I had my last day of work at the NTUC I've been working at for the past two years and frankly I'm still torn about leaving that place. On one hand, income has stopped flowing and I genuinely liked working there (mostly because of the people I've met) but on the other, I'm just really tired of everything in general that I'm kinda relived for the breathing space gained from leaving work.
Still, work has taught me a lot of things. The people I've met and talked to all left me a lasting impression and there was at least one thing I learned from each of them. In my opinion, the values of work can be imparted to you too; just bear with me a little longer.
Maybe I'll talk about my superiors first. I only ever talked with my own supervisor and manager of the department I was in, the BET (Bazaar, Electronic, Textile) department. I'll list them both and what they taught me down first.
My manager Terence. He was the contact I was put in touch with through my aunt and my first point of contact to NTUC. He's pretty laid back and lets us do our own thing as long as he doesn't catch us slacking off. Terence teaches you everything at once for the first time and hopes that you'll remember because he can't be there every time to save our asses. Terence taught me how gentle persuasion can get results.
My supervisor Kenny. Sure, he seemed stern and scary at first but he's generally a good guy. I mean, he makes friends with the foreign workers at the NTUC and communicates in a gruff yet affectionate way. Combine that with his stocky build and hey you kinda get a father figure. He's the most stressed out of everyone in the store because all the shit falls to him to handle. Yet he takes it all because really, without Kenny the entire department would fall apart. What I learned: Don't take no shit from anyone and pick your own battles.
Next up are the rest of my co-workers. It's a mighty long list so I'll try my best to break down the imminent wall of text.
First up is Uncle Albert. I was directed by Terence to go talk to him on my first day so Uncle Albert could show me the ropes. Despite reaching the retirement age, Uncle Albert is easily the best employee in our department; the only thing stopping him from getting promoted is his age and problems with handling computer work. If there's trouble about, Uncle Albert can be approached and he'll hop to it, ready to help out and then telling me where I went wrong and what I could learn from it. Uncle Albert taught me to speak out logically against unfair treatment, because there's no use in needless arguing.
Next is He Long. He's from China and had returned home during my first year of work. A common topic that comes up during work chatter is that He Long wants to quit as soon as the next bonus arrives so that he could go home to help support his family by setting up a shop with his wife waiting back home. Although he could be belligerent at times he knew just as much as Uncle Albert, plus the technology know-how, making him a valuable asset. He taught me that while money can be used in many practical ways, in the end, family comes first.
Zhi Zhong was the other foreign worker from China and he is the closest to my age at 24, next to Hazrul (later) who's 17 this year. He had been deported back to China because he violated Singapore's housing laws with several other of his countrymen. From what I heard from Kenny, Zhi Zhong had been forced into it. Other than that, while he was still around, he was just as good as He Long, albeit the more chatty one. He helped me a little bit with my Chinese too so yeah I learned from Zhi Zhong that a little more general knowledge won't hurt, because he's always reading out articles to us.
Uncle Simon transferred into the department a little late last year. He's slightly younger than Uncle Albert but the difference is Simon is more cheerful and willing to chat (Uncle Albert's all work most of the time). He may ramble a bit at times but Simon picked up the BET's routine quickly and hey, he had his own pearls of wisdom to share during work chat. Lesson: Adaptability is crucial in the work force.
Then there's Siti. She worked in the Textile side of BET and was recently promoted to supervisor (congratulations again :D) Her workload did increase because of the promotion and she is now just as stressed as Kenny. However, that doesn't stop Siti from being the motherly kind who looks out for the younger and older ones despite her own age (CAN'T DIVULGE THIS DUH). Her last words too me yesterday may sound harsh but I'll remember them now: Don't think about others, think about yourself first.
Amil is from Malaysia and is here to earn some bread for his wife and year-old daughter back home. Solid, loyal and hardworking, he has the most eagerness to learn and prove himself in the store. Since he is under Siti, he now provides the muscle for the Textile side, since it has always been hiring female staff. He taught me a little Malay and in exchange I helped him with as much English as I could. While he may be thirty and had only been around for three months or so, I see him as more of a friend than colleague. Lesson: Be someone that can be depended on for not everything, but most of the things because you are not Superman.
Then there is Mohammed. He may be from the grocery department but he is the only one from another department who shook my hand and introduced himself. Just like Amil, Mohammed does not hesitate to slap you on the back just to say hi. Whenever we pass by each other, we nod and ask each other, "How are you, boss?" because Mohammed taught me that you are your own master.
Finally, there's Hazrul. I met him only last month when he came to NTUC to work through an agency. Fresh out of secondary school, he's going to TP after the O Level results were released. With someone so close to my age, we could laugh and chat about things outside of work. Have you seen/played this before et cetera. However, just by talking with Hazrul did I realize, and learned on my own, that I'm being looked at as one of the 'older' people now; it's time I act like one.
