Read Online Chook Chook by Wai Chim - Free Book Online Page A

his seat, his mouth twitching as he struggled for words.
    â€˜I’m – I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t know – they must have escaped somehow.’ Guo hung his head, avoiding his teacher’s gaze.
    â€˜Mr Lin, this is a university, not a child’s playground! I don’t know how you do things in the village, but here we respect our homes and our classrooms and we don’t clog them with . . . with filth.’ He gestured wildly towards the door. The chickens had stopped their squawking but I could still hear them scratching at the cage.
    Guo bowed his head even lower, his eyes fixed on the ground as Professor Law went on. ‘These children . . .’ he turned to glare at me and Cap, ‘. . . these children do not belong here, not to mention those . . . those monsters. Do you think this class is some kind of joke? Do you?’
    â€˜No, sir.’ I could see my brother was squeezing his eyes shut to avoid crying. I had to do something.
    â€˜I’m sorry!’ I blurted out. ‘It’s all my fault! I wasn’t supposed to be here.’
    Professor Law turned his attention to me. I was burning with shame and anger but I did my best to explain. ‘I’m sorry. Please, it’s not Guo’s fault. I – I came to the university without telling anyone. I wasn’t supposed to be here. And then I wasn’t supposed to leave the room but I did.’ My cheeks were wet and my vision began to blur. ‘Please, please don’t punish Guo. It’s my fault, it’s all my fault.’ My final pleas came out as loud sobs so I wasn’t sure if anyone understood me.
    The professor lowered his voice but it was still firm when he spoke. ‘Little girl, while it’s admirable that you are standing up for your brother, whom you clearly love, you are a child. Your brother is the one who is supposed to be responsible and in charge. He should know better.’ He turned to Guo and waited.
    â€˜It’s true, Mei. It’s my responsibility.’ Guo put his hand up to my cheek to wipe away my tears. ‘You’re my responsibility and you always will be, no matter what. I’m your big brother.’
    â€˜Guo, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble, you have to believe me.’
    Guo nodded and gave me a small smile.
    Professor Law sighed loudly and rustled under his stacks of papers until he pulled out an old telephone. It didn’t even have buttons on it, just a large plastic dial. He picked up the handset, twisted the dial a few times and then pressed the phone to his ear.
    â€˜Yes, Miss Wu? This is Professor Law. I need to get the Health Department to the university grounds at once. There have been diseased animals about. Yes, the whole building as well as the dorms will need to be disinfected. I’m not sure, I guess we quarantine the birds. Maybe there’s a humane way to dispose of the animals, if they must.’
    My crying had died down to sniffles but I felt my throat tighten as the meaning of Professor Law’s words sunk in. Dispose of the animals ?
    Guo looked worried. ‘Wait, professor. There’s no need for that. The chickens, they’re our pets, they don’t have diseases.’
    But Professor Law shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Lin. You village folk might think that chickens can be pets, but here in civilised society, we know they’re riddled with diseases. We simply can’t take these types of risks, especially in a university.’
    â€˜You can’t!’ I spluttered, jumping to my feet. ‘Little and Lo do not have diseases. They roll around in the dust every day to clean themselves.’
    Professor Law cocked an eyebrow and his mouth curled upwards into a sneer. ‘They clean themselves in the dirt?’
    I groaned. Pa had warned us that sometimes city folk were completely clueless when it came to farming. I looked helplessly at Guo.
    Cap cleared his