Read Online Sunny Days and Moon Cakes by Sarah Webb - Free Book Online
Authors: Sarah Webb
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irritated. That’s my sister for you. She can wrap anyone around her little finger.
After taking another quick look at the fairy house, we walk back home with Min riding high on Landy’s shoulders, her filthy jeans matting his blond hair with mud.
I love her so much. Despite how much she annoys me sometimes, she means everything to me. And I couldn’t even tell my friends that she was in danger. As the reality of it all sinks in, I realize that I have to get better, for my sister’s sake as much as my own. How can I possibly keep her safe otherwise?
Chapter 11
On the afternoon we’re leaving for China, Mum’s in a complete flap. She’s racing around the house, collecting even more of our clothes to squeeze into an already bulging suitcase. Dad and Min are waiting in the jeep outside. They’ve just dropped Goldie off at Mollie’s house. Dad is getting impatient now. He keeps beeping the horn, which is making Mum even more frazzled.
“Mum, they’re waiting for us,” I tell her as she stuffs raincoats into our suitcase, along with more swimming costumes.
“I thought it was supposed to be hot,” I add. “And I’ve already packed my togs. I don’t need another pair.”
Dad beeps the horn again.
“OK, OK,” Mum mutters. “I’m coming.” She shuts the final suitcase and I wheel it outside while she locks up the house.
Dad gets out of the jeep to load up the boot. “Do you have the passports?” he asks her.
Mum looks anxious for a moment, then rummages in her handbag, pulls out her pink leather travel wallet and opens it. “All here. Plus the tickets and the visas.” She tucks everything safely back into her bag.
“And I have plenty of Hong Kong dollars, Chinese yuan and my credit cards.” Dad gives her a hug. “Stop worrying, Nadia. If we’ve forgotten anything, we can buy it over there.”
It takes nearly two hours to get to Cork airport and then it’s another two hours before we arrive at Heathrow in London, where we will catch the plane to Hong Kong.
The boarding area at Heathrow is brightly lit, with a lot of glass and steel. And it’s so busy! There are people everywhere, bustling along with wheelie suitcases, dozing on the seats, or hunched over playing games on their iPads, or reading.
I spot a Chinese family with a daughter who looks just like Min, although she’s a bit younger, I think – six or seven. I catch the girl glancing at me and Min and then at Mum and Dad. In Ireland, it is me and Min that people stare at because we’re the ones who look different, so it’s funny for Mum and Dad to be examined so closely. To this Chinese girl we must look like a strange family unit, with our two pale-skinned Irish parents. I wonder if she has worked out that we’re adopted.
No one else in my family has noticed the girl. They’re not as observant as me. Being quiet and slipping into the background has its advantages.
Min’s moaning breaks into my thoughts. We haven’t even got on the plane for Hong Kong yet and she’s already complaining loudly. Unlike me, she’s not afraid of making a scene. She’s lying with her head on Mum’s lap and sighing every few seconds.
“This is really boring,” she moans. “When will they let us on the plane?”
Mum strokes her head. “Soon, pet,” she says. “You’re just tired. It’s way past your bedtime. Hopefully you’ll sleep during the flight.”
Min sits up. “Are you crazy? I’m much too excited to sleep. I can’t wait to see all the skyscrapers and the lights. What’s the first thing we’re going to do when we get to Hong Kong?”
“Rest after all the travelling,” Mum says.
Min fakes a yawn. “Boring. No, I mean, the first fun thing?”
“As soon as we’ve checked into the hotel, we’re going to take you to our favourite noodle bar in Hong Kong,” Dad says. “Lucky’s. Then we’ll visit the city on the mainland, Kowloon, and The Peak on Hong Kong Island. The Peak is where we used to live. It’s really
After taking another quick look at the fairy house, we walk back home with Min riding high on Landy’s shoulders, her filthy jeans matting his blond hair with mud.
I love her so much. Despite how much she annoys me sometimes, she means everything to me. And I couldn’t even tell my friends that she was in danger. As the reality of it all sinks in, I realize that I have to get better, for my sister’s sake as much as my own. How can I possibly keep her safe otherwise?
Chapter 11
On the afternoon we’re leaving for China, Mum’s in a complete flap. She’s racing around the house, collecting even more of our clothes to squeeze into an already bulging suitcase. Dad and Min are waiting in the jeep outside. They’ve just dropped Goldie off at Mollie’s house. Dad is getting impatient now. He keeps beeping the horn, which is making Mum even more frazzled.
“Mum, they’re waiting for us,” I tell her as she stuffs raincoats into our suitcase, along with more swimming costumes.
“I thought it was supposed to be hot,” I add. “And I’ve already packed my togs. I don’t need another pair.”
Dad beeps the horn again.
“OK, OK,” Mum mutters. “I’m coming.” She shuts the final suitcase and I wheel it outside while she locks up the house.
Dad gets out of the jeep to load up the boot. “Do you have the passports?” he asks her.
Mum looks anxious for a moment, then rummages in her handbag, pulls out her pink leather travel wallet and opens it. “All here. Plus the tickets and the visas.” She tucks everything safely back into her bag.
“And I have plenty of Hong Kong dollars, Chinese yuan and my credit cards.” Dad gives her a hug. “Stop worrying, Nadia. If we’ve forgotten anything, we can buy it over there.”
It takes nearly two hours to get to Cork airport and then it’s another two hours before we arrive at Heathrow in London, where we will catch the plane to Hong Kong.
The boarding area at Heathrow is brightly lit, with a lot of glass and steel. And it’s so busy! There are people everywhere, bustling along with wheelie suitcases, dozing on the seats, or hunched over playing games on their iPads, or reading.
I spot a Chinese family with a daughter who looks just like Min, although she’s a bit younger, I think – six or seven. I catch the girl glancing at me and Min and then at Mum and Dad. In Ireland, it is me and Min that people stare at because we’re the ones who look different, so it’s funny for Mum and Dad to be examined so closely. To this Chinese girl we must look like a strange family unit, with our two pale-skinned Irish parents. I wonder if she has worked out that we’re adopted.
No one else in my family has noticed the girl. They’re not as observant as me. Being quiet and slipping into the background has its advantages.
Min’s moaning breaks into my thoughts. We haven’t even got on the plane for Hong Kong yet and she’s already complaining loudly. Unlike me, she’s not afraid of making a scene. She’s lying with her head on Mum’s lap and sighing every few seconds.
“This is really boring,” she moans. “When will they let us on the plane?”
Mum strokes her head. “Soon, pet,” she says. “You’re just tired. It’s way past your bedtime. Hopefully you’ll sleep during the flight.”
Min sits up. “Are you crazy? I’m much too excited to sleep. I can’t wait to see all the skyscrapers and the lights. What’s the first thing we’re going to do when we get to Hong Kong?”
“Rest after all the travelling,” Mum says.
Min fakes a yawn. “Boring. No, I mean, the first fun thing?”
“As soon as we’ve checked into the hotel, we’re going to take you to our favourite noodle bar in Hong Kong,” Dad says. “Lucky’s. Then we’ll visit the city on the mainland, Kowloon, and The Peak on Hong Kong Island. The Peak is where we used to live. It’s really
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