Well, it was a fun ride till the end and I hope all of you who are reading this get something out of this. True, I may preach now and forget about everything that happened in NTUC but to be honest, my memories won't be fading any time soon.
And now, I can finally rest.
See you all next time.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Friday, 12 December 2014
Well, I'm Back
It has been little over a year since my last blog post and a lot has changed. While scanning through my old blog posts I kind of cringed at my over-friendly tone in them and quite frankly, amateurish writing.
Of course, maybe people remember I have a blog, maybe people don't. What matters I guess is that so much has happened recently that I have to write it all down somewhere before I lose my mind, though I think I already have.
First on the agenda is why I'm back. It was a completely random suggestion made by Jess and when I thought about it, I went Oh gosh I really should've blogged more consistently. I mean, popular bloggers always update their blogs frequently so I almost got a heart attack when I came back here and found out my last entry was posted on 7th December 2013. Ah well, I guess I sort of forgot about the blog at one point.
Honest to God I swear that I really wanted to blog over the past year but like I said before, a lot has happened in this one year gap. Due to the amount of things and events that had occurred, this big entry to cover it all will be split into several parts, of which I hope to complete over the coming holidays.
The more interesting things that has happened to this mundane writer would be an OCIP (Overseas Community Involvement Project) trip to Cambodia, my revision on my outlook on school life, relationships with my friends and finally, home.
I'll only talk about school tonight. Lately I've been having a LOT of second thoughts in ever joining DTVM. Hold up, I was super excited to be in the course in the first year but second year has really whacked me hard in terms of reality checks. Think of it as something extremely heavy slowly running over you, crushing you to death and oozing out all your hopes and dreams.
The workload is super intense and of course, being a bad time manager, I've been having a lot of sleepless nights over the past year. On better nights, I can sleep latest 1 or 2am in the morning. Otherwise I usually sleep at around 3-4 before waking up at hmmm...6-7am in the morning.
I don't set alarms, I have a frustratingly early body clock which forces me awake by 7 latest everyday. I can't take advantage of my timetable this term because of that. While other class or coursemates would be sleeping in on the days we have 12 and 1pm classes, I would be wide awake by 7 am and cursing my body clock. Coupled together with the workload, I can finally understand just how tough my seniors have described year 2.
Personally, I think I have managed to piss off most of my lecturers in the course. Being a lousy student, who keeps asking Mr. Esman questions on how to do this and that (coding, I detest it), I would be able to see why Mr. Esman is done with me. Let me get this out; to everyone who can code good and gets it, you have my utmost respect.
Ms. Stella, enough said, it's a mutual dislike for one another, at least that's what I think. I don't know why but I just can't control my dislike towards Ms. Stella whenever I try to ask her a question or explain something more clearly during consultations. In terms of experience and knowledge, I believe Ms. Stella is a great lecturer in those two areas but her open emotions towards others and work attitude just...you get the idea.
I'm not sure about Mr. Chee Teng, because he kinda looks out of it. No, I'd say he tries not to let any of his opinions of the class show in front of us. Although perhaps with me being incompetent (I've learned a lot about pronunciation thanks to Jia Ying) in all aspects of filming, I might not be very high on Mr. Chee Teng's 'Nice List'.
I definitely know I've irritated Mr. Mark today (oh dear God) because I was late for the first time this term. On the last day of term too, what luck. I guess completing an assignment due today outweighs keeping my perfect attendance. Oh, the reason why Mr. Mark would be irritated at me is not because I was late; in actuality I had forgotten to apologize for being late. *sighs I apologize once again, Mr. Mark.
Ms. Mary, hmmm. I can deduce that her reason to not like me is the same reason for Mr. Esman's I guess. I can name quite a lot of incidents actually. One, being super blur, as usual. Two, having fallen into a deep sleep during her class and no one could wake me up. Three, being a bad student and not completing class assignments and at the top of the list, generally not cooperating and having bad ideas for her assignments. Long list but eh, Ms. Mary could've been better organized in coming up with her assignments for us in my opinion. Input your thoughts if you want.
Ah, our course head, Ms. Gamar. I genuinely don't want to disappoint her because journalism is the only possible option I can explore in DTVM, considering my abysmal filming and editing skills. However, my mediocre skills in doing up articles and failure to hand up class work on time would definitely annoy Ms. Gamar, and being a big part of being a reporter is meeting deadlines so....*draws line across neck.
Well, that's all I have for today, I multi-tasked a class assignment for Ms. Gamar while typing out this entry. I sent it off already before starting on this send-off. I'll be flying off to Penang for a week with the family tomorrow so perhaps I'll blog some more after that. Don't fret about the bad stuff, I'll clear all of those before moving on to the fun entries.
