Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Winners 2020 | Page 6

Winning Entries
Fiction – Group 3
WINNER
Teach a Boy to Fish
Carmel School – Elsa High School, Golovsky, Milly – 13
The breaking of dawn is upon us. The air feels fragile, so light, yet heavy with the
aspirations of the day ahead. Water dribbles from the early morning dew down the sides of
the bamboo houses. Sun looms from the valleys below and as it rises so do the people. They
embark from their village on a fleet of humble sampans with woven straw hats placed upon
their heads, fishing rods safely tucked away. The sun as their guide, the sky as their map.
Li‑Wei leading, the bow of his boat piercing through the water, creating ripples as it goes.
His boat is now full with his catches of the day; wading through the maze of houses
Li-Wei returns home. Tying up his boat, the floor above rattles with footsteps, but he only
smiles, the wrinkles around his eyes smiling too. He climbs a ladder and is instantly greeted
with a hug from his son, Li-Jie. He picks him up and carries him to their armchair. Hastily
lighting the fire, they both sit thawing their hands, savouring the warmth.
***
After comfortably settling in, Li-Wei asks, “how was your day?”
Li-Jie excitedly replies, “we learned about the Greater Bay Area.”
“The Greater Bay Area?” asks Li-Wei with a curious frown. “The Greater Bay Area,”
he repeats slowly, as he comes to the realisation. This was just as he had feared.
This was the project tearing down their fishing village. Curious but not wanting to worry
his son, Li-Wei declares, “at sunrise, we will depart and explore this Greater Bay Area. We
will see more of Huizhou, visit Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, Dongguan, Guangzhou,
Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Jiangmen.”
Li-Jie, recently having learned how to count, follows along with his fingers. Confused at
why his father has stopped speaking Li-Jie holds up his fingers for Li-Wei to see.
“Father, you only said nine, aren’t there eleven places in the Greater Bay Area,” Li-Jie insists.
“Ah, my son, I thought you would ask. We will only be visiting the coastal places.”
Sitting, he whispers, “the other two, those are for our next adventure.”
Before the sun had barely risen Li-Jie, full of excitement, was ready to go: bed made, bag
packed, hat on. They quietly rowed out in their boat before anyone else had woken. Just as it
was about to be out of sight Li-Wei turned, taking in the serenity of his village, his home, one
last time.
For a moment, Li-Wei stopped and craned his neck over to his son.
“Li-Jie, I think it is time you learn how to fish.” Gaining the attention of his son Li-Wei
searched through the boat until he found what he was looking for: his finest fishing rod. With
11