Free Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society by Adeline Yen Mah Page A

halves would come apart to reveal its hollow interior. She would place my report card with the others underneath her jewels, as if my grades were also precious gems impossible to replace.
    I was almost in tears as I carried out our ritual by myself. This time, I had no report card. In place of my aunt, I was the one who wore her familiar padded jacket. It made me very homesick. The hanger opened easily. Inside, I saw her diamond watch, her jade bangle, her pearl earrings and hergold necklace. There were also a few old, faded letters, some foreign money and a small, unsealed envelope that contained a list of numbers and addresses but no names. Stuck in the bottom to one side, I came across the stack of old report cards from my school.
    Although I had been expecting to see them, a pang went through me. I knew I needed to leave, but I could not resist taking off the rubber band and flipping through the cards. Kindergarten – special certificate for reading ioo books. First grade – award in creative writing. Second grade – honours in arithmetic! Third grade…
    Knock! Knock! I almost jumped out of my skin. Then I heard Ah Yee’s voice. ‘Are you almost finished, Miss Ye Xian?’
    ‘Yes! I’m sorry!’
    I picked up the envelope, shoved the cards back, closed the hanger, twisted the lock randomly a few times, rehung the jacket on top and placed it back among the row of clothes in her closet. Big Aunt’s faint perfume of lilac was everywhere. Did she miss me too? I stuck the envelope, my clean clothes and a thick cardigan in the bag I’d brought, and went into the sitting room. Ah Yee had laid out writing paper, envelope and pen for me to write to my parents.
    This was what I wrote:
Dear Father and Niang ,
I am very sorry that I made you unhappy last Friday. I should have told both of you that I was spending the night at Big Aunt’s fiat when I phoned on Thursday afternoon. I apologize for my rudeness to you, Mang, and for biting you .
I go to school every day as usual. However, I miss Ah Yee’s cooking and the comforts of home. Big Aunt has only one bedroom and I have to sleep on the floor .
Please tell Ah Yee to let me know when I can come home .
Your daughter
Xian
    I read the letter out loud to Ah Yee. She knew a few characters but had difficulty reading books or newspapers. ‘Don’t look so worried!’ I said to her. ‘I’m staying with Grandma Wu at the Martial Arts Academy and learning kung fu. The address is 2200 Avenue Petain. Big Aunt knows where I am. She approves because I’m learning a lot. It’s very important that you don’t tell my parents anything!’
    Ah Yee nodded but clung to my arm, still reluctant to let me go. To reassure her, I read her Big Aunt’s letter. Finally, she sighed and released her hold.
    ‘Take good care of yourself!’ she said. ‘Ah Yeewon’t be there to look after you or cook what you like to eat. I always knew you’d grow up and leave one day. But you’re only twelve years old! Are you sure you’re going to be all right?’
    As I let Ah Yee out of the flat, I said to her, ‘I think my father wants me back but Niang certainly doesn’t. Please, Ah Yee, let me stay at the academy for as long as possible. Whatever you do, don’t tell them where I am. I want to learn lots and lots of kung fu. Besides, I’m really, really happy there.’

9
    Life at the Martial Arts Academy

    During the rickshaw ride back to the academy, Iwas nervous and tense. In my mind, the envelopein my school bag took on the character of astick of dynamite about to explode. It was afterseven o’clock and there was a lot of traffic on thestreets. A truckload of Japanese soldiers in helmetsj rumbled by. One of them was holding a large Japanese flag, with its red rising sun against a sea of white. Further on I saw a policeman searching a bespectacled young man dressed in a long Chinese robe. The man stood motionless while being shoved around, holding his bicycle awkwardly with one hand. Beneath his