GOOD OLD DAYS Junkai Gong

Now that I have become a teenager and have settled in the US, my childhood in China seems to be left behind as I walk into a new chapter of my life. But whenever I am feeling down or having a bad day, I always look back at those old days, full of joy and happiness. Each event spoke with a delightful tongue, brightening up my entire day.

There was the smooth, cool feeling of waves brushing my feet on a hot and humid summer day at the beach.

There was the amazement I felt when I first saw the bright red sun rise from where the ocean and the sky collided, creating a purple world.

There was the salty sea breeze I woke up to every morning. The breeze with the scent of seaweed and sand follows me from sunrise to sunset.

There was the chilling sensation of licking a cherry-flavored popsicle. The sweet and sour flavors mixed and exploded in my mouth. Even after a day had passed, the flavor was still staining my tongue.

There was the adrenaline that surged through me whenever I played soccer barefoot in the sand with my friends. Arguments occasionally broke out, but the day always ended with laughter and the scheduling of the next game.

There was the savory scent of dumplings wafting from the kitchen the evening of each Chinese holiday.

There was the joy of playing video games with my friends. Debates about who was the best player transpired every time, but even with all the trash talking and cursing, all of us were filled with happiness at the end.

There was a lively atmosphere throughout the Spring Festival. Fireworks exploded in the background while the whole family ate around a table and reflected on the past year.

Those memories are like what they say, “good old days,” for me.