Fiction: Group 2
The Pearl River Delta
Harrow International School Hong Kong, Oxley Oxland, Abigail-10, Fiction: Group 2
was screaming and moaning and my uncle surprisingly thought I was the most irritating kid ever. “Are
we there yet , Uncle George?”, I whined. “Stop making such a racket kid, we get there when we get
there!” he frustratingly groaned.
Leaving Hong Kong was very difficult for me. Not only was I going to miss my parents, but my friends, my
room and my beloved dog, Jessie, as well. Suddenly the car slowed and I looked down into the valley. I was
speechless, amazed and shocked at what I saw. “Sally you look as if you’ve seen a ghost, are you alright
dear?” my uncle asked unexpectedly. I was puzzled; blown away! I never expected him to be so kind. I
ignored him out of habit. I pushed the door with all my might and it burst open, making the most dreadful
squeaky noise.
I was overjoyed at the fact that I was gazing at a stunning view instead of the inside of an old car. I was
distracted by the constant breeze wildly blowing through my long, silky hair and was not paying attention to
my grumbling uncle in the background.
Eventually, I started to energetically run through the long itchy grass. “We’re in China!”, I yelled at the top
of my lungs. In the distance I saw a glistening river, flowing with a gentle gurgle. My exhausted eyes were
squinting at this fascinating sight. Immediately I sprinted towards the peaceful river. My legs were aching
and sore but it’s always great to try your best.
As soon as I got there I noticed a rusty old sign saying “Pearl river Delta”. What a gorgeous name, I
thought. The crystal clear water was a deep blue color like a precious sapphire, reflecting my image. Pretty
pebbles peeked up at me from the bottom of the river. I loved the colors and wished I could dive in right
then and scoop some up. But the water looked cold and deep.
Massive, rough looking mountains loomed in the distance, touching the bright white clouds high in the
endless skies. Bright green crops grew around the river and neon yellow roses nearby, gently swayed in the
wild breeze. It was paradise! Nothing could be more stunning than this. I was looking forward to what else I
would experience in China.
Just then I noticed a plastic bottle float by, followed by a filthy plastic bag. My eyes glanced up the river. My
heart dropped and I had a pang of homesickness, as I noticed piles of litter on the river banks. Suddenly I
wanted to be back in Hong Kong with my parents, my friends and my beloved dog.
Six months later I returned to the same place. Farmers used to enjoy spending time at the Pearl River Delta,
growing crops and enjoying the country side. I was terribly upset since the river had started to change.
Careless people were destroying and ruining this beautiful place. They were upsettingly throwing away their
rubbish into the already tired river. In my opinion it was revolting and becoming worse.
Cruel, uncaring factories were causing pollution and creating shampoo flavored fish. The hard working
farmers were suspicious of the factories since their crops had started to die. After a while the helpless farmers
could only dream the pollution would stop, but it was way too late. As time passed the farmers lost their
crops and they stopped earning money to live. What a shame.
I
