4b

Then the boy jerked his head away from the stall and Barbara nodded. Following him would be far more interesting than going back to spend the afternoon typing. Somehow the boy seemed safe and Barbara trusted her instincts. He led them to a less traversed but still fairly crowded corner where it was more pedestrians and less vehicles.

"Hau che, mah?" Good eats? She nodded, aware that her breath now carried a trace of the aroma. "Good, good." Surprised for the first time today, Barbara wondered where the boy picked up English. He could barely speak Cantonese, yet his English was spot on? Strange.

"Ngu sz Sun Wun Ming. Beh ning chiao ngu Jimmy. Ngu yi sz che St. Joseph's dok sze guh. Ngu ah chia luh nung bak bak guh hoh dong dok sze. Leh yee duh, ngu kew chee nung ah chia, soo yi shao duh nung yuh ah chia. Mmm-muh siang duh weh duh leh tse di kew chee nung."

I am Sun Wun Ming, but others call me Jimmy. I went to St. Joseph's [in Shanghai] to study. My elder sister went to your father's school. There, I've seen your elder sister, that's how I knew you have one. Never thought I'd see you here.

"Gah tsioh," She chuckled.

"What's so strange?" he looked at her puzzled.

"Your name! It sounds the same as my sister's. Wun Ming." "Yi yang, guh!" she repeated for emphasis.

"Oh really? It must be fate, then", he laughed. "Can you bring me to go see her?"

Barbara stepped back, giving Jimmy a hard look. "Why should I trust you?" But seeing immediately the sadness that descended at her words, she quickly said, "But there is a way you could see her. Start going to my church." and she gave the address to him. "She plays piano for the children during the first service, then she goes and listens to the sermon at the second service. I suggest the second service."

Leaving him at the corner with his mouth open, she ran away yelling back, "Thanks for the stinky tofu....!"

[349 words]