New Tales of the Gobi Desert
Beacon Hill School, Kenton So, Fiction: Group 2
R
ascal Ryan was a 9 year-old boy. He did not like to go to school because he hated obeying
rules. He did not like to do homework because he felt that it made his head hurt. He always
fought with his brother for trivial things and blamed his mother for making his food so
plain. He liked to tease animals and he was never patient or considerate to anyone.
One day, Rascal Ryan was feeling lackadaisical and was watching a program on TV. It was
about the Gobi Desert and the nomads living in it. It was so soporific that he dozed off...
Suddenly he woke up. A boy rushed to greet him.
“Welcome to my ger,” he said. “My name is Tan.” Tan was a skinny 10 year-old boy who was
very considerate and sensible.
“Hey you, where am I?” asked Rascal Ryan rudely.
“This is my home in the Gobi Desert. Are you hungry?” asked Tan nicely.
Tan gave him a bun and some water. Rascal Ryan took a bite and he spat it out.
“I don’t like plain tasting food,” said Ryan.
Tan took Rascal Ryan out to the open desert land. Ryan felt hot and sticky all over his
body. He also felt his feet sinking into the soft, white sand. Then he looked around. All he saw
was rocks, sand, desert animals, and a few patches of drought grass. He was very amazed. He
had never experienced being in this kind of environment before. Tan interrupted his thoughts
by saying, “Look! Here are my goats and camels. They are my friends. I like to play with them
everyday and I take good care of them. They are the treasures of my family.” Suddenly, Ryan
started picking up small rocks and handfuls of sand and throwing them at the animals. He found
it fun seeing the animals running away and making noises. Tan stopped him and told him that
he has to respect the animals. The goats gave them milk and meat, the camels gave them a ride
in the desert. Ryan realized he should stop hurting the animals because the animals did not like
rocks and handfuls of sand being hurled at them and they are vary helpful to humans.
Soon it was dark. Rascal Ryan and Tan went back to the ger.
“Ryan, here are my parents and my brothers and sisters. We all live in this yurt. Let’s have
supper together,” said Tan. Rascal Ryan saw that the children all helped out in preparing the
noodles and the atmosphere of the family was very warm. Tan passed Ryan the food. Ryan was
so hungry that he found the hot goat’s milk, the scarce piece of mutton, and the noodles very
yummy. Tan’s family finished every bit of the food they had without wasting.
After dinner, Tan’s parents invited Ryan to do a Mongolian dance. Although there was no
heavy metal music, they had a very good time together. Afterwards, Tan showed Ryan the bed.
Tan’s family were all sleeping on a small hard mattress. Ryan thought of his own cozy bed in his
own private bedroom.
Tan said, “We just have to be patient and be considerate to each other because we are sharing
the same ger.”
Ryan asked,” Do you go to school, Tan?”
“No, I don’t. My parents cannot afford to send us to the city for schooling. I learnt how to raise
the animals from my parents.” Ryan was astonished by the differences between Tan and himself.
Ring ring ring….
