the kitchen , along with a black ink pen . I brought it to the table . My throat tightened as I knelt down on my knees , and placed the paper on the table . I began to write trying to use my neatest handwriting possible .
After my encounter with the jade girl , which continued with simple greetings until I had to help Lihua with the next customers , I never saw her again . A week past - and just as I had been doing everyday - I arrived at my usual destination : The Stone Rock . But as I arrived , I noticed someone sitting on the stone rock , in the very way I did everyday . The person was too small to be Lihua . And as I gained a better look , I was delighted to realise it was the jade girl . I confidently went up to her . She seemed to be staring off into the distance .
“ Y-our .. name ?” I managed to croak out , hoping she wouldn ’ t notice my false pronunciation . She looked startled . Her head turned and I was taken aback by her beauty . Her jade eyes pierced into my brain , and was something I would never forget . When she recognised me , her facial expression became friendlier . Perhaps she wasn ’ t meant to be here . Her mother ought not to let her travel a strange village by herself .
“ Samantha .” She held out her hand , still in mid air . She must have noticed my confused expression , as for her next words . “ Your hand .” I gave her my rough hands , and she thrusted it into her soft hand . And started shaking . “ Our greeting .” She explained . I laughed . What silly type of greeting ! Who would want to touch hands ? And I think she laughed because I did .
Using my best English , I tried to explain to her about our village , and about our restaurant . She told me that she was leaving tomorrow , and that she liked dogs and some food called ‘ pizza ’.
“ You like this stone ?” She asked me . I was confused . Her accent was very difficult to understand . She saw this , and pointed to the stone rock .
“ Yes . You ?” I replied . “ Yes , very much .” “ I come here .. ah , um .” “ A lot ?” She suggested . I shook my head . I picked up a rock , and motioned as if I was throwing it into the river . “ To throw rocks into the river ?” Again , I shook my head . I took the rock and moved it up and down , each time further to show her the bouncing motion . “ To skip rocks ! Oh , I see now !” She seemed pleased with herself . She picked up a rock - and just as easily as Ba did - made it perfectly skip 3 times in the water . Then she handed me a rock . “ You do .” She motioned for me to do it . I tried , but again , failed . She gave me another rock . Before I threw it though , she adjusted my arm , making me bend down low .
“ Rock goes straight .” She told me . I aimed the rock so that it would be hitting the water at a nearly straight angle and would be able to jump . This was my last chance , it was getting dark , and I couldn ’ t be out for much longer . So before I threw it into the water , I remembered Ba . And imagined he was here , right beside me . I remembered to make a wish - because every wish counts . Finally , I threw it in the water . And it skimmed the water . And then jumped . And jumped . And jumped . Four jumps ! I couldn ’ t believe it . My wish would definitely come true . And then I remembered that this time , I didn ’ t wish for Ba to come back . I obviously wanted him to come back , but it wasn ’ t what I specifically wished for . I wished for happiness . Because , before , I thought I could only be happy with one person : Ba . But I was happy right now , aren ’ t I ? I realised it didn ’ t have to be Ba who gave me all my happiness . Right here , right now , Samantha fulfilled that simple wish too . When everyone thought that Lihua was a disgrace to the community for denying her marriage , she wasn ’ t being a disgrace to herself . At least she is happy now . And maybe the old man who ordered 7 orders of dumplings , and sat a table 7 , and ate for 7 minutes did what he did because it just made him feel happy . And even though skipping a rock isn ’ t a huge accomplishment , it is something I have been trying for a while , a tradition with someone special , and so it made me feel happy . And at that very moment , with