Ping-pong tree

When I was little, I liked to go to my neighbor’s front yard because there were two humongous Ping-pong trees. Now for those who don’t know this kind of tree, the origin is actually from China and the name is “Sterculia nobilis”. The English name, Ping-poing, was translated from Chinese too.

My friends and I used to climb those tall trees to catch birds or pretended we were Tarzan. And when the tree bore hundreds of red fruits, we were all thrilled to harvest the best desert in the world! The nuts were black, kind of like hazel nuts; and we usually just boiled them in water. You would never believe the taste because it was like eating lots of delicious egg yolk. I also loved to roast them. It was always a fun afternoon activity in the grassy yard.

Ping-pong tree bore my childhood memory and those good-old days. Sometimes in the middle of night I can still hear the breeze brushing by those trees’ verdant leaves. I can also see my red ribbon tied highly around one of the strong branches, sending best wishes to a far-away buddy…

Many years later, I passed by our old neighborhood and found the trees had been gone. It was sad to learn they were cut down and replaced by a new building. I wonder what happened to my old friends. Where had they moved to? How are they doing now? Did they know Ping-pong trees were gone? I bet they would miss them as much as I do. And of course, those cicadas were an important part of our great times. I just liked to listen to their songs in the summer.

“L’envie d’aimer” is the song playing on the French radio I’m listening to now. Who would’ve thought I could speak French and madly fall in love with it? W, do you know I can speak English now? I recall the time I saw you reading an English magazine under those Ping-pong trees and envied you for being able to understand the language…