Keep safe everyone, have a good holidays (who am I kidding, try your best not to die!)
Of course, maybe people remember I have a blog, maybe people don't. What matters I guess is that so much has happened recently that I have to write it all down somewhere before I lose my mind, though I think I already have.
First on the agenda is why I'm back. It was a completely random suggestion made by Jess and when I thought about it, I went Oh gosh I really should've blogged more consistently. I mean, popular bloggers always update their blogs frequently so I almost got a heart attack when I came back here and found out my last entry was posted on 7th December 2013. Ah well, I guess I sort of forgot about the blog at one point.
Honest to God I swear that I really wanted to blog over the past year but like I said before, a lot has happened in this one year gap. Due to the amount of things and events that had occurred, this big entry to cover it all will be split into several parts, of which I hope to complete over the coming holidays.
The more interesting things that has happened to this mundane writer would be an OCIP (Overseas Community Involvement Project) trip to Cambodia, my revision on my outlook on school life, relationships with my friends and finally, home.
I'll only talk about school tonight. Lately I've been having a LOT of second thoughts in ever joining DTVM. Hold up, I was super excited to be in the course in the first year but second year has really whacked me hard in terms of reality checks. Think of it as something extremely heavy slowly running over you, crushing you to death and oozing out all your hopes and dreams.
The workload is super intense and of course, being a bad time manager, I've been having a lot of sleepless nights over the past year. On better nights, I can sleep latest 1 or 2am in the morning. Otherwise I usually sleep at around 3-4 before waking up at hmmm...6-7am in the morning.
I don't set alarms, I have a frustratingly early body clock which forces me awake by 7 latest everyday. I can't take advantage of my timetable this term because of that. While other class or coursemates would be sleeping in on the days we have 12 and 1pm classes, I would be wide awake by 7 am and cursing my body clock. Coupled together with the workload, I can finally understand just how tough my seniors have described year 2.
Personally, I think I have managed to piss off most of my lecturers in the course. Being a lousy student, who keeps asking Mr. Esman questions on how to do this and that (coding, I detest it), I would be able to see why Mr. Esman is done with me. Let me get this out; to everyone who can code good and gets it, you have my utmost respect.
Ms. Stella, enough said, it's a mutual dislike for one another, at least that's what I think. I don't know why but I just can't control my dislike towards Ms. Stella whenever I try to ask her a question or explain something more clearly during consultations. In terms of experience and knowledge, I believe Ms. Stella is a great lecturer in those two areas but her open emotions towards others and work attitude just...you get the idea.
I'm not sure about Mr. Chee Teng, because he kinda looks out of it. No, I'd say he tries not to let any of his opinions of the class show in front of us. Although perhaps with me being incompetent (I've learned a lot about pronunciation thanks to Jia Ying) in all aspects of filming, I might not be very high on Mr. Chee Teng's 'Nice List'.
I definitely know I've irritated Mr. Mark today (oh dear God) because I was late for the first time this term. On the last day of term too, what luck. I guess completing an assignment due today outweighs keeping my perfect attendance. Oh, the reason why Mr. Mark would be irritated at me is not because I was late; in actuality I had forgotten to apologize for being late. *sighs I apologize once again, Mr. Mark.
Ms. Mary, hmmm. I can deduce that her reason to not like me is the same reason for Mr. Esman's I guess. I can name quite a lot of incidents actually. One, being super blur, as usual. Two, having fallen into a deep sleep during her class and no one could wake me up. Three, being a bad student and not completing class assignments and at the top of the list, generally not cooperating and having bad ideas for her assignments. Long list but eh, Ms. Mary could've been better organized in coming up with her assignments for us in my opinion. Input your thoughts if you want.
Ah, our course head, Ms. Gamar. I genuinely don't want to disappoint her because journalism is the only possible option I can explore in DTVM, considering my abysmal filming and editing skills. However, my mediocre skills in doing up articles and failure to hand up class work on time would definitely annoy Ms. Gamar, and being a big part of being a reporter is meeting deadlines so....*draws line across neck.
Well, that's all I have for today, I multi-tasked a class assignment for Ms. Gamar while typing out this entry. I sent it off already before starting on this send-off. I'll be flying off to Penang for a week with the family tomorrow so perhaps I'll blog some more after that. Don't fret about the bad stuff, I'll clear all of those before moving on to the fun entries.
Keep safe everyone, have a good holidays (who am I kidding, try your best not to die!)
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Frozen Fire
In case you good people are wondering whether my title has some deep meaning or not; well, the title of this post is actually a combination of the two movies I watched back-to-back today. Frozen and Catching Fire. Yep, I hardly watch movies and its even rarer to watch TWO movies BACK-TO-BACK.
