Spilled Water by Sally Grindley

Author:Sally Grindley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2009-11-14T05:00:00+00:00

Mrs Hong saw what was happening to me. Occasionally, at meal times, I would catch her look of consternation as she glanced in my direction.

‘Are you sure you’re not overworking this child?’ she asked from time to time. Or, ‘Lu Si-yan is looking very pale and thin. Perhaps she needs a few days’ break.’

But, on seeing his wife’s pursed lips, Mr Chen would reply, ‘I’m sure my wife knows what she is doing, Mother. Please don’t interfere.’

Mrs Chen rarely left me alone in the apartment with her mother-in-law. She would arrange for a carer to come in and look after Mrs Hong’s needs whenever she went out. In that way, any contact with my sole sympathiser was kept to a minimum.

One day, though, Mrs Chen had to go into town unexpectedly and left the two of us alone.

Mrs Hong came to find me. She pressed some money into my hand.

‘Take it, child. I know you’re in training, but I think you should be paid something for all that you do, even if we feed and house you.’

I was astonished. I could feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes.

‘Thank you, Mrs Hong. That’s very kind of you.’ Then, without thinking, I said, ‘I shall send it to my mother.’

It was Mrs Hong’s turn to be astonished.

‘But your mother’s dead, dear.’

I didn’t know what to say then. I muttered something about being confused, and hoped Mrs Hong would go away. But instead she said, ‘You’re very unhappy here, aren’t you, Lu Si-yan?’

She looked at me piercingly and continued, ‘She can be a little hard, my daughter-in-law. She was devastated when she discovered that her one and only child was brain-damaged at birth. She has never come to terms with it, wants someone to blame, and is desperate for Yimou to be normal. Of course he won’t ever be, but he’s such a sweetheart. The trouble is, my daughter-in-law simply can’t cope with the burden of him.’

She stopped herself then and tutted. ‘You are only a child, and I am speaking out of turn like old women do sometimes, but I hope that by understanding her pain you will judge her less harshly.’

‘I miss my home,’ I said.

‘Come, I will make you tea and you shall tell me about your home.’

Mrs Hong sent me to sit down in her room. I didn’t protest, I needed so much just to do nothing for a few minutes. I hadn’t the energy to worry about Mrs Chen’s reaction were she to find out.

‘Where does Yimou go during the day?’ I asked, when Mrs Hong returned with a tray full of tea and cakes.

‘He works for his father. Simple jobs that keep him busy and make him feel important.’

I nodded, wondering again if this was the moment to let Mrs Hong know of the plans being made for me.

‘You are full of unspoken thoughts, Lu Si-yan. Tell me about your family.’

So I told her. About Father and his love of life, the way he sang as

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