AnYi 安亦

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Now send your character to his or her grumpy grandmother’s house for a visit. Write the scene of your character’s arrival.

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A dog barked, dragging her out of her reverie. A thin, middle-aged man in grey uniform appeared from the corner and lifted the barriers at the gate. She tightened the scarf around her neck as he approached.

‘Are you looking for someone?’ said the security guard. He had that same rough tone of all local men, with a hint of wild abandon in every lilt and fricative. Their daily vocabulary was rarely polite – nine out of ten would readily greet your entire family tree, as a comprehensive gesture of insult, affection, and cordiality. She hadn’t heard that accent in years; her gaze fell on his weary face, as if trying to trace akin to her father.

But of course, he had no idea of the untimely sentimental experiment in her head. ‘Are you a resident?’

‘No; visiting.’ She said, still keeping ten metres from the gate. Her face turned expressionless again.

‘Hm, which flat?’ The security guard entered the small reception office and took out a register, with a broken pencil that had what looked like the remains of a rubber top.

‘E1504.’

‘Sure. Give the flat owner a call; let them pick you up here.’

She smiled, an iron-cold one that only extended to the corner of her mouth, never quite reaching her eyes.

‘I am the flat owner, legally speaking.’ She explained in a flat voice, all emotions hidden in her carefully constructed pronunciation. ‘It was my grandmother’s, but she’s dead.’

‘Oh.’ The security guard bit his lips and squeezed out a ‘sorry for your loss’. The momentary awkwardness was saved by a shrill voice calling, ‘Minru! Minru! Here!’

A woman was running towards them. Minru finally let the smile reach her eyes. The dark, ruddy face in front of her brought back some of the only fond memories about this place; she still smelled of spring onions, but it was strange seeing her without the usual flowery apron and washcloths.

‘We thought you’d be another hour!’ she yelled, not giving Minru a chance for greetings. ‘Dear child, how you’ve grown! Look at you! All shiny and glittering! You’ve turned out so pretty!’ she tentatively reached out a hand but stopped half-way. ‘It’s a shame your grandma never got to see you like this – she threw many tantrums in her last days.’

‘Don’t cry, Auntie.’ Minru fetched a packet of tissues from her coat pocket. ‘Is the lawyer here already?’

‘She’s in the flat. Your aunts and cousins are all there too. Minru, I know it’s not my place to say this – but I really can’t bear to look at them, pretending as if they cared! Where were they ten years ago? Your grandma didn’t offend the entire family for nothing; it’s your flat now, don’t let them take it. I’ll still be here when you move back. I can still make your favourite dishes.’

Minru took the old helper’s coarse hand, and smiled a little brighter.

‘I’m never moving back, Auntie. I’m going to sell this place.’