The Melting Pot

by Christopher Cheng

  ‘These,’ he exclaimed to Rose as the contents of the jar were revealed ‘will stay here in my office for those evenings when I am working long into the night.’ Rose looked pleased. But I knew that as soon as Rose left the sweet meat treats would be shared. Maybe even at dinner. We all enjoy eating these.

  Once again Father asked me to walk Rose to the tram. Once again I did as requested.

  ‘So that was Rose,’ exclaimed Elizabeth as I walked in the store. She had returned. ‘She seems such a sweet girl. Just the right type of girl. Yes,’ she said when I turned, staring at her. ‘I saw you two walking to the tram stop. The stop towards the harbour is closer,’ she said teasingly. ‘I half expected that the two of you were about to grab hands, I did, you were walking so close to each other. I swear you were breathing the same air.’

  Thankfully Mother heard Elizabeth and told her to mind her own business.

  ‘Yes Aunty. But I do say that that Rose is a lovely girl,’ she whispered that last part so that only I could hear.

  Elizabeth stayed for dinner with us tonight and we did have some of the sweet meats and Elizabeth did not even complain. When she was leaving she asked Father if I could walk her to the tram.

  ‘Not tonight,’ Father replied. ‘But I will walk you to the tram as it is too late for you to be walking that far alone. I am sure that you will feel safe in my presence.’

  ‘Make sure you two go to the nearest tram stop,’ I called as they stepped out. ‘Not that way. The one closer to the harbour, silly.’

  Father returned. He thinks that Elizabeth is jealous of Rose. ‘All she could talk about was Rose and the sweet meats and you. But never fear Edward, I have spoken to her and I am sure she will not be a concern any more … at least not for a little while.’

  Thank goodness.

  Sunday, 5 June

  Church, Sunday lunch, reading the papers, walking along George Street down to the Battery and back home. That was all. Now this book and now bed.

  Monday, 6 June

  I enjoy being with Father in the store. Now I will spend more time here and less at school. Today we were counting stock again. There was one good thing about school. I don’t see Elizabeth as much so I don’t have her prying questions.

  Today was weird. Elizabeth seems to have risen from the wrong side of the bed, or someone clocked her on the head on the tram travelling to our store. Well that is what I thought at first.

  ‘Morning Aunty and Uncle,’ she announced as she entered the store. That was normal. ‘Morning Edward.’ That was very un-normal.

  Father, Mother and I were all stunned. I had become used to hearing her call me Eddie so to hear her say Edward was surprising. She asked if I was staying home and again I feared another inquisition.

  ‘No. I am just wasting my time here pottering around the store sweeping the floor and counting spiders. Of course I am.’

  ‘No need to be so spiteful,’ she responded, and so did Mother. ‘Edward. Please.’

  I told her courteously that I was not attending school. I would be working with Father in the store, especially as Mr Lee was away inquiring about a new leasehold. Immediately Elizabeth was into the kitchen and starting her morning duties. Something is wrong with Elizabeth. Last time she was like this her mother was sick.

  Friday, 10 June

  Father attended the wharf this morning and as Mr Lee was back and able to oversee the store Father asked me along. I enjoy the wharf visits but Father spoiled this one. He asked Elizabeth to come too.

  When we got there she stood right in front of the men who were moving across the roadway. Not intelligent 1. Then she started wandering off around the wharf without informing anyone. Not intelligent 2. Then she nearly fell into the water. Not intelligent 3 … especially if you can’t swim.

  ‘I just wanted to have a look what was over the edge,’ she replied when I yelled at her to come back. ‘It was the horn blasting that surprised me,’ she exclaimed.

  She was more than surprised. I have never seen anyone jump so high. When she jumped she nearly jumped over the edge. She came back to the roadway. She was shaking so we sat near a warehouse with views across the wharf and over the bay. And we talked.

  ‘You know I wasn’t trying to be a tease when I was stirring you about Rose,’ she said.

  ‘Yes you were,’ I replied. ‘You just wanted to see my response.’

  ‘But I did not mean any harm.’

  ‘Maybe, but it wasn’t fun.’ And for the first time another side of Elizabeth. She says that I have it easy with my family life and our living.

  ‘I don’t understand why. I try to understand what Father says about Chinese and then I remember what Mother says about Chinese and then I think that if Ma’s health does not improve Pa won’t let me come around anymore.’ Her mother is really sick. She might die I think. And she also told me that the money she earns, her father takes it, not to bank like Father does. He keeps it. We talked some more until Father appeared. He was surprised to see us together and not arguing. ‘Who am I going to talk to when you aren’t here? What am I going to do Eddie?’ She was sincere. This was not joking.

  Teasingly I told her that she could travel with me to China. ‘Father could arrange that for you and you won’t have to go through customs and get certificates of domicile … not with the colour of your skin and the shape of your eyes.’

  ‘I couldn’t,’ said Elizabeth. She thought I was being serious. ‘Then they will all talk about how different I am when I can’t wear those Chinese clothes and they will poke fun at me because I won’t be able to understand anybody and I will have to learn your Chinese and I will look so different.’