So Frozen came first and man were we confused over the timing. The cause of the confusion was actually me (sigh...sorry peeps ><) and therefore we were heatedly discussing whether we should go for the 2.20pm or 4.10pm because by 1.40pm a few of the peeps had only just woken up. Joy, even I felt that I would be late (those who know me know that I'm almost always early) so we settled on 4.10pm at Century Square.
Man, I know I just had a great dinner and lepak sesh with my peeps from secondary school last night but I couldn't help but have an urge to hug all of them there and weep, "I MISSED Y'ALL!" Hey, I love my friends alright. I swear everyone grew taller since I last saw them (or is it me shrinking? Damn) and Darra was sporting dyed hair tips, ultra cool but confession time: I had a fleeting impression of a squid/jellyfish but its gone now.
Frozen cut me emotionally but its just a flesh wound which sealed quite quickly. The story and emotions were great but a few jokes were inappropriately timed and the SINGING. Dammit Disney I love your movies but you can't have EVERYONE breaking into song at the unlikeliest of situations. Other than that, good work! 8/10
Catching Fire, holy crap I thought it was bad enough in the books and the movie added too much visuals and hurt and emotions to my image of the Hunger Games. Bloody hell there were much too many tender moments for me to handle and even though I knew who was going to die (I read the books long before the movies) it didn't make it hurt less when the deaths started to occur. As for Jennifer Lawrence, well let's spell it out: A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Amazing actress I say. Catching Fire: 9/10
One last thing, I'm in a Doge phase now (look up the 'doge meme') thanks to the Internet and a very good/fy friend. Been annoying the hell out of a lot of people and amusing myself by describing loads of things using Doge. So to end off today's post, let's Doge today's events!
Such movies
Much spend
Very popcorn
Wow
Stay cool and awesome everyone!
P.S I hope I get out of this Doge phase before I get locked up in a mental ward
So Frozen came first and man were we confused over the timing. The cause of the confusion was actually me (sigh...sorry peeps ><) and therefore we were heatedly discussing whether we should go for the 2.20pm or 4.10pm because by 1.40pm a few of the peeps had only just woken up. Joy, even I felt that I would be late (those who know me know that I'm almost always early) so we settled on 4.10pm at Century Square.
Man, I know I just had a great dinner and lepak sesh with my peeps from secondary school last night but I couldn't help but have an urge to hug all of them there and weep, "I MISSED Y'ALL!" Hey, I love my friends alright. I swear everyone grew taller since I last saw them (or is it me shrinking? Damn) and Darra was sporting dyed hair tips, ultra cool but confession time: I had a fleeting impression of a squid/jellyfish but its gone now.
Frozen cut me emotionally but its just a flesh wound which sealed quite quickly. The story and emotions were great but a few jokes were inappropriately timed and the SINGING. Dammit Disney I love your movies but you can't have EVERYONE breaking into song at the unlikeliest of situations. Other than that, good work! 8/10
Catching Fire, holy crap I thought it was bad enough in the books and the movie added too much visuals and hurt and emotions to my image of the Hunger Games. Bloody hell there were much too many tender moments for me to handle and even though I knew who was going to die (I read the books long before the movies) it didn't make it hurt less when the deaths started to occur. As for Jennifer Lawrence, well let's spell it out: A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Amazing actress I say. Catching Fire: 9/10
One last thing, I'm in a Doge phase now (look up the 'doge meme') thanks to the Internet and a very good/fy friend. Been annoying the hell out of a lot of people and amusing myself by describing loads of things using Doge. So to end off today's post, let's Doge today's events!
Such movies
Much spend
Very popcorn
Wow
Stay cool and awesome everyone!
P.S I hope I get out of this Doge phase before I get locked up in a mental ward
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Mice: A Birthday Tale
So yesterday was my birthday and it was also the first and last time (I hope not) my class held a double birthday celebration. Yep, you guessed it, I have a twin sister! Born in the same hospital no less but born two hours apart :P In addition, since it was unlikely we could meet up for Christmas, my class had a super early Christmas dinner party and a Secret Santa too.
I was still kinda stressed yesterday since I was struggling to meet the deadline for our last assignment of the day and didn't have much time for feeling good because I was just so damned tired. I caught only an hour of sleep the night before (of course its the fault of the assignment) so I was nodding off during lesson and rushing the assignment. After groaning, cursing and bullshitting, I met the deadline and submitted the assignment (HOORAY).
The Secret Santa was awesome. The gifts that my classmates got for each other were great! I got a soft toy penguin wearing a green suit for Nadia (I was her Secret Santa) and I received homemade chocolate chip cookies from Rachel. Later, I was told that Rachel lost sleep over getting the Secret Santa gift for me so naturally I vowed to get a good gift for her next year either for her birthday April 4th) or if there's ever a Secret Santa again.
