Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 328

Just when Mr Anderson was about to hand Ugenie a book, she looked up at him, blinked twice and didn’t
make a sound.
“I see you already have one,” the teacher said, trying not to make the situation awkward. “Neat art.”
With an uncomfortable smile, Mr Anderson carried on handing out sketch books.
Lost in the Middle of Nowhere
“Ten more minutes!” Shouted Mrs Wood.
In this case, everyone seemed to be distracted in chatting except for Ugenie who was busy doing her art.
Sadie was kneeling on one leg trying to feed the birds and William was busy praying for the trip to be over.
“Silence!” Mrs Wood’s thick dark eyebrows raised, her smile was gone. “Everyone get up. We’re moving
on to the next stop.”
“Wait! Mrs Wood, there are still nine minutes of drawing time,” Ugenie protested as she tried finishing
her art. “I need to finish this very last bit.”
“Ugenie Jude, do you ever listen?” “We’re moving on, stop sketching!” Mr Anderson said sternly.
Ugenie didn’t even look up at her class teacher, instead she kept on sketching and mummered: “Okay, I’ll
catch up when I’m done!”
The year eights left. The bus left. Five minutes past, then it was ten. When twelve minutes had flown by,
the young girl finally realised she had been concentrating so hard on her drawing that she had lost all track of
time. Ugenie looked up and realised all 155 of her classmates and teachers had disappeared.
The lonely Year 8 was confused. “Okay, I just need to walk into the woods and keep going straight, Im
sure I will find them soon enough!”
Ugenie then ventured into Greater Bay Area. There were a million thoughts in this young lady’s head,
what if I get lost? There’s so many people! What if I go in and can’t find my way out?
She walked for what felt like an hour before seeing beautiful trees fluttering their leaves like wings and the
wonderful music of songbirds. Her worried thoughts turned into being mindful of her stunning
surroundings.
She came to the woods and felt something or someone touched her back and when she turned her head,
she saw something she had never ever seen before.
Back to Normal
It wasn’t a person. It wasn’t a leaf that had fallen off a tree. It was..
“Ahh! A tree is touching me!” A leaf landed on Ugenie’s head and got tangled in her dark brown hair.
Then, she woke up from her nightmare.
“Ugenie, wake up! Wake up!” It was her mum. “You're finally awake! Hurry up and get ready, today is
your field trip day. I packed a snack, a drink, and your sketchbook is on the table.”
“Ok ok, I’m up.” Ugenie yawned. “Can you please get out of my room I’m going to change.”
Ugenie watched as the door shut. Her mind was full. She thought for a bit. What just happened? It was
just a dream but it felt so real. I shouldn’t bring my sketchbook.