Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 139

“Oh, there you are, I was getting panicked,” said Lee who finally saw Vanessa.
“Goodness me, just get your food!” Exclaimed Vanessa,
Vanessa and Lee grabbed the nearest bowl, and, extremely greedily, ran to the serving station and got some well
needed soup. The soup warmed their lips, their mouth and even their whole body… The warmth ran from head to
toe, left to right, in side to out. A smile covered the faces of lee and Vanessa. They were so happy to be living
somewhere, even if they had to work harder than ever on this farm!
"Come here!" Shouted a man who was looking at Lee and Vanessa
"Ok..." Said Vanessa
"This shall be your cabin, you have a small basin, a hard pillow and three small blankets," said the man "what are you
waiting for? Go and put your belongings in their!"
They walked towards the cabin, they stepped inside, a small basin, a hard pillow and three small blankets were the
only things in the small room. They edged towards the small, rough blankets which were in a messy pile in the
corner of the room.
This was their new home, their new wooden shack... It was now time to go to sleep in the shack; when they woke
up tomorrow, they would be SLAVES. It suddenly dawned on them, they were now not free to do what they
wanted, to eat what they want and to do what they want. Days passed, weeks passed maybe even months, and
Vanessa had started to regret the decision of working here. It was a 9 to 12 hour shift of the day, where Lee was
rarely given positive feedback even though he was so hard working! In a months time, their was to be a annual trade
of slaves from all around this region of China! Vanessa was looking forward to this, as she might live somewhere
better... While Lee was sad, he was staring at the old photo of him and his dad... But, as he knew, this wasn’t a time
for dwelling, it was a time for hard work for hopefully future freedom. Another couple of weeks passed, it was time
for the trade.
All the hard working, hunched over slaves gathered into the area of the field which could access the road! The
traders were here! Vanessa and Lee slowly strolled over, and saw tens of slaves traders which were: Black, white,
rotund, slim, woman and male. The amazing amount of people was outstanding! Vanessa peeked at the traders, and
here eyes gazed at one, a tall, tanned man with a slim face and a gleaming smile... She recognized him! She was sure
she had seen him somewhere... Zai! No, it couldn't be! He had died three years ago, hadn't he? This was
impossible, Vanessa was keeping quiet to Lee, as if she said anything, he wouldn’t believe it! Vanessa, as slow as a
snail, edged towards what she thought was Zai. He wouldn't recognize her.
"Excuse me, what is your name?" Asked Vanessa,
"Zai!" The man answered,
"Did you fight for Chinese against Japan two years ago?" Vanessa asked,
"Yes, I fought on the boats when we got hit by a kamikaze plane and hundreds of people died, but I, luckily
survived!" Exclaimed Zai,
"Did you marry someone called Vanessa?" asked Vanessa
"Vanessa? Yes, I did! She was a lovely lady until I came back from war and she had left," said Zai who was getting
emotional,
"I am Vanessa!" Said Vanessa,
"Vanessa! But your skin is tanned and you look so different from working hard in sunlight, but I know this is you, I
can see your beautiful eyes which haven't changed " Shouted Zai,
They embraced in a warming hug and Lee joined in, Zai wasn't dead! This was a moment they had been hoping for
for years
"I own a small house in Shanghai, do you want to live with me?" Asked Zai
"Yes!" Said Vanessa
Within minutes, they were on a carriage riding back to Shanghai! They arrived! Vanessa was confused, this didn’t
look like Shanghai! There were tall buildings over looking them, and no small corner shops!
"Wow! Shanghai has really changed!" Said Lee,
"Yes, indeed it has!" Replied Zai,
Lee and Vanessa were shocked to see Shanghai, they never thought that in a million years that they would be back
living a free life! The hard work of being a positive minded slave had paid off. The contrast of the old Shanghai was
so much different to Shanghai now.