Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 130

Future Adventures of the Greater Bay Area
Heep Yunn Primary School, Au Yeung, Martha - 11
‘RRRRING! RRRRING!‘
My alarm clock blared next to my ear, rendering them deaf. I scowled and blinked blearily in the early
morning, mentally cursing the alarm clock.
‘RRRRING! RRRRRING!‘
went the insufferable alarm clock. I slipped a hand out from the covers and slapped the stop button. I
grumbled at the alarm, threw it across the wall, and heard a satisfying crack. I grinned at that and nestled
deeper into the covers, meaning to get some more sleep. However, I couldn’t get any sleep after tossing and
turning for half an hour. I quietly clambered out of bed to see what time it was on my (broken) clock. It
was nine already, so I got up and slumped to the kitchen like the lazy worm I was.
Sitting down at the kitchen, I opened the tub of mango yogurt I had swiped from the fridge just now and
opened it. As I ate, I gazed out of the window, admiring the new scenery. My eyes did not, however, see
the rows of houses and the park that was next to our house; instead my eyes wandered to the sky, wishing
that I could go home.
Now that we ( my family and I ) had moved to the Greater Bay Area, our old apartment had been scrapped
and we moved into a new house in the center of the Greater Bay Area. Admittedly, the new house was so
much bigger than our old apartment, but I still preferred my old apartment.
Breaking myself out of my reverie, I finished up the yogurt and headed up to my room. I kind of wanted to
go for a walk to clear my mind. Alone time is always a plus!
Entering the park, a slight breeze rustled the leaves, making them fall to the solid ground one by one. The
park is my kind of place in its absolute stillness. If there was a person moving in here I would hear them. I
was alone. The swings were stationary and there was barely even a soft whisper from what leaves remain in
the late autumn trees. I surveyed the surroundings and sighed. I walked out of the park and decided to walk
around and do some ‘sightseeing ‘ as I had only just gotten here.
Sigh.
Right next to the park was the town hall. The town hall was a serious place usually reserved for town
meeting ( not that that we had much ) and wasn’t usually open to kids. This afternoon, there was gonna be a
meeting on the name of the Greater Bay Area. But before the meeting, they’re sticking with Greater Bay
Area. That’s where, and I quote my aunt on this, ‘grown ups talk‘.
Sure…..If you say so, Auntie.
I walked past the town hall, and stepped into, as the residents call it, ‘the houses‘.
Not very original, if you ask me.
Stretching out of sight on either side of the road were identical semi detached houses, each with a path
running down the side. They might, I thought, be kinda similar, but the vibrant colors make up for that.
A little while down the path was the market. Sort of loud, but still fun nevertheless.
I walked into the market, and immediately a rush of noise and color enveloped me. I could see all sorts of
merchants and stall owners setting up their stalls and the friendly shouts from stall to stall.
I drank in the colors, the aromas and the atmosphere like an elixir. I loved interacting with the stall holders,
each one almost a caricature of bubbly friendliness. They knew me by name since I came here so often and
occasionally kept something back from the stall that I’d like. I weaved through the crowds, edging through
the dense flow of people with my smile getting bigger and bigger each minute. The air was perfumed with
produce, the ground was gritty stone and the air a perfect pre-winter chill. There was no irritating music,
just a busker with a guitar. The salty odour of sweat mingled with the nose tingling aroma of spices and the
sweet smell of flowers coming from the florist's shop. All of these smells mixed together and gave the market
a rather unique scent, which hung in the air from early morning to late evening. I paused for a moment to
survey the flamboyant scene, and observe the milling throng. Lovers strolled hand in hand, casually
browsing, whilst housewives hustled and bustled, and haggled over the price of the exotic fruits and other
imported merchandise, with vendors of various nationality. I made my way to the stall selling traditional
and popular Macao food. I knew the shopkeeper by name ( her name was Katya ) and she often saved a treat
or two for me. After getting my weekly treat, I set off ( again ) to bid another friend of mine a good
morning- and hopefully get more food.
What can I say? I thought. I’m fond of food.