[Zhang's Perspective]
Mum is listening intently to her radio communicator.
"...Hoshiguma." She says.
"Yes, ma'am?" Hoshi snaps to attention.
"There's a situation, uptown, a jewelers." Mum explains. "They need you over there. Urgently."
"Are you sure?" Hoshi asks.
"Yes." Mum affirms. "Here's the address."
She hands Hoshiguma a page from her notebook which was scribbling on.
"Roger." She salutes, then turns to me. "Zhang, enjoy the rest of your birthday."
"Thank you." I reply.
Hoshi smiles, then turns back to Mum. "I'll head there right away."
"Good." Mum says and turns her radio back on. "Hoshiguma has been dispatched. She'll be there soon to assist."
"OH!" Aunty Swire suddenly leaps up.
"What?" Mum glares at her.
"A family emergency." She hurriedly collects her things. "And they need my intuition."
"Oh, I see." Mum sighs quietly. "That's fine, Beatrix. Go ahead."
"Will do." Swire walks over to me quickly. "Have a great rest of your day, Zhang!"
"Thanks." I say. "You too."
She annoyingly ruffles my hair.
"Bye to you as well, Ch'en!" She says before leaving without waiting for a reply.
"Bye..." Mum waves faintly at the empty doorway.
A silence falls over the living room, for a short while.
"...Zhang, you can open some presents now." Mum sounds deflated.
"What's wrong?" I ask, ignoring her statement.
"Nothing..." She mutters in response.
I continue to look at her, unconvinced.
She sighs. "I just...feel bad...for almost missing today."
"Oh..." I shuffle closer. "That's okay, Mum. I understand how busy you are."
YOU ARE READING
The Story of Zhang
FanfictionCh'en has a child as a single mother. However, she immediately realizes the problems of keeping a city stable and parenting a son at the same time. Can she manage it?
