18
Clyde's hair was beginning to look like a mane, and I thought I would venture out (January 6th) to a nearby barber, but early in the morning a gentleman living near dashed in to say that there were placards posted down town that all British and Americans were to report to Murray Parade Ground by noon. As we had had so many rumours, we decided that one of our party should go to town with Ma who would bring back word. In the meanwhile, we collected our bedclothes and packed them in the pram. We put our tinned goods in the doll's pram, and as much as we could we piled on Clyde's wagon. I put Dad's short fur jacket on Clyde and an old fur coat on myself because I did not know where we were going and the nights were cold. Ma came back at 10:30 with a note to say the report was true. The distance was a good three miles through the city streets. So we set out, Clyde pulling the wagon, Celene pushing the doll's pram and I pushing the pramwith the baby lying on top of the blankets. Ma Si Fu came with us and helped Clyde now and again and also Celene. Su Mei could hardly bear to let us go, poor child. After all she was only twenty-one. She gave me her precious one pound tin of Klim for the baby, but I wouldn't take it. How was she to get milk? Later I found the tin hidden amongst my things. The streets were crowded with Chinese-many of whom were living on the sidewalks, some under mat shelters and others with nothing but overhanging verandahs. Little boys ran out and laughed running along beside Clyde. They were not laughing at him, but because his panda, teddy and koala were all sitting on the top of the wagon.
As we got towards the heart of the city we began to meet British civilians marching in fours with packs on their backs.
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