Fiction: Group 4
would have been there instead of water, we caught the fish and put it in the basket. We got out of the
water, carrying the basket and ran to Cheung’s house. He has this huge tank in his backyard. We filled the
tank with water we got from the river and put the fish inside. Only now do I see how the fish really look
like. It has bright scales, big sparkling eyes, and fins that looked like satin flowing under water. We both
decided that this fish is so beautiful that it can only be possible under the works of Mother Nature, and only
here, in the Pearl River can this fish be created.
Since we caught the fish, I went to his house every day to look at the fish. We would then walk to the river,
collect some water so to keep the water fresh in the tank every other day. We decided to give him the name
Pearl, after all we caught it in the Pearl River. In Chinese, it also means precious and a treasure. This fish has
become our most prized treasure. We promised each other to refuse showing it to anyone ever, not even
our parents, solely because we are the ones who caught it. Now that I think of it, it’s kind of silly, but we
were boys, silly little boys. Until now, we are the only ones who have ever seen Pearl.
It was a cold winter morning when we found out a thin layer of ice started to form on the surface of the
water. We were so afraid that Pearl might die, we boiled the water we collected from the river and wait for
it to cool down to the temperature of the summer water. We made sure the water was exactly how it is in
the river during summer and moved the tank into the house. I was quite puzzled why the water froze in the
tank but not in the river, and Cheung said a small tank of water can be froze but not a river, just like a man
can break one stick on his own but not a bunch of sticks.
The year passed by quickly. With letters from my relatives in Britain, they told us that the European world
is in a mess. Conflicts between nations has been strong as ever and a war might begin. Sometimes when I
help Cheung in the field, I can’t help but think that this place, this peaceful, pretty village in contrast with
my beloved home, Europe. We always say it is our burden, the “white men’s burden” to bring civilization
to the world. I don’t see how that is needed. In this place, people live together peacefully. In this place, they
feed on the same river and do not go to war over who owns what in the river. We do we bring to the
world exactly? Only teardrops. We bring teardrops, we bring war, and we bring violence to the world. How
many times do we have to fight, do we have to cry before we do it right? We together with the rest of the
world, should bring calm after the storm together. But what do we really do? We blame others. We make
false proclamations. We are not united.
“My greatest wish,” I told Cheung, “is to see the world stop fighting with each other because of silly things.
I hope that people will stop taking things that are not themselves. Stop interfering other nation’s decisions
and stop trying to justify wrong doings with concepts from 1832. I hope, really do hope I can see these
wishes fulfilled before I die.”
“Maybe, Arthur. I do hope your noble dreams can be fulfilled. I’ll wait forever and a lifetime for that to
happen as well.”
I smiled.
We went over to Pearl. It was still shining, heaven in its eyes. Pearl is like the sun in my eyes. So does this
place, this river, everything here.
Late July, 1914. The First World War has started. My hopes have been confirmed as just a dream. But
dreams don’t make people scream.
A few days later, my parents informed me that we are going back to Britain. Since the war stared, we have
to go back and handle some issues.
“Hey Cheung, I have to go back…”
“I always knew this day would come…but why so fast?”
“The war has started. I have to go back.”
“Wait.”
Cheung ran back to his house and came back with things in his hands.
“Here.”
Upon my departure, Cheung gave me the fish in the tank and a bottle of the Pearl River water. He bid me
goodbye and said, “Please remember this place and me. The years with you as my friend have been the best
years in my life.”
“I will. I always will remember the river, you and everything here. In a world that’s quick to change, this
place is the only place that I know of, that will always stay the same.”
The day I board the ship, it’s like my last night in the world.
