Stars for Shancai

Chapter 7

Stars for Shancai

Leaves flutter through the air as the soft wind makes them part from their tree. Jerry walks through the graveyard and looks at the tombstones. In one hand he holds a full bottle of stars.

A leaf flutters down in front of Jerry and lands on the ground...

JERRY: (talking to self) Strange. The shape of this leaf reminds me of a star. Beautiful.

Jerry stops in front of a tombstone that had Shancai's name on it.

JERRY: Shancai... (falls to knees in front of tombstone and bursts into tears) I am so sorry for everything. It's my fault you tried to poison yourself with super-sour, spoiled milk! (sobs)

Jerry stands up and places the jar of stars in front of the tombstone.

JERRY: In death you are not able to forgive me. (tears fall down his face)

SOMEONE: HAHAHA!

JERRY: (turns around) Vic? What's so funny? You make fun of Shancai?

VIC: Jerry, that's my dog's grave!

JERRY: (blinks) You named your dog "Shancai"?

VIC: Yeah... (sniffs) It died a few years ago.

JERRY: ...What's a dog's grave doing in a graveyard?

VIC: Jerry, silly, look at the sign! (points)

JERRY: "The Animal Graveyard". ...Then where is Shancai's grave?

KEN: Shancai never died!

VANNESS: You are so slow!

JERRY: (turns around) Ken! Vanness!

VANNESS: You never checked on Shancai after we took her to the hospital. You just ran outside!

KEN: What an idiot you are, Jerry! (playfully makes punching movement toward Jerry's face)

JERRY: Then...Shancai's still in the hospital?!

KEN/VANNESS/VIC: (snicker) Dude, she's been out for a whole month!

VANNESS: Now she is stronger so she won't do stupid things anymore.

JERRY: (picks up jar of stars) Then where is she?

VIC: (points)

Wearing a white dress, Shancai is standing at the gate of the graveyard.

SHANCAI: What are you four doing there?

JERRY/KEN/VANNESS/VIC: (walk out of graveyard)

Jerry faces Shancai with his head lowered.

JERRY: I...I'm sorry.

SHANCAI: (stares)

JERRY: Um, I finished this. I had been making this for you. (hands Shancai jar)

SHANCAI: (takes jar) (stares)

JERRY: (dramatically) WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?!

SHANCAI: (bursts into tears) WAHHHH!!! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH, JERRY! (runs into Jerry's arms)

JERRY: (holds Shancai tightly) SHANCAIIIIIIIIII!!! MY BABY!!!

KEN/VANNESS/VIC: (giggling) Heehee...

JERRY: (raises head at them) What are you three giggling at? This is an EMOTIONAL experience, people!

VANNESS: We should throw a party for this special reunion between you two!

Later...

EVERYONE: (eating hamburgers)

JERRY: (to Ken) You call a meal at Burger King a party?

KEN: Hey, it was Vanness's idea!

VANNESS: (throws french fry at Ken)

SHANCAI: (staring into jar of stars)

JERRY: You like the gift?

SHANCAI: Yeah. It's beautiful.

JERRY: My soda got flat. I must've stirred it too much. Wait, people aren't supposed to stir soda! Uh oh.

SHANCAI: (leans head against Jerry's shoulder) Strange...they included candy with our meal.

JERRY: Yeah! Free candy with an order of...a lot of money! (shakes head) What candies did you get?

VIC: I got a lollipop, Ken got a peppermint, Vanness got a lemon drop, Shancai got chewy candy and you...Uh oh. You got...chocolate.

JERRY: (stomach gurgles) I think I have diarrhea.

VIC: Quick! Someone give him CPR!

VANNESS: But nothing is wrong with his breathing! Besides, he has stinky breath from eating that hamburger.

VIC: Who said anything about his breathing or his mouth?! Someone give Jerry CPR on his anus!

The End