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this is my second draft of my short story, i hope u guys like it...
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Struggling To Survive
Most parents wish their children would grow up to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a successful business person, but not my parents because all they wanted their little baby girl to be healthy always. One sunny day at a hospital, “She’s not going to live. But if she would, she would be a vegetable,” was the only answer that three-month-old baby girl’s parents could hear.
My parents were very excited when they heard they’re expecting a little girl and couldn’t wait to tell their children they’re going to have a new baby sister! Their children were told to be very careful not to hit their newborn baby sister, and change diapers when they’re dirty, or smell bad. When my parents arrived home with their newborn baby, their children immediately knew their new sister had come home. They did everything what they were told to do, and even gave her a bath! They were very excellent with the baby.
One sunny day as usual, I played with my brother and sister, but suddenly I threw up and got a fever and felt stiff all over my bodies. Somehow, I felt it and cried, cried, and cried. Of course, my parents didn’t know what to do and slept on it. Hoping next morning I would feel better, but guess what?
I was still sick and I really had to go to my family doctor and examine me thoroughly. After one visit from the doctor, my parents were relieved to hear all the babies were going through same routine. During that night, I had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius, and fainted. My parents, my sister, and my brother, too, were shocked and surprised. All of my relatives and friends were prayed that I would be all right and just be cold and nothing more serious.
At a university hospital, a doctor told my parents to get ready for the worst, and the night might be the last night to see me alive. My parents, of course, fell down to the ground, and cried uncontrollably. ‘All I wanted her to be a healthy baby girl, and grow up. Are those crimes?’ my mom cried, cried, and cried at the cross. Next morning, the doctor came with tragic news. The news was that I wasn’t going to live, so they’d better get ready for a funeral. My mom insisted that I would come alive, and she couldn’t prepare a funeral, she couldn’t, or wouldn’t let me go because my mom somehow believed I would wake up. A few tragic weeks had passed and as if God heard the news, I was alive again, but I was like a newborn baby because I couldn’t talk, let alone walk.
After the survival, my struggling to survive has been continued, and the difficult paths have just begun because no one said that was easy for me to stay alive, and I had to fight all my mighty strength to maintain. As I saw the obstacles, it was like these: the obstacles are like very high mountains, so all I have to do was climb, climb, and climb and if I fall, get up and climb back again.
I still remember how I and my mom went to a “special school” to learn to speak forcefully. Especially one day, when I was about to learn to speak a sound “Zzzzzzzzzzzzz,” teachers made me to speak by putting a chocolate chip on my tongue, and made me to say the sound “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”That was the most difficult thing to do and a nightmare to me. If someone asks me if I could go back and learn, I would run away from people.
And because of the sickness, the side-effect had left me crossed-eyes, and her teeth were like rabbit. ‘But that’s ok,’ my mom thought. ‘Because she could and would learn everything, it just takes time to learn them. That is all,’ and I did. One by one, step by step, I learned to walk, and talk.
One day as usual, I and my mom got on the subway and on their way to “special school” and I was quite as a mouse as always, but suddenly I burst into tears. The reason was that one kid who sat across to me was teasing about my crossed-eyes. Upon hearing this, my mom was so upset and started to look for eye doctor who could perform a miracle on my eyes. And luckily I did after the two painful eye surgeries, I was able to see the same way as the normal children do. After many years later, I have some crossed eyes left on my eyes if you see me closely, and carefully.
Several months later, I, Esther Park, finally went to two kindergartens: one kindergarten was near my apartment, and it was fun for me. Unfortunately after one year later, the kindergarten that I went to had to close, nowhere to go. Plus, my best friend’s mom said to my mom that her son couldn’t play with me anymore because the path is going to be so different and that was that. My mom couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘Wasn’t that her who forced my daughter to be his best friend, and wasn’t that her who pretends to be friendly and nice to my daughter?’ After what she had heard, she was goddamn mad at her, she started to look for a second better kindergarten, and she did.
When I arrived at a new kindergarten, I was so happy, and couldn’t believe my eyes because they were all wearing a uniform, and I couldn’t wait to wear them. One wintery day, my kindergarten was going to have an annual recital, and my parents had to sign a form. My parents did, and the annual recital went perfectly.
