Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 550

Life in the Great Bay Area
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Lam, Matthew - 14
Clear chirps sailed through the cold plaza, brightening up the few passing pedestrians. The chilly breeze of
early winter blew, creeping up into the neighbouring windows and giving chills to the ones who didn’t
wear enough clothing. Even though the Great Bay Area was located at the Southern part of Asia, winter
these past few years had been quite chilly. Ageing citizens lazily walked down the polished staircases,
yawning as they opened up their shops and getting ready for another day of work.
The Ning Xin Plaza had never been a popular or a busy place - it was just a friendly place located
near the city of Zhu Hai. Red brick and stone buildings circled the small smoothly-stoned plaza, a small
eclipse surrounded by stone staircases to sit and chat. A park was only a stone throw’s distance away, with a
playground for kids to enjoy their delight. A warm and amiable feeling embraced the place, with everyone
exchanging sunny smiles as they walked by each other, often stopping down to chat about their children and
how the place used to be. A few concrete and glass high-risers faded into the background, just a short walk
away from the city and the plaza.
The sun gradually rised rose up, peering over the plaza like a grandfather looking down at his asleep
grandchildren. The neighborhood slowly woke up, grandparents bringing young eager children to the park
and men rushing out to work. Sun sprinkled lazily through the trees, the gentle light providing faint
warmth. The plaza was slowly filled up by people sitting on the stone steps and chatting with their fellow
neighbors. Kindergarteners filled the small playground, jumping off slides and swinging through the monkey
bars, their small faces beaming widely.
The sun stood high up, gazing down into the crowded plaza. Just finished preparing lunch, women
and the younger children emerged into the circle, greeting familiar faces and sitting down to enjoy their
meal. Waves of students from the nearby primary and secondary schools, as well as a few of the young adults
from the city returning to their family, putting down their bags and chit-chat about their day so far.
Bit by bit, the sun inched over the top, rushing the students as they scurried back to school.
Waving their kids off, mothers hurried back home to wash their dishes while still wearing the kind smile
that they had every time they saw their children. Grandparents urged their grandchildren to leave the
playground to go to kindergarten, grinning ever so slightly when they rambled about not wanting to go to
school and running to meet their classmates at the metal gates. After seeing them run off, the elderly
gathered around the plaza once again, yearning about their old days when they were strong and healthy, and
sighing about mistakes they made in their early years.
Leisurely, the sun glided across the sky, greeting the students as they rushed out of the school.
Some ran straight back home, excited to greet their pets and family, while others slowly paced the roads,
chatting cheerily with their friends before finally parting for their own home. Small crowds of children
threw down their school bags and ran to the plaza, joining their friends with packs of snacks in their hands.
Bringing balls, frisbees, ropes and more, they played in joy, their laughters warming the crisp afternoon.
Their mothers, even though tired after a whole afternoon of housework, came out to see their children run
around and play. They stood by their doors, silently watching them with a quiet smile and the occasional
nervousness when their child nearly fell. Others sat on the smooth stone in the plaza, still with a sliver of
warmth from the elderly that left for a quick nap, joining other mothers and talking about how the price of
vegetables raised these past few months.
The winter sun dropped rapidly, the sky dimming into a beautiful mix of ruby and tangerine. The
children, exhausted after a day of study and play, returned home to complete their homework. The smell of
dinner snuck out of the windows of every house, gathering on top of the plaza and making every passerby
hungry. Men, coming back from work in the city, walked back home, their faces brightened up
immediately when they saw their family. Warm greetings were quickly exchanged as they sat down eagerly
on the dinner table, homely awards laid in front of them.
Soon, the weak light out of the windows was the only light in the area. Slowly, the lights died
down as everyone slept, light snoring and the light crackle of fire filling the tranquil plaza.
Suddenly, one of the houses erupted ablaze, the fire engulfing the flat immediately. “Fire!!! Wake
up, fire!!!” the woman’s clear voice shouted, waking everyone up. Instantly, the residents of the house ran
down the stairs, men calling the emergency number on the way with a hint of nervousness. Neighbors
aimed water hoses at the surroundings, dousing small fires around the flat. A few of the strong men around,
members of the town’s own emergency response team rushed to help the affected residents away. Sirens
from multiple fire trucks blared in the distance while the water hoses were now aimed into the windows of