Fiction: Group 3
Like Pearls Lost in the River
The British International School Shanghai, Puxi Campus, Ngai, Angelica - 13,
Fiction: Group 3
t the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, a massive crowd stood in the immigration hall,
waiting to enter the mainland. The hall was buzzing with noise and idle chatter.
On the left, two young girls stood in line. The first girl was dressed in plain and loose clothes.
She looked about eighteen, with a tall, slim frame. Yet the clothes she wore were worn and battered, the
colour faded, looking as if they have been crumpled and washed for far too many times. Her fair fell past her
shoulders like a silky dark waterfall, her face pale and pointed, with sharp, black eyes that seemed to notice
everything. The second girl looked like the first, but much younger. She looked about ten, and she was
clinging to the first girl’s arm.
They were the Cheung sisters- Ling and Ching. Ching had been diagnosed with autism since she was
born. Their parents loved both girls with all their heart- but soon it became evident that the treatment
Ching received required a lot of money. Because of that, the sisters’ parents have been forced to sell their
house in Hong Kong and work in Shenzhen. The sisters were arranged to live with their aunt. Today, they
were going over to Shenzhen to see their parents for the first time in months.
Now, as the two girls stood hand in hand, waiting to proceed to immigration, Ching suddenly began to
make loud gurgling noises and started cocking her head from side to side. People began to stare at them.
Ling flushed scarlet and tried to act indifferent, until the pointing and whispering finally became too much
for her. Her face burning, she crouched down next to her sister and gripped the little girl firmly by her
shoulders.
“Listen,” Ling whispered furiously, “If you don’t shut up now, we’ll never see Mama and Papa again, do
you understand?” The words “Mama and Papa” seemed to have a magical effect on the child. She quieted
abruptly and looked into her sister’s fierce black eyes.
“Ma, Pa, cans.” She said softly. As an autism patient, Ching’s favourite exercise was to stack tin cans
together.
“Yes, that’s right. Ma and Pa will give you cans to build.”
“Okay.” Ching then resumed staring blankly ahead and not doing anything- except this time she started
drooling.
Ling sighed, exasperated, as she mopped her sister up with a towel. She loved her sister- she still does-
but ever since their parents moved away, she had become rather cold and harsh towards her. Ling felt that it
was all Ching’s fault that they were where they are now- that without her, she would still have her parents,
and she wouldn’t have to wear her mother’s old clothes because she can’t afford new ones. She sometimes
even wishes that her sister would disappear.
Coming back to reality, Ling had finished mopping up Ching. They then crossed the border. Ling
breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the small, sickly child, her heart softened momentarily. Ching was born
this way- she couldn’t help it.
Ling led her sister into the toilet.
“Stay right here.” She told her sister firmly as she went into the cubicle. When she came out, Ling
expected to see Ching where she had left her.
She wasn’t.
Ling quickly ran outside, hoping to see the small, pale figure amongst the sea of people- but she wasn’t
there either.
Panic engulfed her. “Ching! Ching! Come out!” Ling screamed. Once again, people were starting to look
at her funny, but for once she didn’t care. After a few unsuccessful attempts, she immediately told a police
officer nearby about her missing sister. They asked her questions about Ching and jotted down notes. The
officers contacted their parents immediately and told Ling that they were on their way. She nodded, shaking
all over, and told the police she needed some fresh air. They let her out.
Ling came out from the building, remorse flooding through her like a dark river. Oh, how could she be
so careless and cruel? How could she even think of Ching disappearing, much less wish for it? She had heard
that there are many child traffickers in Shenzhen… what if Ching had already been kidnapped? It would be
all her fault! She resisted the urge to burst into tears and collapse. She took a few deep breaths and pulled
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