My Own Way
Hong Kong International School ( HKIS ), Archer , Jack -14
New Journeys . That ’ s what he told me . New ones .
What new things can I do when I ’ ll always be in the shadow of his flying cloud . He was born from stone , exploding out of solid rock . How can I top that ?
I take another deep breath without opening my eyes , trying to expel all my thoughts with an exhale , but to no avail . What ’ s the point of journeying west when everything I do will be nothing compared to the things he ’ s done ?
He wants me to do what he did , which is an insult all in itself . He already did it , and way better than I could , so why should I ?
I have already spent my life in his insurmountable shadow . Everything I do , he did it when he was half my age . Everyone I meet will only tell me , “ your father is a great man ” “ your dad , wow !” “ You ’ re so lucky to have him as your father !” My father , my father , my father . He is an immortal king , and I will always be one of his subjects . My father is Sun Wukong , the monkey king , and I can never be anything like him . Footsteps behind me . I listen to the steps . Light , but powerful . He sits down next to me , cross-legged like I am . “ Son .” “ Father .” “ The monk has arrived .” I open my eyes , and gaze off the cliff top in front of me . I look at my dad . I wonder how he ’ ll respond to this . Another deep breath . “ Dad , I don ’ t want to go . I don ’ t want to just redo what you did before . There ’ s no way I could match up to the way you did it , so what ' s the point ?”
I realise I am holding my breath , but I don ’ t dare to let it out . My father ’ s breathing stays level , no sign of anger and sadness . A few eternities later , his breath becomes choppy and ragged . I tense up . Is he ... Laughing ? He turns to me . “ Sun Wudi , this monk requested to be guided by you .” Still skeptical , I reply , “ Why me ? I ’ m normal . How can I protect him better than you ?” “ You can .” He says , “ In your own way . Maybe you don ’ t have powers like I do .. But you have your own strengths .” Anger flies through me again . “ But everything I can do , you can do better .” “ That ’ s not true . There are things you are far better at than I am . The reason I want you to guide this monk across the country is because I want you to discover who you are ., And I know you can ’ t do that with me around , so I think going on this journey is the only way you can do that . Figure out who you are . Don ’ t let me get in the way . Go .”
I understand . Dad isn ’ t trying to make me redo what he has done . He ’ s wants me to do something that he has done before , but in my own special way . So that I won ' t always be Sun Wukong ' s son . So that I can be my own monkey . I smile at my dad , and stand up . “ Bye , dad .” He raises a hand , but I ’ m already tearing down the mountainside to get my satchel , now filled with eagerness and determination . I head in the back door , grabbing my rusack without stopping , then tear out the front door , skidding to a stop to avoid running head on into a horse ’ s behind . I head around the horse to meet the monk who I will protect in my own way as he makes his way to his monastery . I look up to greet him . A grumpy face frowns back at me . He ’ s bald , with a face permanently etched into a frown , with a long , pinkish nose protruding out of the shadow of his cloak . He looks down at me silently , a vulture eyeing its prey from above .