Fiction: Group 4
New Tales of the Pearl River Delta
Puikiu College, Wong, Benjamin - 12, Fiction: Group 4
ustin is standing by the window overlooking Shenzhen City. If the weather is good, he can see the Pearl
River from the window. However, the sky is hazing over in light grey today, causing poor visibility. This
heavy smog has been smothering the Pearl River Delta Region for the past week. “Please do clear away
by this weekend! It will be terrible going hiking without a clear blue sky.”
Justin’s father is running a car factory. Business is good because the demand for cars is increasing.
Rarely can they have dinner together because working overtime is a common practice for his father.
However, since this Saturday is Justin’s birthday, his father has promised to go hiking with Justin.
In the evening, when Justin is eating his simple dinner, he happens to notice something strange. A
flower is missing from the flower pot in the balcony. He is quite sure that there were five when he was
watering them yesterday.
“Did you eat one of them, Bo Bo? You should eat your cat food. ”
“Meow!” looking innocent, the little cat complains. Actually, it is quite unlikely that Bo Bo has eaten
one of the flowers because there is no sign that the flower has been pulled out. It has just vanished as if it
never existed. Even stranger, there is a special coin lying beside the flower pot with the number 2040
engraved on it.
“Oh! That’s weird,” Justin thought to himself.
The next morning, woken up by the sound of Bo Bo, the strange thing happened again. “Oh! A
flower is missing again!” There are only three now left in the flower pot.
“What happened? Bo Bo?” The little pussy cat keeps mewing at a big carton box at the corner of the
balcony as if she has found a mouse. But it is not a mouse, crouching behind the empty carton box is a little
boy between the age of ten to twelve, more or less the same age as Justin.
“Who are you? How did you get into my house?” Justin notices that the boy is holding a glass case
with two flowers inside.
“Those are my flowers! Why did you steal my flowers?” The boy is trembling like a leaf.
“I’m sorry. I, I didn’t mean to steal them. I’ve put down my, my money,” the boy is pointing at the
strange coin beside the flower pot as he stammers.
“Oh! Don’t fool me with your toy money. If you don’t tell me the truth, I am going to call the
police,” Justin threatens the boy.
“Please don’t!” begs the little boy. “Actually, I came from the year 2040.”
“Wow! You mean you come from the future!” exclaims Justin, feeling excited since reading
science fiction books is his favorite pastime.
“Yes,” continues the boy. “My name is Robin. I accidentally went inside the time machine invented
by my father during his experiment and then … when I came out I just found that I’m standing in front of
your flowers. They are so beautiful that I just want to bring some back to keep inside our Nature Museum,”
explains Robin.
“Flowers in your Nature Museum? They are just some sunflowers,” says Justin incredulously.
“Oh! Don’t you know anything?” Robin has recovered from his fear already. “In the year 2040, the
pollution problem around the Pearl River Delta is so serious that many beautiful species of flowers have died
out. Everyone who lives in this region must wear an oxygen-supplying face mask when going out. The
blue sky can only be seen in books. It is a luxurious view to be enjoyed only in some foreign countries far
away from China. Real flowers are kept inside special greenhouses in the Nature Museum.”
Suddenly, a big shining ring appears in the balcony. “Oh, I have to go now. My father must have
repaired the time machine. Bye! Nice talking to you but please do something so it’s not too late to save our
Earth. Save the blue sky,” Robin says as he rushes into the ring and then disappears into thin air. Justin is
glued to the spot, stunned, with Robin’s last words echoing in his ears – save the blue sky!
Ever since this strange encounter, Justin has changed a lot. He starts going to school on his bicycle
instead of taking the school bus. He always uses his recycling bag while shopping. He is willing to do
anything to help protecting the environment.
To Justin’s surprise, the sky is clear in the morning on Saturday. “Oh! It’s a miracle.” While hiking
with his dad, he tells his dad about his strange encounter. Though doubting whether it is another story of
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