"Let's not forget, in this election. Let's vote for Governor Kwong again!" I heard loud applause in the town square after the announcer said those words.
Our little square was so crowded that I was unable to see anything, but my mother gave me the assignment for finding my father in the midst of the multitude. I think they need to cast the net before sundown so they could have an ample time to pull it up on the surface again tomorrow before the sun breaks up and hopefully, the catch will be bountiful.
"Pa.. where are you?" I shouted till I recognized my uncle's face, who I had asked.
"I saw your father representing the fisher folks earlier, dear. Go to the back stage, he's there." My uncle said while pointing to me the direction of the stage and i just followed.
I heard from my mother that it was already the Election season and there were a multitude of Politicians who are running around now to be candidates. I don't understand any of it though. What does it have to do with a Grade five student like me?
Behind the stage there is a tent where a lot of people was convening. It was covered and I had to take a peek until I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure - Papa. Engaged in a conversation with a distinguished gentleman, who exuded an air of affluence and approachability, Standing tall with a welcoming countenance, the man exuded charm and elegance, his features hinting at a life of luxury and sophistication. Papa seemed completely at ease in the man's company.
With shyness, I said, "Pa.." Mom might be upset with me for spending so much time searching for Dad, even if I don't want to. There, I observed a young child sitting on the side as other people around them were making snacks. Maybe to distribute later for the people outside.
"Oh dear, come here." I came closer even though I was shy and dad smiled and held my arms, "Governor, here's my daughter, Orm. Dear, he's Governor Kwong." My father introduced me and I saw the Governor offer his hand so I accepted the hands and shook it. "Can you seat there in the meantime? Just a moment, dear and we are talking about something."
Despite my initial embarrassment, I found myself in a situation where the only chair available was right beside the girl I had noticed earlier. As I settled down next to her, I couldn't help but observe that she bore a striking resemblance to me and seemed to be around the same age. Despite her engrossment in her game, furiously clicking away at the buttons, I managed to quietly take a seat. In that moment, the girl momentarily looked up from her game and flashed me a warm smile, which caught me off guard. It was a fleeting yet pleasant exchange that broke the ice between us, making the situation a little less awkward.
"Hey, do you know how to play Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow?" The girl in the white campaign shirt and denim shorts, complemented by her Converse shoes, asked me with a curious tone. I gently shook my head, indicating that I was not familiar with the game, while noticing her simple yet striking appearance. Despite her youthful demeanor, there was an intriguing mix of kindness and a hint of confidence surrounding her. She explained that she had been in the area for some time and was a bit bored, using the opportunity to promote her father's candidacy, even though I was not yet eligible to vote. "Please let your parents know about my dad and ask them to support his campaign," she suggested with a playful smile. She then extended an invitation for me to play with her Game Boy, her baby hairs delicately framing her face as she made the offer, adding a touch of innocence.
