The Visit

"Alright people, listen up." Ms. Peng clapped her hands to gather the students' attention. "This might be the most important task I've ever given you students." She spoke in a solemn tone, her eyes wide. I looked at the people around me — even in the coldest time of the year, no one dared to make their exhaled air a cloud of white gas in front of Ms. Peng. We just waited patiently for instructions.

"In exactly one week, Mr. Teoh will come to our school from the capital. He might be the most important person you will ever meet. What you need to do as the student committee is to organize a group performance that emphasizes the unity and harmony of our nation."

Mr. Teoh was a legendary character. I used to read about the glorious triumphs he had in the civil war, fighting valiantly against the Kuomintang armies. I admired him a great deal and immediately felt honored when Ms. Peng uttered his name.

"The sunset looks different today," Tian said after the meeting. We stood in the cold, shivering.

I looked up at the fiery clouds as the sun vanished. "It is later than usual."

"Do you think we can pull this off? Seven people organizing an event this big?"

"Of course," I said firmly. I looked at his face full of excitement but also doubt. "Have some confidence, Tian. I already have ideas, like recreating some of his battles. We can discuss more tomorrow morning before school starts. Let's meet here thirty minutes in advance." I waved at Tian and left.

On my way home, the sun gradually disappeared behind me, and the wind bit at my cheeks. But even at this time, the streets and alleys were still flooded with people walking to their evening jobs. God knows why adults were always in a rush — just like my parents. Fortunately, my father and mother worked during the day. They would usually leave the house around the same time I went to school but they came back much later than I did.

However, today wasn't the usual case; I would get home after they did. I could already imagine my father's suspicious tone. "Where have you been?" I knew he worried about me — probably thinking I was rebellious enough to sneak out on the streets and read forbidden books — but he didn't have to be concerned. I had been a student committee member since middle school and had already organized countless ceremonies and performances for important government officials. I loved this work. Every time I shouted out a command, every time I watched my own creation come to life on stage, I felt my chest swell with pride. If my father had witnessed any of my achievements with his own eyes, he'd seen what a strong and dependable leader I was. Most of all, he'd understand my loyalty to our nation.

I pulled my right hand out of my pocket, knocked on the door, and put it back to keep it from getting frozen. The door creaked open. My mother stood there frowning. "Come on in," she said.

Once inside, my hands swelled up as I warmed them over the hot stove. The smell of charcoal burning emanated from the stove and I tried to bury my nose in my sleeve to avoid it. " I see you came home late," she said, "and empty-handed. You know neither your father nor I have the time to get herbs for dinner."

"I know, mother," I said. It was normally my job to collect them before coming home. Tonight because of my school meeting, it had been too late for that. "Ms. Peng held the student committee members after school to help us begin a new performance for Mr. Teoh."

She paused for a moment and asked, "the Red Army lieutenant?"

"He used to be. Yes. Now he is a member of the Youth League."

"Fine," she said, but her face suddenly looked worried. After a brief moment of awkward silence between us, she said, "The corn mush is on the other stove."