''Tomorrow is Mother's birthday,'' I exclaimed. I was casually flipping through the calender when I realised that her birthday was upon us. My brothers and I got really excited for her birthday is the only time of the year, aside from Mother's Day, that we get to make up for all the naughty things we've done for the rest of the year. We decided to plan a birthday surprise for her unlike the previous years when all she had ever had were simple dinners at some fancy restaurant. As Dad was away on a business trip, it was the perfect chance for the three boys in the house to try play the part of men in the house.
We brainstormed for ideas and decided that we liked mine best. Eldest brother quickly delegated our duties and we got down to serious business immediately. However, in the midst of our planning, mum came home from work. All three of us jumped to our respective study tables and pretended to bury our noses into our books. I could hardly contain my excitement. I could not wait to see the look on her face the next day.
The front door being slammed shut woke me up early the next morning. I knew Mum had left for work. Instantly I jumped out of bed to wake the two lazy pigs up. Their faces glowed instantly, excited that the plan was about to kick in. An hour later, we were well on our way to buy Mum's favourite cake with our own savings. It was a lovely chocolate fudge cake that was rich with cream and laced with the most delicious tropical fruits. I could almost hear brother's stomach growl.
By 6pm that evening, all preparations had been done and I must say that we worked together really well. Everything was in place as planned and there was hardly a squabble. Mum would have been proud. Soon, noises could be heard at our front door and we knew Mum was home. Everyone hid behind the door and the moment she walked in, we jumped out and yelled "Surprise" at the top of our voices. Mum was really surprised. She was trembling with excitement as we led her to the dining table, where her cake lay in wait.
I could almost guess what her wish was for just seconds after she blew the candle out, Dad appeared at the front door! He was back from his business trip two weeks early and was in time to share the cake with us! That surprised us all! By now, Mum was in tears. She exclaimed that it was the best birthday she had ever had. I am so proud of my brothers and myself. We had cooperated well and played a part in Mum's most memorable day.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
My favourite game
My eyes needed a breather but it took a huge effort to pry myself away from my keyboard. When I finally did, brow wet with perspiration and heartbeat measuring at a million beats per second, my memories brought me back to the day I had earned the right to own my favourite game, Rome Total War.
The tension was written all over my mother's face. Weeks earlier, she had promised me anything I wished for if I was able to ace my final examinations. Determined to hold her to her word, I studied harder than I ever had. When the fateful day came, she opened my result slip expecting the worst. However, within seconds, an expression I had never seen before lit up her face. The usual Cs and Ds had been replaced by 3As and one B - a marked improvement. I had never seen her genuinely happy buying me a pc-game. I guess I must have really deserved it. I must say that Rome Total War was the first game that I had earned through hard work.
The mission here is to capture all the cities on the map by any means neccessary. I will also have to manage vast cities and engage in gigantic battles against all kinds of enemies with the aid of my advisors.Allies also protect me from my enemies and trade goods and weapons with me to get more money in our quest to round up more soldiers to expand our army. However, I also have to make sure that someday, I would be able to turn on my own allies and capture their settlement. That requires quite a fair bit of scheming and I have to shamelessly admit that I am pretty good at it. However, capturing all their bases and rule over the empire is no easy task and I am still learning as I go along. See! Who says such fun is not educational.
After playing for weeks, I realise that it is the best game I have ever played in my entire life! Supported by a very updated computer, the graphics come alive on screen - totally transporting my mind back to those days and away from the comfort of my own home. It rouses up an interest in me to study history. I wonder if events those days were anything like what I experience on screen. Not only that, my parents take comfort that I am not out on the streets being influenced by the delinquents we read about in the papers these days. I am glad that they can see a silver lining in the cloud.
The tension was written all over my mother's face. Weeks earlier, she had promised me anything I wished for if I was able to ace my final examinations. Determined to hold her to her word, I studied harder than I ever had. When the fateful day came, she opened my result slip expecting the worst. However, within seconds, an expression I had never seen before lit up her face. The usual Cs and Ds had been replaced by 3As and one B - a marked improvement. I had never seen her genuinely happy buying me a pc-game. I guess I must have really deserved it. I must say that Rome Total War was the first game that I had earned through hard work.
