Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 154

Hiding in the storage Room
Korean International School, Park, Christina - 15
I was in the port, in front of the gigantic ship with very large red sail and lots of floors. I never saw any
ship of these size before. I hesitated if I should go in or not. But I remembered my dad shouting at me to
marry a fat 40 years old man who was 28 years older than me just because he wanted money. He shouted,
“ You need to marry him or else I will kill you! Understand?” I was so scared of my dad, I didn’t want to
get any more stress. I screamed and pushed him as hard as I could and ran until here. I thought that any
other things will going to be no worse than marrying the 40 years old man in such a young age like me. So,
I decided to run inside the ship before it leaves. I had nowhere to go, and I was scared of the world.
I hid in the storage room, I ate the food in there, some of them tasted different with the food that I used
to eat but I was happy that I could still stay alive. I always tried to walk very quietly, because sometimes
sailors came down to take the food or put new treasures. I was not bored because I could always see new
things like beautiful vases from different places in the world. I loved exploring the storage room. I spent
whole day exploring the large storage room, I put some special things into my pocket. I was always worried
of me getting caught by one of the sailors and get into trouble. And, it happened…..
One day, I was stealing some food and water as always but I didn’t hear the cook of the ship coming. He
came and saw me stealing the food. He grabbed me with his big hand and shouted, “ Who are you!! Why
are you stealing the food!” I said, “ Oh…. Can you please listen to me first?” He replied, “ No, I need to
get the captain. You should not be in the ship!” I was scared, I told him again, “ Can you please just listen
to me first….. Please…” He didn’t listen and just passed me, I ran to him and grabbed one of his long, thick
leg crying, “ Please…. I beg you…. Please…….I didn’t came in for bad purpose. I don’t want to die…..”
He finally stopped walking and I explained my situation to him.
After listening to me without interrupting, he finally opened his mouth, “ Are you okay? I also lost my
family last year in the voyage, they were sick and died…….I used to have two daughters like you…. I feel
so sad for you, I can help you here you little girl…..” I said, “ Thank you” for several times. Then he took
me to a small storage room which needed key to go in. He told me, “ It’s too dangerous to stay in any
storage room, this room will be the safest, I am the only one who can come in here, you can just keep one
of the key. But I will give you food, please don’t go out of this room…..” I nodded. He went out of the
room, I relieved and tears fell from my eyes.
I was so happy that I finally got somebody who supports me and I was not alone in the world anymore.
After that day, the cook came everyday to provide me some food. I spent most of my time looking
outside of the ship through the port holes. I saw so many places where they visited. The cook always
explained me the place when he came to give me my meal. I saw so many boats and ships around our ship, I
couldn’t count all of them because there were too many of them. I still remember the place called
“Yemen”, it was really beautiful place, it had so many buildings with detailed design. I also remember the
place called “ Mamluks”, it was busy for sailors when we arrived, they came back with a lot of things like
spices.
The cook always warned me to be careful because the rule was very strict in the ship. All the sailors had to
go out of the ship when the captain was out to make sure nobody stole anything from the ship. For few
months I stayed very quietly and didn’t try to go out of the storage room. However, as I saw them always
going out of ship and come back at midnight, I started to wonder about what it will be like on the main
deck. On one day I went up on the main deck when all the sailors went out of the ship with the captain. I
saw beautiful scenery, I felt very free and cool. So, when I realized that I was safe to go up and come back
before the midnight, I started to go up to the main deck when the people leaved and came back down
before people came back before midnight.
I continued the routine before I heard that the cook saying that the next destination of our voyage is the
place with the most beautiful sunset. I suddenly really wanted to stay on the main deck to see the sun set in
that place. I was scared if I will get caught, but I was more excited to see the wonderful sun set than worried
of getting trouble. Finally, in the place called “India” people went out of the boat to get treasures, and I