Childhood Companion

After 10 years, he finally came back to where he spent his childhood years. The same old coconut trees lined the road; the same old wooden houses, but cars now decorated them.

The old tree, still stood strong and firm. He sunk comfortably under the shade. This was his favorite spot, where he spend all his memorable days here. Days when he read here, played here, picnicked here...

A small round face with bright alert eyes popped into his memory. He was 10 years old then, playing by himself under this tree when another boy came along. He had never seen this boy before, with the kind of clean looks indicating that he probably doesn't play outdoor much. But he had a mischievous and determined look on his face, daring anybody to look down on him. Somehow he felt irritated by the new boy watching him play.

"Hey, you over there! Wanna go catch some fish?" The next thing, they were splashing in the river nearby. The other kid was a city boy who came to stay with his grandparents for his two-month holidays. Somehow, he never quite remember his name.

Deep down, he was happy to have a companion. In his village, the other kids were either too old or too young, or they were all girls playing dolls. That was why he always spend his time alone under the tree. The new boy made his life more colorful. Finally, he could race someone to the river, tear down the fields, chase the chicken. They did everything boys do together, they tried to beat each other in something some way. He still remember the time when the new kid came to his house for lunch. They began wolfing down the food, trying to see who can finish the most food in the shortest time.

He had always expected city kids to be slow in sports and less adventurous, but this kid caught up real fast. Sometimes, he felt so humiliated to be beaten by a city boy, but he couldn't help respecting him as well. Most city kids he had seen are often too nerdy or too feeble, but this one really got the stuff in him.

The fun days are often far too short. Two months passed by just like that. Just that day, the city boy tried to bid him farewell, but he sulked in his room. Half of him wanted to see city boy off, the other half of him was angry and reluctant to accept that his only companion is leaving him for good. When he finally raced down the road to see city boy for the one last time, all he got was the scattering dust that stung his eyes.

City boy never came back again. Every time when he was reading under the old tree, he looked up expecting to find the roundish face staring intently at him. But each time he was disappointed. Years passed by, even he had grown up and moved away. There was no way the city boy could ever find him again...

Sensing movement nearby, he opened his eyes. Right in front of his face, a roundish face stared at him. He leaped, startled. The owner of the face laughed, long hair tumbled down either sides of her face, a familiar mischief played on her face.

Much has changed, but the round face and alert eyes remained. He wouldn't have recognized her if it wasn't for that laugh. He could have had a heart attack on the spot. No, this couldn't be... This shouldn't be...

City "boy" turned out to be a girl. Her grandparents were the conservative type. It seems that her father had walked out of the house when his parents did not approve of his love. They lost contact with each other until that year when the dying grandfather pledged to see his only grandchild. However, being the conservative man as he was, he was hoping to see a grandson but she was the only child. So they disguised her into a boy to console his dying soul.

Luckily, she had never always been brought up like an ordinary girl. Her parents always wanted her to participated in different activities, shaping into her some tomboyishness and adventurous spirit.

Although "he" was in fact a girl, from the look she gave him, he knew that his childhood companion has always been there.

"So, gamed for a race to the river?" It was as though many, many years ago when two kids chased each other to the riverbank...