At the beach

Would you like to go to the beach? Why or why not?
By ATK
I would like to go to the beach as I find it very relaxing there. Usually, I go there with my family and going there helps to foster our family ties. I like to splash around in the sea with my siblings and I also enjoy building sandcastles on the beach. Last year, I went to the beach to take part in a beach volleyball tournament with my school volleyball team. It was really fun and my team even achieved the second position in the competition. I always enjoy my visits to the beach.

At the canteen

Tell me about your school canteen.

What kind of rules do you think pupils should observe at the canteen?
What would you like to see changed in your school canteen?
By SG
My school canteen is located between the parade square and the field. There are 8 stalls in the canteen. I normally go to the first stall during recess as it sells snacks like pop corn, fried eggs and biscuits. I always buy a fried egg and the fifty-cents roasted chicken for recess. During lunch time, I will either go to the other stalls to buy noodles or rice or the chicken burger. Occasionally, I will also buy a packet drink from the vending machine. During the holidays, I always look forward to coming back to the school canteen to have my meals. I will miss my school canteen when I graduate from school.

On the bus

By PJM
How did helping someone make you feel?
Helping someone gives me much joy as I feel that I have spent my time well. It always brightens my day when I receive an expression of gratitude from the person I have helped.
Tell me about a kind deed you have done.
There was an occasion when I was seated near the entrance on the bus on my way home from school. At a particular bus stop, an old lady with a walking stick hobbled up the bus. Instinctively, I got up from my seat and offered it to the frail lady. I felt a surge of happiness when she thanked me profusely.

At the book fair

By LSC
Would you like to visit an exhibition? Why or why not?
Yes, I would like to visit an exhibition. Going to different exhibitions keeps me up-to-date with the latest happenings. In some exhibitions, I get to buy things which are both useful and cheap.
Tell me about an exhibition you have visited.
Once in a blue moon, my mum would take me to Suntec City to look out for any exhibitions. The most memorable one was the IT exhibition that I visited last year. There was a wide variety of IT products ranging from computers, computer programs to mobile phone devices. As I am a computer fanatic, I am most attracted to the "entertainment" section of the exhibition. I walked from shelf to shelf, awed by all the colourful and nicely decorated game packs. Finally, after much deliberation and consideration, I bought home a game set which was the cheapest are available.
What kinds of exhibition would you like to visit? Why?
I aspire to be a cartoonist, so I would like to visit exhibitions about the arts to learn from other artists. I think Singapore has quite a vibrant art scene as there are art exhibitions every now and then. Hopefully, by going to different kinds of exhibitions,I would be able to broaden up my knowledge of the arts.

Use your hand campaign

Would you like to take part in a ‘Use Your Hands Campaign’? Why or why not?

How do you prepare for the campaign?
What other things do you do to keep your classroom clean?
By AT
Yes, I would like to take part in one. I think that this activity can help build up our independence. I say that because many children in Singapore have maids to clean up after them so this activity will be useful to train children to take care themselves and their surroundings. Cleaning up the classroom will also allow pupils to study in a cleaner and greener environment. We can make use of this opportunity to learn to sweep the floor, wipe the tables and clean the windows, even though the school employs cleaners to clean up the school. I feel that these activities should be carried out more often so that we can develop a greater sense of responsibility.

At the airport

Would you like to visit the airport? Why or why not?

Tell me about a visit to the airport.
How do you feel when you are at the airport?
By BWL
I do not like visiting the airport because I usually visit the airport to send my mother off on an overseas business trip and it often causes me to feel sad. My best memory at the airport took place about three years ago. My entire family was leaving for a holiday to Sichuan. As it was our first time taking a plane together, we were so excited that we stayed up past midnight. On the plane, we had much fun watching the white fluffy clouds as well as the landscape. We also played electronic games that were provided on the plane. That trip was indeed an eye-opener for my brother and I as it was our first time seeing such fabulous sights. It was indeed an unforgettable experience for my family and me.

At the zoo

By RE
Would you like to visit the zoo? Why or why not?
I enjoy visiting the zoo as I can see many interesting animals there. The zoo organizes many activities for visitors for close-up sessions with the animals, for example breakfast with the animals and the animals’ feeding sessions. Visitors can watch the zoo-keepers feed the animals or even feed the animals themselves. I myself attended a feeding session for the polar bears. It was really amazing as I got to see how polar bears hunt for food as though they were in the wild. As the polar bears dive into the water, they execute such grace and poise that the audience cheered and clapped wildly. Moreover, the zoo will organize fun camps and animal shows at the amphitheatre. Visitors can watch parrots race with each other or enjoy the tricks performed by the seals and sealions as they dive to pick up objects in the water. The animal shows are really enjoyable first-class performances.
Tell me about a zoo trip you have been on.
Talking about camps organized by the zoo, I went for one when I was in Primary 5 together with some of my schoolmates. About 60 of us attended the camp. During the camp, we were divided into teams for a treasure hunt and other interesting activities. Although, it rained on the day of the camp, I still enjoyed it.
What kind of animals do you like? Why?
I like animals which are furry, especially dogs. My cousin has a dog and I often go over to his house to play with it. The dog belongs to the Shih-Tzu breed which originated from China and the dog’s name is Ruff. I would love to have a dog myself as I would love to have it for company as my parents are often out at work and my siblings are all boys. I would most probably choose a husky or a terrier for a pet. I like huskies as they have beautiful blue eyes. I like terriers as they are cute and cuddly. However, sad to say, my mother is not for the idea of my having a dog until I am about 18 years old. She says taking care of a dog is a hassle as she already has her hands full taking care of my brothers and me. Nonetheless, I still hope that she would change her mind and my dream of having a dog will materialize soon.

At the food centre

Do you normally eat at a food centre? Why (or Why not?)
Yes. My mum works long hours so we normally settle our meals at a food centre. She doesn’t cook on weekends either so we usually eat at a food centre during weekends.

No. I am rather fortunate as I have a stay-home mum who serves delicious home-cooked food every day. The food sold at the food centre is not as healthy as those cooked at home. The food offered at the food centre is usually just more of the same thing. Every food centre will sell chicken rice, laksa, nasi lemak, etc. Anyway, my mum is a great cook and I prefer her cooking to food served at the food centre.

When do you normally eat at a food centre?
When my mum decides to declare a day off from cooking, my family will have to eat at a food centre. But that is usually once in a blue moon.

Tell me about the food you like to order at the food centre.
Ban Mian. I prefer noodles to rice. I like noodles with soup. Moreover, Ban Mian is served with a lot of vegetables which is a healthier choice compared to fried noodles. My favourite is the crispy anchovies served on top of the noodles.

Chicken rice. I can’t take spicy food so I stick with chicken rice each time I eat out. Anyway, rice is more filling than noodles. It is easy to order and can be served quickly. I don’t like to wait a long time for the food to be served. I usually order breast meat as it is the most tender part of the chicken. I normally get a dish of black sauce to dip the chicken in and I will skip the chilli sauce and garlic sauce.

Besides the food centre, where else do you go for your meals? Why?
I would go to a fast food restaurant. It is air-conditioned which is a major pull factor compared to the hot and stuffy food centre. The price of the food in a fast food restaurant is comparable to that of a food centre. More importantly, I like the toy that comes along with the kids’ meal.

I spend long hours in school so I have my lunch in the school canteen on most days. The food sold there is the same all year round. But beggars can’t be choosers, so I just buy something from the stall with the shortest queue. That is usually the noodles stall because the stall-holder prepares the noodles in advance instead of cooking it on the spot. Although it is usually cold and bland, I eat it just to fill my stomach. If my mum has the time, she will pack a sandwich for me to have during lunch.

Night Safari

By ODJ
Would you like to visit the Night Safari? Why or why not?
I would definitely like to visit the Night Safari as I would get to see different types of animals up close. I will also get to sit on the trams and see the nocturnal animals in action. At the Night Safari, there are many static exhibits which explain the lifestyles and structural adaptations of the animals. I find them very informative and useful in increasing my general knowledge about nocturnal animals.
What kind of rules do you think visitors should observe in the Night Safari?
Visitors should not take pictures of the animals with flashlights. Doing so would affect the eyesight of the animals and may even blind them. Using flashlight photography may frighten these animals and cause them a lot of stress. I think visitors should also refrain from feeding the animals or throwing things at them.
Tell me about an animal show you have watched.
I have watched the animal show featuring the nocturnal birds at the Night Safari. In the show, an owl was made to pick up a small stick from the ground in the poor lighting conditions. To my surprise, it was able to do it without any assistance. I guess it has good eyesight that can see in poor light so that it can hunt in the night. The audience at the animal show was also awed by the owl and broke out in thunderous applause when it finished its performance. I am always impressed by the animal shows and I always enjoy my visits to the Night Safari.

Holiday

By AL
Would like to go for an overseas trip? Why or why not?
I would really like to go for an overseas trip. By doing this, I not only get some fun out of it, it also expands my general knowledge, especially when I visit different tourist attractions around the world. For example, only when I saw the Great Wall of China myself, did I realise how long and big it really was. I also learnt that the Great Wall of China is also nicknamed the Greatest Cemetery, as most of the people who built the wall died of hard labour. The king did not build coffins for everyone. He just practically had the dead bodies buried beneath the walls. That was one of the dirty secrets of the Great Wall of China.
Which country would you like to visit? Why?
My greatest wish is to visit U.S.A as I would love to go to Disneyland. I really like to go and take a look and play some of the exciting rides there
What would you miss most about home when you are away? Why?
I would miss my bed! Though the hotel bed is quite comfortable, nothing beats sleeping on your own bed.

At the park

Would you like to visit the park? Why or why not?

