Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 103

garbage disposal. There were some old Chinese calligraphy written all over the place, but I could still recognize
those words.
“What brought you to Shanghai? You don't seem local.”
“We're still in Shanghai? The buildings look so old.”
“Ha, old? Compared to the other cities, you could say we are further ahead of them. We even have those four
wheel metal carts, which could move without horses.” He looked over his shoulder and smiled.
“I think I travelled through time somehow.”
“And so did I.” he sighed and continued, “Everything seems like yesterday, but unknowingly I'm already 60.”
“Yes time does fly, but I literally mean time travel.”
“Have you been taking opium?”
“I have been taking pills, but not opium. Either way,
like the quality that could be made in this time?”
look!” I pointed at my shirt and said, “Do they even look
“Hmm.” He was still in doubt, so I decided to show him a phone.
“Stop.” I said. He drop the metal bar to the ground and turned around. The surrounding was gloomy so he
didn’t know I was holding anything, I pressed the button and his eyes were lit.
“What is that? It's shining! Wow!”
“It's called a phone. In this age there are also phones but not ones like this. It has a touch screen, camera,
flashlight and other functions. The most significant thing, is that it has colors. Here.” I unlocked the phone and
gave him a chance to fiddle with, if he knows how to.
He put his hands close to each other and curled his long bony fingers. It formed a cup shaped container and he
extended his arms to the front with his head down, like he was ready to receive a present from God. His veiny
hands were trembling in awe. I placed the phone on his hand and he bowed down in signs of gratitude. He
slowly brought the phone closer to his face for a more specific inspection. His face was glowing . The light
projection off the phone caused the wrinkles and age spots on his face to be more significant and visible. “Oh!
It's so light! Ah, the beautiful edges and the neatly rounded corners. What is t——.”
C ruck
He dropped the phone to the ground in shock. “Oh my, what was that? I could see through the phone?”
I smiled in amusement and said, “you turned on the camera function…” I got off the rickshaw and bent down to
pick up my phone.