The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei by Christina Matula

Author:Christina Matula
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2022-02-10T21:46:42+00:00

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Ah-Lok drops me off at the MTR station. He said he could bring me all the way to Causeway Bay, but I want to be independent and take the subway on my own. The platform at the Ocean Park station is aboveground, clean, and full of sunlight. And I only need to go three stops to my destination with one change. I jump on the train, and the bell trills to signal the doors are closing. A giant, boldly colored ad for whitening cream above a row of seats catches my eye. A doll-like model, who looks almost too delicate and beautiful to be real, holds a bright blue jar in her manicured hand. A speech bubble next to her says Reveal your true inner beauty. I touch my ponytail and subconsciously look toward the doors, hoping no one will notice my tan or lack of makeup. But, when I dare to look around, I notice the girls and women on the train are of a whole variety of skin tones, from light and bright to rich and dark. And all equally beautiful. I guess real-life is a multitude of gorgeous colors.

Rosie waves to me at the station exit, her blond hair in a tight ballet bun, and her pink knapsack over her shoulder.

“I’m famished. Fancy a snack?” she asks.

“For sure. Bubble tea?”

“My ballet teacher is trying to get us to cut down on that.”

“What? That’s crazy.” I look at Rosie’s tall, lean frame.

“I know, right?” She giggles. “But she didn’t say anything about matcha ice cream. The place around the corner makes their own cones.”

I can smell the sweet waffles before I step into the shop. We order two mixed cones, and a man takes one of the freshly made waffle cones out of a stack and pulls a lever for the soft-serve ice cream, and two ribbonlike stripes of vanilla and matcha green tea flow out. The vanilla part is light, not too sweet, and the green tea is richer and leaves a tiny trace of matcha powder on my tongue. Rosie takes me on a tour of the area as we lick our cones. On the various little streets, she points out her favorite places for ramen, sushi, and egg waffles. “There’s where you get char siu bolo bao.” She points to a corner bakery, “We’ll go next time.” We also pass a few boutiques with cheap and cheerful clothes from Korea and Japan.

“That would look so cute on you.” Rosie points to a denim jumpsuit with cap sleeves and a drawstring waist in the shop window. I make a mental note to ask Dad for money to do a little clothes shopping next time. He only gave me money for a new bathing suit, since mine is getting too small and was riding up this morning.

We push through the crowds at a huge department store called Sogo and go up the escalator to the seventh floor, marked Sports. I pick out a one-piece navy Speedo racer-back style with pink and silver stars across the front.

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