Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
“It’s so packed. Oh my god, I can’t breathe…” Alex complained.
“Buses are always like this during rush hour. It’s actually not that bad already since we can still get on. Form 5 students and us Form 7 students are already on breaks preparing for exams. So that cuts down a number of regular passengers already.” Wilson tried to comfort his friend.
“I shouldn’t promise to go with you by bus. I should drive dad’s car instead.” Alex was not happy.
“It’s very convenient to take the bus from your home to that seminar place.” Wilson laughed, “I don’t want to sit in your car! You just got your license a few months ago!”
“Why do they make this seminar so early in the morning?” Alex yawned. He went out last night and did not sleep until 3 in the morning. This morning, Wilson came to his house and woke him up at 7am. “If not that you came to my place to grab me, I wouldn’t even bother attending.”
“This international student seminar is very important. It will give us all the information and advise us on last minute preparations we have to do before we head to Australia next week.” Wilson peeked at Alex, “You’d better stop moving around. Look, you’re squashing this little girl.”
Alex was still moving his body uneasily, “I can’t help it. It’s so packed in here. I don’t want to squash her but she’s in between us!”
A little girl with a pony-tail and in her school uniform, around eleven or twelve years old, was poorly stuck between the passengers. She was holding an art model in her hands with extreme caution, trying to protect it. The model was so big that it covered up most of her face.
The bus approached a station and stopped abruptly. The little pony-tail girl had nothing to grab onto. Intuitively she supported herself by leaning towards this skinny guy who was squashing her. Surprisingly, she did not feel her usual uneasiness with other strangers on a packed bus. In fact, she even felt a little comfortable. “It’s weird.” She wondered in her little mind.
“Oh no! We need to get off right here!” Wilson swung his bag on his shoulder but hit the little girl accidentally. “I’m sorry!” He threw out his apology as he grasped Alex’s sleeve and they budged to the door.
*************************************
The little pony-tail girl wept all the way to school. When she went into the classroom and sat at her desk, tears were still falling. Her classmates surrounded her, wondering what had happened.
“What’s happening?” Her class teacher approached her.
The pony-tail girl showed her teacher the art model, “We have to hand in this art work today. But it’s broken! Look!” She picked up the broken piece and her tears rolled down.
Her teacher asked, “How did you break it? Did you break it on your way to school this morning?”
The girl curled her lips, “I was on the bus and there were lots of people. A big guy hit me with his bag and this piece fell out. It’s broken. He’s a bad guy. Woo…” She started crying again. She was very afraid that she had no homework to hand in during arts class today.
“Alright, you don’t call someone a bad guy.” The teacher taught the girl, “Now tell me. Did he want to hurt you and break your work? Or was it only an accident? Did he apologize to you?”
The girl thought for a moment, “No. He didn’t mean it and he said sorry.”
“So you don’t get angry with the guy. Teacher always says to forgive people, right?” The teacher looked at the girl.
The girl nodded meekly, “Yes, Miss Lee.”
“I’m sure you can fix your model. How about if you stay in the classroom during recess to glue it back?” The teacher comforted the girl, “Don’t worry because it’s not your fault. I will talk to your arts teacher, ok?”
“Thank you Miss Lee.” The pony-tail girl said politely. She felt much happier now.
“So be good and stop crying now.” The teacher tapped her head, “You’re a grown-up and got to be strong.”
She stopped sobbing and sniffed in her tears, “I ain’t little girl anymore. I am twelve and I am going to secondary school after summer holiday.” She rubbed away her tears and smiled softly.
Her teacher smiled and went to begin the class. She knew this was only a small incident and the little girl will totally forget about it within a few days.
“Hey.” A taller girl, sitting beside the pony-tail girl, reached over, “That bad guy hurt you and broke your precious work. You can look for him and take revenge!”
“Oh yes, just like in TV series.” The pony-tail girl imitated, “Ten years later I will meet you here for a final combat!” She giggled, “You’re silly. I don’t even remember how that big guy looks like. And who cares about finding him! Ten years from now…wow…so long.” She seemed to start forgetting about the unhappiness already. “Today after school, let’s go get a chocolate ice-cream cone…”
The bell rang and class started.
The taller girl whispered, “Shhhh…teacher is looking at us! Let’s chat later, Wong Ka Ying.”
The two girls smiled at each other and looked down at their textbooks. A new day began and this trivial event soon faded out from their little minds, leaving no mark in their memories.
**************************************
It was a cold and gloomy afternoon. Wilson went to the cemetery alone, holding two small bunches of flowers in his arms. He went to a room where urns were placed and stopped his step. He scanned among the many photos and found a small one in the middle. The photo had turned yellowish from aging. Wilson put down a bunch of flowers and knelt down. “Dad, I am going to study aboard tomorrow. I’m coming here to say goodbye to you.” He bowed respectfully.
He steadily stood up and proceeded. After passing by two other urns rooms, he walked into the last one at the end of the corridor. Again, searching through the number of photos, his eye contact stopped at the one of a thin woman. The tiny words on the side of the photo showed her death at a young age of 38, yet what was captured in her last photo was a weak and ill face.
Wilson put down his other bunch of flowers and gazed at the picture, “Mom, I’m here to see you. I want to tell you that I’m leaving for Australia tomorrow. In the next four years, I won’t be able to come and visit you.” He showed a weak smile, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll study very hard and take care of myself. I’m sure that I can do it. Don’t you think so too? You’ll bless me and watch over me from Heaven, won’t you? When I come back, I’ll show you my degree and you will be very happy.”
He turned his head and looked around. He sighed and turned back to the photo of his mother, “I know you always had a wish to stay together with dad. Four years ago, when you passed away, we had no money to fulfill your dream. But mom, trust me and be patient.” He made a vow, “After I finish school, I’ll make lots and lots of money. At that time, I’ll find a much better place for you and dad, and you two will stay together forever. I promise.” He knelt down and bowed, “Bye, mom.”