My South China Morning post entry from earlier this year!
I Should Have Listened To My Friend ?
I ran through the forest, panting hard. I could hear stray dogs barking
behind me. My legs were starting to feel weak. With what was left of
my energy, I hauled myself onto a tree. I looked down. Encircling the
tree, the dogs were growling at me. I had to stay up in the branches until
morning. I sighed. It was going to be a long night.
I rummaged through my backpack for something to eat. I finally pulled
out a crushed energy bar. As I crunched away, I thought about my friend
who told me not to go on this journey and just be happy with my life in
the village. I had refused. I wasn’t going to live my whole life in a village!
I wanted to get a good job in Hong Kong. I had decided to run away from
home without informing anyone but her. I was in such a hurry I forgot
to carry money so I didn’t have any for a taxi or a ferry. I had to go there
on foot.
I gazed up at the sky. It was starting to get dark. I figured I had better get
some sleep, so I tried to settle for the night. I thought I could never get
to sleep in a forest inhabited by vicious dogs, but fatigue overcame me
and soon I was drifting off.
I woke up bright and early to set off. According to my map, I would
reach Hong Kong around midnight.
After a few hours of walking I realized I couldn’t remember the last time
I had a sip of water. I had not even brought a bottle of water with me
so I had to wander around looking for it. With every step I took, I felt
even more tired. Finally I collapsed on the ground and lay there dying of
thirst. My end was coming near.
I reached out clawing my hands on the soft mud. Mud! If there was mud
there should be water! With newfound energy I crawled through the
mud to reach a stream. Gratefully, I drank the cold refreshing water.
When I could drink no more, I set off again. I trekked through the forest
for hours towards Hong Kong till it was eleven pm according to my
watch. One more hour till my real adventure began.
I suddenly heard a rustling sound behind me. I darted behind a rock
and looked in that direction and saw two eyes glinting in the dark. This
for some reason unsettled me. I kept running through the forest till
I reached a hiking trail. I clambered up the path, every now and then
looking behind for those glinting eyes.
I started to think coming to Hong Kong was a BIG mistake, especially
with no money. The only thing I am good at is painting and as an artist
you don’t earn much. I started to get nervous. But then I saw a sight that
stopped me in my tracks.
In front of me, amidst the smoky smell of incense, surrounded by a
soft orange glow, was a temple. People sat around it chanting prayers.
The temple was huge and looked as ancient as the giant oak tree in the
center of my village. I didn’t feel scared anymore. I had reached my
destination. I decided to ask someone where I was.
“Excuse me sir, but where are we?” The man I spoke to was old and frail.
In fact, he looked so weak that a gentle poke would have shattered him
into a million pieces. “We are at the Tin Hau temple,” he said in a hoarse
voice. “And those trees you see, are the Lam Tsuen wishing trees.”
I thanked him and walked off. I needed to find a job and when I earn
enough money, I’ll buy water, food and a house. But for now I needed
somewhere to stay.
I walked until I reached Tai Po market. It was still busy and I needed
to find somewhere to sleep. I wedged myself between two vending
machines, took off my coat, covered myself and fell asleep.
The honk of a car woke me up early. Seeing people sleep on the street
must be pretty normal here because no one even looked at me. I put on
my coat and wandered around trying to find a job.
I must have been walking for about twenty minutes when I came across
a restaurant that had a poster, saying NEW STAFF WANTED. I didn’t
wait five seconds. I dashed inside and must have startled a few people
there. I couldn’t blame them. After four days of being on the run, my
hair was knotted and my clothes were ripped and muddy. My face was
scratched and bleeding thanks to the bushes in the forest.
I asked to see the manager of the restaurant. I waited while a waitress
went up her heels clacking on the concrete stairs. Eventually, a plump
man hustled down in a pinstriped waistcoat that looked awfully
tight around him. His face was puffy and his mouth was spread in an
disturbing grin. His eyes reminded me of deep dark caves. I immediately
took a dislike to him. But I had to act nice, I needed that job desperately.
“What do you want kid, I’ve got a life to live and I have to fire three
of my cooks for setting yesterday’s dinner in flames!” roared the
manager looking at his watch impatiently. Not only was he mean, he was
incredibly rude, but I had to stay polite.
“I’m very sorry to disturb you sir, but I would like to have the job posted
outside, please.”
“Finally after two months! Get on with it and go to the kitchen. My
waiters and cooks will tell you what to do.” He ordered. I scrambled to
the kitchen. I didn’t want to get fired on my first day.
