Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 73

I was born in 1928 to a big family of six kids. My father worked in the family restaurant, along with my eldest
brother, who joined him after he left school. Although now, in wartime, my father is a commander in the army and
my eldest brother is a regular soldier along with my second-oldest brother. My twenty-two year old brother Boa
Sen runs a secret organization with my eldest sister, to help smuggle Japanese weapons to the army and food to the
locals. Me and my sister Lai La stay and help mother at the the restaurant and carry deliveries around the
neighbourhood.
"Explain to me your presence, children. Haven't you been told to stay home after sundown? You children
become so uneducated. The Shanghainese hold an upright reputation and now you children among others are
going to destroy it. So?" Miss Ling asked as me and Lai La rush into the empty hair salon.
"Mama told us to inform you that the candles are no use," I quickly say as Ms Ling's strict face somehow
becomes even more sharp than ever before. If anyone can do it, it would be old grouchy Miss Ling.
"Come with me, we'll keep you safe," The old hag says as she drags us through a hidden dark staircase.
"But, Nu Shi, who is this 'we' you mentioned?" Lai La naïvely asks. I don't blame her for wondering: The old
hag is not only strict and sharp, but Ms Ling is an only child, not married and has no children. She runs the store
alone. I keep a straight face, although I know the woman is about to start ‘telling us about the days when children
respected their elders and how much of a disappointment’ we are.
"Talk only if you're asked, child. The soldiers will expect you to do so," glares Ms Ling, as I wonder why she
said soldiers. We arrive to an underground basement, and I stay speechless.
Young soldiers, drinking expensive beer, laughing, like there is no war, no death in the streets, while the
vermin Japanese are outside doing G-d knows what to my mother. They're just greedy, those men. I feel the anger
through my bones trying to find a reason why they're hiding instead of fighting, especially with the ongoing battle
near Shanghai. I look at Lai La, and I see her confusion, as we time traveled to a time that is not 1943, not wartime.
"Children, I want you to meet General Lieutenant Ji. He is a wartime hero. He's from-" babbles Ms Ling. As I
lose interest from Ms Ling's speech, I notice the wooden boxes. 'Mei Jia Restaurant', it says. My boxes. One stacked
over the other, One bun cut open, with five little wooden pistol cartridges inside instead of its usual filling. I then
understand what led me here. My mother was part of the organization and she made us deliver weapons to people.
"Han Ren, go with your sister to rest upstairs in the barn" orders Ms Ling in a rather unpleasant tone. We go
upstairs, away from Ms Ling, until we arrive in the small horse barn, filled with hay. We both lay down onto the
uncomfortable hay. Lai La falls asleep immediately while I stay up to guard and to think. We had no dinner and were
controlled by a mean old hag, but we were going to survive. We would be safe with them. I was gravely wrong.
"Hen Ren, don't stand up, but roll over here, there are two men, and ... and ... one with a gun at your
direction!" Lai La murmurs, shaking and scared, as she lay flat under the hay. I quickly wake up and slowly, without
sound, next to her, putting my hands on her head so she wouldn't risk being shot in the head.
"Nu Shi Ling said the kids would be here! The kid must 'ave gone in the other barn at the 'ther side of the
'ouse!" the one with the gun snarks. I cover Lai La, hoping that Miss Ling would come in and save us quickly.
"Must be 'rible to have your own mom put you to death like that. That women, a real warrior this war. She
doin' this for the army and knows her place and sacrifice in the war. But I mean, she riskin' their life and sendin'
them to their death. Their long hair would be making us some good money," boasted the other as he left the barn.
I was heartbroken. Heartbroken that my mother could do this to her two youngest children. She ordered our
death. She made us say that we needed to die by coding us as 'candles'. I felt betrayed and guilty for walking right
into the trap. I feel I can trust no one now. I must get out of here alive with my sister. The Japanese were coming for
the shop, for my mother, for me and Lai La. They knew about us, and Miss Ling's organization wants to kill us. I'm
always optimistic, but I cannot see the light behind the shock and horror in this situation.