I got an extra gift for my 'twin', Carmen, too. I got a puppy soft toy for her and the auntie who sold it to me was very kind; she put in a nice box and expertly sealed it with a ribbon as well as giving me a nice discount ^^ Yet, when I gave Carmen my present I couldn't help but feel both happy and sad. Why? Because yesterday was the last day Carmen would spend her life as a Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Creative Writing in TV and New Media student, with us as a classmate. The first and last time DTVM 02 will have a double birthday celebration.
I miss Carmen, of course, as well as everyone else in class. She's going to JC and I think I was right in not trying to persuade her to stay because she did tell some of us she's not really into the course anymore. It's alright, I thought, as long as she knows what she wants and if she's happy. That's what a brother should do, to not force his own will on his siblings.
Confession: The first thing I did when I arrived home yesterday was to sit down, stare at the mug Carmen gave me as my birthday present and cry. Yes, I did cry, alright and not because I love love her. I love Carmen as a sister. I mean I always wanted a twin and my wish was granted when Polytechnic started and I met Carmen. I would have broke down sooner in front of my friends yesterday when Carmen left if not for the fact that I didn't ever want to cry in front of my friends.
It's the holidays, yeah and already I realised I miss my friends in poly. I miss them a lot. Funny, as we grow older, our education years in a level (primary, secondary, tertiary) are shorter but our bonds as classmates and friends grow deeper, have you all noticed? Or maybe its just me...
One final note: I'm heading off to Malaysia tomorrow until the 14th and its my first time there. I really don't want to go actually I just want to stay at home and sleep: the last few weeks have really taken their toll on me.
P.S. The title part "Mice" is in reference to me and Carmen's Zodiac as Rats. Miss you twin sister! Hope you do well.
P.P.S. I'm alright now and am ready to relax after a strenuous term.
I was still kinda stressed yesterday since I was struggling to meet the deadline for our last assignment of the day and didn't have much time for feeling good because I was just so damned tired. I caught only an hour of sleep the night before (of course its the fault of the assignment) so I was nodding off during lesson and rushing the assignment. After groaning, cursing and bullshitting, I met the deadline and submitted the assignment (HOORAY).
The Secret Santa was awesome. The gifts that my classmates got for each other were great! I got a soft toy penguin wearing a green suit for Nadia (I was her Secret Santa) and I received homemade chocolate chip cookies from Rachel. Later, I was told that Rachel lost sleep over getting the Secret Santa gift for me so naturally I vowed to get a good gift for her next year either for her birthday April 4th) or if there's ever a Secret Santa again.
I got an extra gift for my 'twin', Carmen, too. I got a puppy soft toy for her and the auntie who sold it to me was very kind; she put in a nice box and expertly sealed it with a ribbon as well as giving me a nice discount ^^ Yet, when I gave Carmen my present I couldn't help but feel both happy and sad. Why? Because yesterday was the last day Carmen would spend her life as a Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Creative Writing in TV and New Media student, with us as a classmate. The first and last time DTVM 02 will have a double birthday celebration.
I miss Carmen, of course, as well as everyone else in class. She's going to JC and I think I was right in not trying to persuade her to stay because she did tell some of us she's not really into the course anymore. It's alright, I thought, as long as she knows what she wants and if she's happy. That's what a brother should do, to not force his own will on his siblings.
Confession: The first thing I did when I arrived home yesterday was to sit down, stare at the mug Carmen gave me as my birthday present and cry. Yes, I did cry, alright and not because I love love her. I love Carmen as a sister. I mean I always wanted a twin and my wish was granted when Polytechnic started and I met Carmen. I would have broke down sooner in front of my friends yesterday when Carmen left if not for the fact that I didn't ever want to cry in front of my friends.
It's the holidays, yeah and already I realised I miss my friends in poly. I miss them a lot. Funny, as we grow older, our education years in a level (primary, secondary, tertiary) are shorter but our bonds as classmates and friends grow deeper, have you all noticed? Or maybe its just me...
One final note: I'm heading off to Malaysia tomorrow until the 14th and its my first time there. I really don't want to go actually I just want to stay at home and sleep: the last few weeks have really taken their toll on me.
P.S. The title part "Mice" is in reference to me and Carmen's Zodiac as Rats. Miss you twin sister! Hope you do well.
P.P.S. I'm alright now and am ready to relax after a strenuous term.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Mundane Mulling and Miscellaneous Misadventures
People would usually say "TGIF!" today right? Not for me. Friday means Video Production and that means a 7 hour single module tutorial/practical. Okay, at least we aren't going to be cooped up in a media lab learning editing and camera tricks for 7 hours straight, we get to go out and shoot these short videos (for now).