  ‘Yes. That could be a problem,’ I replied sarcastically. ‘It must be uncomfortable being in a strange land worrying about how you will be treated, how you will fit in.’

  Saturday, 11 June

  I remember something that Elizabeth said yesterday about her mother dying and then her father making her stay at home. And taking her money. Mother says it could be for lodgings but the way that she said it I don’t think so.

  Elizabeth’s mother has the plague, at least that is what her father thought. He was furious at Elizabeth for being the one who made her mother sick and he was furious at her mother for demanding that Elizabeth be permitted to work at our store. When the doctor told him that it wasn’t the plague he still blamed our family for making her sick—but then he sent her back here to work.

  Thursday, 16 June

  I am not a hero but everyone says that I am. I was only doing what any person should do, diving into the water to save the person. Just because she is a girl and that girl just happens to be my cousin should make no difference. Even Father called me a hero and he said that this selfless act would do more to bridge the divide that exists in this country. But I was only doing what was right, what he tells me is right. Every life is valuable. Every life is worthy. Every life is worth saving. Now I am Chinese—the papers say that I am. ‘Chinese boy saves white girl’ was the headline.

  She still is foolish, my cousin. This time when Father entered the store we sat together, but not for long. Elizabeth stood by the edge again. She wanted to see the tide and what was in the water. She leaned over the edge. I have done this too but I have always been lying on my stomach. Elizabeth, she had to stand and lean and look … and when the horn trumpeted she fell. I could see it happening. As she leant over the edge and the horn blasted, I was on my feet and when she hit the water I was rushing to the edge.

  There was no decision to make. I did not look around for assistance. I jumped straight into the water. I can swim. Elizabeth cannot. Elizabeth is family. I jumped.

  It wasn’t until I was free of the ground and leaping into the harbour that I wondered about the tide, I hope it is high, I wondered too what else might be right where I was about to land. And I thought about the damage I could do to Elizabeth if I landed on her. Fortunately I missed. I hit the water hard; I thought that I was smashing into her. I cou
ld not see Elizabeth at first. She was already under the water. Then she was bobbing up, gasping for air and spitting water and then under again. I tried to grab her but I missed. Again she was up and frantically slapping the water attempting to remain afloat. She scratched my head and then she grabbed my shirt and then my floating queue. She grabbed it. She yanked it. I yelled in pain, or maybe fright, then I hit her hard not out of spite but to take control. She was still throwing her free arm around. I hit her again and she flopped. I grabbed her and pulled her to the pylons. It seemed to take forever; my cousin with water-laden clothes is very, very heavy. Men had lowered ropes over the edge and one was climbing down. He grabbed hold and we were both hauled up to the wharf and being rubbed down.

  That is all that I remember of swimming in the harbour. It was over so quickly. Father saw the commotion at the edge. He ran fast when he could not see us. He hugged us both but he smothered me with kisses—in front of all the men. We did not walk from the wharf back to the store. We travelled the tram leaving wet puddles on the seats.

  Father went with Elizabeth all the way to her house so that her family would know exactly what happened. I went to bed very early. I was so very tired. Mother fussed and brought me hot drinks and rubbed me down again and then completely tucked me in. Everyone is sleeping now as I write.

  Friday, 17 June

  I have not been much to school at all these past few weeks and today is the last day of term. Father went though. Many people there had already heard of my heroic exploits and wished me well in China. The principal even said that he hoped that I would return to the school to conclude my education here when I return from China. They would be very proud to have me.

  I told Father that I did not wish him to intervene and cause trouble for me at the school. Now that I am not there he decided that he could talk with the principal, especially about the attitudes and feelings towards Chinese … although Father did not mention the word Chinese. He used ‘people of different appearance’, I am sure. The principal promised that there will be changes. I joked to Father that it might not be in my time though!

  I was tired after yesterday. I did not sleep well. Elizabeth did not come today. She too is resting.

  Monday, 20 June

  I spent all day pottering. That is the only word that I could use for what I was doing. I did not do much at all or even know who I assisted. Elizabeth has been here. She is quiet.

  Her mother is really ill but since I saved her (that seems really funny to write) there has been even more of a dramatic change. A few times she even bowed to me as Chinese people do when greeting each other. That made me feel so very uncomfortable

  ‘Please don’t bow,’ I said.

  ‘It is respectful.’

  ‘Yes but you are family and you don’t see any of my family bowing to each other. I joked that I liked her better the old way. When I knew that she would tease me.

  She giggled. I laughed.

  Friday, 24 June

  I supervised the store while Father was out. When he returned a few hours later he announced that he had tickets for my passage. I am departing in a week. I will accompany Rose. By the time that he had finished telling me he was already in his office.

  I did not know what to say. Should I be pleased? No because I am going to China. Yes because I do not travel alone. No because it is soon, very soon. How can I go so soon? Fourth Uncle has not arrived here yet. Elder Brother and Sister are still in Hong Kong. Why am I going there already?

  ‘Rose is very lucky to have you accompanying her to China,’ Elizabeth told me when she brought me a pot of cha. I did not ask her to make me the cha. I did not ask her to come into the store. She has duties in the house. I want to be alone and think.

