The Accident
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School , Lam , Errin - 12
I threw my arms up as Mother swung a lamp at me , shattering a nearby Chinese vase . Shrapnel flew everywhere , large and small pieces shredding my delicate skin . I was still examining my various injuries when Mother ’ s hand cracked across my face , leaving my face feeling like an open fire was searing across it .
Mother casually took a sip of tea from the cup she was holding delicately .
“ Mother !” I screamed , clutching my rapidly reddening face .
“ Don ’ t “ Mother ” me , you witch ! Time and time again I have told you that you belong to China , and Shanghai within it ! Sky-Flower , you disgrace the noble name of Hua . Your behavior towards your tutor was downright disrespectable !”
I felt crushed . Mother only ever used my English name when she felt I was unworthy of my Chinese one ,
Tian-Hua . “ It was an accident !” I protested .
“ Shut up ! Accident or not , you will apologize to your tutor politely ! And you are forbidden to say that you hate Shanghai and that you wish to go to America for college !” Mother sneered at the word “ college ”. In her opinion , girls shouldn ’ t go to college at all . They shouldn ’ t go to school . She was old-fashioned . Normal people punished their children by giving them some hard blows across their hands with a discipline wand . But Mother was unpredictable . She would slap me , or whip me , or just grab whatever was available – like a lamp , for example . As a matter of fact , the wreckage of said lamp would simply be written off as another “ accident ”.
If the chance ever arrived at Mother ’ s doorstep , I ’ d be flung straight out of the house headfirst like a sack of rotten potatoes . Or I ’ d be married off to some wealthy man .
Mother never gave a single thought to anything but herself and money . She always said that I was an “ accident ”. “ You possess the face of an angel , but the heart of a demon . Others may have been ensnared in your trap , but I will not be .” Her eyes were cold and black as she said those words , standing before a younger Tian-Hua . But she wished to use my beauty , she told me .“ For it is a great gift , only bestowed on the worthy .” She paused for breath .“ You are not worthy .” She said scornfully when I perked up .“ You stole this power . It is not yours to wield , but you can take advantage of it .” As such , I was taught that I always needed to have a fancy hairdo with fresh flowers in it , paired with makeup and jewelry . Mother forced me to pull on tight dresses covered in intricate weaving and to stuff satin shoes laced up with ribbons onto my feet . It was a living nightmare . But she only snarled “ It ’ s for the money .”