Children of the Zodiacs

one

Present - Kai

The noises of meaningless chatter and the sellers shouting over the top of one another fills the market square as everyone scurries around to find their groceries. Kai pushes through the crowd trying to find her way to one of the stalls.
The smell of freshly baked bread wafts through the air from the stall in front of her. Her stomach automatically responds and her mouth starts to water. Realizing that she is staring, she glances up and catches the owner of the stall eyeing her suspiciously. Feeling uncomfortable, she unconsciously fiddles with the hem of her shirt. 'Umm, I would like one loaf please,' she says over the noise from the crowd.
The mans' bushy eyebrows press together to form one hairy caterpillar. 'What? I can't hear you.'
Kai feels her face warming. 'One loaf please,' she repeats louder this time but her voice cracks mid-sentence.
The man smirks as though her humiliation entertains him. 'Speak up girl, I can't hear you.'
Her face now burning, Kai says under breath, "Never mind" and briskly walks away from the stall.

'Hey kid, wait!' The man calls after her, his voice showing a hint of remorse. She stops and turns, feigning to be unbothered though the colour of her face says otherwise.
The man sighs with annoyance. 'Relax kid, I was simply teasing. A loaf of bread, right?'
Kai nods with relief, 'Please.'
The man grunts and extends the palm of his hand towards her. She pauses for a moment not knowing what he wants.
'Oh,' she says finally understanding. 'Here.' She takes her savings out of her pocket and places them in his hand. She waits patiently for him to finish counting the coins and when he is satisfied, he wraps the bread and shoves it into her hands. 'Thank you,' she shouts, hoping he can hear her this time, but he is already moving on to his next customer.
Shaking off the feelings of embarrassment and frustration, she makes her way to the market exit.

Hugging the bread, its warmth seeps into her skin as she weaves her way through the crowd. After managing to squirm out of the cluster of people with the bread only a little flattened, she feels her heart slowing down and releases a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She slows down her pace and takes in her surroundings, not ready to go home yet.

'30 years ago, 12 Zodiacs were declared by the Jade Emperor as the Protectors of the empire's regions by competing in a race. The Great Race.'

Kai looks behind her to find a puppet show starting near the exit of the market. A decent sized audience consisting of curious children has already claimed their seats in front of the stage.

'In this race, the earlier the competitors reached the emperor's gate, the higher the rank they would receive, with the first being honored with the title of the Emperor's General.'
The animal puppets are bobbing up and down as the puppeteer exaggerates the movements of the rat and the ox.
'And with the intelligence and knowledge of the Rat and the diligence and the strength of the Ox, they worked together as a team and placed first and second in the Great Race. The Rat, as we now know as the mighty General Shu, having won the race was given the title as the Emperor's General, and to this day he serves His Imperial Majesty and protects us.'
The puppets of the rat and the ox disappear and is replaced by a tiger and a rabbit.

'The Rabbit and the Tiger were competitive and fast, but the Tiger was faster. The Tiger placed third and the Rabbit who jumped over the stream further down the river with his powerful legs was right behind the Tiger. In fifth place came the kind Dragon. The Jade Emperor asked him, "Why didn't you win the race when you are one of my finest soldiers?"' The children giggle at the exaggerated mimicking of the emperor.
'The Dragon replied,' and in a deeper tone the puppeteer continues, '''On my way I saw several villagers that were in trouble. A fire had ignited amidst their crops and they had been surrounded in a circle of blaze. I knew that my spot in the race was on the line, but I could not stand by and watch, so I helped them put out the flames.'''

The puppeteer continues the story telling accompanied with the dancing of the twelve puppets whose movements mesmerized the children. Kai observes the children fondly as she reminisces the memories of her younger self escaping from the boredom of shopping with her mother to watch these puppet shows.

". . . twelve animals of the zodiac had been decided and so concluded the Great Race.' She snaps back to reality and hears the scattered claps made by the crowd, but the puppeteer is not done yet.
'However, there is one more animal that was supposed to participate in the race.' He pauses for dramatic effect. 'The Cat. The Cat had originally formed an alliance with the Rat and the Ox but because of his intense desire to win, he tried to kill the Rat by drowning him in the river. Despite his attempt, the traitorous Cat tripped and fell into the river instead and drowned.' The puppeteer moves the cat so that it dramatically falls head first into the water and begins flailing its arms in a comedic fashion.
A traitor. Kai narrows her eyes and heads home not wanting to hear anymore. As the puppeteers voice fades into the background she hears the words, 'And it was decided that every 30 years from then on, the new generation of the Zodiacs shall compete in the Great Race...'

                                          🐈‍⬛

'Mama, I'm back.'
'Did you get the bread?' Kai's mother does not bother looking up from the pot. 'Here put this on the table.'
'Where's Father?' Kai takes the bowls from her.
'In his room, tell him dinner's ready, will you?'

'Father', Kai taps on his door and waits for a few moments but there is no reply. She lets out a sigh and slides the door open slightly.
The room is dark, but she can faintly see the outline of his clothes and anonymous things left lying on the floor. She looks up and recognizes the silhouette of her father's back with his head bowing over his desk.
'Father,' Kai clears her throat and tries again. 'Dinner's ready.'
She pauses, however knowing that there is no use waiting for his response, she closes the door and walks back to the kitchen.