Today: Produce a 20-second long 'commercial' of a fictional energy drink. During production: Laughter, going 'ugh' for camera movements/shots, lunch, perfect timings of sound effects during editing, sampling music, and plain fun. End result: I THINK we got a video that was almost a minute or so. BRAVO lecturer for not penalising us (it wasn't graded anyway)
Next, adding the finishing touches on the concept for this TV show we're supposed to come up with. I'm telling you right now it's not so easy to do this. So many damn ideas have been taken up by past generations and so almost anything we come up with has been done before. Thus, we go for authenticity, not originality. Twist some things of an idea that had worked before and voila! TV show! Unfortunately, the lecturer who gave us this project is a former scriptwriter from Mediacorp so of course, she'll know a good concept when she sees one. So it's been tough but hey, we almost done! Rooting for my other friends working on the project too, love y'all.
My dad is sick! He rarely falls ill so when he does he really has to stay in bed. Like father like son he takes it and tried to go to work today. Well, he paid with his stubbornness and got worse, so he has to spend time with me playing carom. Hope you get well soon, Dad! ^^
I'm not sure if I have succeeded but I may have annoyed the unannoyable (not a word, just an expression). Yep, as a little brother to a big sister, I may have triumphed today by annoying my older sister >:) How? Remember I told y'all about the video we were supposed to produce? Welp, my older sister got picked into the main and only role of our video. We settled on who'd do it by doing the "NOT IT!" routine. Luckily I got mine out in time. So, at one part we had to film her drinking down a drink and we zoomed in on the throat (JUST the throat). The motion of gulping made me say, "Holy crap do you think that movement makes you go 'wub wub'?" HAHAHAHA that was lame but that was my first thought during editing. Imagine a throat rumbling and going all electronic and dupstep. Scary. Sorry Jess, but really don't go too hard on yourself you did well in the video! *thumbs up
P.S Also a big thanks to Jess, Belle and Belicia for accepting this lonely brother into the group.
P.P.S I'm going to have a LAN party with the cousins tomorrow night. TF2ing till dawn if we can make it!
Thought of the day: What was the most heart-wrenching moment you had when reading a book? (I'm reading Game of Thrones now and Belicia says it'll rip my heart to pieces)
Monday, 11 November 2013
Ultimate Procrastination Post
No guys I am NOT ok today. Why? Because the first day back after the weekend i get dumped with a load of new work and old work which I left to the last minute (ok maybe I have myself to blame there).
New work. Meant to have a consultation on a project with our lecturer today and guess what happened? Lecturer dragged out the lesson until she couldn't stay any longer. Happy-cheer! So, in the end, a reschedule of the consultation to tomorrow is in order. Tough.
Old work. I'm supposed to write a research paper. First off, when this assignment was handed to us, I thought, oh hey, it should be pretty simple which means I can finish it on the first day, right? WRONG. The lecturer who gave us this assignment did not even attempt to explain what and how in the world do you write a damn research paper. Plus, whenever we have stories or videos to do, our lecturers would do us a kindness by giving us good examples of such to let us have an idea of what we should do to make our products good. Not this one. No examples of a research paper at all. Thanks for nothing.
Okay, you're probably wondering: Then why don't I quit being a bitch and ask my lecturer about the assignment? Well, with the amount of questions I have, I might as well get my lecturer to do my research paper for me, huh? Okay, fine, I'm pissed, so my judgement's clouded. I'm just ranting at this point, get some load off my chest. Sorry if I'm being illogical.
Next, I was called out of class once again. Welp, I think right now I'm the one who is getting those 'talks' by lecturers the most in class. I think three of my lecturers have done so already. I guess I really am not the good student I try to be. Indeed, today a lecturer told me I try TOO hard to be a good student and mess up in the process. Maybe I am, and whether I am or not, it sure did lower my confidence level sharply.
So in the class, I can definitely say I'm the 'try-hard'. I pretend to be someone I'm not to be a good student and friendly guy and end up giving others the wrong impression. Yep, I can boldly say I have done already done so. I'm sorry guys but I don't even know who I am for real which means I can't ever make amends until I find out.
Topping the list of current problems, I got heartache again. I lost count the number of times it happened this year. So crushing it is to realize I blew a chance and may never(?) have a chance again with her. Drives me mad, it does. So close yet so far, that's how I feel every waking moment of my day. Just seeing her already softens my heart yet I try not to show I still have feelings for that special someone. I promised to change for the better, not for her but for the better so that at least I can go about forging some true friendships here in DTVM. However, I think Project Change's progress is less than 10%.
Thought of the day: Would you actively speak out against a lousy teacher?
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Call Boy (Not THAT way...)
Wow, check it! It's a rare sight of blogging two days in a row! Today was all about calling people and you might think, what? No, I'm not a telemarketer and no I'm not some socialite who gets calls 24/7/365. The calls today was all about schoolwork and man they are NOT your ordinary schoolwork.
