| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
“Yes. Long time no see.” Sabrina said softly.
The garden of the convent was very quiet. The two of them sat at the bench under a big tree and watched a bird couple flying back and forth, busy making their new home.
“…how are you?” Wallace broke the silence.
Sabrina nodded.
“You…work here now?” Wallace asked.
She smiled lightly, “I live here.”
Wallace was surprised, “That day…you left the hospital so suddenly. What happened to you?”
Sabrina looked at him.
“I was just…worrying about you.” He said frankly.
Sabrina knew his kind heart. She kept her eyes at the beautiful flowers, “When the doctor told me that I had recovered and can leave at any time, I thought…I should just take off. No matter what, my life is ahead of me and I have to walk along. I must take the first step. I went to the airport and catch the any flight available to Europe. I’ve never been to Europe before…actually…I’ve hardly been to any places in the world. I went to different cities by trains…couldn’t even count where I had been….up to a point where I got tired of touring around anymore. I remember standing in front of the London royal palace. All the tourists there were excited…except me. I suddenly had a strong feeling that I don’t belong there. I wanted to go home. So without hesitant, I ran to the airport and took the earliest flight came back to Hong Kong.”
Wallace listened closely.
“But as soon as I got off the plane and hopped on a taxi, I felt lost.” Sabrina’s eyes moved with the flying butterfly in between the flowers, “I wanted to go home. Where’s my home? The taxi driver asked me where I wanted to go. I couldn’t even answer him. I gave him a $500 bill and asked him to keep driving around. Everything in this city looks so familiar…but I actually can’t find a place to fit me. The taxi toured around and around, until suddenly….I remember this little convent that I visited when I was little. Strange eh? Thinking about a convent at that time. I barely gave instructions to the taxi driver, and finally got off and walked for…I don’t know how long…with my luggage, until I finally found the place. The supervisor here knows Sister Maria, the nun whom I stayed closely with when I was raised in the orphanage. So they let me stay here, and I do some housekeeping work for them in return.”
This was the first time Wallace heard of Sabrina’s childhood, and that she actually grew up at an orphanage. He was surprised.
Sabrina smiled calmly, “I really like this place. It’s very comfortable and peaceful. No disturbance from the outside. Very quiet. Very clean. Very pure and natural life here.”
Wallace watched her a while. Such isolated and plain lifestyle: does it really fit Sabrina?
She softly sighed.
“Do you want to hear about Andrew?” Wallace asked carefully.
She remained calm, “Everything fine with him?”
Wallace said, “His wife gave birth to a son. They got back together; the family of three.”
“Good to hear. That’s the most important.” Sabrina bewildered at the birds.
He could not catch much expression on her face. Finally, he asked, “Sabrina, are you happy?”
“Yes I am. Wallace, I am truly happy staying here.” Sabrina said sincerely.
“…that’s good.” Wallace bit his lips.
Sabrina shifted her body. It seemed like she was about to leave.
The intuitive feeling of Wallace was to make her stay, even for just a little while longer. He did not know why; he just felt so. “…hey…hm…”
Sabrina wondered.
“…want some sweets?” He finally found an excuse. He popped out a tiny bag of Gummy Bears from his pocket and handed to her.
This was an amusing act of a grown-up man like Wallace. She lit up a chuckle, “You always carry sweets with you?”
He scratched his head embarrassingly, “Believe it or not. I’m actually a bit low on sugar level. Doctor says I should always carry some sweets and pop one once in a while. Just in case.”
“Oh I see.” She took one Gummy Bear, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He popped one in his mouth too and chewed.
She nibbled and stood up, “…nice talking to you, Wallace. Sorry but I have to go back to work now.”
“Sabrina!” He stopped her, “…can I come visit you again?”
She looked a little surprised, but then her corners of her lips curved up softly, “Of course you can.”
Wallace was happy, “You like those Gummy Bears? I will bring you some more next time.”
“…sure. Thanks.” Sabrina picked up her broom, “Bye Wallace.”
“Bye for now, Sabrina.” He watched as she steadily walked away to the backyard of the convent.
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“It seems like Wallace has been quite busy lately.” Kylie took one sliced apple and passed the plate to her husband.
“Oh right…he hasn’t come over for the last few weeks. We just had dinner together like once, and that was a while ago.” Andrew smiled, “It’s so unusual. He doesn’t come to bug Anson.”
Anson was crawling and playing with himself on the carpeted floor.
“Wonder what he’s up with.” Kylie lifted Anson up, “Alright baby. You must be too naughty. Uncle Wallace doesn’t want you anymore.”
Anson seemed to understand. He scrunched his face.
“Naughty little one…” Kylie softly pinched his nose tip.
Anson started crying.
“Hey hey hey…mommy is just joking!” Andrew nervously reached over and patted him.
“What a crying piggy.” Kylie stroked his back, “Anson you’re a boy. Why do you cry so easily?
“Whoa…whoa…” Anson would not stop.
“Gosh…” Kylie cuddled and kissed his face, “Ok. Stop crying now, Anson Ho.”
“Hey baby. Listen! Guess who it is on the phone!” Andrew put the phone to his little ear. He was an expert in comforting his spoiled son now.
“Anson baby…Anson baby…this is Uncle Wallace.” Wallace soothed softly on the other side of the phone, “Why are you crying? Be good and stop, ok?”
“Ooaa.” Smart Anson recognized his voice and instantly stopped crying. He stroked the phone and tried to ‘look for’ Uncle Wallace.
“Who’s so naughty and bad to make Anson cry? Meanie Daddy and Mommy?” Wallace laughed, “Tell Uncle Wallace and we will slap their butts together, sounds good?”
They continued to ‘talk’ on the phone. Anson babbled once in a while as if he was chatting with Wallace. His parents lovingly patted the head of their cute son, not knowing that he was having a secret plan with his uncle to slap the butts of the two meanies.
**********************************
“Right. You put in more fertilizer here…and add some water…”Wallace taught with patience.
Sabrina bent a bit forward and did as instructed.
“You see the little buds coming out?” Wallace pointed happily, “Very soon we will see some fully grown organic lettuce…ready for harvest!”
They began to see the results of their hard work over the past few weekends at this family farm.
No wonder Wallace had been so busy lately.
Sabrina smiled and lightly touched the little vegetables.
Wallace looked at her quietly and was stunned. Her smile was beautiful.