How do you spend your time in the park?
Tell me about the activities other visitors to the park do.
By GL
Yes, I would like to visit the park. By visiting the park, I can get some fresh air after a day in school, and it can help to relieve my stress. Looking at people exercising, birds chirping and the beautiful flowers around makes me happy and relaxed. I go to the park near my house whenever I am upset about something. I have my own quiet spot where I would go to. That spot is quiet and peaceful as not many people go there. It is facing a lake. I especially love it during sunset when the sunlight shines on it and the surface of the lake shimmers. I sometimes watch the sunset till late evening and then walk home slowly. I always feel better after a trip to the park.

Rainy Day

Have you ever been caught in the rain?
By JT
No, I would not go out on a rainy day because it is very dangerous especially if I am caught in a terrible storm. Walking on slippery roads can be dangerous too. I was once caught in a storm when I was on my way for my tuition class. The bus I was travelling on had to move slowly because of the heavy traffic and to avoid puddles on the road. The umbrella I was carrying was useless under the strong wind conditions By the time I reached my tuition centre, I was totally drenched and late for my tuition class. In conclusion, I think that we should not go out on rainy days if we can help it.

Drowning

Do you think it is safe to swim alone? Why or why not?
By MT
No, I do not think so. It is very dangerous to swim alone especially for someone who is inexperienced as the person might drown and the consequences would be disastrous. I think we should always swim with a companion and be on the lookout for the other party lest something happens.

This reminds me of a drowning incident that took place just a week ago. I was at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex last Sunday. It was teeming with activities and there were many people at the pool. I saw a small boy who nearly drowned in the pool. He was alone. He could not swim well but he attempted to swim in the pool meant for adults and good swimmers. Luckily, the lifeguard was alert and saw what was happening. He nose-dived into the water and saved the struggling boy. The boy's parents were extremely relieved. They thanked the lifeguard profusely and warned the boy not to do it again. I was so worried for the boy. It reminds me how important it is for me to adhere to the safety rules at the pool. The boy could have drowned if not for the fact that the lifeguard was alert to spot him and reacted in time to save him.

To conclude, I feel that we should not swim alone. Instead, we should swim in either pairs or groups to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

Killer Litter

Would you help to keep your neighbourhood clean? Why (or Why not)?
Yes. Helping to keep my neighbourhood clean will give my family and me a nice environment to come home to.

What would you do to keep your neighbourhood clean?
I would do my part by firstly, not littering or dumping unwanted things in the lifts or at the void deck. Secondly, I would bring a plastic bag to pick up my dog’s poo when I take him for walks. Although I will not pick up litter I see on the ground as I am afraid of dirtying my hands, I would advise the litter bugs to pick up their own litter, especially if they are children younger than me.

Tell me what the contractors do to keep your neighbourhood clean.
The contractors would empty and wash the garbage chute daily. They would also sweep the common areas and empty the litter bins daily. Every month, they would also wash the common areas and the lifts.

Do you help your mother to keep your home clean? Why?
Yes. My mother assigns household chores to my siblings and me. Other than folding our clothes and making our own beds, all of us have daily chores to do. I am in charge of washing the dishes, my brother is in charge of sweeping the floor and my sister takes care of hanging up and bringing down the laundry.

Doing household chores helps to lighten my mother’s burden and also builds our sense of responsibility. My mother says that we will thank her for it when we grow up and have our own homes. She says that knowing how to do housework is a life- skill. I think she is right although there are days I don’t feel like doing my chores.

At the airport

By CZQ

This picture depicts a scene of a check-in counter in the airport.

I think that it is neither school holidays nor weekends as there are only a few people at the airport. There are pots of plant and artificial logs beside the glass door to beautify the environment. There is a man who wants to take his luggage to the check-in counter but the weight of the luggage is too heavy for him to carry. Although he has used his full strength to carry his luggage, he still cannot do it. A airport staff is entering some information into the computer at the check-in counter. I think that she is not aware of the man carrying the luggage or else she will go up to lend a helping hand to the man. I think she should be more pro-active and look around to see if anybody needs help. If I were the staff, I would be more observant to see if anybody needs my help. In front of the check-in counter, there is a family of three. The mother, wearing a sleeveless blouse is helping her son to put on his jacket. I believe that they are going on a holiday to a cold country. The girl in a floral blouse and a skirt has seen what the man is doing and she is worried about the man. She is afraid that the man might injure himself if he is not careful. If I were the girl, I would go to an airport staff and tell him that the man needed help.

To conclude, the airport is a public place and is also the first place that a tourist will visit. If the airport is clean and people are helpful, it will leave them a very good impression of our country. We should do our part to be gracious wherever we are, especially at the airport.

At the Zoo

By AL

This picture depicts a scene at the monkey enclosure at a zoo.

There is a boy holding a bunch of bananas in one hand and feeding a monkey a banana in the other hand. In front of him is a sign that says “Do not feed animals”. Apparently, he is oblivious to the sign and continues feeding the monkey. I feel that he should not do that as it is against the rules of the zoo. If I were him, I would abide by the rules and stop feeding the monkey as the monkey may grow to be used to being fed by visitors and rely on them for food instead of eating the food fed to them by the zookeepers.

A man has seen it and is walking towards the boy. He stops the boy from feeding the monkey. He is most probably a zookeeper working at the zoo as he has a ring of keys and is wearing rubber boots. I think he has done the right thing of stopping the boy from feeding the monkey. If I were him, I would also stop the boy from feeding the monkeys and inform his parents about the matter.

Beside the boy are two female tourists, posing for a picture taken by their friend, a male tourist. The male tourist is holding up a camera, taking a photograph while looking at the boy. I think that he should concentrate on taking the photograph instead of looking at the boy as he will not get a good photograph in the end.

At the zoo, we should abide by the rules. We should not feed the animals as they will grow accustomed to being fed by visitors and may learn to snatch any food away from them.

At the food centre

Introduction/Setting
This is a picture depicting a scene at a food centre. It appears that this scene takes place during lunch hour as the food centre is very crowded. There is a long queue over at the noodles stall. It is probably because the noodles are delicious.

Body (Observation – Interpretation – Application)
Observation 1
There appears to be a commotion. A boy in a striped T-shirt is holding a bowl of piping hot noodles. A man has accidentally bumped into the boy, causing him to spill his noodles onto a woman with dark curly hair.
Interpretation 1
I think that the woman looks very annoyed as her clothes are stained by the soup from the noodles. She could also have been scalded by the hot soup. Her anger is fully understandable. I would feel angry too if I were the woman.
Application 1
If I were the boy, I would apologise profusely to the woman to appease her anger. As the saying goes, ‘Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned’. I think he had better take the initiative to apologise first before she gives him a piece of her mind.

Observation 2
The man who has bumped into the boy looks apologetic.
Interpretation 2
Judging from his expression, I can tell from that he did not knock into the boy on purpose.
Application 2
I feel that he should also apologise to the woman instead of allowing the boy to take the blame.

Conclusion
The food centre is indeed a crowded place especially during lunch time. The woman just happens to be in the wrong place and at the wrong time. I guess one just has to be more careful in a crowded place to avoid such an unpleasant incident from happening again.

Accident

Introduction/Setting
This is a picture depicting a scene of a road accident. It appears that this scene takes place in the day as the street lights are not turned on.

Body (Observation – Interpretation – Application)
Observation 1
There is a stationary car in the picture. A dog, which is bleeding profusely, is lying in front of the car. I think that the car could have knocked down the poor little dog.
Interpretation 1
A young boy is kneeling beside the dog and stroking its fur. Judging from his sad expression, I guess that he could be the owner of the dog.
Application 1
If I were the boy, I would be devastated if a car ran over my dog.

Observation 2
A man standing over the dog seems to the driver of the vehicle.
Interpretation 2
I can tell from his apologetic and guilt-stricken expression that he has knocked down the dog.
Application 2
I would bring the injured puppy to the vet immediately if I were him.

Observation 3
A man dressed in a pair of dark pants putting his hands over the boy’s shoulders to comfort him.
Interpretation 3
He seemed to be rather concerned about the boy and his dog. He is probably the boy’s father.
Application 3
If I were the boy’s father, I might confront the driver of the car and demand that he take the dog to the vet immediately. I might even demand full compensation if I had not seen the broken leash on the ground.

Conclusion
However, judging from the broken leash, it appears that the boy has lost control of the dog and the animal has dashed onto the path of the car. So I feel that the driver is not entirely to be blamed for this accident. It was just an unfortunate turn of events.

Fishing at the canal

By JN
This is a picture depicting a scene at a canal. It appears to be raining.

There are three pairs of shoes near the canal. I think that those shoes belong to the boys in the canal. There is also a jar partially filled with water with fishes swimming inside. One of the boys is also holding a fishing net. I think that the boys must have been catching fishes in the canal earlier.

There are three boys in the canal. One of the boys is wearing a striped polo T-shirt, another wearing a collared T-shirt and another wearing a white T-shirt with black shorts. The boys wearing the striped polo T-shirt and the collared T-shirt are grinning widely. They are also splashing water onto the boy wearing a white T-shirt with black shorts. The boy wearing the white T-shirt is trying to shield himself by using his hands to block the splashes of water. Judging from his facial expression and defensive actions, I guess that the two boys are bullying boy wearing the white shirt. Judging from the two boys’ expression, I can tell that they are having a lot of fun. They, however, are having fun at the expense of the boy wearing the white shirt.

At the right-hand corner of the picture, there is a girl and an adult. The adult is probably the girl’s father. The girl is holding onto one of her father’s hands and pointing towards the bullied boy with her other hand. The girl’s father is holding a cane in one of his hands. If I were the father, I would lecture all the three boys for playing in the canal. However, I will more likely focus on the two boys who has been splashing water on the poor boy. I might ring up their parents in the hope that the boys would be punished accordingly.