After two years later, I went to an elementary school and graduated. During my last two years of elementary school was a nightmare for me. I was always picked on, and teased because at times when I speak, I couldn’t say the word or I uttered the sentences, and that made everyone laugh, and that got me into tears many times.
I was a brave little girl in front my parents because immediately after I graduated from elementary school, I immediately immigrated to Canada. Soon after I landed in Canada, I went to Canadian high school, and started to adapt a new world prepared for me. During my high school years, I was obedient to finish my high school. But the grades weren’t that good, so I had to go to Communications, and graduated with Comm. 12 with a C.
After graduated, I went to Capilno College hoping that I could somehow get English 12 degree, but I couldn’t. And so, after few years later, I got a certificate of CPE (College Prep. English)099—equivalent to English 12—then I got a certificate in ASL (American Sign Language) on 2007 in VCC, but I guess my dreams were too big for me because after I graduated, I applied to Douglas College twice and failed. After trying, and trying, I started to notice my education background isn’t enough to enter. So, I’m here. Still studying, hoping to get English 12 degree, and still struggling to stay alive.
Words: 1,221.
hi esther,
i've read ur story and i find it's very touching.
we see your effort everyday to catch with other people and i believe you are doing very well.
be proud of your self for i know you are more healthier than many of us--the normal people.
wish you all the best in your coming days and i believe that you'll have a bright future waiting for you!
Tomorrow
June 2007, the heating waves flooded into the whole Beijing. Yuling Li found summers came earlier and earlier and became hotter and hotter each year. 3 PM when she stepped out of her bus, her uniform was soaked with sweats immediately. She was a conductor of the same bus company for twenty years. She witnessed the progress and development of the transportation system in Beijing along with the city. Before there were air conditioned buses available, summers were disasters for them. She didn't remember how many times she fainted in the buses because of calenture.
It took fifteen minutes to ride bicycle from work to her home. Her thoughts roamed randomly, but she was interrupted once she saw her daughter laid on her knees at the entrance of their community. Her heart was sunk into bottom of the vinegar bottle. Her sixteen-year-old daughter, Lily, was knocking her head on the ground and grumbling something. Yuling leaped off the bicycle and rushed to Lily. She held up Lily’s shoulder and looked at her. Lily’s face was full of tears and mud. Her forehead was swollen and reddened; her eyes were looking empty.
“Please don’t do it! Please don’t do it. . . .” That was the only thing Lily could say.
“My dear, what happened? Why you are here? Did you come out with Tiger? Where is Tiger? Lily, look at me, tell mom what’ve happened?” Yuling used her soft voice trying to sooth Lily.
“Tiger? No! Please don’t do it! Please. . . .” Lily noticed the name tiger and abruptly started kowtowing again.
Tiger was a four-year-old golden retriever dog, the only friend and partner Lily had after the accident. Yuling realised something wrong with the dog since Lily would never left Tiger alone at home. She griped Lily’s hand and pulled her up. “Honey, it’s okay, maybe Tiger is waiting you at home. Let’s go.”
Lily looked at Yuling finally with her lost eyes and nodded. Just besides the street, Old Wang, a very talkative northeaster who had been selling newspapers in their community for years was waving, obviously knew something. Yuling asked Lily, “Would you please hold mom’s bicycle for a while since mom needs to buy some newspaper for your daddy. Then we’ll go home.”
“But I want Tiger. . . .”
“Yeah, I know, I know it, honey, just a sec.”
Old Wang jumped on his tip toes, “Thanks god you are here now. I wanted to call you but I didn’t know your number. I tied to stop her, but she just didn't listen to me. Poor girl! Such a bad day you know. . . .”
“Thanks, Old Wang,” Yuling had to interrupt him. She personally didn’t know this sissy man much, “Do you what happened? Tiger, our dog?”
“Oh, your dog! Of course, your dog! Look at me.” Old Wang patted his head exaggeratingly, “your dog was taken by two cops.”
“What? Why?”
“Why? Aren’t you acknowledged that the oversized dogs are forbidden to keep inside the city?”
“I know, but nobody really cares. I mean there are so many people here keeping big dogs.”
Old Wang shook his head, “Not now. Think about the timing. It’s only one year to Olympic Game. They are serious this time. They are afraid big gods might bite or frighten foreign visitors. . . .”
“But our Tiger never bites, and we injects him vaccine every year.”
