Chapter 2 - Her Family

Auntie Mei shouted, "Hua! Hua! Bring the sheets that are drying outside."

A little bell sound rang across the yard as if to answer yes.

Li Hua, now 9 years old had grown taller but was still smaller than most of the kids her age. Her soft black hair was braided into two pigtails and her baby face had grown to show that she would be a beautiful young lady one day.

Hua was still hard of hearing but could make out loud sounds so she could navigate her way when Auntie Mei called out for her.

She walked out to the backyard and reached over to grab the bedsheets and piled them in a wicker basket. She loved helping around the house doing chores. It made her feel like she was part of the family.

A tall young boy walked over to help her.

"Hua, let me help."

Hua nodded and smiled at Sheng.

Tang Sheng, 14 years of age and the oldest at the orphanage. His parents had passed away in a car accident when he was 6. His only remaining family, his father's younger brother took over the family business. Sheng didn't get along with his uncle's two kids who used to blame him for everything that went wrong in the house so they left him at the zoo when he was 8.

The staff at the zoo found him sleeping near the gift shop. For an 8-year-old child, Sheng was already mature for his age and knew what had happened. He was happy that his uncle left him because he didn't want to go back to that house just to get beaten up for no reason.

The cops had asked him many times if he knew where his family was. Sheng knew but he never said anything and just said he doesn't know. There was a missing child report filed but no one came forward with any information.

The cops sent him to Sunflower House. At first, Sheng always roamed around the town by himself. He didn't try to interact with the other kids. He got into trouble a few times with the village vendors for stealing fruit.

Auntie Mei was fed up one day and yelled at him, "If you steal again, I'm going to send you to the police station and they will put you in a juvenile jail."

Sheng got scared and didn't dare to do it again. He liked Auntie Mei who was the only one who cared for him since his parents died in the accident. One day, Sheng was watering the flowers in the yard, and his shirt for wet. He had taken off his shirt revealing a large burn mark on his side. Hua who was sitting there drawing in her book saw it.

Sheng saw her looking at him, "What are you looking at?"

He said it very fiercely scaring Hua. He winced inwardly for being mean but didn't say anything and walked back into the house.

Later that evening, Hua had taken out the 100 yuan she had saved and walked to the local pharmacy. Everyone in town knew Hua and loved her because she was adorable.

The uncle at the pharmacy smiled at Hua, "Little Hua, how can I help you?"

Hua took out a piece of paper she had written on. That's how Hua mostly communicated with others. She learned and practiced her sign language as well but since no one understood it so she didn't use it. The uncle wrote down his questions and Hua answered with a nod or shake of her head.

"You want something for burn scars?"

Hua nodded firmly.

"Hmm…let me see. Is it a recent burn?"

Hua's head tilted to one side as if she was thinking.

She shook her head to say no.

"So, it's already fully healed?"

She nodded.

"So, you want something to help with the scarring?"

She nodded again.

"Okay, I think I have something."

Hua took out a little cloth bag and put all her money on the counter.

The uncle chuckled, "That's too much. Since Hua is such a good little girl, I'll give you a discount. It will just be 5 yuan for the ointment. The rest is your change."

Hua smiled and nodded.

He gave a cream and wrote down instructions on when to apply it and how often. She bowed to give her thanks and ran home.

Sheng was out hanging up the laundry when Hua stood in front of him.

"What do you want?"

Hua looked at him pointing at his hand. Sheng looked down, "What?"

She pulled his hand and put the instruction paper and cream on his hand. She nodded as if to say she completed her mission and walked off. Sheng looked down not knowing what it was.

He read the paper and understood that she got him something for his burn. His eyes became teary and he turned away, not wanting anyone to see him cry.

His hardened heart was moved by Hua's kindness. He started spending more time with her. He got to know her over the years. She taught him sign language so that he could speak with her. The other kids used to bully her and he used to scare them away.

They would even go and visit the temple together. Master Han moved very soon after Hua was sent to the orphanage. All the people in town were surprised that he left to go to the city. Hua had seen his photos so she knew of him and what he looked like.

Junior Monk Dai had become a senior monk. He would always make time to talk to Hua and Sheng.

"Little One, one day you should meet Master Han if you can. He would visit you every day when you were a baby. I had wanted to raise you at the temple when we first found you. I'm glad my hasty decision didn't lead you down another path in life."

Hua nodded with appreciation at the monk's kindness and signed, "I will meet him one day. I have a feeling I will."

Sheng patted her on the head gently, "Tang Sheng, you take care of your little sister."

"I always will. She is my only family."

Written by Uner90 (R.R.)