Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 11

The Red Ribbon
British International School Shanghai Puxi, Tan, Munique – 14
W
ell, this blows. I stood, grumbling to myself in the midst of what had to be the most chaotic attic in the
history of the world, coughing as a billow of dust rained over me. Begrudgingly, I reached up onto my
tiptoes, blindly groping about the cluttered top shelf searching for my luggage. I dodged to the side,
shrieking as an avalanche of papers came crashing down, barely missing me. Another mini tornado of dust to
swirled in the air above me as I collapsed onto the creaky wooden floorboards. I stared as a ray of sunlight broke
through the nearby window illuminating the falling dust. It reminded me of a Northern Lights show... You know, if
the Aurora Borealis occurred in the dingy, damp attic of an ancient, crumbling house. I'd lived here all my life. I
sighed. I couldn't believe we were moving to China in two weeks. I'd known my best friend, Annabelle, since I was
two years old and even though we hadn't talked much lately, the thought leaving my life here felt unreal. I abruptly
sat up as I realised I was virtually lying in a pile of century old dirt.
I rummaged around the pile, gathering the fallen papers in an attempt to tidy. My fingers brushed against a
few more papers and I paused, reaching to grab them. Something about them looked different. I fingered the pages,
flipping through the slightly crinkled sheets as the rough surface scratched my skin. I skimmed through the first one,
heart thumping as the words tumbled off the page.
" Yang Mei and I had our first proper argument today. She claims that I've been acting up lately, but she just
doesn't understand. Today, of all days. I can practically taste the smell of opium reeking off her clothes, breath and
even her hair. We spent hours planning a night out for my 18th birthday but I guess that won’t be happening. I don't
care. Tonight, I'm wearing the new Qi Pao Mama got me from high street. I'm going to curl my hair with my trusty
old rollers and head to the Black Cat so I can forget all about today- with or without her.
-Chen Li Na, June 9th 1931"
Opium? Qi pao? Why hadn't I ever known about this? I was suddenly buzzing with questions. Was this an ancestor
of mine? I sat still for a moment, filled with intrigue. My mind was tingling as I revelled in my newfound discovery.
I greedily reached for the next entry, hungry for more.
"Last night, when I was meant to be asleep, I overheard Mama and Papa discussing talk of Japanese spies
captured in Manchuria. What did this mean? The government is trying to assure us that they have it under control
but whispers are spreading across the city. Newspapers all over the country have announced that minor fighting has
been occurring throughout the North East of China. Fingers crossed that this dies down soon…
-Chen Li Na, September 21st 1931"