The mission here is to capture all the cities on the map by any means neccessary. I will also have to manage vast cities and engage in gigantic battles against all kinds of enemies with the aid of my advisors.Allies also protect me from my enemies and trade goods and weapons with me to get more money in our quest to round up more soldiers to expand our army. However, I also have to make sure that someday, I would be able to turn on my own allies and capture their settlement. That requires quite a fair bit of scheming and I have to shamelessly admit that I am pretty good at it. However, capturing all their bases and rule over the empire is no easy task and I am still learning as I go along. See! Who says such fun is not educational.
After playing for weeks, I realise that it is the best game I have ever played in my entire life! Supported by a very updated computer, the graphics come alive on screen - totally transporting my mind back to those days and away from the comfort of my own home. It rouses up an interest in me to study history. I wonder if events those days were anything like what I experience on screen. Not only that, my parents take comfort that I am not out on the streets being influenced by the delinquents we read about in the papers these days. I am glad that they can see a silver lining in the cloud.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
my best friend
With a big wide grin etched across my face, I bounced along merrily towards Gongshang Primary School. It was my first day and I was proud to finally belong to a “big-boys’” school - that was how my mother put it. I saw hundreds of others, dressed just like me, not realizing that he was one of them. Escorted to my class by the kind girl in the blue and red tie, I found a space in the queue beside a skinny little boy who seemed to be perspiring profusely. It was then that I was first introduced to Wong Jun Peng, my best friend-to-be.
We started our relationship as partners, seated in the first row, right under our teacher’s nose. We weren’t very tall then, you see. Jun Peng has always been a very excitable boy. A very clear indication of his excited state will be when his voice raises to ear-bursting decibels. This has never changed.
We spend most of our time playing soccer although that is not the only thing we do. We also go for tuition classes at Educare Learning Centre in hope of getting high marks for our PSLE. I admire my best friend for his good working attitude. He always encourages me to strive for the best and even to better his score.
When I was in Primary 4, I represented Gongshang in table tennis. My team and I went into semi finals where we met very powerful opponents. I played the first singles. Playing the first singles nervously, I lost the first set. However, before the start of the second set, Jun Peng walked over and offered me words of encouragement. He convinced me that I was better than my rival. Although I did not believe him, it spurred me on to try even harder. With Jun Peng cheering me on, I won the next set and the deciding rubber. Eventually, Gongshang bowed out of the tournament to our opponents that day yet I did not feel down for I know that we had given it our all.
It has been almost six years since our primary one days and I must say that our bond has grown stronger. We have made plans to go to the same secondary school but even if that plan fails, we can always turn to emails and sms-es. Looking back, I am very glad to have found such a good friend in Jun Peng. I don’t know what the future holds for us but wish that our friendships lasts to a ripe old age.
We started our relationship as partners, seated in the first row, right under our teacher’s nose. We weren’t very tall then, you see. Jun Peng has always been a very excitable boy. A very clear indication of his excited state will be when his voice raises to ear-bursting decibels. This has never changed.
We spend most of our time playing soccer although that is not the only thing we do. We also go for tuition classes at Educare Learning Centre in hope of getting high marks for our PSLE. I admire my best friend for his good working attitude. He always encourages me to strive for the best and even to better his score.
When I was in Primary 4, I represented Gongshang in table tennis. My team and I went into semi finals where we met very powerful opponents. I played the first singles. Playing the first singles nervously, I lost the first set. However, before the start of the second set, Jun Peng walked over and offered me words of encouragement. He convinced me that I was better than my rival. Although I did not believe him, it spurred me on to try even harder. With Jun Peng cheering me on, I won the next set and the deciding rubber. Eventually, Gongshang bowed out of the tournament to our opponents that day yet I did not feel down for I know that we had given it our all.
