T’s Story: I’m Not Turning Back Part 1

The first time Xie Lu held a gun was on a summer day when he was 10 years old.

He was off school for the summer holidays.  His dad was busy running the restaurant, and his mom was gone all day and night.  As usual, he was sent over to his Grandpa’s home at the countryside and wouldn’t be picked up until the school year started again.

But this was Xie Lu’s happiest time of the year.  At the countryside, there were little fishes and shrimps, and many eggs.  There was also his grandpa, who accompanied him all the time.  The countryside was barren, but Xie Lu ate happily and fully at every meal.  At night, he and his grandpa would lie on the bamboo bed.  Xie Lu would recite his favorite hero story from his books to his grandpa.  His grandpa would smile listening, praising his good memory, intelligence, and ambition.

Only the gossips that he heard from the neighbors every now and then made him upset. Read more