Four Treasures of the Sky

by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

I loved the cold, loved that it gathered us together inside our house. The colder it became outside, the warmer we grew inside, the four of us circling each other like cats licking up heat.

What does it mean to be a man? My experiences then told me everything: It was a matter of believing oneself invincible and strong, and owed everything.

When I was a child, I thought there was nothing more right or true than a guardian of the law. In front of this aging sheriff, I think I am beginning to see the truth about those who hold power.