To start, one of my assignments had me call this former teacher who married a classmate (it's all role-play, don't get all ugh) to convince her to let me (role-playing as a journalist) interview her and her husband. Okay, I admit, I was stunned when i got this scenario. I was all 'damn damn damn damn damn' for about half an hour until my panic reached a level when you don't care anymore. So I dialled the number and waited. No fear, no fear at all.
On the second ring i panicked again because I realised one important thing: I didn't prepare any questions or proper counter-arguments at all before calling. But then that level of panic hit and I went all mellow inside. Guess who picked up: my lecturer herself who gave us this assignment. Shocker. Granted, I knew the lecturers would be role-playing with us but I didn't expect to get the lecturer who set us our work. (psst! She's also good at asking hard questions that make you sweat. I'm sorry it's true of Ms Stella)
I winged it of course. I'm not sure whether it is a loophole but nowhere on the assignment said exactly HOW do I persuade my potential 'interviewee' to cooperate. So I made up a bunch of stuff and man is it hard to tell a person's mood over the phone. At least I didn't stumble in my speech or hesitated too long. After the somewhat successful call where I secured an 'interview', I particularly skipped down the hallways thinking 'IT'S OVER' repeatedly. Treated myself to ice-cream too :)
Last thing is a little bit more mundane but I did another assignment with one of the Engineering dudes for our joint class. We talked over Skype and wow did we really go at it. Took almost 1 hour and 45 minutes we did! Also, because of my exhilaration in clearing the Call, I was really upbeat and cheerful during the Skype chat with Edwin (the guy I was paired with for the assignment). Since Semester 1 I knocked fists with three of the guys from Engineering: Joseph, Edwin and Pei Xiang. Man, they are AWESOME. Always whenever I'm around them I almost go high and crazy. I definitely become more cheerful whenever I'm around Jo, Ed and Ah Xiang.
Ah, friendship. Loneliness is such a dreadful thing. Of course, solitude can bring peace and serene moments to you but we should have a balance between alone time and social time, don't you all agree?
Thought of the day: Admit it. There is no BEST friend. You refer to them all as your BEST FRIENDS. Goodnight!
P.S: I think this is my 50th post!
P.S: I think this is my 50th post!
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Home-Based Procrastination (and Deep Thoughts) Week
Hey hey its been a while awesome dudes and dudines! If you're all wondering why I haven't been around is because there's NOTHING to blog about. I'm serious. The past three weeks since school started is only slightly more than a little mundane. Besides, if I wanted you all to know every little detail of the past three weeks...well I have Twitter for that.
So! To start, let's go through my list of things to say today. We'll go to details of a boring life, funny stuff, add a dash of seriousness and a pinch more of silliness before signing off. Without further a do, let's start.
As most (if not all) of SP students know, today is Home-based learning week, or as I like to call it, '<look at title of this post :)>' !
Today is a Wednesday and I have yet to complete a single one of my assignments or projects :) Every student, a procrastinator at heart. If there's any DTVM students listening in...HALP MEH I'm stuck with a lot of my assignments and need severe assistance. Either I don't know my stuff or I'm just so lazy that even my brain can't be bothered to function brilliantly.
Oh goody, the fun stuff. Alright, I'm not really sure whether this counts as 'fun' but I spent a lot of time the since last week daydreaming some really terrifying and morbid thoughts. You know since Halloween was nearing at that time. I mean, I was thinking of many scenarios to be applied in this mundane life that will make it scary and adrenaline pumped. Real cheery stories.
Another fun thing is that a very good friend of mine taught me how to get Pokemon on my Iphone. HAHAHA you read that right friends, I have Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen versions and I have been obsessed with it for the past week. Spammed Pokemon Emerald until I currently have all eight badges and am on the way to the Elite Four and Champion! Wish me luck.
Serious time!
Chances. I was walking back home from the local shopping centre after lunch and cut through the residential blocks when I saw this guy (I think my age?) crying. He had a friend (also a dude) with him. Basically the poor crying dude was sobbing that his crush didn't even give him a chance to show her how good of a partner he could make when he confessed too her. I know, I know, it was rude of me to eavesdrop but his explanation for crying did strike me a little.
One, the guy couldn't get over a rejection. Fair enough, I was shaken up after a rejection but I swear I never cried over it, just getting pains. Two, should a chance be given to the poor dude or guys in general? I don't know. What I do know was that I don't see a lot of chances given when a girl or guy is set in this kind of 'confession' situation and you didn't give the other party a chance to show you that they can be your 'one'.
