Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 33

Tang Li Jing 唐理静
Sha Tin Junior School, Fung, Abby - 10
My brother Li Yong and I were the only ones left in our house, excluding our dog Li Li. Our father was a
merchant and he was trading goods in India as far as I knew, our mother had recently disappeared. Her
disappearance made me stressed because I was responsible for EVERYTHING. Something else also added to
my stress. A secret dream. Since the first time I’d seen the ocean, I wanted to be a sailor. Except I can’t. I’m
a girl and girls aren’t allowed to be sailors. Still, I kept thinking about it. Could I make this come true? Ideas
crammed into my brain. Could I be a boy in disguise? Could I style my hair like a boy’s, borrow Li Yong’s
clothes and register to be a sailor in the treasure fleet? But could I leave Li Yong for so long? Could I run
away without telling him? Probably not. I was terrified to tell him I was leaving but not telling him would
make me feel guilty. Then he would tell everyone I was missing and I didn’t want that to happen, so I knew
I should tell him before registering.
Soon, it was the last day to register and I knew I had to tell Li Yong that I was joining the fleet.
“Tang Li Yong?” I shouted several times around the empty house. He was outside playing with friends. I
called him in and closed the window blinds. We were having an awkward conversation.
“I’m going to leave for a few months and I want you to stay here. Don’t worry about me. You have Li Li.”
“Where are you going?” He asked.
“I’m going to explore undiscovered lands.”
“So you are going to be a soldier on the treasure voyages?”
“Sailor, not soldier.”
“But how can you? You’re a girl. Are you going to break the rules?”
“Sort of.”
“No! Don’t go. You can’t leave me alone! Please?”
“You are already 15! I’ll only join this voyage and come straight back. It’s just for a few months. I have to
go. This is my dream. Please let me go. Please don’t tell anyone about anything.”
“You promise you will be back in a few months?”
“Yes,” I promised.
Li Yong left to fly his kite and I went to register. Thinking about it made me less sure about leaving him
alone but I knew it was something I had to do. On the way to the market, I decided to use Li Yong’s name
as my new name.
When I got there, I went up to the least menacing looking servant and started talking.
“When are the ships leaving?” I asked.
“Three weeks.” He said. “Are you thinking of joining as a sailor?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.” I replied, distracted by all the commotion.
“How old are you? Not big or strong by the looks of you.”
“I’m seventeen,” I replied confidently.
“You look small for your age. Are you sure?” I was offended by this but replied.
“I know I look small but I am seventeen.” This was the truth. “My name is Tang Li Ji - I mean Yong.”
“Oh well. We do need more people on board.” He replied exasperatedly and scribbled down my name. “Li
Yong, you are on a Bao Chuan. Count yourself lucky. Not many sailors as scrawny as you get on one. Be
here at 8 am on the day.”
He shooed me away. I turned and skittered home.
The next few weeks flew by quickly. During that time I continued with my chores. On the day we set sail,
Li Yong walked me to the market early in the morning. We walked in silence. When we got there I could
feel the excitement prickling my skin. Hundreds, no thousands of people were there. I said goodbye to Li
Yong and told him he would be fine. For a moment I nearly went home with him but I knew I had to go.
“Sailors! We’re leaving now!” A loud voice boomed overhead, “we are walking by foot to Liu Jia Gang and
there we will set sail.” He listed out names to check we were there. We marched off.