Full of Expectation

--- He Junyi, Grade 8, Longhua Gao Feng School

The kapok tree in front of the school is in bloom again.

In the early morning, I take the bus to school. As I lean against the window, I vaguely see a swath of bright red ahead, followed by a faint fragrance of flowers mingled with the cold breeze. When the bus stops and I step off, I realize that not just one tree, but the entire street is blossoming. The flowers, wrapping around their slender stamens, seem to suffocate under their own beauty, struggling to protrude. The branches are a mix of green, white, and pink, where the pink petals intertwine with green leaves, merging together as if they were ice cream balls dropped by a mischievous child, melting under the scorching sun upon the green leaves.

A gust of cold wind makes me shiver, and as I tuck in my neck and look up, the biting cold makes the flowers tremble. White and pink petals flutter in the air, some falling to the ground, only to be crushed into the concrete by passing cars, spreading their color and becoming stars dotting the cement.

Rubbing my chilled hands, I suddenly realize something: kapok flowers do not bloom in the lush summer. Summer is the season all flowers eagerly await, for with ample sunlight, they can absorb more nutrients and blossom in their fullest beauty, singing the most moving songs. Yet, when all flowers proudly display themselves, the kapok waits in silence. When cicadas sing and the sun shines brightly, the tree remains quiet, only its green leaves making a rustling sound.

I always await the kapok with anticipation, never knowing when it will bloom. Each morning, I look up hopefully, only to walk away disappointed, thinking, "Why hasn't it bloomed yet?" Perhaps another year will pass, and the kapok will suddenly bloom overnight, covering the entire street. If blooming came with a sound, that night would be deafening, echoing throughout the sky.

When we approach everything with anticipation and hope, life becomes as whimsical as a fairy tale. When we feel sad for not seeing kapok in summer, it is preparing a grand opening for us in winter. When we face difficulties with a positive attitude, victory gradually makes its way towards us.