It has been almost six years since our primary one days and I must say that our bond has grown stronger. We have made plans to go to the same secondary school but even if that plan fails, we can always turn to emails and sms-es. Looking back, I am very glad to have found such a good friend in Jun Peng. I don’t know what the future holds for us but wish that our friendships lasts to a ripe old age.
An Unfortunate Incident
AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT
A storm was brewing overhead, lightning flashed across the sky while the wind was steadily gaining momentum. Before long, raindrops pelted my poor aching body, tired after a rigorous soccer training session. Coach wanted us to be in good shape for a regional tournament later that month in which we were the favourites.
I hurried along but the puddles of water forming everywhere from the downpour slowed me down. I turned right at a junction. That was when I heard it. Loud mewing sounds came from a tree just beside me. It was a desperate cry for help. I spotted a kitten curled up on a tree branch. I knew I had to get it down. The thought of what could happen to the poor thing in such conditions pushed me to save it. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
I looked for a foothold on the tree trunk and proceeded to climb up the ten- metre tall tree. How the kitten managed to climb that far up was beyond me! A branch was soon within reach and it helped speed up my progress. However, about five metres into my climb, the slippery surface caused me to lose my foothold but I managed to cling onto a thin, wiry branch although not for long. I heard it snap and was hurtling towards the ground, landing awkwardly. I blacked out.
I came round some hours later in unbelievable pain, surrounded by loved ones. The dull, white walls told me that I was in a hospital. My mum was in tears although she was glad that I was alive. My dad, the calmest man in the world, assured me that I would be fine - but not fine enough to be playing in the soccer tournament. Not fine enough to lead my team to the trophy. I prayed that he was wrong but a young female doctor who walked in seconds later confirmed that my collarbone had snapped in that fall and I would be in a cast for quite some time. She also said that I was fortunate enough not to hurt my neck or the damage could have been more severe.
I didn’t feel fortunate. I felt horrible. Not only was I in so much pain for months, I had to lie in bed as my team tore our opponents to shreds live on national television - without me.
A storm was brewing overhead, lightning flashed across the sky while the wind was steadily gaining momentum. Before long, raindrops pelted my poor aching body, tired after a rigorous soccer training session. Coach wanted us to be in good shape for a regional tournament later that month in which we were the favourites.
I hurried along but the puddles of water forming everywhere from the downpour slowed me down. I turned right at a junction. That was when I heard it. Loud mewing sounds came from a tree just beside me. It was a desperate cry for help. I spotted a kitten curled up on a tree branch. I knew I had to get it down. The thought of what could happen to the poor thing in such conditions pushed me to save it. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
I looked for a foothold on the tree trunk and proceeded to climb up the ten- metre tall tree. How the kitten managed to climb that far up was beyond me! A branch was soon within reach and it helped speed up my progress. However, about five metres into my climb, the slippery surface caused me to lose my foothold but I managed to cling onto a thin, wiry branch although not for long. I heard it snap and was hurtling towards the ground, landing awkwardly. I blacked out.
I came round some hours later in unbelievable pain, surrounded by loved ones. The dull, white walls told me that I was in a hospital. My mum was in tears although she was glad that I was alive. My dad, the calmest man in the world, assured me that I would be fine - but not fine enough to be playing in the soccer tournament. Not fine enough to lead my team to the trophy. I prayed that he was wrong but a young female doctor who walked in seconds later confirmed that my collarbone had snapped in that fall and I would be in a cast for quite some time. She also said that I was fortunate enough not to hurt my neck or the damage could have been more severe.
I didn’t feel fortunate. I felt horrible. Not only was I in so much pain for months, I had to lie in bed as my team tore our opponents to shreds live on national television - without me.
maiden posting
Hallo. This is where you shall be posting your compositions for me to mark.
- Each Sunday, you are required to submit 1 compo.
- I shall mark that compo on each Sunday night. Since we are sharing this blog, I can amend it on the spot. Just type as usual, do not worry, ok?
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