Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 413

The New Tales of Old Shanghai
St. Paul's Convent School, Liu, Jennessa – 12
T
he old Shanghai has always been known to be bustling and substantial in ways of living and business--it had the most
ravishing architects and costumes which every country cherished and admired. Citizens there were confident and proud
of their city and unique Shanghainese dialect. But fate did not bring much luck to this glamorous city as she faced an
ordeal in the 1940s--in the midst of World War II......
Well, that was in my history book. The lesson was tedious and I just couldn't refrain from a divergent dream......
I shut my eyes calmly.....
Soon, I wake up finding myself standing on a towering architect with a splendid rooftop painted in gold! Apparently, it is a
building situating at the famous wài tān, in front of Huang Po River.
I gaze around....I see lofty buildings everywhere. They all look superb with tints of foreign architectural design. But...the whole
environment lacks the feeling of modernism in the 21st century. This all looks strange to me, but how...? 'Oh!' I scream,'I've seen
this!' I pause ...'from my history book!' I suddenly realise that I have voyaged back to the old Shanghai! I am shocked ...Very
shocked. "Well...it may be a dream" , I say to myself. BTOOM!!!!!! The blasting sound tells me that I am living at a warring city.
The sound came from my back, so I turn around. I see a demonished building with people dashing and screaming on the street
down below! I see armies and tankers everywhere......I realise that I am right in the old Shanghai occupied by the Western
powers with war fighting. What I can see around is so different from what I have read in the book about the old Shanghai.
Instead of a bustling night with music and dance, it is now a quiet and fearful darkness with occasionally gunfire. Peoples are
not wearing glamorous dresses, but are covered by ragged clothing with bandages as part of the ornament. Piles of rubbles should
have been parts of the ravishing buildings. Ruins might have been the astonishing architectural designs. I stare at the running
people and try to find their confidence and dignity, but their faces show only fear. Their conversation no longer exhibits the very
Shanghainese leisure, but full of hysterical enquiries of the whereabouts of their loved ones. This is not the old Shanghai I have
known! It should be a wonderful utopia where everything has its own role and everyone lives in harmony!
I am so outraged. The war and the conquerors have turned the beautiful city into a mourning place. I am over taken by my rage,
and do not realise my position that I am on top of a tall building! I slip and fall down, but I do not get hurt, and find out that I
can even fly as my body is as light as a piece of silk! I am a human with super powers in this war-torn city!
I can leap as high as close to the sky and scamper as fast as a racing car, and am so powerful as a buffalo! With this power, I can
liberate people from tragedies and ordeals! I test my power for a few more times and give myself a smirk. I can be the hero to
save the old Shanghai! I hurtle and fly around busy helping everyone who needs help and aid care.'Help! Help!' I find a pregnant