Year of the Golden Dragon by B.L. Sauder Page A

your parents didn’t book a room with a view, huh?”
    Hong Mei wasn’t entirely sure what a room with a view was, but she guessed it was one with a better sight than this one had. Outside the window was another large building just a few metres away. An alley was several stories below.
    “No,” Hong Mei said. “But we are lucky to have a room. Chinese New Year is a very busy time of year. And it’s good that our room has a private toilet.”
    “Well,” Ryan frowned as he sat on the bed, “Most hotel rooms do have a bathroom, you know.”
    Hong Mei blushed. She was glad Ryan wasn’t looking at her. He’d taken off his shoes and placed them neatly beside the bed closest to the window. She’d watched him pull back the covers on one of the beds and now he was lying back with a pillow behind his head. He was still rubbing his head.
    “I checked in the bathroom for a toothbrush,” Ryan said. “There wasn’t one.”
    Did he think she had one for him?
    “There isn’t any shampoo either,” he added.
    “Perhaps we can buy these things tomorrow,” Hong Mei said.
    “Why don’t we just call housekeeping?” Alex offered. “They always have things like that.”
    Ryan said, “There isn’t a phone, remember?”
    “Oh, yeah.” Alex tossed his jacket and ball cap down on the floor beside the other bed. “We can go down to the front desk and ask them in the morning. I’m sure you’ll survive not brushing your teeth this once, Ryan,” he said.
    Hong Mei watched Alex plop down onto the bed, ignoring the look Ryan gave him.
    “Are you tired?” Hong Mei asked.
    “No,” Ryan said, stifling a yawn and taking off his glasses. “I just have a headache. Have a seat,” he said, motioning to the stool in the corner. “What time do you think we can go to Nana and Yeye’s tomorrow?” he asked as he stretched out. He undid the top buttons of his shirt and rested his head on the pillow.
    With Ryan’s collar undone, Hong Mei could see a cord around his neck.
    “What?” he asked when he caught her looking at him. “Did I spill something on my shirt?”
    “No,” she said. “I see you wear a necklace.”
    “It’s not a necklace,” Ryan said as he reached into his shirt to pull his jade out. He held it forward a bit for her to see. “It’s a jade pendant . You’re Chinese. You should know all about jade.”
    Hong Mei felt her heart skip a beat. The jade was in the shape of a small, open fan. It looked like hers. “What is carved on it?” Hong Mei whispered, trying to sound nonchalant.
    “It’s the top half of a dragon,” Ryan said. “Alex’s got one, too, with the head of a phoenix.”
    “May I see it?” Hong Mei asked Ryan as she reached a trembling hand in his direction.
    “You mean, take it off and show you?” Alex asked. “No. Sorry, it’s nothing personal. I just don’t like to show it to too many people.”
    “I understand,” Hong Mei said. “It must be very valuable – perhaps more valuable than you know.”
    Ryan left the top two buttons undone, but tucked his jade back into his shirt. He pushed on his forehead with the palm of his hand and narrowed his eyes at her. “You look a bit young to be a jade expert.”
    Hong Mei glanced over at Alex. He was curled on his side, already asleep. “It is only that I think I know where your jade comes from.”
    Ryan yawned. “Oh, yeah?”
    “Yes, it looks like a part of the one that belonged to Black Dragon.”
    “Black Dragon, eh? We heard it was an emperor,” Ryan said, closing his eyes.
    “Yes, but before that time, the jade was Black Dragon’s. It was a gift to him from Nu Wa, the Creation Goddess. He loved her very much.”
    “Oh, that Black Dragon. Yeah, we grew up with that story, too. Our dad translated the legend from an ancient scroll we had. Did your parents ever read that old poem to you? I guess your version would’ve been in Mandarin, huh?”
    “Yes,” said Hong Mei staring down at her feet. “My father made me memorize