To conclude, I feel that although the two boys bullied the boy in the white shirt, all of them were at fault. They should not catch fishes in the canal in the first place, especially when it is raining, as it is very dangerous.

At the Void Deck

By AY
Introduction/Orientation
This picture depicts a scene at the void deck of a block of flats.
The void deck is a place to do our own quiet activities, hold special events or just to meet up with friends.

Body
There are two very inconsiderate boys kicking ball at the void deck. One boy kicked the ball too hard and it has gone out of control.

The boys look in horror as the ball was sent flying to an elderly man sitting behind them reading the newspaper.

The man looks very shocked when the ball hits his face and knocks his glasses off his face.

If I were him, I would be very angry with the two boys and start to scold them.

Another elderly man with a walking stick glared at the two boys and is pointing to a sign that shows that playing was prohibited in the void deck.

Two other men at the side who were playing chess stopped their game and frowned at the two boys.

If I were one of the boys, I would apologise immediately to the old man reading the newspaper. I would also help to pick up his glasses and promise not to play ball games at the void deck again,

Conclusion
To conclude, I think that whenever we are at a public place, we should always be more considerate to others.

Drowning Incident

Introduction/Setting
This is a picture depicting a scene at a swimming pool. Many people are enjoying a relaxing day at the pool.

Body (Observation – Interpretation – Application)
Observation 1 – Drowning boy
There appears to be some commotion in one of the pools. A boy is shouting for help from the children’s pool. He appears to be drowning.
Interpretation 1
I think that the boy may not be a good swimmer or he may be experiencing severe leg cramps. He has probably drunk many mouthfuls of water and he is in a state of panic.
Application 1
I would feel frightened too if I were the boy. Even though I am a good swimmer, it can be quite frightening to be experiencing difficulty in the water while swimming alone.

Observation 2 - Lifeguard
A well-built man is rushing to his aid and he appears to be the lifeguard on duty.
Interpretation 2
Judging from his expression, I can tell that he takes his work seriously. He is alert and reacts quickly to the emergency.
Application 2
I think that the well-trained life-guard will be able to get to the boy in time. He may have to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the boy to revive him if he becomes unconscious. But I am sure that the boy is in safe hands.

Observation 2 - Mother
The woman waving her hands frantically appears to be the mother of the boy.
Interpretation 2
Judging from her worried and shocked expression, she probably did not expect her child to drown.
Application 2
I think that the mother should have been more alert and taken more safety precautions. She should have given her child a swimming float or swim with him in the pool to keep a close watch over him. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Conclusion
I feel that it is never safe to swim alone. We must never take our safety for granted.

Killer Litter

Introduction/Setting
This is a picture depicting a scene at the foot of a block of HDB flats. It appears that this scene takes place in a quiet estate as there are not many people around.

Body (Observation – Interpretation – Application)
Observation 1 – Man on second storey
On the second storey of the flat, there is a man throwing a flower pot from the parapet. He is grinning from ear to ear as he sees the flower pot crashing to the foot of the block.
Interpretation 1
Judging from his mischievous expression, I think that he did it on purpose. It is by no means an accident. The other possibility is that the culprit may be mentally unsound.
Application/Prediction 1
If I were there, I would not try to stop him myself but I would inform an adult about him and try to stay out of harm’s way.

Observation 2 – Father and son
The man and his son who are walking along the pavement are taken aback by the falling flower pot. Fortunately, it has missed them by inches. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Interpretation 2
Looking at the father’s body language, I can tell that he is even more shocked by the fact that the man who has thrown down the flower pot is grinning.
Application/Prediction 2
I think the son will be so truamatised that he may burst out in tears. I believe that the father will be so indignant that he will shout at the culprit and rush up to the second storey to confront him.

Observation 3 - Policemen
The two policemen patrolling on bicycles in the neighbourhood are alert.
Interpretation 3
One of them is pointing and shouting at the culprit to stop but to no avail.
Application 3
I expect that the well-trained policemen will take immediate action to check on the father and son as well as to detain the culprit.

Conclusion
I feel that the culprit should be dealt with severely as a deterrent to prevent other incidents of killer litter from happening. As for myself, I would walk across the void decks and avoid walking along the open pavements in order to be safe from killer litter.

At the Clinic

Introduction/Setting
This is a picture depicting a scene at a doctor’s clinic. The doctor on duty is Dr. Lee and the reception counter is manned by a female receptionist. It does not appear to be very crowded at the clinic as there is only a lady waiting at a bench and a mother and her son.

Body (Observation – Interpretation – Application)
Observation 1 – Boy who vomited
The boy appears to be unwell as he is vomiting uncontrollably onto the floor of the clinic. He is weak and barely able to stand up. He has to supported by his mother.
Interpretation 1
I believe the boy must have food poisoning to be vomiting like that.
Application/Prediction 1
If I were there at the clinic, I would not know how to help him. I would probably be taken aback like the female receptionist and be put off like the lady waiting at the bench. I would probably go out of the clinic as the smell of the vomit may make me feel queasy and make me feel like vomiting myself.

Observation 2 – Mother
The mother of the boy appears to be quite concerned about her son’s condition.
Interpretation 2
Judging from her expression, she probably did not expect her son’s condition to take a turn for the worse.
Application/Prediction 2
If I were her, I would ask the receptionist to give the boy priority in seeing Dr. Lee. Hopefully, Dr. Lee could administer an injection to stop the vomiting.

Observation 3 - Others
The receptionist would probably have to clean up the vomit herself or enlist the help of the cleaners at the clinic to do it.
Interpretation 3
Judging from her reaction, I guess she did not quite expect this when she started work today. But I suppose she would soon regain her composure and handle the matter in a professional manner.
Application 3
As the receptionist in a clinic, I guess she is often expected to multi-task. Other than arranging appointments and dispensing medicine, she has probably cleared up such mess every now and then. There is no doubt that it takes quite a lot to be a receptionist at the clinic.

Conclusion
In closing, I feel that the doctors and receptionists in the clinics, especially the neighbourhood clinics are an important part of our community. Without them, we would not be able to receive medical assistance promptly and conveniently.

Followed

By LSC
The embarrassing experience that I had that day was deeply etched in my mind. It all happened on a regular Monday. School just ended and I was waiting for the bus at the bus-stop outside my school. After waiting for a while, the bus loomed into view and pulled over near the kerb. The crowd of pupils rushed into the bus and I had to fight like a salmon upstream to board the bus which was packed like sardines in a can. As I stepped into the bus, a gush of refreshingly cool air greeted me. However, I was hardly able to move in the bus.

“Just bear with it, it will be a matter of minutes before I reached the stop,” I told myself.

Luckily, a few bus stops later, the number of passengers gradually decreased. When it was one stop away from my destination, I was fortunate enough to be able to find a seat! I rested on the seat as I entertained the thought of having a nice foam bath when I got home. Just then, a gigantic man slumped on to the seat next to mine. I turned to look at him. He was stocky and scary-looking. His hair was in a wild disarray and his massive arms were covered with tattoos. He looked a gangster. I gulped.

“May I sit?” he asked me politely.

“Yes, of course…,” I stammered, trying to sound as polite as possible, afraid that I may enrage him.

As the man placed himself comfortably on the seat, he caused it to shake under his enormous weight. I kept shifting nearer to the windows, trying to stay as far away from the man as possible. Finally, the bus screeched to a halt and pulled over. I reached the bus stop near my house and I alighted hastily.

“Wow! Finally! I am free from that menacing-looking man! Just the thought of him makes me cringe!” I thought to myself.

I started walking briskly towards the direction of my house which was a stone’s throw away from the bus stop. Suddenly, I realised that the man had alighted too! He was following right behind me. Perspiration trickled down my forehead as my heart palpitated wildly.

“He must be a robber who plans to rob me of my money!” I thought as a scene from a movie I had watched recently flashed across my mind again.

I started running with every ounce of my energy, hoping to get rid of the man.

“Hey kid! Stop!” the man shouted from behind and started to run after me in hot pursuit!

“I’m right! He must be planning to rob me!” I said out aloud.

My suspicions were confirmed as I heard the man shouting at him from behind. Running was my forte and I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Soon, I increased the distance between the “robber” and me.

Just then, I heard a loud sickening thud. I turned around and to my surprise, I saw that the man had fallen onto the ground!

“This is a great chance for me to escape from this dangerous situation!” I thought to myself as I hastened my pace.

“Hey, kid! Don’t run! You dropped your wallet on the bus!” the man shouted at the top of his voice.

I heard the most unexpected thing and stopped running immediately. I searched my pocket and realised that my wallet was really not with me！

“Why did you run away? I am here to return your wallet, kid!” the man shouted again.

Although I was still suspicious, I went back and attended to the man. He slowly stood up and patted the dust off his clothes.

“Here, take it, this is your wallet! Don’t be so forgetful again!” he said as he handed the wallet to me.

My face flushed as red as beetroot instantaneously as I was very ashamed of myself to have thought the worst of the man. The man meant no harm! He was kind enough to come and return me my wallet!

“Sorry! I thought you were going to hurt me!” I apologised to the man as I noticed the bruise on the man’s leg.

“It’s alright, kid. My appearance did cause many misunderstandings before! Got to go, I have not reached my destination yet!” said the man with a smile.

With that, he limped slowly back to the bus stop. I felt sorry for the man.

“Thank you!” I shouted from where I was standing and continued to walk back home.

It was an embarrassing experience for me. I learnt from the incident that I must not judge a book by its cover or a person by his appearance!

Watch Out

By CL
The people in the overcrowded mall were packed like sardines in a can. Stores were festooned with colourful lights and decorations, each trying to outdo the next. There was a merry atmosphere in the air. My friends, Mary and Stacey, and I were out shopping for our classmate, Mandy's, birthday.