As soon as I entered the kitchen I got blasted by the sweltering heat. It
smelled vile, of a mix of rotting fish and moldy eggs. Probably a rat or a
cat had died within the walls. Or two. Or three. Or maybe fifty.
I covered my face with my hands to stop the awful smell.
“We’re not that ugly are we?” asked a voice in the room. I held my
breath and looked up to see who said that. Five men and two women
were sitting on the chairs relaxing. I so badly wanted to say yes, but I
didn’t want them to hate me.
“Who are you guys?” I asked looking at the rusty grills and the peeling
wallpaper.
“We work here.” The fattest, nastiest looking one said while inspecting
his broken grimy fingernails. “So are you the new recruit? Well, you
don’t look like you’re up for it at all.” He grabbed my arm with his
pudgy, burnt, greasy hands and squeezed it, hurting me.
“See how skinny she is? Looks like she can’t even boil water! How old is
she even? Thirteen?” I snatched my arm away.
“I am sixteen and I haven’t eaten for days, so you just be quiet!” I said
furiously staring at his cruel smile showing on his thin lips. I hated him.
I have never been good at holding my temper. I leapt at him, my long
nails scratching him viciously wherever I could reach. I must have done
a really good job because he started wailing in pain. I felt strong arms
dragging me away, as I kicked and screamed. The last thought I had
before being locked was that I should have listened to my friend.
I had been shut in the small dark room for what seemed like ages when
someone opened the door. I was out of the room in a flash, I grabbed a
loaf of bread from the kitchen and ran on to the street. I darted into my
small little corner next to the vending machine and sat there. I dug out a
canvas and a few paints from my backpack. I started to paint.
Painting always calms me down. It was as if I was painting my fury out
on the canvas. Slowly my brush strokes became calmer. I ended with
probably my best painting ever. I had painted my house in the village. I
was getting tired so I rolled up my canvas, ate some bread and went to
sleep.
Next day, I had to get ready for work. I was dreading it. Did I still have
the job? What was the mean man going to do to me? I picked up my
backpack and walked into the restaurant. As soon as I entered the
kitchen, I could feel eyes boring into me. Some angry, some scared and
some even kind!
Without meeting any eye, I went to the order list to see what to cook.
Fried rice.
As I started preparing it, one of the ladies came up to me. “I’m sorry
about Haimee. He can be very rude at times. After you finish cooking
take a break.” She said in a kind voice. I nodded.
As soon as I had finished, I grabbed my things and sat outside at a table
to paint. I was so engrossed painting I didn’t notice people surrounding
me. Only when I stood up to get a glass of water did I see them.
“Err… hello?” I said nervously looking around.
“I will give you fifty dollars for the painting!” asked one man.
“I’ll pay you sixty!” shouted another. I was a bit confused. Was I
imagining this or were people really offering me money for my
painting?
I took a deep long breath. Just, go with it Ani. Just, go with it. I thought to
myself.
A grin spread across my face and I listened to all their offers. I finally
settled with one hundred dollars. I accepted my money, walked back
into the kitchen, hid it in my backpack and started cooking as if nothing
had happened.
Suddenly Haimee walked in. I glared at him with rage boiling up inside
me. I detested that man! His face was scarred from my recent attack.
“What’s wrong? That’s not a happy face. Did the little kiddie get into a
fight?” he snarled chuckling at his own joke. I said something extremely
rude to him that if I had to write down, it would probably have burned
right through the paper.
“All right then, lets play how you want to!” he snarled and shoved me.
We started to get into a fight. Soon I had a scratch on my leg and he
had a big bruise on his shin where I had kicked him. I was just about to
aim another punch when a man pulled us away and sent me out of the
restaurant, yelling at me.
I returned to my little corner and once again, guess what, took out my
canvas to paint. I ached all over for my home. I knew I should have
listened to my friend. Her favourite flower was a cherry blossom. So I
painted a cherry blossom. I stared at it as if waiting for it to talk to me. I
cried myself to sleep.
When I woke up there was a huge crowd around me. A suited man was
waving a huge wad of cash right in front of my eyes.
“Hi there?” I said getting up to my feet. The man shook my hand.
“Hello there, Miss! My name is Trinket Lee and I would like to buy all
your paintings for a million dollars!” I gaped at him. Million dollars! I
could live in luxury for the rest of my life! I immediately picked up my
paintings and exchanged them for the money. He shook my hand and
thanked me for my business.
Now what about that train to my village?
