New Tales of The Old Shanghai
Island School , Mctamaney , Nelly - 14
I t ’ s been 35 days .
She didn ’ t leave , she didn ’ t leave .
I woke up again , from another nightmare . Lifting myself off on the right side of the bed . The sun shining warmly through the hollow window frames , raising itself up against my cheek . The window frames casting a dark shadow on the stretch of the room . It must be dawn . No noise runs through the house during early morning , so it must be .
Looking around , it ' s the same old room , the same old place . The bed sheets draped on the side of the bed while I endeavour to get up . The bell on the wall starts to sound , surrounding the room with each of its rings .
The sunlight pierces slightly through the interlaced hangings , just giving barely enough light to see in the room . The aroma of freshly brewed tea fills up the air as I walk down the hall into the kitchen . The clay pots all in line .
A seat is left out in the open , proposing someone has already sat there . Various chunks of bread lay visible around the pantry , while empty baskets also start to reveal themselves . The hunger in my stomach started to grow .
- It ’ s been 40 days .
40 days .
Outside our isolated house lays a valley . It ' s vast greenery envelops our little hut , making it separate from anything surrounding us . My father and I grow our own food . Father would tend to the plants , growing fruit , and vegetables for the village . It ’ s a way for us to afford our house and valley . We both need to work . We may not have as much as we used to , but it ’ s all alright .
I see him across the fields of pasture . Ploughing the earth with his hoe and straw hat . Starting work early today I presume , like always . The sun rays hitting the side of his face as sweat rolls down his cheek .
He hears me and turns for a few seconds with a glimmer of a smile on his face . An arm goes up as a signal he heard me . Smiling back , I raise my arm as well and make gesture to say I ’ m leaving to town soon . A quick glance we make to each other , then part ways .
“
It ’ s been 60 days
对不起 , 但是你的妈妈去世了 。