Trafford's Trading Club

Shen Meihuan was surprised and didnʼt dare approach. She looked at the old signboard and knew what her son was thinking.

This place had about 20-30 years of history, only existing in the older folks memories now.

With the development of the city, new entertainment and theme parks had replaced it.

The light was gloomy, and its sign was mottled.

This was the first place she played with her son ever since they came to this city. Their memories were now rekindled…

”Do you remember this place?” She lightly came to her son.

But she got no answer. Her son just stood here, thoughtfully looking at the mottled signboard.

Shen Meihuan impulsively grabbed her sonʼs arm and walked into the arcade. Maybe he would recall his memory there and return to normal.

She was really eager, causing her to quicken her pace.

Many broken machines made the place seem more deserted. Only an energetic old man was skillfully playing the Shot Clock.

The sleepy clerk received the money and gave the coins to her without any feeling.

The quietness and the bad attitude made Shen Meihuan feel lucky--- Nobody would notice her strange son.

Shen Meihuan brought her son to a turtle game to try to regain his memory.

”Do you remember the first time you play it? Well, itʼs a bit different. But at that time, you played here and didnʼt want to go home.”

Still, her son didnʼt give her any response.

She grabbed the hammer to give it to her son, but it fell onto the ground. Shen Meihuan picked it up but the same thing happened again.

Falling and dropping… Again and again, but Shen Meihuan was still persistent and very patient.

Her impatient temper caused by the downhill business did not seem to exist at the moment. Now, repeating this boring action again and again; an action that would annoy other to no end if done by them, she still felt no dissatisfaction.

When her son finally held the hammer, Shen Meihuan was genuinely delighted. Then she taught him step by step how to play the game… Touching her sonʼs hand regained her lost happiness.

She was reminded of his childhood. At that time, she went out of her way to teach him how to walk, how to speak… Every progress of his would let her be happy for a long time.

At this moment, Shen Meihuan suddenly felt that was the happiest time of her life.

Great ambitions for wealth and expectation for her son had let her ignore the purest happiness in the world.

The day he came to this world and the day he slightly touched her hand, how could she forget?

Shen Meihuan suddenly stood still, and her son also stopped playing with the hammer on hand.

She reproached herself and said in a choked voice, ”I shouldnʼt have focused on the business, I shouldnʼt have forced you to study…”

The thought pained her. She was getting a lump in her throat.

Silently crying.

Suddenly the hammer struck on the head of a plastic turtle--- It was her son who did that.

He just struck the turtles over and over again but without any other reactions… However, it was the first glimmer of hope for Shen Meihuan. She surprisingly looked at her son.

…

”Two bottles of Cola, ten dollars.”

”Here you are.”

One hour had passed... And the arcade was about to close.

Shen Meihuan quickly walked toward her son... With eyes focused on him, a sort of satisfaction filled her heart.

Why hadnʼt she had this feeling in recent years?

But soon she stopped--- A woman in a black dress was approaching her.

Shen Meihuan was stunned by the woman she had seen before. But why she came here?

She lowered her head to studiously avoid the woman, but she heard her calling.

”Why donʼt you bury him?”

Shen Meihuan suddenly stopped and hurriedly turned around--- Theyʼve met only once, but why the woman knew that... And what else did she know?

”Who... Who are you?” Shen Meihuan said with alert, ”Why are you following me?”

”Thatʼs not important.”

The woman shook her head, ”I donʼt know why he became like that. But do you think youʼre doing something good? Souls should be at peace. What do you think?”

”You know nothing!” Shen Meihuan frantically said.

The woman sighed, ”I also have children. Theyʼre my life. I totally understand you.”

”Understand... Then donʼt stop me!”

”But you must know, heʼs just a dead body... You will get sick after long.”

The woman continued, ”Listen, he may become a zombie… Thatʼs not what you want.”

Shen Meihuan warily looked at her, ”I donʼt understand you and what you are saying! Please go away! I have lost him before, I canʼt lose him now! You said you understood me!”

”Why are humans so stubborn?”

She laughed at herself, ”Iʼm not qualified to reproach you… Sometimes Iʼm also stubborn. Well, I live upstairs. If necessary, please come to me. But I hope that time never comes.”

”Who... Who are you?”

”Black Water. Iʼm Black Water.” She softly answered.

She hated humans, but she had compassion… as a mother.