Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 9

Forgotten Boy
Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Golovsky, Milly - 13
Beasts of the oceans. The boats float here in the bay just below me, impatiently. Almost as if yearning for the
feeling of the open currents. I share the urge. My life is good, but then that’s it. It is just good. My toes
savour warmth from the hearty cabin fire. My nana in the kitchen, the smell of the ornate spices and
roasting onions making my mouth water .“ Bo-Hai come to the kitchen right now”, she exclaims sharply,
“be a good boy and help you grandma with the vegetables.” I was raised by her and my father, in a small
cabin by a shipyard. My nana loves me with all her heart. My father did, until one day he stopped.
Ten years later…
“That will be three bronze coins,” the cashier asked.
I crane my neck and glance over my shoulder to see my father's great ship standing in all its glory. From a
lowly sailor to a celebrated captain. As he rose through the ranks, his affection for me withered. To him, I
am now nothing more than a mere scullery assistant.
Today is the day we have been waiting for. It is January 19, 1431, and very soon we will be setting sail on a
voyage of a lifetime. The 7th of the Ming Journeys. An army of ships awaits at the dock, their towering sails
billowing in the wind. The anticipation has been growing inside all of us: captains, chefs and the thousands
of crewmen.
“All aboard,” the Quartermaster booms. I rapidly turn my neck to see my father’s ship, pulling away from
the dock, with the other ones close behind. The market street overflowing with merchants with their vastly
different stores. I drop the final supplies I was to get, and the bag of money I am holding, leaving the bronze
and brass coins toppling to the ground. I thought I had more time. I sprint towards the docks, full of fear,
this ship is my only home.
The soles of my shoes dig into the ground, running closer a spray of ocean water hits me. Cold and salty.
My father’s boat, the one with treasure, has already ventured away, with the final boats trailing behind. I
fight through the crowds but no one cares. A scream leaves my mouth but no one can hear me. Finally, I
get through but it doesn't matter anymore. The dock is empty now, a sense of emptiness overcomes me. I
slowly hobble towards a nearby bench. My nana has passed and there is nowhere else for me to go.
I lie down on the bench in a fetal position for hours until the light begins to fade and the hungriness in my
stomach grows. My brain racking for the image of the map that I had barely seen, I need to catch up to the
fleet. I shift my position and then realise just nearby is the night market. Slowly I plant my feet onto the
ground and push off from the bench, my head spinning a little.
The hustling and bustling of the busy night market warm me. All the smells create an eccentric aroma, filling
my nostrils, however, the crowds are overwhelming. To get away I walk down a dimly lit side alley. To one
side, I see a rather strange building, seeming very out of place. I can hear the murmuring of voices coming
from inside. Curious but cautious I peek in to see, a narrow hallway with the highest of ceilings. Shiny
black bricks coat the wall as the faint light reflects off them. At the end of the hallway lies a round table
seating eight richly dressed merchants. One of them stands and begins to pace around the table. We lock
eyes for one-hundredth of a second but it's enough for them to notice me.
“Hey boy,” he grunts, “what are you and your nosiness doing here?”
“Get out!” The other men quietly but angrily agree with him,
Full of shock I stutter, “Oh I’m s-sorry” I hastily walk away but don't turn my back on them. I hear them
arguing clearly in a dispute, their voices echoing eerily. The same man then speaks again, “Boy come back
here for a second.” I freeze and then slowly turn around to see then grinning unnaturally at me. I swallow
and then stiffly make my way towards them. “So boy, what leaves you wandering around here? This is no
place for a fresh piece of meat like you.” I cautiously explain how I ended up sitting before them, an uneasy
feeling settling in my gut.