" Ouch! Cari! You're stepping on my shoe!" Mary squealed.

" Sorry!"I apologised sheepishly.

"Do you think Mandy would like that photo frame?" Stacey asked, pointing to an orange photo frame in the display window.

"Let's check that thing out," I suggested.

Stacey walked briskly to the shop, at the same time was sending a message with her mobile phone. A man carrying two big boxes of glass bottles walked out of the shop. The boxes blocked his view.

Seeing the impending danger, Mary shouted," Watch out!"

'Crash!' It was too late. The boxes dropped onto the floor and Stacey and the man fell down. The glass bottles in the boxes broke into a million pieces. A crowd quickly gathered around the commotion.

"Stacey! Are you alright?" Mary and I rushed to Stacey immediately. Stacey winced in pain.

"Don't you watch where you are going?" the man hollered, staring at Stacey with his bloodshot angry eyes. Stacey's face turned a bright shade of red.

"What about you?" she shouted back, fuming.

Seeing that things were beginning to get out of hand, Mary said calmly,"Stacey, please don't make a scene. Just apologize."

"I am not totally at fault! Couldn't he have taken one box at a time? Then, his view would not be blocked!" Stacey retorted. I helped Stacey up.

"Ouch!" Stacey shrieked. She had stepped on one of the pieces of glass. Blood gushed out of her foot. Stacey moaned and groaned in pain.

"So, what are you going to do about my losses? These bottles are not exactly what you would call cheap!" the man said to Mary and I, ignoring Stacey.

"Look, sir. We will pay you for the glass bottles but she really isn't totally at fault," I said meekly, afraid that he would erupt like a volcano again.

"Cari, shouldn't we bring Stacey to the clinic first?" Mary asked.

"There is a clinic on the fourth floor. I'll take you there," said a shopper.

"Thank you," I said gratefully.

"I'm sorry, I'm in the wrong as well. How about this, you pay a third of my losses, and I will let the matter rest," the man said after thinking for awhile.

"Fine. I'm sorry too," Stacey apologised reluctantly. She was then taken to the clinic. Mary accompanied her. I paid forty bucks for the bottles and helped the store owner sweep up the mess. The man let the mall, still grumbling a little.

"Sorry for all the trouble caused," I said to the store owner.

The owner smiled and replied," It's alright." I smiled back and walked to the clinic.

"Cari! Over here!" Mary shouted to me when she saw me outside the clinic. I walked towards them.

"Stacey, you okay?" I asked, concerned.

"Fine. The best part has yet to come. When I get home, my mother will treat me like a princess," Stacey replied, grinning like a cheshire cat.

Mary and I laughed at Stacey who was always the optimist. Since that incident, Stacey never dared to use her phone while walking after learning her lesson the hard way.

Falling Fan

By AY
My school has a very old history, dating back to the late 1940s, when Singapore had not gained its independence yet. Although we had shifted to a new compound, that was at least ten years ago, and now the four walls of our school are not so new anymore. As a result of all these, an event was able to take place, just a week ago.

“Hi Renee!” I chirped to my best pal when she walked over, carrying a bowl of piping hot soup. Sporting a short and neat hairstyle, Renee was a bit on the plump side, but she had two very adorable dimples, one on each cheek. She sat down beside me and began to tell me about something that had happened in class. However, I was not listening as my mind was miles away. The wonderful smell of the strong Indian curry from the Indian stall, the aroma of the traditional oriental Chinese snacks from a stall run by immigrants from China and all the local delights from my favourite stall, all in one place; the school canteen were distracting me.

Just as I was about to tuck into my all-time favourite fried rice, four boys from our class sat down at our table with us. Renee and one of the boys began bickering about something that had happened, while I just beamed at my friend who was always in the middle of an argument. Suddenly, a loud creaking sound was heard. Rene and the boys did not think much of it, but as it died down, I could not help having an ominous feeling.

“Maybe it’s really nothing,” I thought to myself and started to tuck into my food.

At that moment, a louder groan was heard, followed by more creaking and suddenly, a “Whoosh!” sound. Before I knew what was happening, the ceiling fan directly above us landed on the table with a deafening crash. That was a heart-stopping moment for us. I was scared out of my wits. The impact of the fan was so great, that it sent all our food flying off the table. Renee screamed in agony when her bowl of soup scalded her. All of the boys tried to back away, but their instincts could not save them from getting food all over themselves. Several grains of rice fell onto my skirt and I was also scalded by some of Renee’s soup.

Several people around us also shouted, especially the girls. Many of them crowded around to see what had happened. Luckily, a teacher on duty happened to be nearby and he pushed his way through the throngs of pupils. Renee was howling in pain, while I scrambled out of my seat. My fingers and arms were trembling from the shock of the impact as the teacher made his way forward.

“Are you okay? Come, I’ll bring you to the sick bay,” he said, especially to Renee who was clutching her scalded arm. Between the teacher and me, we helped Renee and another boy to the sick bay. The school staff there treated Renee with some cream that made her howl again. It was almost too painful to watch. The other boy was treated for a minor cut on his arm due to a sharp piece of the falling debris that fell along with the fan. The school staff gave me some medication and a plaster for a cut on my arm. Later, I learnt that the other boys were relatively fine and had recovered from the shock. Renee’s parents soon arrived to take her home to rest.

In the later part of the day, some technicians were dispatched to survey the damage, and the next day, the school announced that they did a check on the rest of the fans in the canteen. They were shocked to find out that more than half of the fans were in danger of collapsing. Once bitten, twice shy, the school immediately replaced all the faulty fans, but this event will forever be etched deeply in my mind.

Lift Incident

By AT
It was a sweltering hot afternoon. The Sun blazed mercilessly onto the Earth. I was waiting at the lift lobby at my block of flats after school, exhausted after a day of strutting around, as proud as a peacock showing off my new necklace.

I received the necklace as a birthday present from my father the day before. A small crystal heart-shape pendant hung from the silver chain. I loved it with all my heart, as it was the prettiest thing I had ever laid my eyes on.

While I was daydreaming about who else I could show off my necklace to, I entered the lift and pressed the lift button with the number twelve on it, for the floor on which I lived. Just as the lift doors were about to close, a man in his early thirties dashed into the lift. I did not take much notice of him and just continued to build castles in the air. Little did I know what was about to happen.

I started to get impatient as the lift began its slow ascent to the twelfth floor. I could not wait to get out of the stuffy lift and go home to soak myself in the bathtub.

Suddenly, I noticed the man eyeing me. I could not help feeling scared as cold fingers of fear crept up my spine. I composed myself and just glared at him defiantly.

Just then, the man brandished a small knife and snarled at me, “Your money or your life!”

I panicked, and with trembling hands, I took out my pink Ocean Pacific wallet.

He snickered and said, “Is that the best you can do?”

He pressed the knife against my neck as I reached into my pocket again to get out my MP3 player, silently praying for the lift to go faster.

“Bing!” The lift suddenly came to an abrupt stop and the doors slowly started to open, though we were only on the eighth floor. Old Aunty Jane appeared and smiled when she saw me but froze when she saw that I had a knife pressed to my neck. She gave an ear-piercing scream before trying to hobble away for help, but before she could reach the end of the corridor, she fainted.

The robber cast one last look at me and just as he was about to run off, he snatched my necklace of my neck! That did it. I was furious. I forgot all my fears as I pounced on him and knocked the knife from his hand. I started clawing him and shouting for help. Bill, old Aunty Jane’s son, heard the commotion and came out. He was shocked to see me hanging on to a man, but he quickly took his phone out of his pocket to dial for the police before helping me pin down the man.

Luckily, Bill was much stronger and younger than the robber, enabling him to pin down the man with ease. At this juncture the man tried to pick up his knife to cut Bill, but I soon knocked the knife out of his hand.

The rest of the events happened very quickly. Three police cars and an ambulance arrived. The police went to scene of the crime and frog-marched the man to the police car before pushing his head down and lowering him into it. They also returned all my things to me.

The robber snarled at me, “I will get you for this.”

Feeling very brave as I was surrounded by the policemen, I laughed loudly and triumphantly replied, “We will see about that!”

After that, I went home for the bath that I had been longing for. Aunty Jane was taken to the hospital in the ambulance and thankfully, she was discharged the following day.

That experience was a truly horrifying one for me. The image of the man snarling at me was deeply etched in my mind. Ever since that incident, I have not worn any jewellery. I have also grow to be a more humble person, and I now understand the saying “Pride comes before a fall”.

Cinema Incident

By KJQ
It was a bright sunny Sunday morning. The sun shone brilliantly and caused the ground to be scorching hot. The trees swayed to the tempo of the light breeze. It was a perfect day.

“Hurray! Hurray! The movie is going to start soon! We are almost late!” my brother hurried.

We were supposed to catch a movie, “Superman”, that morning, but I woke up late. We scurried like two little mice into the cinema. I leaped into the queue and ordered popcorn. Then, we paid and went into the screening hall. As it was a Sunday, many tickets were already taken and so we had to get two tickets that left us sitting in one of the rows near the front.

Suddenly, the lights were dimmed and slowly switched off. A trailer appeared on the screen, saying “Hand phones are to be switched off or put on silent mode.” I quickly fished out my hand phone and turned it off, so did my brother.

“Ring! Ring! Ring!” A ringtone screamed. My brother and I quickly looked in the direction of the noise.

A man then said, “Yes, oh yes... No… Yes!” and he spoke in a loud voice.

Upon seeing the man’s actions, I was boiling with anger.

“Can’t he whisper? And in the first place, he should not pick up his phone; he should have switched it off or turned it to the silent mode!” I thought.

A lady sitting beside him was asking him to hang up his phone and she pointed to the screen, but her words fell on deaf ears.

