Coming of Age
Photo
My son was being pestered by another boy.
The teacher called and asked me to come to the school.
When I arrived, he shouted at me for the first time. “Mom, what’s wrong with me liking boys?”
I looked at him, feeling neither anger nor resentment.
I crouched down and asked him in a low voice, “Then how can you be sure that you like boys?”
Love Heart
Ten years after graduation, at a class reunion in Beijing, I saw him again.
Among a group of male classmates nearing thirty and starting to put on a bit of weight, he still looked as young and handsome as ever.
We sat far apart at the table and didn’t exchange a single word.
When the reunion ended, a light rain began to fall, and I hurried to leave.
To my surprise, he stopped my car.
“Xiao Shan.” His eyes were just as clear and transparent as they had always been.
Perhaps it was because of the rain, but there seemed to be a faint hint of urgency in his voice.
“Could you… give me a lift?”
