Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 461

Beyond the Wall
St Stephen ' s College Preparatory School , Sung , Alannah – 9

X

iao Ching finished sweeping the dusty old road outside her family ’ s store . She looked over at her two adorable young children , and stared out at the French Concession in the horizon , reminiscing about the wonderful experience that had changed her life . She wondered what her childhood friend Chantal would be doing now in faraway Paris …
Shanghai was once a small and peaceful market town , but it gradually grew larger . After the British came and opened the city as a treaty port , other foreign countries started to establish their own settlements there too , such as the Americans and the French . Merchants started trading goods in Shanghai , and the city became a vibrant and bustling place , but soon , the people decided to build a wall to separate the International Settlements from the rest of Shanghai .
The Wangs gave birth to a beautiful little girl called Xiao Ching . Although she didn ’ t grow up in a rich and luxurious home , she still enjoyed her simple life . Xiao Ching was forbidden to enter the Settlements because her parents had told her that the people who lived there were strange-looking and dangerous , but whenever she went to the street leading to the Settlements to fetch water from the well or to sweep away the trash in front of her family ’ s store , she would see lots of people from different countries walking up and down . They all wore elaborate hats and fancy clothes , which made Xiao Ching all the more curious about what life was like beyond the wall .
One afternoon , Xiao Ching was sent to get water from the well . She was just about to set down her bucket when she saw a girl who was different from her in every way . She had curly brown hair and was wearing a very pretty dress .
“ Bonjour !” said the girl . She was walking a cute little poodle . “ Ni hao !” Xiao Ching replied , “ What is your name ?” she asked . “ My name is Chantal and I am from the French Concession .”
The two girls started chatting as if they had known each other for years . Chantal then whispered , “ I will tell you a secret . I am not allowed to leave the French Concession because my mother told me the Chinese are a peculiar nation , and it would not be safe for me to go outside , but oh ! How I wish to explore the outside world , so I sneaked out while my mother was taking her nap .”
“ You know what ?” Xiao Ching said , “ My dream is also to explore the world beyond the Shanghai Wall . How about we help each other !”, Xiao Ching exclaimed .
She leaned over to whisper something in Chantal ’ s ear . After hearing Xiao Ching ’ s ingenious plan , Chantal gave a mysterious smile . They then said goodbye and went their separate ways .
Early the next morning , Xiao Ching rushed downstairs and told her mother that she was going to play with the kids next door , but instead , she went to hide herself inside a large sack of goods that she knew her father was going to deliver to the French Concession later that day , and so , Chantal met Xiao Ching at just the place where they had planned , and the fun began .
They spent the afternoon first playing in Chantal ’ s home while her mother was visiting her aunt , then exploring the streets of the French Concession . While they were standing outside the window display of a puppet shop and giggling away , a man ’ s powerful voice suddenly thundered from behind them , “ What are you two mademoiselles doing here by yourselves … and oh , aren ’ t you Monsieur and Madame Rougier ’ s daughter ? Now , I