chapter 3

That was right. I was about to start first grade.

Someone had donated money to the town and built a new school. Dad bought the scooter because the new campus was farther away and he needed it to take Shen Yue and Shen Xing to school.

Only on the first day of classes did he remember that I was old enough to go too.

That morning, Shen Xing stood beside the back seat without climbing on. He looked at me, then at Dad.

Dad began cursing. It was the same old rant about Mom listening to foolish advice and wanting cord blood.

Shen Xing hesitated.

But he had just taken me to get my new haircut. How could I make things hard for him?

So I dashed out of the yard first.

“Race you!” I cried.

The school was so far away!

But as I ran, I tried opening my mouth. The wind really did rush in. I opened and closed my mouth, having the time of my life.

Then I ran into Cheng Xiaoyu on his dad’s scooter.

He had his mouth open too.

Uncle Cheng stopped and asked if I wanted to climb on.

I was afraid Cheng Xiaoyu would see through me, so I said I did not want a ride. I wanted to find out whether I could run as fast as the scooter.

Cheng Xiaoyu clenched his fists and said nothing.

Then he jumped down.

“I don’t believe you can run faster than me!”

He lined up beside me in a starting stance.

Years later, whenever I remembered that moment, I was endlessly grateful to Cheng Xiaoyu.

We raced through the school gates with our teeth bared in huge grins, and I suddenly understood something.

If I ran fast enough, no one would have time to leave me behind.

My teacher was a pretty young woman who spoke with the polished accent of a television news anchor.

The boy behind me poked my back.

“Why does Ms. Yang keep looking at your seat? Can we switch?”

I looked at Ms. Yang. She turned away, smothering a laugh.

I pretended nothing had happened, then whipped around to look at her again.

Once more, she turned away, trying not to laugh.

I spent the entire day preoccupied, devising one good pose after another for secretly watching my teacher.

At last Ms. Yang could not hold it in anymore.

She came over, her eyes curved with laughter.

“May I take a video of you? Don’t be scared. I’m not calling your parents. I just think you’re adorable.”

She smelled so nice.

I hid my grubby little hands behind my back and barely dared to breathe.

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes, all right?”

The boy behind me poked me again.

“If you don’t want to, move! Ms. Yang, film me!”

She straightened, unable to hide her smile.

“I’ll film everyone. It’s an assignment from the school.”