[Diary of the Absurd Life in 1997:
All Entries]

TH: Diary of the Absurd Life in 1997, in 28 sections, was written originally in Chinese by Mary Wong and serialised in Ming Pao 明報 in 1997. The pieces, translated into English by Chris Song, are serialised in Cha beginning from Monday 25 September 2023.

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The Enchantress of Her Times

11/28

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On this scented evening of flowing gowns and hairstyles, the guests were mostly tycoons and luminaries, the cream of society. Surprisingly, there were few from the film industry. Kwong was whirl-winding around the room. Her low-waisted black Lycra gown was less than forgiving on her fuller frame. Yet, Ming insisted it was the perfect look for her. She might have disagreed, especially when manoeuvring in this outfit led to a series of near falls, her gown’s hem perpetually getting caught under the shoes of serving staff ascending the staircase. She yearned to slip back into something less constricting, like trousers.

Kwong worked for a company originally focused on international trade. However, her boss had recently ventured into filmmaking, amplifying her workload exponentially. Besides managing daily operations, she now had to arrange media interviews and answer questions about an industry she had no prior familiarity with. In a secluded corner, she noticed a plainly dressed female reporter talking to her boss. The journalist was asking about the balance between commerce and art, about how Hong Kong’s voice could be preserved in international collaborations. Just as her boss’s eyes started to drift toward her, she deftly activated her phone’s ringtone. She signalled to her boss that an urgent matter required his attention, effectively ending the interview. In a move of recompense, she then pointed the disappointed reporter toward a plate of Italian pastries nearby. The woman took one and walked away. Kwong hesitated, then stopped herself from calling her back.

In another corner, Ming sidled up to her. “I have an idea for a collaborative project,” he said, his voice imbued with a brightness amplified by two drinks. “Imagine a stunningly beautiful PR woman in a hotel, falling in love with a married politician. Her beauty then becomes a catalyst for change in Hong Kong-mainland relations, culminating in her ultimate sacrifice for love and country.” Confused, she asked, “So, is this woman a villain or a hero?” “A hero, of course! The enchantress of her times!” he exclaimed. Kwong found herself puzzled by his answer, unable to articulate exactly why.

How to cite: Song, Chris and Mary Wong. “The Enchantress of Her Times.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, 5 Oct. 2023, chajournal.blog/2023/10/05/enchantress.

Mary Shuk-Han Wong 黃淑嫻 (author) is a Hong Kong writer. Her short story collection Surviving Central (中環人; 2013) received the “25th Secondary School Students’ Best Ten Books Award.” Her essay collections include How to Live the Sad Days (悲傷的日子如何過; 2021), Against the Grain (亂世破讀; 2017), and From Kafka (理性的遊藝：從卡夫卡談起; 2015). She has also published an online poetry collection, Cave Whispers (絕地抒情; 2022), in collaboration with Hong Kong composer and photographer. She was the co-producer and literary advisor of two literary documentaries: 1918: Liu Yichang (1918：劉以鬯紀錄片; 2015) and Boundary: Leung Ping Kwan (東西：也斯紀錄片; 2015).

Chris Song (translator) is a poet, editor, and translator from Hong Kong, and is an assistant professor in English and Chinese translation at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He won the “Extraordinary Mention” of the 2013 Nosside International Poetry Prize in Italy and the Award for Young Artist (Literary Arts) of the 2017 Hong Kong Arts Development Awards. In 2019, he won the 5th Haizi Poetry Award. He is a founding councilor of the Hong Kong Poetry Festival Foundation, executive director of the International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong, and editor-in-chief of Voice & Verse Poetry Magazine. He also serves as an advisor to various literary organisations.

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