Cheng Shung Yan

Cloud with Salts

One day in the 70s, at the Northern New Territories.  Under the brazing sun, the sound of cicadas intertwined with the rotten smell near the train tracks. The five youngsters could not dismiss the summer blues. They pushed the weeds and stepped on the squirming maggots. They found a decaying dead body trapped under the burning sun. It was oozing a foul stench.  They covered their nose and vomited. Hearing the train whined, the youngsters made up their minds.  Even though they did not have much, they answered the call from the syrup and caffeine. They added colour to their lives with a pinch of salt onto the transparent White Cloud, and they dashed in full strength and leaped up.