Broken China (Part 5) - January (Finale)

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Lanterns in Snow (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Broken China (Part 4) - December

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Apartments in Snow, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Broken China (Part 3) - November

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Yingze Park view, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Broken China (Part 2) - October

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Apartment block, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Broken China (Part 1) - September

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Chinese Tea Pot (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Tell Him He’s Dreaming

An engineer has an environmental epiphany but things don't work out as planned.

Traditional Street, Shangri-la (Zhongdian), Yunnan, China (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Outside-In

Outside-In - Short Story: China in 2050.... the country and economy have changed. A recycler studies for an exam to improve his prospects, and an indentured servant plans her escape.

Shen covers the bruise on her cheek with one hand.  Her normally friendly face is expressionless and she does not raise her eyes when Jiang greets her.

“Tian-ah.” exclaims Jiang, “What happened?”

She does not look up, just holds out the recycling. She wears simple but well-fitting clothes and her hair is tied in a ponytail with a bright red ribbon.

“Did you argue with your foster mother?” he asks softly.

               She nods. “She tells me I will stay until I am twenty two. The maximum allowed. Only then will my debt be repaid...” Her voice trails off.

He picks up the bundle of newspapers and magazines, hooks them onto his weighing stick and calculates the money. He adds a little extra and hands it all to her.

Recycler, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M Griffiths)

Winds of Change

China, 2022. A migrant worker struggles to realise his dreams and fulfil his family obligations in a world affected by the ongoing global financial crisis and resource scarcity...

 
 

Apartments under construction, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M Griffiths)

“I used to love Spring Festival.” Yang said as he frowned at his glass of beer. “Now I am starting to hate it. Every time I go back my parents tell me I must go home to the farm and get married.”

               “Bummer.” said Josh. “At least I don’t have my parents on my case. Just a huge debt hanging over my head.” He brushed his hair back from his face and stretched his legs out under the Formica table. Beside them on the wall of the small restaurant faded posters advertised various brands of drinks. Bottles of Tsingtao beer and two small glasses stood on the table between them.  

Yang pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He slipped the packet back into the pocket of the thick jacket draped over the chair. It was designed to keep the cold winter of North East China at bay. It was more than adequate for the milder temperatures of coastal Jiangsu province, just north of Shanghai. “What about you? When will you go back to your home?” he asked Josh.

 

 



Robots on Mars

Robots on Mars – Set in 2025. A space-mad city boy adjusts to life in the country and tries to solve a mystery.    (Note: no actual robots or Martians involved)

Kangaroos, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Photo: M Griffiths)

Grandad used to talk a lot about the good old days but when they came again he stopped. Then he started talking about the bad old days instead.

The bad old days aren’t much fun. I know because I’m living them now. We came to live with my uncle and aunt on their farm. We left our house in Brisbane, got rid of most of our stuff, and packed everything else into our car and a trailer and drove to north Queensland. It was the longest, slowest, most boring trip ever. Luckily I had my video game player.