Fiction: Group 3
New Tales of the Pearl River Delta
HKMA David Li Kwok Po College, Arunachalam, Aishwarya - 14, Fiction: Group 3
t was the 24
th
of November 1960. I was sitting in the bedroom while my mother was packing my
belongings. These few years have been rough for us, ever since the Vietnamese War started. It had
always been bombs dropping, aircraft soaring in the sky and soldiers marching. My father was one of the
soldiers. He would occasionally try to reach us or sometimes write. I’ve always seen my father as a great
man. I often wished I could be like him, such bravery and confidence he held in his heart. I hope he comes
home safely; I can’t wait to see him. “Bao, it’s time to go. Go put on your coat.” Mother ordered. I quickly
rushed to the door with my coat on. The roads were barely passable, crowded as they were with vehicles
and people. I held my mother’s hand as we reached the train station. Soldiers were loading weapons onto
the cargo train. I clenched my mother’s hand tightly.
We walked to the platform where the train was arriving, “Bao?” I looked at my mother’s face. Her face was
dull, her lips were chapped and it wasn’t like the old Mother I knew. She had always been more joyful and
carefree about everything. “Please promise me that you’ll take care of yourself and be a good boy.” I
nodded. The train had arrived and it was my time to go. Mother brought me to my seat and she sat beside
me. “Bao, write to me once you get there. Don’t bother your grandparents too much, and take care of them
too. Your grandfather will be waiting for you once you reach the Pearl River Delta.” My mind wandered
to that name. The train started to move, “Bao, take care. I’ll miss you a lot and I’m only doing this for your
safety and your future. I love you, Bao.” As she spoke, tears were forming up in her eyes. “I love you too,
Mother. Take care and I promise to write to you every month,” I said. Mother got off the train and kept
her eyes on me until the train left the station. As houses passed by, my eyes slowly closed.
I woke up with a sudden jolt; I rubbed my eyes to see a man staring at me. He was an old man wearing a
sweet smile on his face and sweaters. Lots of sweaters. “Hello little boy, did you have a good nap?” he said. I
stared at him with a blank face. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite. Here have this.” He said handing me a packet of
biscuits. I kept staring at him. “C’mon have it, you must be hungry.” I took the packet and started eating.
“ What’s your name little one?” “Bao” I replied. “That’s a wonderful name! Nice to meet you - I’m
Tuan.” He said. “
Attention all passengers, the next station is Pearl River Delta. Passengers getting off at this
stop please don’t forget your belongings.”
The intercom interrupted our conversation.
“You’d better get ready little boy, don’t want to miss your stop eh? ” he chuckled. I gave him a strange
look. The train was reaching the station and I got my luggage and sat back down. Mother’s face came into
my mind. I wondered how she was doing. Did she really send me here to make my future better? The train
stopped and I got up and left.
As I got off the train, I quickly scanned the crowd. I was looking for a familiar face and I did. He was sitting
on a bench with his back to me. I walked over to him and placed my hands on his shoulders and he turned
to me with a big smile on his face. “Bao! My boy, how have you been? Is your Mother doing well? Did you
eat properly during your journey?” he said. He grabbed my luggage and held my hand and we left the
station. He took me to his car and we drove away.
As he was driving, I looked out to the big old buildings. People walking and driving their cars with a smile
on their faces. This is how it used to be before the war. Everyone was so happy and carefree. Business was
going well and I used to smile all the time. The car suddenly stopped and I looked around to see housing
estates. I got off the car and walked with my grandfather. “ So Bao, tell me what’s been going on,” my
grandfather asked me as we got into the elevator. “It’s not good, it’s not bad either.” I replied. “ Are you
excited about living with us? “ I nodded. The elevator stopped on the 5th floor. I followed my grandfather
I
