Cricket201909

(Lars) #1

“What’s your name, boy?” he says.
“Please... I—I am Li Min Wei.” My
voice comes out in a whisper.
“What’s that? Speak up.”
I say it again, as loudly as I can.
“Hmph,” he grunts. “Darned funny
name. Well, whatever it is, put down them
pa i l s.”
I’m shaking as I set them down. I realize
that the men around us are suddenly quiet.
They are looking at us.


Then Mr. Moran reaches out a big, dirty
hand. “Shake hands,” he says. He points
at my right hand. Slowly I hold it out. Mr.
Moran grabs it and pumps it up and down. I
have seen other men do this here, and I know
it is a friendly gesture. I let out my breath.
I hear the men talking low among
themselves.
“I don’t know what that stuff was you
gave me,” says Mr. Moran. “But it did the
trick. See? No coughing. I can breathe.” He
adds, “Thank you.”
A warm feeling flows all through me. All
of a sudden, I don’t feel tired anymore. I pick
up my pails and for the rest of the long after-
noon, I hurry up and down the line. I hardly
spill a drop of water.
As the sun begins to sink, I can sense
excitement in the air. The men keep work-
ing instead of laying down their tools for the
night. Then, a little ways ahead of me, a wild
whoop rings out.
“Done!” someone cries. The shout goes
up and down the line. “We did it! Wahooo!
Yee-haw !”
Men begin to jump and dance. In the
excitement, Irishmen give Chinese friendly
slaps on their backs. The Chinese grin and
salute them back. I set down my pails and
start jumping up and down, too. I find my
father, and together we join hands, and we
laugh and laugh. Around our campfires that
night, everybody is celebrating.

THE NEXT DAY dawns bright. Today,
the big bosses will conduct a ceremony. Their
Free download pdf