After everyone said good-bye, he took off. I did not eat much for dinner and I did not sleep either that
night. I was too concerned about my brother. How was he? Was he getting enough food or water? Was he still
building?
Day: 2
Today I woke up to the sound of birds singing. Everyone was gone except for Grandmother. She was in
the kitchen sitting on the floor sewing.
“
Where is everyone?” I asked.
“
They have gone to buy some seeds for the vegetable garden,” she answered.
“
What should I do?” I questioned.
“
Your mother has made dumplings. She said you should bring them with some water to your brother.”
“
Okay” I replied. I quickly got dressed, got the dumplings, water, and put it all into a basket.
Afterwards I ran all the way to the wall. The air I inhaled was terrible. It smelled of dirt and dust. In
fact you could actually see the dust fill the air.
Finally I got to the gates. I was about to run past them when someone grabbed me by my thick, black
braid.
“
What are you doing here?” A tall evil looking guard asked me with a low voice.
“
I am here to visit my big brother,” I told him.
“
No visitors allowed, ” he commanded.
“
But…”
I couldn’t even finish my sentence before he asked, “Are you here to give him food?”
“
Yes,” I quickly replied.
“
If I can have some food, maybe you could come in,” he begged.
I opened the basket and handed him three dumplings. “Thank you,” he exclaimed but I was already
running again.
There were builders all over the place but I could not spot my brother anywhere, no matter where I
looked. So I decided to settle down on a rock and take a rest from all the running.
Then I saw a man coming towards me, but not just any man, my big brother! I was so relieved to see
him, and I could see he was pretty happy to see me too. “What are you doing here?” he asked with a smile on
his face
“
I have brought you some dumplings and water,” I answered. He took a look at the basket, then
snatched it out of my hands, opened it and stuffed his mouth with one dumpling after another. I just stared at
him with my mouth open. He kept on going until he had eaten all seventeen dumplings.
When he finally finished,and I closed my mouth, he asked, “Do you have any more?”
“
Sadly no, but I have some water if you would like. It’s also in the basket,” I answered.
“
Thank you,” he replied. Then he took a little sip of the water. “I’ll save the rest for later.”
“
Okay. I have to leave now so I can get back to my chores,” I mentioned.
His smile disappeared, but he answered, “Okay. Say hello to the others from me, and thank you for
bringing food and water to me.”
“
You’re welcome. Maybe I can bring more tomorrow. Goodbye,” I added. I gave him a hug and took
off.
“
Goodbye,” he whispered as I left.
That night I made a plan to free my brother. I was going to shoot an arrow, no, I was going to… no!
That would also be a bad idea.
--------------------------------------
I woke up in my bed. My mom came into my room. Wait my own room! I never had my own room
before. Was it all a dream? I realized it was.
My brother was not forced to build the Great Wall of China because it had already been built hundreds
of years ago! In fact my brother was probably sleeping in the room next to mine. I had never been so happy or
relieved in my entire life!
“
Wake up sleepy head.” My thoughts were interrupted by my mother. “Guess where we are going
today?” she asked.
“
Where?” I questioned.
“
The Great Wall of China!” she shouted out with excitement.
“
Great,” I replied, a bit shocked.
* * *