THE LITTLE PRINCE [70 a 71]

Pag 70

THE LITTLE PRINCE

When I went to sit at my usual place in the middle of the long wooden bench, I was led by my father to the head of the table, where I sat next to Master facing my parents. It was the first time I’d been honored this way since my “honeymoon” years before.

The table, usually bare, had been covered with a rich cloth. The simple dishes of stir-fried vegetables and steamed fish we were used to were nowhere to be seen; you could almost hear the wooden planks groan as they supported platters of roasted duck, huge steaming tureens of tofu-and-watercress soup, pork knuckles braised in soy, and thick yellow noodles in brown sauce. Master had opened a round jug of plum wine and was drinking small cups of it in honor of my mother and my father. In a rare gesture of magnanimity, he even poured tiny amounts in glasses for the big brothers and me, and led us in toast.

“To our special guests, Mr. and Mrs. Chan, who have so graciously provided this feast,” said Master, raising his cup. We drank from our glasses, swallowing the thin brown fluid.  Yuen Tai coughed as the deceptively sweet wine burned its way down his throat, and Biggest Brother broke out into hearty laughter as he slapped his choking friend on the back.

Master ignored the faux pas. “And now, we have a special announcement about our brother Yuen Lo,” he said, returning to his seat as my father rose from his.

“Master Yu,” he said haltingly. “Good students of the China Drama Academy, I thank you for taking care of my son.”

He put his hand on my mother’s shoulder.

“I have come back to Hong Kong to do something I wish I had been able to do years ago…”

I tensed in my seat. This was it.

“I am bringing my wife Lee-lee to Australia.”

Master nodded. The students looked at one another in confusion. And I—I found myself unable to breathe. My mother!

Mom was going to leave. I would be alone, truly anole, for the first time. And as much as I’d been embarrassed at the teasing of the other boys when Mom had visited, I couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her.

I thought back to my earliest memories, of Mom ironing as I played in

Pag 71

the washtub. Of being cradled in her arms as she waved away mosquitoes and sang me to sleep. Of her smile, and soft hands, and gentle voice. I pushed away my plate, barely hearing my father as he continued to talk.

Yuen Lung and the other elder students looked at one another. What did this have to do with the academy?

But my father wasn’t finished.

“And so, Master Yu, I want to ask a special favor of you,” he said. “Since neither I nor my wife will be here in Hong Kong, I would like you to consider adopting our boy as your godson.”

I gave a start and looked up. So did the other students. Adoption!

Master looked at my parents and then at me. “Though he is not the best behaved of my students, I think there is potential in this boy,” he said. “I will agree to adopt him.”

Yuen Lung and Yuen Tai gritted their teeth. Me, the master’s godson! This was too much! But there was nothing they could do. Master had made his decision.

My heart was pounding, and my head seemed filled with noise. What could this mean? I began dinner prepared to pack my bags; now, I found myself being given a position of unprecedented honor.

But one thing was certain.

I was here to stay.

We finished dinner in shocked silence. As the dishes were being cleared and the other students drifted away in groups, discussing the weird new state of events, master took a small red box out of his pocket.

“Yuen Lo, come over here,” he said, opening the box. Inside was a glittering gold necklace. I bent my head, and he fastened it around my neck. “From this day on, you are like a son to me,” he said solemnly. My parents looked on with unrestrained pride.

I guess I should have been happy. After all, I would have my chance to make it on the stage, to win the applause I knew was mine. And I would do it not as a no-name player, a ragged unknown boy, but a Master’s godson—the “prince” of the school. It was a position any of my big brothers would have given their left arms to receive.

But I was beginning to remember the challenge I’d thrown down to Yuen Lung, when I was certain I was on my way out. If he had it in for me before, this would be the straw that would break the camel’s back—and possibly my neck.

I looked at Master. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

I was doomed.