, not to mention how long it took to
squeeze their way through the crowds. The only time they could agree on where to stop was Yuyuan Garden,
with its elaborate sculptures and carvings. Every bridge and pavilion drew Lily and Maya to them like bees to
honey.
Lily sketching when Maya’s voice jolted her back to reality. “Lily, we’ve been here for ages. Chinese City has lots
more to offer. Also,” she added, “my camera’s running out of battery.”
Lily swallowed a wave of disappointment. She had been looking forward to drawing the Exquisite Jade Rock,
with all its bizarre points and holes and angles.
Then she checked her watch and realised that Maya was right. They had been in Yuyuan Garden for over an hour.
Her feet turned to lead.
“I’m exhausted,” Lily admitted, “I hear that there are restaurants nearby.”
After finding a restaurant, Lily and Maya sat down at a table, where a waitress poured them some tea. Lily watched,
mesmerised, as steam billowed from her cup. The menu thrown at her snapped her out of it.
“Hurry up and order so that I can EAT,” said Maya impatiently.
“ ‘I’ ?” Lily asked.
Maya smacked her playfully.
Lily put her arms up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay!” Opening the menu before her, Lily barely glanced at it
before deciding. “Sweet and sour pork.”
Maya laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I didn’t waste any time making the same choice, either.”
While they stuffed themselves full of sweet and sour pork, Lily talked with her mother over a video chat.
When the video chat was finished, Maya gave Lily a quizzical look. “Why wasn’t your father with her?”
Lily blinked. She realised that though she and Maya were very close, the latter had never been told about Lily’s
heritage. “I never knew my father,” Lily confessed, “He left my mother when she was pregnant.”
Lily could feel the pity in Maya’s gaze and took a sudden interest in her chopsticks. Maya hastily changed to
subject to Internet memes, especially Pepe the Frog, whom Maya had a strange obsession with.