Finding Myself

There was trash on the floor. Wind blowing through the broken window. I sat there starving, and thinking about a big bowl of white rice. My mouth started to water. Then the next thing I knew there was a knock on the door. It was finally dinner time! I was given my masters leftover rabbit and rice. I ate it all in about two minutes.

All I could think about after my meal was how terrible my life was. I was taken from my family when I was eight, because the emperor, Qin Shi Huang, wanted somebody to learn how to be as strong and powerful as him.

When I first got got to my masters land in the feilds of Xi’an I thought it was a good thing. I thought that I would get the beautiful silk clothing that had just been invented.

But I was given ripped hemp clothing, and straw sandals.

Then I was put in a dirty, smelly, and old home.

Lately I have been trying to find a friend. I sneak out to the city every day and look for someone to talk with. Most of the people I try to socialize with are homeless, because we have something in common. We both have old, ripped clothing. And we both struggle to get food.

One day i was walking in the city, and I found a child. All alone with tears in his eyes. I couldn’t stand seeing him like that. His black hair, black eyes, ripped robe, and straw shoes. There was just some thing about him that I couldn’t let go.

I went home that night and couldn’t sleep. I knew I had to help him. For weeks I saved up rice. Then I snuck back to the city, only to find him begging people for food. I walked up to him said Nín hǎo and gave him some of the rice I had been saving. He was very thankful, but I could tell something was off. He seemed like he was scared of me.

Then he said, in a very sad, weak, and scared voice, “Wh.. who are you?”

I stood in silence. I did’nt know what to say. I could’nt speak.

Later that night so many things passed through my mind. I didnt know why I did’nt answer. It almost seemed like I was intimated. But why? He was very young and I am twenty. Why? Just… Why? I knew I had to make things right and tell him who I was, why I was helping him, and figure out who he was. So I tryed to sneak out. Unfortunetally this time I was caught by my master. He grabbed me by the hand. I didnt know what to do. My heart started to beat. *boom boom, boom boom, boom boom* Then I thought about the sad little boy who needed the rice I was carrying in my sack. Without a single regret in my mind a snatched my hand back and elbowed him. I ran as fast as i could until I could not see my masters land.

When I got to Xi’an, my heart was still beating. But I needed to help this boy. So I walked over to him and said “My name is… Chun. I give you food because… you seem so lonely. What's your name?” He sat there with a smile on his face. Who knew such a simple sentence could make someone so happy. He probably hadn’t had a conversation in a very long time. Then he said “Keung, is my name. Come with me I want to show you something.” Then he took my hand and we ran away from the market that was near. Then we passed part of the YangtzeRiver. Where were we going? I hope that it was somewhere I could make a living because I couldn't go back to my masters home. There is no way I could go back to his home after elbowing him.

It was not long until Keung started to stumble and trip. I said “are you okay?” He nodded and put a big smile on his face.

We got to a private part of the Yangtze River. There were lots of trees. Then he said “Are you thirsty?” I said “I guess” Then he had me make a cup with my hands, and then scoop up some water from the river. After that he put a leaf from one of the trees in the water I had in my hand. He told me too wait until the water became green. So waited and waited. Then afer a while he told me to drink it. I was kind of scared to try it. Was it poisinous? But I drank it anyway. It tasted like heaven! I had never had anything so good.

Later that day he asked me if I wanted to run away with him to Qufu to learn hiw to be a Confucionist. I agreed. I didnt want to go back to the feilds of Xi’an where my master was. But I had to go get my camel back by Keung’s old sleeping area. And food would’nt be an issue because I had saved up all that rice.

So I got my camel, and Keung packed up his things. It all happened so fast. We were actually running away.

When we entered Qufu, Keung and I were amazed. Neither me or Keung had seen such a big city. We were amazed by one temple that caught or eye. It was big and very beautiful on the outside.

We decided to enter the temple. Right when we walked in a man named Siddartha imedietally greeted us. He acted like we had known him for years. Like we were his best friends. He spent all day teaching us confusionism. And after that day had gone by he offered us a home for the night. We accepted the offer right away because we didnt have a home in Qufu. The next day he took us to a grassy area, and we meditated for hours. That night Keung said we wanted to stay here forever.

I told Siddartha what Keung said and he totally changed our lives. He made everyday better and better, and he gave us a permenate home.

This was only the start to our wonderful lives in Qufu.