Suddenly, I heard more noise coming from the entrance. My attention then shifted to the three boys entering the screening hall. Once they entered and took their seats, they put their feet on the seats in front of them and started munching popcorns. Two of the boys started a commotion and played “Popcorn Fight”. They threw popcorns into each other’s faces and in the end the popcorns dropped everywhere and dirtied the area, adding to the workload of the cleaners. There was a person sitting in front of the three boys and from her facial expression, I could see that she was irritated.

“Hey! Is this how you behave in a public area?!” the woman suddenly shouted like a volcano eruption.

The man who was talking loudly at first got a shock and quickly hung up his phone without delay. The man’s face blushed as red as an apple. The boys, too, put their feet down and sat up straight, as stiff as stones. The boys, too, realised their mistake and were ashamed of their behaviour.

The man stood up and apologised sincerely, “I am really sorry for the inconvenience I caused.”

Then, with his head low and in low spirits, he left the screening hall on his own accord. At that moment, my heart went out to him as I felt that he did not have to leave, but I think he did it because of embarrassment. As for the boys, they sat through the entire “Superman” movie without even a whisper.

My brother and I enjoyed the movie without any further disruption. This incident at the cinema has certainly made my brother and me more mindful of our own behaviour in public.

Blackout at MRT

By RE
Have you ever found yourself in total darkness? Well, I have and this was how it all happened. It all started on a Monday evening. Everyone, including myself, was flocking to the train station to await the arrival of the trains. I was among the crowd, waiting to get on board the “North-east” line.

In a flash, the train arrived at the station and without sparing a thought for others getting off the train, everybody started “charging” into the train carriage, elbowing themselves through the crowd. I waited by the side for the commuters to get off before squeezing into the carriage and got in just in time before the door slammed shut.

It was the peak hour and it was no wonder that the train was packed like sardines. The train was moving at a very fast speed, train stations passed in the wink of an eye while more and more people got in and out of the train. I was waiting for my station to arrive as I held onto the railings. Laughter and chattering filled the air. Despite the fact that everything seemed normal, I had an ominous premonition that something was going to happen.

Just when the announcement for the next station was about to be made, the train stopped and the lights went off. My heart skipped a beat. Piecing shrieks and shouts replaced the laughter and chattering. I could see nothing except the colour black and could feel many hands groping around trying to find their way around. My heart was palpitating louder than usual and my hands turned clammy. Apparently, the air-conditioning had also broken down.

“Must be a minor circuit-break,” I thought. “It’s nothing serious.” I decided to wait for the lights to be restored and for an announcement to be made over the public address system.

I waited. But nothing was heard and the scene remained as chaotic as before. I began to panic and a million “what ifs” flooded through my mind. “What if no one comes to rescue us?” “What if a train running down the track rams into us?” “What if…” At that juncture, a pungent smell broke my train of thoughts. I tried to search for the source of the smell and it led me to the back of the train. I saw orange, red sparks. I smelt it once again and a sudden thought dawned on me. A fire had broken out!

I had to do something before this fire starts spreading. I shouted at the top of my voice, “People! A fire has broken out! Please stay…” Before I could finish my sentence, pandemonium broke out. Commuters started hitting emergency buttons and charged out to the emergency exit of the train. I had no choice but to follow the crowd. Just when I was about to leave, I heard an audible scream coming from the back of the train. Curiosity kills the cat and it piqued me to investigate further. I traced the scream to its source and spotted a toddler crying. The fire would start spreading in no time and I had to get the toddler out. Without hesitation, I carried him and raced out of the train to safety. I found the rest of the commuters and all of us watched the fiery tongues of the fire slowly engulf the train. Meanwhile, someone dialled for the Civil Defence Force .

In a flash, the Civil Defence Force arrived at the scene and they got down to work almost immediately. Some started to put out the fire with hoses attached to underground pipes while the other firemen evacuated us to safety. We followed them in an orderly manner and upon reaching safe ground. I was still clutching the toddler’s hand. Out of the blue, I head a shrill voice amidst the noise, hollering, “Tim! Tim, where are you?” The toddler beside me reacted instantly and I guessed that it was his mother looking for him. We followed the voice and spotted a lady in her thirties, with jet-black hair flowing to her waist. She was looking anxiously around. I went forward and brought Tim to her and the moment she saw her beloved son, creases of worry vanished instantly from her forehead. She hugged her son tightly in her arms and thanked me profusely.

“How can I ever repay you?” the lady said in a voice full of gratitude.

“It is okay. Just remember to take care of your son,” I replied.

She flashed me a smile as if to say “I will” and I could not resist smiling back. As I watched both the mother and son leaving, hand in hand, I decided that it was time for me to head home too.

The next day, the incident was reported in the headlines. It turned out that the cause of the fire and blackout was due to technical fault and that the authorities were still investigating the matter. Fortunately, there were no casualties involved. After reading the papers, I reflected on that harrowing event. It has taught me the importance of remaining calm in a crisis and more importantly, the vulnerability of life.

Stranger

By JL

My bag weighed heavily down on my shoulders as I trudged home after a tiring day at school. The sunny weather was a direct contrast to my gloomy mood. With my father out-stationed and my mother busy running her errands, I dread the thought of having to prepare my own meal and being home alone.

As I stepped out of the dank elevator, I saw two dubious characters standing in front of my new neighbour’s flat. The younger man with a tanned complexion and a well-toned body was fiddling with my neighbour’s lock. His accomplice, a pot-bellied burly man, was standing behind him with his eyes darting hither and thither as he looked around.

I have not met this new neighbour of mine who had just moved in last week. I understood from mum that the family ran a coffee shop which was at the foot of our block and was hardly home till past midnight.

The first thing that went through my mind was “burglary!” I wanted to dial triple nine with my mobile phone, but being in such close proximity to these “thugs”, I would not be able to use it without alerting them. Just as I was about to reach for my phone, “Ring!” my phone sounded at the most inappropriate time. My heartbeat sent adrenaline pumping through my veins. I quickly muffled it and made a quick dash down the flight of stairs to answer the call. Thanks to my lucky stars, I was not discovered by the “thugs”.

As if the caller was playing a trick on me, my phone stopped ringing when the soles of my shoes touched the concrete floor at the foot of my block. I uttered a curse and proceeded to call for the police. They advised me to stay put, but, nosey as ever, I decided to play sleuth and continue to watch these men. After what seemed like an eternity, the men in blue arrived, and swiftly caught the perpetrators.

The older man bellowed, “What are you doing? I am the owner of this flat!” but there were no documents on him to prove it. Thanking me, the police led the duo to the lift. At the lift landing, the man with a pot belly turned towards me and blurted out a string of obscenities before punctuating his sentence with, “You just wait and see!”

The thought of what might happen to me make my throat go dry.

“Hubby, what are you doing, being handcuffed by the police! Did you do something bad? You even made our son your partner in crime?” a voice broke my train of thoughts. At that very moment, I saw a plump bespectacled lady outside the lift. Bewildered by the strange turn of events, I rushed forward to investigate and was utterly embarrassed to find out that the two “burglars” were actually my new neighbours!! Apparently, their new key to the house was stuck in the key hole and they were attempting to get it out while waiting for the lock-smith.

Upon hearing the truth unfold, the policemen apologized, removed the handcuffs and released the two men. All of them had a hearty laugh, which was at my expense. Feeling mortified, I made a beeline for the sanctuary of my flat, resolving never to jump hastily to conclusions again.

Lost Child

By PJM
“I told you if you’re going to play soccer after school, I’m not following!” I heard Mary scream at the top of her lungs.

“Well, don’t!” Jack retorted.

Being the peacemaker, I closed in and said amiably, “Stop arguing. Let’s go for a picnic at the beach instead.”

Jack and Mary stuck their tongues out at each other childishly. They are always at loggerheads with each other, despite being friends since kindergarten.

After school, we arranged to meet after packing some food for the picnic. Without even changing out from our school uniforms, we were on our way to Changi Beach.

As soon as we arrived at the beach, we looked for a shady spot to lay out our picnic mat. While we were eating the snacks that we had brought along, a little boy came towards us. He was crying.

In front of us, stood a little boy who was no more than four years of age. He had a light tan and was donned in a tee-shirt decorated with cartoon prints and matching shorts. He kept using his hands to wipe tears from his almond- shaped eyes.

Mary, being the most compassionate among us, went forward to ruffle the little boy’s dark brown locks and urged him to tell us his predicament. The little boy slowly related his story. It turned out that he had wandered away from his parents who were soaking up the sun and got lost.

“Don’t be afraid, we will find your mummy and daddy”, reassured Mary. I nodded in agreement. While the both of us viewed the child as someone in need, Jack perceived him as an intruder who disrupted his peaceful picnic.

“I am not helping this child, it’s his own fault that he is lost, not ours!” snapped Jack irritably, refusing to leave the picnic mat.

It took much persuasion on our part, before Jack relented and offered the child a helping hand. The little boy was over the moon to have three Samaritans by his side and demonstrated his pleasure by putting an end to those tears.

After a detailed discussion, we came to a consensus. Mary would keep the little boy company while I scoured the beach for the child’s parents, leaving the most elementary task of informing the Beach Patrol Officers about the missing child to Jack.

We were barely an hour into our tasks when an anxious couple reported to the Beach Patrol to file a report about their missing son. The officer made no delay to notify Jack when the couple’s description of their child matched his. It was then Jack’s turn to pass the news on to Mary and me to gather at the Beach Patrol Station where the couple was waiting in fervent hope.

“Mummy! Daddy!” The little boy shrieked. Upon seeing his parents, the little boy wept. This time, tears of joy flowed down his face. The little boy and his parents expressed their immense gratitude to the three of us by offering each of us money for taking care of their son, which we politely declined.

