BE PREPARED
Chapter 5
Today, the whole family was preparing to visit the Great Wall of China.
“Hey guys,” Mom called, poking her head into the room. “Collect what you’ll need for a day at the Great Wall. Don’t forget, this is our last day in Beijing. You might want your cameras.” Mom hurried through the room gathering snacks and bottled water for the trip.
“Bring your jackets. The bus comes in five minutes. Oh, and bring your games so you have something to do on the way,” she called over her shoulder.
“Honey,” Dad called from the kitchen, “Don’t forget our visas.” The tantalizingly, sweet smell of strawberry waffles and fresh whipped cream still floated in the air of the kitchen. Dad had made his famous waffles for breakfast, and now, he was whistling while he cleaned up. “We don’t want to go to jail because we don’t have our ID with us,” he warned.
Dad’s warning was not a joke. Tourists in China are not supposed to go anywhere without a visa. Every time a person changes residences or hotels, they have to be registered with the local police for the night. And if a person buys a plane or train ticket, they need to show their visa again. Each movement someone makes is tracked on the mainland of China.
Dad handed the plastic case with the visas to Alex, “Make sure you keep this secured around your neck, kiddo. We might need our ID if we get asked.”
Alex, who was known for losing things, was surprised dad trusted him with something so important. So Alex carefully followed his dad’s advise and tightened the string around his neck. There was no way he was going to end up in jail. He touched the string again to make sure the visas were safe.
“Alex, do you want me to carry that for you so you won’t lose it?” Abby asked. “I can put it in my backpack.”
“That’s okay. There is no way it can get lost when it’s around my neck.”
“Well,” she said, grinning, “remember I asked. We want to get home again.”
Alex decided to ignore his sister teasing him. Dad trusted him and that was all that mattered.
“Hey guys,” Mom called, poking her head into the room. “Collect what you’ll need for a day at the Great Wall. Don’t forget, this is our last day in Beijing. You might want your cameras.” Mom hurried through the room gathering snacks and bottled water for the trip.
“Bring your jackets. The bus comes in five minutes. Oh, and bring your games so you have something to do on the way,” she called over her shoulder.
“Honey,” Dad called from the kitchen, “Don’t forget our visas.” The tantalizingly, sweet smell of strawberry waffles and fresh whipped cream still floated in the air of the kitchen. Dad had made his famous waffles for breakfast, and now, he was whistling while he cleaned up. “We don’t want to go to jail because we don’t have our ID with us,” he warned.
Dad’s warning was not a joke. Tourists in China are not supposed to go anywhere without a visa. Every time a person changes residences or hotels, they have to be registered with the local police for the night. And if a person buys a plane or train ticket, they need to show their visa again. Each movement someone makes is tracked on the mainland of China.
Dad handed the plastic case with the visas to Alex, “Make sure you keep this secured around your neck, kiddo. We might need our ID if we get asked.”
Alex, who was known for losing things, was surprised dad trusted him with something so important. So Alex carefully followed his dad’s advise and tightened the string around his neck. There was no way he was going to end up in jail. He touched the string again to make sure the visas were safe.
“Alex, do you want me to carry that for you so you won’t lose it?” Abby asked. “I can put it in my backpack.”
“That’s okay. There is no way it can get lost when it’s around my neck.”
“Well,” she said, grinning, “remember I asked. We want to get home again.”
Alex decided to ignore his sister teasing him. Dad trusted him and that was all that mattered.
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