Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 58

The New Tales of old Shanghai Alliance Primary School Kowloon Tong, Wong, Ka Yuet – 11 S am, come to see what have I brought you.” Samuel’s father said to Samuel who was playing his tablet computer in his bedroom. Samuel came out and check the souvenir without much expectation. “Dad always brings back some old stuffs that he found in antique shop every time he returns from a business trip.” murmured Samuel. “It is a music box with a mini gramophone outlook,” Samuel’s father said with excitement, “you have never seen a gramophone before, have you? People used it to play music in the old days.” “Really? How does it work?” asked Samuel with interest. “This is aweso me.” Samuel said to his mother. “But it is not as attractive as a new computer game.” Samuel thought. Samuel took the music box back to his room. “Stop playing your tablet,” Samuel’s mother said, “Go to take a shower and dinner will be ready very soon.” “Yes mum, but a few minutes later.” Samuel said reluctantly. Samuel wound up the music box, listened to the songs it played and felt sleepy. Out in a sudden Samuel found himself wandered around somewhere in a city he had never been to. “Where am I? How do I come here?” Samuel asked himself in puzzle. “Who are you? Why are you in our backyard?” a lad spoke out loudly from an opened window of a big house. “I am Samuel, I have no idea where I am.” Samuel replied. “I am Tim, you are walking in our garden. Would you like to come in?” said the lad, “I haven’t seen anyone who wear such strange clothes as yours. You must come from a village to Shanghai.” “Eh ... Okay” Samuel accepted the invitation with hesitation. “What’s wrong with my clothes? What does he mean? Shanghai?” Samuel thought and looked at himself wore a hoody T-shirt, a pair of jeans and a pair of sneakers. “Wow, your home decoration is very impressive. I feel like living in a movie.” Samuel sighed. “I bet you haven’t been to a big house like this.” Tim said so proudly. “Let me show you around.” Samuel nodded and peeked on a calendar hang on a wall. “What? Today is 5 th of March, 1931!” Samuel found his voice trembled. “What is matter with you? Is it your first time visiting Shanghai?” asked Tim. “I am fine, I just can’t believe I am now in Shanghai.” Samuel decided not to tell Tim about his unbelievable situation. He looked around and saw a big gramophone. “I have a mini gramophone music box at home.” said Samuel. “Don’t be silly, this is a real one. Let me show you how to play a music record.” Tim said and put a black disc onto a flat plate of the gramophone. Music started to fill in the room. “What is in your hand? A book?” Tim asked curiously. “Oh .. this is a tablet PC” Samuel replied, “you can play music, watch movies and play computer games” Samuel tried to show his device to Tim but in vain because his tablet was ran out of power. “Never mind.” Tim seemed not interested in the tablet and not quite believe what Samuel said. Samuel found a toaster-like box on top of a coffee table. “This is a radio, you can tune the machine to receive different channels and listen to news, music and storytelling through the broadcasting” Tim could tell Samuel’s interest on the radio and explained its function quickly. “You don’t have this as well as the real gramophone in your place, right?” Tim uttered confidently. When they chatted, a well-dressed couple came in. “Father and mother, this is Samuel, my new friend. Samuel, they are my parents” Tim introduced Samuel to his parents. “Welcome, Samuel.” said Tim’s mother who wore an elegant cheongsam with a fur rounded her neck, “You boys have a good time but don’t be too noisy, your father needs to work upstairs in the studying room. I am going to check with our cook what will we have for supper tonight.” Tim’s parents left them in the living room. “Is your father a blind man?” Samuel whispered to Tim “I noticed him carry a blind stick.” Tim burst out laughing and said, “He is of course not, only educated wealthy