Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 453

Dolls
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Chan, Pui Pui - 12
“S
crape scrape scrape. Snip Snip Snip. Hum--” . Under a yellow lamp, a man who was about 40 years old was
rushing to finish a qipao. He was an outstanding tailor in Shanghai, who made qipaos for noble ladies and rich
families. He made the best qipaos, with the softest silk, and intricate embroidery, showing even the smallest of
details. Everyone liked to go to his shop, which was tiny, but half packed full of rolls of fabric, half-finished or completed qipaos,
thick stacks of notepads with orders and piles paper patterns, but just enough room for sewing and customers waiting. The tailor
had a daughter named Hei Li, who had two fabric dolls, named Jing Jing and Ying Ying. Jing Jing had short hair with a fringe,
small, squinty eyes, apple red cheeks, a daintily small nose and a tiny mouth as red as a cherry. Her expression was slightly
mischievous. Ying Ying had long, wavy hair with a straight fringe, large eyes with long eyelashes, pale pink cheeks, a small nose
and a slightly longer, thinner mouth in fuschia. Ying Ying was timid and shy, but she was quite curious too. Every time the tailor
made a qipao, Hei Li would make two small versions for her dolls.
One night with a full moon, which happened to be the Mid-Autumn lantern festival, Hei Li, though tired, finished
sewing two extravagant new qipaos for her dolls. They were made of silk, with cream flowers embroidered on the hem, pink silk
buttons and a section of lavender lace draped on the back, from one shoulder to another. Jing Jing’s was bright orange, while
Ying Ying’s was a rich, rosy pink. She slipped her dolls into the new qipaos, and because she was so tired, she left the dolls on the
desk, and went to sleep.
Moonlight shone from the open window, in a tiny silver patch. When it shone onto the desk, Jing Jing’s fingers started
moving slightly, and her head began to move left and right. She slowly sat up, and moved her legs. She tapped Ying Ying’s
shoulder. The dolls stood up, picked up the tiny fabric handbags from the table, and tiptoed to the windowsill. Jing Jing
whispered excitedly “Let’s go down!” Ying Ying muttered “If we go down, will we be able to come back up in time?” Jing Jing
announced confidently “We can.” She held the vine that grew on the windowsill, and slowly climbed down, Ying Ying slowly,
uncertainly following behind, frightened. When they reached the ground, Jing Jing leapt off the vine, while Ying Ying slid down
very slowly.
Jing Jing exclaimed “It’s the Mid-Autumn lantern festival tonight! Look at those beautiful lanterns over there! That’s
Yu Yuan, the most famous garden in Shanghai! Tonight, there is a carnival, so people can guess riddles on lanterns! That’s an
activity I find quite fun!” Jing Jing pointed excitedly, jumping up and down in excitement. Ying Ying marveled “Look at the
rainbow of lanterns on the street! They look like a colorful snake of cheer yet they are also a sea of people.” Jing Jing added “The
delicious smell of freshly baked mooncakes is coming from a nearby bakery! Look! Street vendors are hobbling on the roads,
pushing their little rattling carts that are decorated with colorful swinging lanterns!”Above the hustle and bustle of the city, the