Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 61

The Blue Bus
Chinese International School, Keswick, May - 11
I walked outside. I saw Dad in handcuffs.
“What is happening?!” I screamed. No one moved or said anything.
Then, Dad shouted, “ I LOVE YOU, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!”
“ You have to remain silent,” the policeman ordered. I watched, terrified, as Dad was pulled away and
shoved head first into the police car.
Before anyone could stop me, I gathered some belongings. Cramming them into a backpack, and not
forgetting my favourite bunny, I dashed along the road, leaving behind the home I had grown up in. I ran as
fast as I could, I felt so alone not having anyone.
The next morning, I woke up in a bedroom full of children of all ages. I had fallen asleep on the mountains
and been taken to St Christopher’s Children's Home, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong. For the
first few days, I felt scared, lonely and worried about my dad. Everyone in St Christopher's was kind and
tried to cheer me up. But I could not stop thinking about that moment Dad was taken away.
One day, a stranger came and asked me, “Are you Ana?”
And of course I said, “Yes.”
I realised he was a Social Worker who had come in to explain what had actually happened. Dad was
walking in his suit to work and been caught up in protests. The police had taken a photo of him and had
gone to our home to arrest him. He was sentenced to prison for four years. I was so shocked that Dad was
one of the protestors. I broke down in tears and was comforted by the Social Worker.
After a few minutes of crying my heart out, the Social Worker said, ”You know you can still see your Dad
every weekend on a Sunday.”
I was surprised, “But, how?”
He explained that I could take a free bus called the Blue Bus. But I would have to be outside the gate at
7:00am Sunday on the dot. If I missed it, the bus might come back but mostly... no way.
This was amazing. I could finally go see Dad. I looked at the clock. It was only Friday 5:05pm. It was okay.
I could wait 37 hours and 55 minutes. An hour later, I had no clue what to do. Time went by so slowly, it
was like watching paint dry.
After a whole 36 hours and 50 minutes, it was finally time. My heart was pounding 200 beats a second, I
was so excited. I grabbed my backpack and raced to the gates. I had one minute to spare. I saw the Blue Bus
chugging towards me. It was an original bus but it was bright blue. I quickly jumped on and was given a
little snack to eat. I walked down the bus. It was all full, except for one seat next to a girl who looked the
same age as me. I sat down.
“Hi!” I said. “My name is Ana.”
“Hi, my name is Jing” she replied. She had black hair, brown eyes and was skinny like a twig. She was
wearing a black top and jeans. But they were all dirty.
We started making conversation about what had happened to us. It turned out that the exact same thing
occurred to her mother, who was also in prison because of protesting.
After an hour on the bus, we arrived at Tong Fuk prison. I was so excited to see Dad but at the same time
scared of going into a prison for the first time. I walked in and saw a room full of kids coming to see their
parents. The room was old and dirty with metal tables. I looked around and saw my dad handcuffed to the
table. I was shocked. But I raced across the room and wrapped my arms around him so tight he not even
not breathe. I had missed him so much.
I started to ask him about prison. He wanted to know what had happened to me. I felt so bad for him in
such a horrible place.
Suddenly the guard yelled, “TWO MORE MINUTES!”
I hugged Dad again as hard as I could. The time was up, the guard pulled Dad away. I took one last glimpse
as he disappeared.