“Why?” The elder boy asked.
“Because he works at night and sleeps in daytime. Because he is too tired to drive. Because he is going to see a doctor.”
The elder boy became speechless.
“Because of the hornets’ stings?” The little boy asked, with a lessening of curiosity and yet a growing recognition of his disappointed brother.
“Yes, because of the hornets’ stings.” Mei replied in a worn tone.
The door screamed as it was pulled aside. A polished arc was noticeable on the rough concrete floor. With a distant click of the switch, the light was extinguished. The elder boy wandered in the rain while Mei was closing the door with a fi rm, mighty pull. She couldn’t wait to shut the darkness behind her. A heavy layer of grayness blanketed their way home.