Upon Jack’s request, we returned to our shady spot for our picnic. Between bites, I recounted the events that had taken place over the previous hour and it dawned on me that this was the first time Mary and Jack worked together without quarrelling. Helping others does bring out the best in us.

Stealing

By DC
The smiling sun reigned supreme, painting the great canvas of the morning sky in warm hues of yellow. The dew on the leaves dropped onto the ground like a row of unsewn pearls.

“Ring….!” The bell for recess had just rung and almost immediately, children ran out of their classrooms like flocks of migrating birds.

I was about to tuck into my scrumptious bowl of piping hot noodles when my best friend, Tom, sat down in front of me.

“Did you know Peter brought his new mobile phone?” he asked.

“Yeah! What a show-off!” I said jealously as I wolfed down my noodles.

“Why don’t we teach him a lesson?” Tom suggested with a sly grin. Having the same thought in mind, I nodded in agreement.

After finishing my noodles, we headed towards our classroom on the top floor.

“Why didn’t the prefects stop us?” Tom said in astonishment as we climbed the long flights of stairs.

“Beats me, but they sure are dim-witted fools,” I remarked.

Looking in every direction and round every corner, we made our way stealthily towards the classroom, making sure that no one had discovered us. After creeping into the classroom, we began to carry out our plan. I started rummaging through Peter’s bag while Tom kept watch for anyone passing by.

After what seemed like an eternity, I was still unable to find Peter’s phone. Tension hung like a thick cloud in the air as beads of perspiration trickled down our foreheads.

“Where on earth could it be?” I said frantically.

“I can hear somebody’s footsteps. I think we should abort our plan,” Tom advised.

I managed to put the bag back into its original position just as a teacher came in. It was our English teacher, Mr Koh, whom I have always looked up to with awe and respect.

“Good morning, Mr Koh,” Tom and I greeted in unison. We tried our best to look calm and innocent, but inside we were shaking like leaves.

“What are you two doing?” he asked sternly.

“Um…I had for…forgotten something and came ba…back to take it,” I replied, trying as much as I could to stop stammering.

A shadow of doubt flickered across Mr Koh’s face and he began interrogating us with a series of questions. Soon, we were strongly overcome by an unbearable feeling of guilt. Knowing our fate was sealed like an ant in a web, we decided to confess. Upon hearing our confession, we were frogmarched to the Principal’s office. Torrents of tears flowed fast and free as I hung my head in shame.

We were let off with a stern warning and we vowed never to do such a thing ever again.

“It’s too late for regrets, but what you can do is to turn over a new leaf and mend your ways,” Mr Koh advised. These words of wisdom would remain in my heart forever.

Betrayal

By GT
I have always thought of Jack as my best friend. I have always thought that we would share weal and woe together. I have always thought that he would never betray me. But after that fateful incident, I realised that my beliefs were wrong.

It was just another typical day. Jack and I were walking to school together as usual. The glorious morning sun was peeping out slowly, bringing life and light to the neighbourhood. The dried leaves that the sweeper had painstakingly raked into a heap were blown away by the wind, and were covering the footpath once again. Jack and I chatted happily along our way. Within moments, we reached our school and proceeded to the classroom.

When we reached the classroom, we saw many pupils crowding around David’s seat. We put down our bags and went over to David’s seat. We were amazed by what we saw! Right in David’s hand was a mobile phone which was the latest model of its kind. This was the mobile phone that Jack and I had always dreamt of having. It had many interesting features and some new ones too. But it was very expensive, so our parents refused to buy one for us no matter how much we begged of them.

“Well I just have to use it. I just have to,” I thought to myself.

I asked David, “Can I please borrow your mobile phone? I want to check it out for a while.”

David turned his head to look at me and sneered at me, “You want to borrow my mobile phone? Dream on! Go buy it yourself!”

I was pretty offended by what he had said. How could he answer me in this manner? So what if he was a rich kid? He has no right to treat me like that. I wanted to howl at him, but Jack grabbed hold of me.

“Let me go, Jack,” I demanded while struggling.

“Come on, James. So what if he does not want to lend us his mobile phone? You will not die, right?” Jack tried to calm me down.

“But I really want to check out that mobile phone out. My fingers are itching to touch it,” I protested.

Then suddenly, I had an idea, an idea that I know was morally wrong. But greed got the better of me. I told Jack of my idea.

“Since he is unwilling to lend us the mobile phone, we will just have to steal it from him,” I whispered to Jack.

“Are you mad?! What if we get caught?” Jack exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, here is the plan. Simon and Ben are on duty today during recess, but from past experience, they will go for recess after five minutes. That’s when we come in and swipe the mobile phone. Is that clear?” I asked Jack.

“But…,” Jack tried to protest.

“No buts,” I interrupted Jack, “If you don’t help me, then forget about being friends.”

Just then, our teacher, Mrs. Lim, came into the classroom. I winked at Jack before returning to my seat. During the next few periods, I tried to pay attention to the teacher, but my mind was preoccupied with the plan. Finally, it was recess time and everybody rushed out of the classroom like bees in a beehive. Jack walked to me, shivering slightly.

“Must we really do this?” he asked, his voice quavering.

“Yes, we must,” I answered him firmly.

After five minutes of recess, Jack and I went up to the classroom. As I predicted, Ben and Simon were off for their recess. There was not a single soul in the classroom. Silence hung densely in the air.

We went to David’s seat and I started searching David’s bag while Jack looked out to see if anyone was around. My heart pounded rapidly and my mind was in a blank. Sweat tickled down my neck like a row of unsewn pearls. My conscience told me that I was in the wrong, but I did not listen to it. Then, I found the mobile phone. I could not believe my eyes. I tugged at Jack, anticipating him to smile radiantly. But instead, his face turned as pale as death.

“I am sorry, James. I am really sorry…,” Jack apologised to me.

Then, Mrs. Lim came into the classroom. I tried to escape, but it was too late. I stood rooted to the ground.

“Jack, did you tell Mrs. Lim our plan?” I asked Jack with wide-eye horror.

“Yes, he did,” Mrs. Lim continued, “he had no other ways to stop you. He was hoping that you will change your mind before commiting this crime, but you did not.”

I was aghast. I was flabbergasted. My best buddy, Jack, had betrayed me. How could he do this? Suddenly, I felt furious. I was angry with Jack. I glared at him with my bloodshot angry eyes.

“I am really…sorry…really…sorry,” Jack stammered.

I had to face the music. The Discipline Master let me off with a stern warning after reprimanding me. My parents also punished me by grounding me for a month. They were disappointed with me and felt that I should learn from Jack. A month passed quickly and soon the people around me no longer held the matter against me. But one thing has definitely changed. Jack and I were not as close as we were before.

Void Deck Incident

By SY
“Checkmate!” The old man announced with pride.

It was the first time after so many rounds that he had managed to beat his friend, Mr Wong. Mr Lim and Mr Wong were seated at the void deck, playing a traditional game—chess. Mr Lim, dressed in a black shirt and a pair of trousers with a head of wavy hair, was in a good mood. A string of happy events was happening to him unexpectedly. Firstly, he had picked up a two-dollar note on the floor earlier that day. Then, he had won the game. He whistled cheerfully as he picked his cup of orange juice and wanted to quench his roaring thirst. Unfortunately, all these good events were about to come to an end……

“Hey! Let’s see if you can catch it!” A loud, mischievous voice boomed across void deck. Two boys were playing a game of football despite the fact that a big sign plastered on the wall indicated that no playing of football at the void deck was allowed. One of the boys raised his left foot, aimed at the ball and kicked it high up into the air with all his might. The other boy flung his arms up and tried to reach for the ball, but it seems to be miles away. The ball, like moving in slow motion, flew across their play area, and was about to hit Mr Lim right on the head.

“Beware!” A policeman in neat and crisp uniform appeared from behind the pillar and shouted out to Mr Lim.

Mr Lim was taken aback. He dropped his cup of orange juice and took a step back from his seat. Unfortunately, he did not look where he was going and almost crashed into a plump lady who was carrying a cake box. She was also carrying a basket of apples and some of them dropped onto the ground. However, she was too pre-occupied in carrying the cake and maintaining her balance to notice the apples that had dropped.

The ball landed on the chair Mr Lim had been sitting on and bounced away, hitting Mr Wong on the arm, before dropping onto the floor.

“Ouch!” He winced and turned to look at the boy. Mr Wong turned as red as beetroot as he stared at the boys with feisty eyes, as if he was going to punch the boys.

“Aiyoh! Ah Boy ah, quick go and say sorry to the two uncles!” A grandmother, seated at the bench some distance away, ordered in broken English.

The boys turned white with guilt and immediately rushed over to pick up their ball. Looking at the two men’s bewildered and angry expressions, they knew they were in hot soup. Seething with rage, Mr Lim and Mr Wong approached them menacingly. After letting out a mighty bellow, Mr Wong glared at them with displeasure. Mr Lim seemed to have grown an inch taller; while on the other hand, the two boys seemed to have shrunk to ant-size.

At this juncture, the policeman walked over and decided to step in. He stared a long lecture on being considerate to other people and about abiding by the rules. He pointed to the sign and questioned the two boys sarcastically, “Are you blind? Can’t you see the sign?”

The two boys nodded their heads in embarrassment. The two boys then offered an apology to Mr Lim and Mr Wong which they accepted. The boys also helped to pick up the lady’s apples and apologised again. She had been fuming about their inconsiderate way but she contained her anger. Moreover, the boys had to clean up the orange juice that had spilled onto the ground.

Shortly after everyone had regained their composure, the policeman and the lady left the void deck. The two old men started a new game of chess, while the boys followed their grandmother home in shame and with a lesson learnt the hard way.

