Fiction: Group 4
Harold's Journey
Korean International School Secondary Section, Lo, Christopher - 14, Fiction: Group 4
arold was a poor man in Britain during the early 1800s. Harold lived a hard life farming along
with his family. Harold always dreamt of seeing the dynamic world instead of working on his farm
every day.
One day in 1837, he saw a poster and it said, “The British East India Company is recruiting soldiers to
escort cargo to India and the Pearl River, see your local recruiting office.” Harold rushed into the village
centre hastily and signed up for the East India Company. When Harold got back, he told his parents and
they weren’t really optimistic about him being a soldier.
His father said “We need you for the harvests, I need you here! Our lives would be better soon.”
Harold ignored his father and the day after, he left to the Military school. He entered the camp and soon
encountered a strict figure that he would succumb to - Sergeant David Watterson.
When his eyes gazed upon him, he felt that he entered a lion’s den and would have a hard time in this
establishment. Then there was an initiation meeting regarding basic schedule, daily routines and information
that he needed to know. He listened attentively and shortly, his Military training began.
He was assigned to a bunk and given a bucket to do his private business, now he thought that he wouldn’t
like it here. To add insult to injury, he had to wake up at 6 AM each morning and train all day and hit the
sack at 10 PM. He was unfit and was not prepared for the mental stress that was going to happen in the
trainings. He climbed and crawled through the training and fell on the dirt. He was given lashes for not
getting up. During running he always fell and dirtied his shirt, giving him the nick name “Clumsy Harold.”
He was really bad with the musket while aiming and using the bayonet. He failed to keep his hands still and
this made him look timid.
By the first month, there was talk of kicking Harold out of the academy. Harold was seemed to be a lost
cause but then, in this crucial hour, a fellow soldier known as Matt arrived. Matt was upbeat, warming and
friendly. Matt saw Harold’s struggles and he decided to help him and soon Harold improved and all talks of
kicking him out were silenced.
Thanks to Matt’s help, he graduated; he was given a proper uniform and was to go to a distant land. Shortly
after, he and his unit were shipped off to India guarding Opium heading for Hong Kong, a port south of
China.
Harold was assigned to the 12
th
East India Battalion and in time, learned the ways of bartering and trading
during his time in India. He then saw the grand beauty of the Pearl River during his journey in 1838. As he
landed in Hong Kong he saw the exotic oriental culture and was amazed by its carved roofs and crafted
stones. He also thought that it could be his own home to live in.
“A change of scenery,” he thought to himself.
But then he thought of his family, which made him divided - his family or filling his lust for adventure?
This decision would haunt him for a few years.
When he stumbled on port carrying opium, he saw a few people playing a card game which he was curious
to see and watch how they played.
He curiously saw the game and was intrigued by it, he wanted to ask the players but since they were
Chinese, they only knew mandarin confusing Harold, making him feel a little bit out of place and so he
walked away. During his time at port in Hong Kong for a year, he enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and
the scenery but it would be the last sight, taste and pleasant noises that he’ll hear for a while and it would
not be the same ever again.
In 1839, when he was in India, there was a mass movement shifting towards the crude galleons. Harold was
distorted and asked his colleagues,
“Why are we moving to the galleons?”
It was odd as only half the regiment would go on a galleon during a trade trip. Soon his friend Matt said
frustratingly “Britain is going to invade Hong Kong.”
Harold’s heart dumped deep down and felt that it would be a betrayal to the innocent soul of Hong Kong
by invading it as Harold treated it as a sacred land. He soon ignored the idea and packed his meagre
belongings and boarded the galleon which set sail for the affluent port of Hong Kong.
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