  ‘Thank you for the cha. Just leave it there,’ I said pointing to the counter top. I tried to ignore her flicking the abacus, pretending I was working. I did not want her standing around me. She waited. I looked up. She was still there. My face had a questioning look. I wanted to say, can I help you, or what do you want or simply yes. I poured myself a cup.

  ‘Chek Chee,’ she paused, I didn’t respond. ‘Edward,’ I didn’t respond … this was a slow pause, ‘Eddie,’ I looked up in response. ‘I do not understand a lot about Chinese people.’ She was correct there. ‘My pa tells me one thing, my mother does not say much except that she is happy that I am with family, and yet when I am with your family I see another thing. What am I to do?’

  ‘What do you see? What do your eyes tell you?’

  ‘Not what Pa tells me.’

  ‘Then maybe your father is wrong.’

  ‘But why? Would you tell your pa that he was a liar and wrong if you saw something different to what you were told? How can so many people be wrong?’

  What could I say to her? I do not know what I would do if I was her. I did tell her that there are many people here who think as her pa does about Chinese people. Too many people do not open their eyes and see what is around them. They do not bother to get to know Chinese people. It has been this way since the Chinese people arrived. Federation has not helped Chinese people at all. Maybe it will always be this way.

  ‘But they don’t hate them. They just don’t like them.’

  ‘They might not like them but look at the things that they do. Look at what they say to the Chinese people.’ We talked about her mother wanting her to work here not just for the money but so that she could see family and see how Chinese people really are. Not what she is told.

  ‘Father says that it is people like you and me who will change attitudes, who will bridge the divide.’

  ‘But Chinese people speak a strange language.’

  ‘That is such rot. You listen to Father. He speaks the same language as we do. He had to learn Chinese and English.’

  We talked for ages it seems, in between the customers that I served. I do not remember drinking the cha but the last mouthful was very cold. And then we talked about the worst thing that Father did. People like Elizabeth’s father fear this above everything else, even above taking the jobs of the big-noses. He married my mother.

  Elizabeth had a questioning look on her face. ‘He stole one of their women and even worse than that he has polluted the race.’ I giggled. ‘Isn’t that strange? I am pollution.’ Elizabeth wasn’t sure whether she could laugh, I could tell. A smile started to spout on her face and then was quickly brought under control.

  ‘It’s all right. I think that it is funny. I used to not think so but now I just see the stupidity of it all. I am proud of who I am and what I am. I just wish that all the other people could see past the way people look to what is within them. Your father probably won’t change and you can’t expect him to. That is what Mother tells me. He is too set in his ways like many big-noses (we both laughed when I used that phrase again) but he has never lived with the Chinese, you have, sort of. Use your experiences to form your own opinions and if what your father has told you is wrong, well you will know.’

  That was our conversation—and no arguments. Elizabeth had duties to complete and many customers had arrived. Did I say the right words to her? I think so. Will she change her opinion of Chinese people? Maybe she has already. She has it much harder than I. She has to live with her father’s opinions and thoughts and work with us. Father is correct. It is me and those like me who will bridge the gap. I just hope it happens soon. I expect that it is good I am going to China. I do not want to go but I need to learn more.

  Finally, as she was leaving the store and entering the rooms she turned to me ‘And Eddie …’

  ‘Hummm,’ I muttered, which I realised was just the way Father often replied.

  ‘I’m sorry for …’ she paused. Sorry for what, I wondered?

  ‘Well, sorry. And Eddie, thank you for what you did last week.’

  Thursday, 30 June

  Recent days have been very uneventful. Elizabeth has been bringing cha to me in the store each day and we have been conversing very properly. She has been asking many
questions about Chinese people. I tell her what I know. She has been talking to Mother even more.

  But today it was Elizabeth providing words for me to consider. She told me that looking at animals is amazing. The birds fly in flocks and perch in trees with other types of birds and they live in harmony. And the fish in the ocean, they swim around, all different kinds in one big school.

  ‘Unless one of them is hungry and very big,’ I added. She stared at me, hands on hips.

  ‘And dogs of the same kind, yet different colours. They live happily and they even have puppies of different colours.’ And she paused a while. ‘Is that not amazing and wonderful?’ Then she left smiling.

  Friday, 1 July

  This is it. Tomorrow I shall be on the wide open seas with many other travellers. Tomorrow I am sailing on a steamer for China with Chinese people. Tomorrow I sail for a land I know little about and people who are strange to me … and yet they are familiar too.

  Tonight Mother and Father decided we would have a celebratory dinner. I chose the menu. Elder Brother never had a farewell like this. We ate splendidly. What was most surprising was that cousin Elizabeth and her mother arrived for the meal.

  Tonight as I retired to my room to write this final entry Father presented me with a gift. Not even Elder Brother was presented with a gift like this. Father requested his jeweller to fashion a pendant for me. I am to wear it always. It is formed from the gold Father received from his uncle on the goldfields. It is a dragon interwoven with my Chinese name. ‘For good luck,’ he whispered. We hugged. I kissed Father. Father left the room, tears in his eyes. I cried too.