“Of course Tiger never bites. I never feel big dogs are more aggressive than the small ones. Your Tiger’s lovely. I saw him. But now, you see, everybody walks their big dogs in night time only. Somebody even sent their big dogs to countryside. I heard that they’re gonna to check door to door. And they encourage the neighbourhood to mudsling the oversized dog keepers.”
“Oh my god, that’s insane. But we have licence for urban keepers, so expensive you know. We pay them every year.”
“What mentioned on your licence about the size?”
“Small. . . . ” Yuling’s face darkened with frustration, “You know Tiger is everything Lily has. It’ll kill her.” She shook her hand to remove the terrifying picture.
“Go and beg the cops. They looked familiar. I think they are just from the Front Street Policy Station. If you know anybody there? Ask your husband to do it. You know. . .” Old Wang twiddled his thumb and index finger, making a gesture of counting money.
“Ohh, I don't think Danian can do it. But thank you, anyway, I’d have to go,” Yuling frowned and scurried back to Lily.
As soon as they reached home, Lily went to the kennel immediately. “Tiger, I’m back, come here! Tiger, where are you?” she yelled fruitlessly in the bed room, kitchen, and washroom and finally realized her dog wasn’t here.
Once again Yuling found the lights disappearing from her daughter’s eyes. Lily kneed down besides the kennel like her soul sneaked out of her body. She was kowtowing and grumbling, “Please, please don’t do it.”
“No, no, no, honey, you cannot do that.” Yuling held Lily in her arms with all her strength repeated her name—just tired to wake her up. It was all came back like four years ago when Yuling and Danian first saw her in the hospital after the accident. Lily did the exactly same thing. She kept begging, kowtowing. Nothing could draw Lily’s attention like the whole world was not bothering her anymore. Lily’s old problem was volcanic. Since last four years, Yuling and her husband tired all their best to protect their fragile daughter after that accident. Lily was improved a lot especially after being advised by authoritative psychologist to have keep Tiger. She could laugh again once she stoked Tiger and they could play together. The pink shade came back to her cheek by walking Tiger everyday. Except she was more quite than ordinary girls and didn’t go to school, both Yuling and her husband felt she was perfectly normal. Tiger was such a great pet. Yuling and Danian—her husband loved tiger too devotedly. The dog’s food cost almost one thousand Yuan every month—it’s her half salary—not including the dog’s license and vaccines. She didn’t care. As long as she could see the smile on Lily’s face. It’s all worthy. But now, all there symptoms came back like the nightmares haunting her for all those years.
“I have to do something, or I’d rather die with her like this. Yuling gnashed her teeth. Like every populace, Yuling didn’t have much experiences of dealing with cops, so did her husband—Danian Zhang. They belonged to the historical native class Beijingers—not the arrogant ones -- without any economic and political background. They were chicken, humble and obedience.
Danian Zhang was a high school teacher, never talked loudly even to his students. He was short and yellow, looked much older than his real age. Once he smiled, the crinkles showed on the corner of his eyes like being carved permanently. His hair turned gray even faster after Lily’s accident. Himself, became even shorter and yellower too.
Yuling looked her watch, it was almost four thirty pm. Danian must on his way home already. It made her calmed down a little. She grabbed a cushion and padded it to where Lily’s head hit; cleaned Lily’s face with a hot towel and poured a glass of water for herself. The icy water soothed Yuling more. She fed Lily some and then pulled the electronic fan close to Lily. The front door opened and Danian reached home.
“Lily, Tiger, daddy is home.” Yuling burst into bears finally when she heard the happy voice of her husband rose in the lobby. She covered her mouth with the towel and wailed.
Danian found out the situation soon enough. He lit a cigarette and sighed. He had plenty of time reading newspapers in his office, so he knew once the dogs being sent to the camp, they would be executed only. Tiger—such a docile and understanding animal, he couldn’t imagine and the result. He looked at his daughter and Yuling, for the very first time, he made up his mind so quickly: he had to get the dog back or his home is ruined. He couldn't let it happen.
It was almost five pm, and hopefully he could still catch the cop and bribe him before he leave. There was just no time for him to over-think.
“How much cash do you have?” he asked Yuling.
“About Five hundreds Yuan, why?”
“Just give them to me, hurry. And I have five hundreds too.”
“Are you really bribing them?”
“Do you have better options?” Danian’s face stoned, almost brutal. He snatched her cash and left home.
1462words
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