Roots (working title)

Seedling

Spring 2010

Dawn looked to the sleepy figure to her left. Her youthful round face framed by jet black hair, wisps of bangs curtaining her enclosed eyes. Signs of irritation remain etched between her brows. Only 5 hours into their 14-hour flight, they are still a long way away from their destination in Chengdu, China. Hours more of purposely cold silence to bear.

The girl looked so peaceful yet so foreign to Dawn. Having lived together for the past 13 years, Dawn had  had to bid her goodbye this past September as she moved to an out-of-state university as a freshman. The years have not been easy on this girl, Dawn knew. She could tell from her volatile personality accumulated from years of hurtful defiance. Everywhere that Dawn, her husband Samuel and Yuan went, eyes followed. People were not just curious about Yuan's oriental features, in stark contrast to her adoptive parents' blonde hair and blue eyes. They also probed about the slight limp in her walk, a distinguishing feature the people around her knew all to well. Muffled chatter were often testament to these bystanders' curiosity about the family. People wondered why this couple had chosen to give new life to this particular Chinese girl, this girl with unyielding eyes, an awkward walk but was otherwise unremarkable.

"Why do I need to go?" Yuan had asked this question the umpteenth time over the phone, even though she knew her mother's stubborn disposition better than anyone. When Dawn's mind is made up, there is no alternative. They were both to take the red-eye flight to Chengdu the following month. Dawn for the ninth time, Yuan for the first.

The remainder of the flight went by uneventfully. Yuan kept her social interactions minimal, preoccupying herself with music and in-flight movies while Dawn drifted in and out of sleep. When they got off the flight, a group of jetlagged but receptive group was waiting for them. 

"Dawn! You made it! Long trip for you too eh?" A loud voice and bear hug greeted Dawn. Dawn smiled to herself at the familiar friendly face belonging to Ernesto. Although fit to be Dawn's son by age, Dawn has grown platonic liking towards the boyish and perceptive Ernesto over the past few trips. No one would ever have guessed that the 28-year-old Canadian worked as a private detective as his day job. His occupation was especially odd in this crowd of doctors, nurses and occupational therapists.

Like Dawn, this was not Ernesto's first time in Chengdu. He bravely made his first trek at the age of 15, standing alongside his orthopedic surgeon father at the operating table day in and out. Dawn remembered feeling motherly pity for this lanky and frail-looking teen boy, yet he remained doggedly by his father's side despite the blood and bone. The experience did leave its mark on this boy though. He ultimately betrayed his father's wish for him to become a doctor, the only one in the family to do so.

"Ernesto. It's lovely to see you again." Dawn returned the hug and took in his block straight hair, olive eyes and strong jawline. "You've gotten even better-looking than I had last remembered!"

"That shouldn't surprise you anymore." Ernesto beamed cheekily. His eyes shifted to Yuan standing next to Dawn. "Is this who I think she is?"

Dawn nodded. The two of them shared a knowing glance.

Ernesto stretched out his hand. "You are Yuan, right? I've heard so much about you."

Yuan held out her hand and shook his hand weakly. "Nice to meet you. You are?"

"Ernesto. Craptastic private detective by day, wannabe philosopher by night. We're on the same team this year, the rehabilitation team for the orphanage. I have a feeling we'll become good friends."

Yuan stared blankly, not sure what to make of the introduction. She was relieved when Patricia, the team leader, finally called for everyone's attention to board the bus to their residence, the place they will call home for the next 10 days.