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Description
Bao could hear the red firecrackers popping and snapping in the distance, as if they had come alive to perform their sole mission of proclaiming the New Year. He knew, without looking, that the streets would be draped in red, that, at every door and post, red lanterns hung, while red envelopes with small amounts of money would be given out to those walking by.

These were things that happened every year, the consistency of which was similar to the utterance of the three greetings that he was taught to say: 新年快乐, 身体健康 and 恭喜发财. Bao knew he could say a myriad different phrases, but he kept to the three that he was taught, for they held a familiarity that was comfortable.

As he considered this, he put a plate of 年糕 on the mantel and looked at the faded photograph of his parents. An odd food choice to honor and commemorate his kin, some would say, but his mother had made it for him every year when she was alive.

If Bao focused, he could almost hear a distant echo of her voice, gently warning him of this year. Twelve years it took for the Year of the Rat to come around again. He had been too young the last time, but he was ready this year.

He had meditated on the significance of his birth year, the qualities of the rat. Of all the animals, the rat was the smallest, but that made it the quickest. Not only was the rat smart, the rat often travelled in mischief, saw opportunities and did what it took to survive.

After paying his respects, Bao made his way to the main village hall where other men born in the Year of the Rat sat on straw mats. The majority of the men gathered there were in their own thoughts, quiet. For many, today symbolized the beginning of a new life.

When the last of them had arrived a few minutes later, the oldest of them stood slowly and spoke softly. Following his guidance, and with the other men, Bao closed his eyes and looked inward. He grasped what it meant to be born with the Rat as the guardian, the importance of the Lunar New Year, and transformed.

It was a quick and painless transformation, for every single man in the village hall had prepared beforehand. From the center outward, a warm, red glow grew to encompass their bodies. In only seconds, all the men in the room were gone. For a place that was once occupied by human beings, now only rats were there. Some rats were squeaking while others were rubbing their whiskers, and yet others were boggling and bruxing.

Minutes passed. Later, had a person entered, they would have seen an empty room, undisturbed and tranquil.

Description
Bao could hear the red firecrackers popping and snapping in the distance, as if they had come alive to perform their sole mission of proclaiming the New Year. He knew, without looking, that the streets would be draped in red, that, at every door and post, red lanterns hung, while red envelopes with small amounts of money would be given out to those walking by.

These were things that happened every year, the consistency of which was similar to the utterance of the three greetings that he was taught to say: 新年快乐, 身体健康 and 恭喜发财. Bao knew he could say a myriad different phrases, but he kept to the three that he was taught, for they held a familiarity that was comfortable.

As he considered this, he put a plate of 年糕 on the mantel and looked at the faded photograph of his parents. An odd food choice to honor and commemorate his kin, some would say, but his mother had made it for him every year when she was alive.

If Bao focused, he could almost hear a distant echo of her voice, gently warning him of this year. Twelve years it took for the Year of the Rat to come around again. He had been too young the last time, but he was ready this year.

He had meditated on the significance of his birth year, the qualities of the rat. Of all the animals, the rat was the smallest, but that made it the quickest. Not only was the rat smart, the rat often travelled in mischief, saw opportunities and did what it took to survive.

After paying his respects, Bao made his way to the main village hall where other men born in the Year of the Rat sat on straw mats. The majority of the men gathered there were in their own thoughts, quiet. For many, today symbolized the beginning of a new life.

When the last of them had arrived a few minutes later, the oldest of them stood slowly and spoke softly. Following his guidance, and with the other men, Bao closed his eyes and looked inward. He grasped what it meant to be born with the Rat as the guardian, the importance of the Lunar New Year, and transformed.

It was a quick and painless transformation, for every single man in the village hall had prepared beforehand. From the center outward, a warm, red glow grew to encompass their bodies. In only seconds, all the men in the room were gone. For a place that was once occupied by human beings, now only rats were there. Some rats were squeaking while others were rubbing their whiskers, and yet others were boggling and bruxing.

Minutes passed. Later, had a person entered, they would have seen an empty room, undisturbed and tranquil.