Henry Wang Hengle, Grade 8, BASIS International School Shenzhen

“Mr. Roberts,” the man replied shortly.

“Well, Mr. Roberts,” I hesitated for a while, “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”

“Nice to meet you too,” the old man answered pleasantly.

Careful not to venture into the mystery of this man too directly, I simply asked, “What are you doing here, sir?”

“I,” the old man repeated slowly, “I am wondering. I am a Wonderer. I just think, and thinking is my job. It’s what I always do.” He didn’t elaborate any further.

I sat there, thinking about this obscure answer.

We sat by the dusty main road for quite a while, neither of us speaking.

“Do you know what hope means, young man?” the old man asked suddenly.

“No, sir, no. What does it mean?”

The old man chuckled. “In this world, I have never met anybody who knows what hope means. It seems that people nowadays have forgotten the true meaning of that word. But in the past, the time was sealed in memory, and it was still helping, guiding and illuminating every person and their actions, living out the true meaning of its creed in the complicated world.”

“But, alas, nowadays, I’m the only person on this Earth who still understands it. I’m passing that meaning on to you today, young man. But be careful, because that word can change the lives of every living being on this globe. Hope is more than a feeling. It is your companion during your hardest times. Hope is what you feel in your heart. It lives within you deep inside, and it acts like an unexpected road map when you are lost in a never-ending storm.”

“So... So... What exactly is hope?” I stammered.

“Hope,” the old man answered, “Hope is the courage to go on.”

“From today onwards, you are the Messenger of Hope, and I’m giving you the responsibility of finding it for our world,” the old man added.