“Zodiac Garden”, Emerald Xu ‘24

Emerald Xu she/her, ‘24 The Zodiac Garden

e spring air is fresh and crisp on the top of the mountain, paved with streets and ancient Chinese buildings. You run after your younger sister along an obscure road, laughing as your grandfather follows behind you, smiling. It is your 4th grade summer vacation, and your family has taken a trip back to your parent’s hometown in China. ey have decided to bring you to a historical mountain for the day to explore while your grandfather takes you around the area.

e previous areas had been old buildings, temples and settlements where people once lived. Paths of dirt, rock and smooth concrete winded in between temples of gods, trickling rivers, crumbling buildings and trees who were witnesses of centuries of history. ere is the gentle sound of a bell tolling somewhere in the distance, and the smell of trees and nature tickles your nose. Your feet smack against the rocky path one by one, propelling you forwards as you try to catch up with your sister.

e two of you dash onto an obscure road, skipping e two of you dash onto an obscure road, skipping down a small set of stairs and onto a cobblestone down a small set of stairs and onto a cobblestone path, slowing down and stopping as you look at your new surroundings. e place is unfamiliar, different from the old temples situated lower down the mountain. You start walking again, this time gentle and careful, mouths dropping open in silent wonder. e cobblestone path is laid out at against the earth and turning at a steady angle, little tufted plants sticking out from in between the cracks. Along the winding roads are statues of each of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, carved of stone, frozen atop their stone bases. in trees tower over our heads, obscuring the rest of the mountain buildings out of sight. Warm sunbeams between the trees light up the path and the shining gray statues. Your hushed whispers to each other grow excited, as you dash off in excitement in search of your zodiac statues. Your sister nds her statue rst, clamoring atop an ox that stands up strong, head held high in power and might. She grins down at you, laying at on the back of the ox, calling out your name in glee.

You go in search of your own statue deeper along the path, stopping at a stone dog that stays seated obediently on it’s slab of stone. Your hand reaches to pet it’s back, feeling the smooth rock rub against your palm. Your sister points to another statue with a shout, gesturing at a long winding snake arching up to the sky, the zodiac sign of both your parents. Your grandfather eventually makes it down to the two of you.

“Come with me,” he says in his Mandarin dialect “Come with me,” he says in his Mandarin dialect coated with his hometown accent. e garden is coated with his hometown accent. e garden is empty, void of people as the two of you continue to run happily along the path, stopping at each of the statues to stare in awe at their grace. For a brief moment there is a feeling of tranquility and innocence as the two of you circle the small garden together, a valley of peace in an otherwise chaotic universe. valley of peace in an otherwise chaotic universe.