Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 321

“Oliver,” his mom said. “I think you are a very responsible child. Today, I would like to give you a
present.” She looked at her phone.
“Wait, are you giving me your phone Mom?” Oliver asked. Mom nodded.
“I think that you should have my phone for the school trip, in case something goes wrong.” Oliver made a
mental note not to tell Mom that the school trip was cancelled. After breakfast, he headed over to school
with his best friend, John Potter.
At break, they were playing four square until the school bully, Aiden, came over with a sheet in his hand.
“It’s Olive and his potty!” He yelled. All of Aiden’s friends started laughing. Aiden leaned over and
forcefully whispered in Oliver’s ear. “I’m in the competition too, so you either win and get beaten up, or
lose or quit.”
“When I say go, those whose parents have enrolled you in the naming competition write a name and hand
it in. Go!” Said Miss Blink. Nobody, apart from the teachers knew Miss Blink’s real name. Everyone called
her that because she blinked a lot. Five minutes later, he scrawled a name on the piece of paper.
A few days later…
“We are happy to inform you that Aiden in class 6Z has won the competition, with Oliver in class 6R in
second place, but Aiden has…” Oliver zoned out. John whispered something incomprehensible, and he
looked very happy. “Oliver! Are you listening? Aiden has chicken pox, so he can’t go because the trip is
tomorrow! That means that you get go tomorrow!” John said.
As soon as he went home, he told his mom. “Wow! That’s amazing!” his mom shouted.
The next day, he went on the trip.
The mayor picked him up in a limousine, and they started driving towards the area. “Good job, Oliver,” the
mayor said. “The Machikong, MCK for short, is an epic name! It’s even better than that Aiden kid’s name.”
The MCK was stunning, amazing, beautiful, all of them at once. In fact, Oliver couldn’t find an adjective
for it. There were builders everywhere, building houses, and the buildings that were completed were
actually fantastic. At the end of the day, Oliver returned to school.
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
“Oliver! I am going to kill you for going on my trip!” yelled Aiden as the mayor made a speech.
“…in fact, I thought that the name that Oliver entered into the competition, The Machikong, was so good
that he is now in first place,” the mayor continued, “The Greater Bay Area will now be called, The
Machikong, MCK! Congratulations Oliver!”
Oliver grinned. He knew that Aiden was going to beat him up for winning the competition, but at least he
was the winner. It may have been a small victory, but he knew from personal experience that a small thing
can go a long way and at the end of the day, it was because of him that the new area had been named MCK!
It was his legacy that would continue, and that was what mattered, even if he had a black eye!