Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 243

The woman chuckled, placing the penny in a safe place, and picked her son up, walking towards their home.
There was a rickshaw passing by whilst they were walking home. “Is that Uncle Guang?”Fai asked excitedly,
recognizing the puller who was his favorite uncle.
“Yes, that’s your uncle Guang,” the mother said, “But do not disturb your uncle. He is working.”
A well-off Japanese was propped on the car, looking like he was being given a massage, while the rickshaw
puller had to drag the cart along with the overweight man. Every now and then the passenger would give a mighty kick
in Guang’’s back, harshly urging him to go faster. Guang looked like he was in pain but did not dare to complain.
And all of that, was carved onto Fai’s heart, and was never forgotten.
1932, Chinese Zone, The Bund
“Come and join us!” a student approached Fai, who was six feet tall and more muscular than the people than
his age.
Fai was a student who loathed the Japanese and joined his friends to protest against them. The Japanese Navy
then attacked Shanghai to crush them. Him being his hot-blooded self, decided to join the army. Of course, it was risky
– but he knew saving the country was more important than his own life. He knew it would worry his mother and make
her live in angst until he came back, but he had decided. He was going to fight for his country.
Walking side by side in silence, they savored every moment before they arrived at the train station. The faded
navy blue canvas bag, swung over Fai’s left shoulder, bounced up and down, making a soft noise every time it hit his
shoulder.
Fai was worried. Worried about his aging mother, what if she was killed during the war? What if he died? Who
would take care of his mother? He was her only family. A thought bubbled up, urging him to just give up joining the
army. He immediately shook away the thought. It was tempting, but wouldn’t it be selfish of him to give up saving the
country in order to save himself and his mother? The scene from years ago, where the Japanese treated his late uncle
Guang, who recently died in the Japanese attack, like he was worthless, replayed in his mind. He clenched his fists. He
was going to join the army.
His mother was petrified. If he died, there’s no point of her living. She wanted to convince him to stay, so she
wouldn’t be living in angst every day. But wouldn’t it be selfish? He was a strong boy, she knew for sure, and he would
come back, safe and sound, she tried to persuade herself, yet the thought of Fai dying was taunting her and making her
heart thump faster. She quickly pushed away the thought, repeating to herself, Fai was strong and he would come back
safely… And saving the country was an honorable act, and what a brave man does. She couldn’t help but feel the
slightest bit of prideof her son, now she could boast to her friends, “My son is an army boy. He is out there, saving the
country.”
Finally, they arrived at South Railway Station. “Take care, son, and write me letters,” the mother looked at her
son.,
“Will do, mother,” Fai curled his lips up into a smile, and bid her farewell.
“Wait!” His mother called, and handed him a worn-out rag. “Here’s the handkerchief you’ve been using since
you were born. Bring this along with you, and it will be like me staying with you.”
Fai silently took it and stuffed it into his pocket. “Goodbye, mother.”
Then he spun around and got on the train.