Shengliver’s Note: This poignant Chinese adolescent mini drama unfolded during the National Day holidays back in 2011.

Annually the Chinese are entitled to 7 days off for the National Day celebrations, which often coincide with Mid-Autumn Day (lunar August 15). A lot of folk take the time to go sightseeing or visit family and friends. The long break, popularly termed “Golden Week Holiday”, is most appealing to high school students, for they can take the time to catch up on their friends and hobbies.

The teens at my school were granted three and a half days off this year. Most of them went home, so the campus was almost deserted, except for the few souls who could not make it home for various reasons.

One major reason was that there was no folk back at home, parents migrating elsewhere in China for job opportunities. Fei chose not to go home for her family house is far away in the mountains of Zhuxi County. Only her aged grandpa is there. Her parents have been gig-working in various provinces since Fei started primary school.

“Are you going home, Fei?” Ruyi asked.

“No, I am not. I have no home,” Fei answered.

Ruyi was taken aback. How come someone has no home? Living in town, Ruyi, whose parents work in a bank, commutes daily between home and school.

After the last class on Friday morning, September 30, the students were dismissed. Instantly the campus quietened down. There were only two mates left in Fei’s dorm, Fei and Jingxin.

Jingxin’s home is in town, but this term she opts to live on campus instead of shuttling between home and school every day. This way, she can hang out more with her friends, though she has to stand plain canteen fare and a hard bed. Since she moved in with Fei and other mates, she has had a clearer picture of this country girl.

Jingxin planned to stay with Fei for the afternoon. Were she to leave, there would be only Fei in the dorm. Having chatted with each other for a while, the two pals agreed that they would have their lunches at a restaurant in a lane outside the school.

They ordered two meals for themselves at an eatery near the campus. Jingxin was surprised to see Fei eating extraordinarily slowly. At the school canteen, Fei always wolfs down her meals, in order to save time.

To save time, students here in my school rush to the canteen at mealtimes. If they are not early, there will be long queues at the counters and the meals will be less warm and tasty. Should you happen to be around when the last class in the morning or afternoon comes to an end, you would be amazed by the runners. They race like the wind! Someone has prophesied that my school will cultivate an Olympic running gold medallist in time.

Watching her friend savouring each bite, Jingxin smiled. After the meal, they hiked at a community park called zhuochunyuan in the neighbourhood. Like a petite lady, the park is little but very nice with lush plants and flowers everywhere. While they were ascending the hill, Fei told Jingxin this and that about the vegetation by the side of the path. An urban kid, Jingxin found Fei’s talk enlightening. She learned a lot.

In the afternoon, the school reading rooms were open to the number of pupils who had to stay on campus during the holiday. The two pals went over and did their lessons there. Time passed quickly in the reading room, and the two girls had finished a large slice of their homework by the time the rooms closed.

Evening was closing in. They left the library and headed for the dorm. The residence hall was almost empty.

Inside the dorm, the two girls sat down and stayed silent for a while. Jingxin had to go home, for her parents were waiting for her. It was hard to tell it to Fei, though.

After debating with herself, she steeled herself and said, “Fei, I have to go. My parents, as you know, are expecting me to be back for dinner.”

Fei was silent. A moment later, she asked Jingxin, “Will you come here tomorrow?”

“I’m afraid not. My family has other plans.”

“How about the day after?”

“No, I can’t either. I am sorry, Fei,” said Jingxin.

Both girls looked sad and felt rotten at the moment. Jingxin felt the ambience weighing down upon her. She decided to quit then and there. “Bye, Fei,” she said, and walked out with her backpack.

“Bye,” Fei responded half-heartedly, waving her hand.

Outside the building, Jingxin was in tears. She knew that the other soul in the dorm was crying too.

“Anyway, just three days, and we will be seeing each other again,” Jingxin mumbled, shuffling away.