Stranger at the door

By JN
It was a splendid Sunday afternoon. Our closely-knit family gathered in the cosy living room to play board games. A few minutes into the game, the shrill ringing of the door bell interrupted our concentration.

“Yes,” my father, who had responded to the resonating doorbell, muttered to the other party.

The rest of us returned our attention to the game, thinking that it was the postman with a registered mail. As his conversation with the other party dragged on, he took on a severe semblance. His grave look indicated that something terribly wrong had occurred. At this point, the rest of the family rallied around him to await the disturbing news: our grandmother had met with an accident on her way to the market! Being unable to obtain our telephone number, a staff member of the hospital had come to our home to inform us about it.

Instantaneously, everyone clambered into the family sedan and my father whisked furiously towards the Singapore General Hospital. In the car, everyone was silent, stunned by the tragic news. Those twenty minutes of travel time were agonizingly long. It felt like hours before we finally swung into the driveway of the hospital.

Once there, my parent bolted out of the car at breakneck speed, with us sprinting behind. We knew we had no time to lose. Their mother, our grandmother, was dying! We smashed through visitors, nurses, patients, doors, and chairs to reach her hospital room. Tears of desperation and despair blinded us as we swept like a hurricane towards her bed.

“Grandma !Grandma!” I shouted in desperation, “Do not leave us!” I was like in a drama scene when actors would say this standard phrase to their loved ones when they were dying but this was no joke. My grandmother’s face was pale white and she did not even have the energy to smile. The nurse told us what had happened and said that it was not the driver’s fault. It was my grandmother who had crossed the road carelessly.

All we could do was to say some comforting words to my grandmother. We were all worried that grandmother’s condition would worsen. The doctor said that grandma had to stay in the hospital for at least a week to fully recovered. Although my grandmother finally recovered, this incident taught us that the grave consequences of crossing the road carelessly. Through this incident, we also learnt to cherish my grandmother more.

Beach Incident

By SG
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Our whole family decided to go for an outing at the beach. I was elated as it was not very often that we had a chance to go to the beach. Soon we were in the family car and heading for the beach.

When we got there, we saw a crowd of people standing at the beach pointing and shouting at something in the water. I squinted to see what the pointing and shouting was all about. It was a little boy in the water, thrashing about. It seemed as if he was about to drown!

My blood froze as icy fingers of fear crawled down my spine. My mind was numbed with shock. Oh why did this have to happen today? Just then, a person ran past me and jumped into the sea. I thought he looked strangely familiar. Before I could figure out who it was, Mom gave me the answer by exclaiming,” Your Daddy, my hero!” I was so proud of him, but in another second, I felt a pang of uneasiness. As Dad swam over to the little boy, the boy kicked and splashed.

“Dad must be having a hard time!” I thought.

Dad tried to calm the little boy down, but his efforts were in vain. The boy paid no attention and screamed and kicked wildly. Dad had difficulty keeping his head up in the water as he gasped for breath, losing air and energy at the same time. My sister held on to my hand tightly.

“I’m scared. Will Daddy be okay?” she whimpered.

I assured her that everything would be fine and told her not to worry, but my voice quivered as I spoke.

“Am I as sure as I think I am?” I thought as I watched, sick with anxiety.

Finally, Dad managed to grab hold of the boy. At that moment, both of them went under the surface of the water! In another second, Dad burst out of the water with the boy and we all heaved a huge sigh of relief. It was then that we noticed the boy was unconscious. Dad took much effort to drag the boy to the shore. Upon seeing this, the crowd cheered. A lifeguard came over to Dad and said, “That was really brave of you. Here, let me take over.” Dad, who was dripping wet and panting heavily, nodded in agreement.

The lifeguard then proceeded to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the boy. In the midst of it all, a woman pushed through the crowd, screaming hysterically, “My son, my son! Where is he? Is he okay?” Someone from the crowd explained everything that had happened to her and pointed at Dad. After regaining her composure, the woman came over to Dad and expressed her thanks to him for saving her son.

She explained that her son had gone for a swim when he was not supposed to, and it was only just now that she had found out he was missing. At this juncture, the boy had revived and was choking and spluttering. His mother ran to his side.

Apparently someone had called for the ambulance as the loud wailing of sirens could be heard. The woman thanked Dad again once more and got into the ambulance with her son who was on a stretcher. We watched as the ambulance drove away.

Soon after, the crowd dispersed and it was getting dark. We decided to go home for dinner. We talked about the incident as we walked to where our car was parked. What an eventful day!

Broken Eggs Incident

By CHY
It was a disaster. I was covered in revoltingly smelly mud water from head to toe. It was the most embarrassing day of my life. The series of unfortunate events all happened on one fine day…

“RING! RING!”

The bell rang away incessantly. I ran out of the gate, with quickened steps. It was after school. I shot into the bicycle station and grabbed my bicycle from the lots. It was really very old and I sometimes doubt if it was working nicely.

I stepped hard on my pedals to reach my home as fast as I possibly could. Soon, I was speeding on the heels of the wind. A supermarket slowly loomed into view. A man was buying newspapers and many others were shopping for grocery. A woman was picking eggs from the counter outside the supermarket. Two students were walking into the supermarket, chatting excitedly to each other. It was a crowded sight.

Suddenly, I spotted a puddle of muddy water in front of the counter. I pulled back on the brakes to stop the bicycle from speeding ahead. But to my horror, the brakes jammed.

I tried another time.

Again, it would not budge.

I tried the third time.

The brakes were still jammed. My palms turned sweaty.

I tried one last time.

Grr! It just would not work. Terror gripped my eyes as my courage melted away.

It was too late. My bicycle skidded on the puddle and crashed into the counter. My bike slammed head-on into the counter and I fell into the puddle of mud.

“SPLASH!”

I was thoroughly soaked in mud water. That was not all. The crash had shaken the counter so violently that the top row of eggs went tumbling down onto the ground and broke into million of pieces. The woman standing next to the eggs was so badly shaken that she fell backwards onto a man who was carrying a box of glass bottles. The man fell… and as though in slow motion, I saw the bottles went crashing down.

There was no escape for me at all. I had to pay for all the damage I had caused. The shopkeeper ranted and raved at me, as I suffered the furtive glances from the crowd. If looks could kill, I would have withered there and then. I paid for the damage with all of the money I had with me and pushed my bike home with tears streaming down my hot and puffy cheeks. I was feeling terribly upset.

I had another ordeal to face when I got home. My father saw my dirty clothing, and at once, began reprimanding me. I was about to argue when my mother silenced me with a quick gesture.

Looking back, I asked myself why I had not checked the condition of my bicycle before I rode it, knowing full well its condition due to its age. How could I forgive myself for making my parents so angry at the thoughtless and reckless act I had committed? I had paid dearly for my carelessness.

Blackout

By NL
Each time I enter a crowded area, I cannot help it but feel scared after I experienced that chaotic day. That fateful day, my parents brought me to a shopping centre that was just a stone's throw away from my house. We went there on a mission-to buy new year goodies for the Chinese New Year. We walked briskly to the shopping centre, which was bustling with people. We squeezed through the big crowd and noticed a stage set up in the atrium. We decided to check it out what was happening there.


As there were a lot of people crowding around the stage, we had trouble getting a good view of the stage. We saw an empty space in the crowd and rushed there. From there, I could see a magician performing, entrancing the audience with his tricks.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I will attempt to make a member of the audience disappear! Any volunteers?" The magician’s deep voice boomed through the atrium. A little boy raised his hand eagerly and was chosen by the magician. As the little boy walked up the stage, the crowd applauded.

Suddenly, the lights went out and the atrium was plunged into darkness. The audience thought it was part of the magician's act and waited for the lights to come on. But the lights never came on again.

"Blackout!" someone screamed. Panic spread among the audience and everyone started to run for the exit quickly. Screams of terror echoed through the dark atrium as people were trampled on in the big stampede. I looked back and saw the little boy trying to get to the exit. However, he tripped and fell heavily on the floor. My parents saw it too. They wanted to help the little boy get up. But before we could get to him, he disappeared into the flurry of panicky people. I knew that I could not help the little boy anymore. He was surely going to die after being trampled by so many people. I turned my attention to trying to get out of the atrium myself.

I squeezed through the crowd of people and ran for the exit with my parents. When we were out of the atrium, we heaved a sigh of relief and watched the people getting out of the atrium. We saw the magician limping out of the atrium with a bleeding cut on his leg. Many people, we noticed, were covered with cuts and bruises.

Within minutes, a team of paramedics arrived and took the seriously injured people to the hospital. Luckily, we managed to escape unscathed. We did not care about buying goodies anymore. We could only think of going back home and never coming back here again.

The next day, we turned on the television to watch the news coverage on the stampede. We saw a graphic image of the little boy with his head and arms bent at an awkward angle. He was surely dead.

Since that terrifying day, I had a phobia of crowded places. The graphic image of the boy will forever be etched in my memory.

Killer Litter

By DT
“Mom, I’ve finished my homework. Can I go downstairs to play?”

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly and the birds chirped their wonderfully cheerful melody. I had been longing to have some fun either catching butterflies or playing at the playground. I wondered if she would agree.

“Sure, go with your sister, but would you do some housework for me first? There are some bowls to be washed and I have other things to do,” she replied as she would when she was busy. I was reluctant but did not want to disappoint her and thus agreed.

“Who created housework? It’s so troublesome,” I muttered under my breath grumpily. I was the laziest one at home. My sister, Joan, seemed to be the exact opposite of me. Hardworking, untalkative and shy were all her distinctive characteristics.

After washing the bowls, I asked my sister if she wanted to go downstairs for some fun. She, as usual, agreed. We went down together. We walked briskly as we felt a cool breeze rushing against our fair complexion. Having a fair complexion seemed to be our only similarity.

