Chapter Twenty-Four: Shanghai:

Now, we leave Europe and head straight for Asia. First stop on this tour? China, of course. Do they celebrate Christmas? Actually, yes. With no Christian elements though. No, it’s more like Valentine’s Day. Anyway, let’s check in on Sapphire.

Sapphire woke up to knocking on her bedroom door.

“Come on!” her mother yelled. “Get up! It’s time to go!” Sapphire turned over in bed. The pounding on the door didn’t stop.

“Li Wei!” her mother shouted. “Get up now!” Sapphire groaned as she frowned. She wasn’t going to give up, was she? The girl sat up in bed.

“Okay! I’m up! I’m up!” she shouted. Her mother opened the door. She put her hands on her hips.

“Are you going to sleep all day?” she asked.

“No,” Sapphire said. She resisted the urge to complain about being on break. What would be the point? Her mother clapped at her.

“Get moving! We’ve got a busy day ahead of us!” she said. Sapphire rolled her eyes as she forced herself to smile.

“Yes, mom,” she said. The girl rose to her feet and walked out of her room.

Her mother rushed her the whole time.

“Come on!” she said. “Hurry up! We have to get going!”

“Okay, okay!” Sapphire said. “Geez! What’s the rush?” She turned to see her mom frowning at her.

“We have to get to the market,” she said. “You are going to help me cook dinner tonight.” The girl gave her a confused look.

“The family is coming tonight?” she asked.

“Yes!” her mother shouted. “Now hurry up! I want to get the best deals!”

“Okay, okay. Geez!” her daughter said.

“What was that?” the older woman said. Sapphire shook her head.

“Nothing!” she said.

Moments later, Sapphire was dressed and hurried to the front door. Her mother rolled her eyes.

“Took you long enough!” she said. “Come on, let’s go!” Sapphire followed her mother to the car without a single word. This was going to be a long morning, wasn’t it? Sapphire sighed before forcing herself to smile as her mother pulled out of the parking lot.