Li Sha and her Brother
Philippine Bourgeois, Group 3: Fiction, Zhuhai International School
th Century BC
Day 1
When I woke up, I could feel the winter sun shining on me but I was
still cold. It was early, too early to wake up! I continued to lie there on my bed, under my warm blanket
and I thought, “Today is the first day of spring. Thank goodness the warm season is approaching and it
won’t be so cold when I have to get up in the morning.” I was about to go back to sleep when someone
knocked on my door. I jumped! I was scared! No one was ever up this early!
A voice called through the door, “Li Sha, are you awake?” Oh, it was my Grandma. She was probably
checking on me. My Grandparents moved in after the death of my parents. My Grandparents refused to talk
about their deaths but I will always remember the pain that I felt when the policeman came to tell us that they
died.
“
Yes Grandma,” I answered.
She told me that I should come down to eat breakfast. I wasn’t hungry but I didn’t want to argue so I
slowly headed down the stairs.
When I arrived at the table, my brother, Ma Ke, had already gone to the field with my Grandpa. My
brother had a strong body after so many days in the field. He had short,chestnut hair.He was the nicest person
that I had ever met in my life, because he always took care of me and helped me when I needed help. He never
shouted at me like my Grandpa did.
“
EWW, Grandma forgot that I hated rice soup,” I thought. I played with my soup a little, splashing it
on my plate. I made a disgusted face and pulled my tongue out to taste the soup when the door slammed open.
My brother and my Grandpa were there. I was happy to see them.
I was standing up to hug and kiss them good morning when I saw a man approaching the house. This
man looked serious. He was dressed in a dark green, greyish coat. His face had scars all over.
Grandma hurried and grabbed my hand. I could feel my Grandma shivering. Two soldiers came out of
nowhere and pushed Ma Ke and Grandpa to the ground. Then they pulled Ma Ke out the door. “No! NO!”
Grandma shouted.
“
Don’t worry,” the evil soldier said, “he will be back, one day!” He narrowed his eyes. “If he survives!”
He laughed. He looked around and then stormed out the door.
I didn’t understand. I was scared. I started crying. I didn’t know what was happening. I panicked. I
screamed!
My Grandma tried to calm me down but I was in shock. I pinched myself. I was trying to believe that
everything that had just happened was just a dream and that my brother wasn’t gone! I asked Grandpa and
Grandma for an explanation, but they stayed speechless themselves, like they were scared too.
Finally Grandpa started talking, “I promised your parents that they would never take him, or you. I
gave them my word, and I stood there doing nothing, speechless, watching them taking him away.”
Grandma looked down at her shoes. I decided to risk a word, “Please. I need to know what is truly
going on. I’m begging you, both of you.” I looked at them.
Grandma and Grandpa glanced at each other. “Li Sha, here is the story you’ve been waiting to hear for
a long time,” Grandma said in a sorrowful voice. Then she added,”As you know, your dad was young when he
died in the army. Then your mom was so upset that she committed suicide. Your mom died just after the
beginning of the construction of the Great Wall. Her younger brother was taken away like yours, and she knew
that it would happen to Ma Ke. So Grandpa and I swore to her that we would take care of both of you.” She
sniffed.
I stood there. It was impossible to say a word. I opened my mouth but nothing came out! My Grandpa
must have realized that I was speechless so he said, ”Li Sha, your brother was taken to build the Great Wall! I’m
so sorry…”
I was terrified. Grandma had told me about the Great Wall before and about the people that were
buried in the wall.I couldn’t let that happen to my brother. I had a plan. ”I’m going to find the Wall and get my
brother out of this,” I thought.
Day 2
“
Li Sha, wake up!” my Grandma shouted as usual this morning. I got dressed, went downstairs, said,
“
Hello,” and asked, “Grandpa, Grandma, would you please let me go find my brother?”
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