“It feels so good to come down to play. What do you want to play?” I started the conversation, letting my one-year younger sister make the decision.

“Look! Butterflies!” her eyes sparkled with interest as she pointed with her small finger at some beautiful butterflies and followed them curiously. I was also attracted to the colourful wings of the butterflies and observed the butterflies intently. The butterflies flew around randomly and soon flew close to the soft grass beside our flat.

“Cool!” I exclaimed happily. I had never been so close to butterflies before.

“Hey! Why did you leave your smelly plants here?” an angry voice thundered.

“I want to put them here and it’s none of your business where I put my things!” another voice boomed.

My sister and I decided to ignore them and continue to observe the beauty of nature. I saw a well-built policeman patrolling on his bike. I did not care. What could interest a seven year-old kid more than a cute butterfly?

The policeman was shouting something I could not hear. It took me some time to realise the policeman was trying to tell me something.

“Watch out!” I heard a kid at the playground cry out worriedly. I glanced at her. She was pointing above me. I quickly looked upwards. I noticed a huge flower heading towards me. I let out a deafening scream that could wake the dead. Now, the flower pot was a few inches away from my head. Reflexes told me to use my hands to block the flower pot.

“THUNK!” the flower pot banged on my head. I wanted to cry out in my agony, “Aww, that hurts!”, but no sound came out of my mouth. Before I even knew it, everything went black.

I opened my eyes. Everything around me had an evil look. I caught sight of a devil. He smiled menacingly.

“Welcome to hell,” the devil said in a tone that sent shivers down my spine…

“AHH!” I screamed as I woke from my terrible nightmare.

“This is definitely not the best way to wake up,” a familiar voice spoke. I looked around and found out that I had been sent to the hospital and was with my parents, my sister, the well-built policeman and a doctor. They all looked startled by the way I woke up. I tried to move my arm to wipe off the sweat on my head but felt a sharp pain instead. I turned my head to look at my hands. Both were bandaged.

I asked, ”Is there anything on my head? I don’t feel fine about it.”

“See for yourself,” Mom said, holding a mirror in her hand.

“Oh!” I cried in shock. Two things replaced my fair complexion: A cut on my right side of my face and a bruise on the left.

“Don’t worry. Your wounds will heal in time,” the doctor assured me.

I was curious about my family members’ facial expressions, so I looked at them closely. I noticed my sister, who had not spoken. She looked as if she had seen a ghost! She must be still in shock.

After my Mom had explained to me what had happened, I thanked the policeman for sending me to the nearest hospital and also the doctor for helping me bandage my arms. Both were very modest and said that it was their duty.

“You were so lucky. You only have cuts and bruises. Other people have fractured their skull! Next time, don’t play so near a block of flats, you understand?” my mother started her “lecture”. She continued, saying I should alert at all times.

“What happened to the person who threw the flower pot down? Why did he do that?” I asked, eager to know why anyone would throw his flower pot down.

“He was quarrelling with his neighbour. He was boiling with rage and he did it rashly and had no intention of harming anyone. That was his statement to the police,” the policeman answered. “Both he and his neighbour are going to court to receive their punishment.” he continued. “They may be jailed, fined or both. Killer litter is a serious offence. Whether it is a reckless and unintentional act or not, they will be punished severely,” he concluded.

Killer litter is dangerous. That day, I learnt what killer litter could cause. From that day onwards, whenever I look into my mirror and see the scar left by the cut, it would remind me of that fateful day.

False Alarm

By CL
The scorching sun was setting, however the heat was intolerable. Perspiration drenched my shirt and beads of perspiration trickled down my forehead. I was very thirsty and could only wish to reach home as soon as possible.

“Home at last!” I thought.

I took out my house keys and was just about to unlock the door when I saw a stranger leaving my neighbour’s house. Mrs Chin, my neighbour, was out and I became curious.

The stranger had a scar in the shape of a crescent on his left cheek. He had bloodshot eyes, a broken nose and yellowish teeth. His face looked very serious as if on the lookout for someone. He wore a singlet and a pair of jeans. His arms were fully covered with tattoos. He had frizzy and unkempt hair. His appearance sent a shiver running down my spine.

The first thought that came to my mind was that the man was a burglar. I quickly unlocked my door and went into my house. My heart was pounding with fear and excitement.

“What should I do first?” I asked myself.

I ran to the telephone and called my father. I told him everything excitedly. My father sounded excited too after he heard what had happened. He prompted me to call Mrs Chin and he would call for the police.

I called Mrs Chin and told her everything. She was shocked when she heard it. She ended the call abruptly.

While I was waiting for the police to arrive, I imagined myself going up the stage to collect the plaque of commendation from the police. They were going to reward me for being a good citizen by helping the police to nab a burglar.

The blasting sirens of the police car brought me back to reality. Mrs Chin just managed to rush back too. Mrs Chin and I went into her house. The door was not locked. The whole house seemed peaceful. Some policemen went to search the house for any signs of break in. A policeman asked me how the man looked like. Mrs Chin stood beside me. After I described him, Mrs Chin looked very relieved.

She said “Tom, the man you saw was my brother. He just came out of jail and he must have been looking for me.”

My face turned as red as a beetroot once I heard those words. I wished there was a hole in the ground for me to bury my head into. Through this incident, I learnt not so act hastily in the future.

Road Accident

By CS
It was a beautiful day. The sunlit clouds were drifting about in the clear, blue sky. I have just finished the tremendous amount of shopping that I had to do at a shopping centre. There was food to buy, shoes and clothes for the children and a lot of toys for there were lots of birthdays coming up. I was completely exhausted, whereas my children were so happy to get new things that they started skipping all around.

Out of the blue, I heard a loud CRASH! I could hear gasps of horror and loud whispers. As curiosity got the better of me, I decided to join the crowd of bystanders. From there, I could see clearly what was going on. A car accident had occurred! After I decided that I had more important things to do than to stare blankly at the accident scene, I heard the loud sirens of a police car.

“This might be interesting,” I thought, so I stayed a while longer. I could see two frustrated men, glaring at each other.

“How dare you knock into my car?! Are you blind?” screamed the burly man.

“What do you mean? You were the one who recklessly knocked into my car!” shouted the other man.

I covered my ears, as their voices were so deafening that they could wake the dead. Seeing all this, the policemen sprang into action as quick as lightning. One of them tried to calm all of the bystanders down, while another policeman was giving signals to the other drivers not to go near the accident site. Meanwhile, another policeman was trying to get more details about the accidents from the two drivers.

All of a sudden, a man and a girl came out from one of the damaged cars. Immediately the whole place was silent. Who would have guessed that there were still passengers in that car? The burly men seemed quite pale and rushed to the two people. He seemed to have calmed down a bit.

“Are you two alright?” asked the burly man.

“Yes, we are fine, except for a few bruises and scratches,” replied the girl.

The other driver said with an angry tone, “See? Look at what you have done to my poor daughter and brother?”

The burly driver looked guilty and answered, “I am sorry for what I have caused. I know my mistake. I will pay for all the damages.”

When they both calmed down, they were taken to the police station as the police needed more information from them. Luckily for the drivers, the two passengers were not seriously injured. Knowing that the “show” was over, the crowd dispersed slowly. I realised that it was time for me to head back home too.

While walking, I told my children, “Remember, when you grow up, you must not be so reckless, especially when driving. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.” My children nodded in agreement. I knew that safety always comes first.

Accident

By CY
It was a sultry afternoon. The air-conditioner on the bus did nothing to bring the soaring temperature down. I sat wearily on my seat, trying not to doze off so I would not miss my bus stop. I gazed at the TV Mobile screen in front of me. Images flashed back at me. I stifled a yawn. I wish there were more captivating programmes broadcasted on TV Mobile.

As I was about to doze off, the bus roared to a stop and I was thrust forward in my seat. I cursed the driver silently. He was far too reckless. I reckoned that his licence should be suspended. As I was contemplating how the bus company should deal with such irresponsible drivers like him, an elderly lady boarded the bus. She was armed with a heavy basket that reeked of salted fish. I held my breath as the lady shuffled up to where I was seated. I glanced at the other passengers. Some had pretended to doze off while others simply looked out of the windows, as I had done earlier. I, too, was reluctant to give up my seat, for I was exhausted after a long day in school. I shut my eyes and pretended to doze off.

Suddenly, the bus swerved violently to the left before screeching to a complete halt. I woke up immediately with a start. The bus had crashed into a lamp-post. Everyone screamed in terror. The elderly lady was no longer standing beside me. She lay sprawled on the floor, her leg twisted at an awkward angle and her wrinkled face etched with agony. The contents of her basket were scattered on the floor. There were live mud crabs crawling feebly and the fish were also strewn all over the floor of the bus. Everyone shrieked as they attempted to stay out of the way of the mud crabs.

I was stunned. I regretted not offering my seat to the aged lady. To make up for my selfish behavior, I leapt to my feet and rushed to help her up. However, she whined in anguish as I tried to lift her up. I stared at her in bewilderment. She pointed to her left leg helplessly. Having been trained in first aid, I reached for her left leg. I was shocked to discover that she had fractured it during the fall. Immediately, I beseeched fellow passengers with mobile phones to call for help.

Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered outside the bus, trying to make out what was happening. I comforted the old lady and assured her that medical help was on the way.

Just as I had expected, the police and the ambulance arrived in no time. The elderly lady and passengers who suffered injuries were whisked off to the hospital. The negligent driver was arrested on the spot. I felt triumphant as justice was finally meted out to the errant driver. However, I was also filled with remorse over what had happened to the poor old lady. I resolved to visit her in hospital the next day. With my mind made up, I retrieved my bag and walked home just in time for dinner.