I've been pining for a pet since forever, but circumstance and family objection prevents the addition of a furry friend to the home. I like to think of a pet as your 'furry BFF' but in no way should it be a substitute for society. Make friends, my dad says. Sound advice Pop but I don't see much of bonding in my class unfortunately, even though as individuals and little pockets they're pretty awesome.
To end today's post, let's take the time to commend the things, people and incidents that made my day the past few days.
-Yong Han. This tech-savvy dude is the one who helped me get Pokemon on Iphone
-The times that it rained heavily. (I really love rain)
-Talking with my crush (ah, love)
-Laughing with Engineering buds (Joseph, Edwin and Pei Xiang)
-POKEMON
-Daydreaming
End. Thought of the day: If someone confessed to you and you don't really have an interest in them, would you still give them a chance to see whether they can be your 'one' as they say?
So! To start, let's go through my list of things to say today. We'll go to details of a boring life, funny stuff, add a dash of seriousness and a pinch more of silliness before signing off. Without further a do, let's start.
As most (if not all) of SP students know, today is Home-based learning week, or as I like to call it, '<look at title of this post :)>' !
Today is a Wednesday and I have yet to complete a single one of my assignments or projects :) Every student, a procrastinator at heart. If there's any DTVM students listening in...HALP MEH I'm stuck with a lot of my assignments and need severe assistance. Either I don't know my stuff or I'm just so lazy that even my brain can't be bothered to function brilliantly.
Oh goody, the fun stuff. Alright, I'm not really sure whether this counts as 'fun' but I spent a lot of time the since last week daydreaming some really terrifying and morbid thoughts. You know since Halloween was nearing at that time. I mean, I was thinking of many scenarios to be applied in this mundane life that will make it scary and adrenaline pumped. Real cheery stories.
Another fun thing is that a very good friend of mine taught me how to get Pokemon on my Iphone. HAHAHA you read that right friends, I have Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen versions and I have been obsessed with it for the past week. Spammed Pokemon Emerald until I currently have all eight badges and am on the way to the Elite Four and Champion! Wish me luck.
Serious time!
Chances. I was walking back home from the local shopping centre after lunch and cut through the residential blocks when I saw this guy (I think my age?) crying. He had a friend (also a dude) with him. Basically the poor crying dude was sobbing that his crush didn't even give him a chance to show her how good of a partner he could make when he confessed too her. I know, I know, it was rude of me to eavesdrop but his explanation for crying did strike me a little.
One, the guy couldn't get over a rejection. Fair enough, I was shaken up after a rejection but I swear I never cried over it, just getting pains. Two, should a chance be given to the poor dude or guys in general? I don't know. What I do know was that I don't see a lot of chances given when a girl or guy is set in this kind of 'confession' situation and you didn't give the other party a chance to show you that they can be your 'one'.
I've been pining for a pet since forever, but circumstance and family objection prevents the addition of a furry friend to the home. I like to think of a pet as your 'furry BFF' but in no way should it be a substitute for society. Make friends, my dad says. Sound advice Pop but I don't see much of bonding in my class unfortunately, even though as individuals and little pockets they're pretty awesome.
To end today's post, let's take the time to commend the things, people and incidents that made my day the past few days.
-Yong Han. This tech-savvy dude is the one who helped me get Pokemon on Iphone
-The times that it rained heavily. (I really love rain)
-Talking with my crush (ah, love)
-Laughing with Engineering buds (Joseph, Edwin and Pei Xiang)
-POKEMON
-Daydreaming
End. Thought of the day: If someone confessed to you and you don't really have an interest in them, would you still give them a chance to see whether they can be your 'one' as they say?
Friday, 18 October 2013
That First Week
Hey hey it's the end of the school week and I am beat. Today was the first seven-hour tutorial and when I came back I crashed almost immediately until like half and hour ago. I spent most of the lesson reverse-engineering a storyboard: meaning I watched a video then drew up a storyboard for that video. Considering that I hate drawing humans and vehicles, I hated this exercise of course.
The first week back feels like I've never left school. SP's already feeling like home that I got used to it's hallways, people and food. Not the lessons though, since something's always different every week. I realise I've been crashing into bed everyday when I get home after school. I think to myself: My lessons aren't really that exhausting so why do I feel so tired? Answer: No clue at all. (as usual)
Tying up loose ends from last semester, the lecturers who taught us last semester and this semester reviewed our CA10 (final assignment) from their modules last semester. Only now do I know how much I screwed up my group's stop motion video (it was THAT bad, alright) and my last short story for Creative Storytelling. The new CAs lined up for us this semester are kinda terrifying. We're gonna pitch TV concepts to higher powers in the media industry and its only our FIRST year here. I'm shuddering even worse because we'll be pitching little ideas here and there every week just for practice.
What other horrors are in store? Oh, debates, research papers, creating TV concepts and loads of video-making. Sounds and is heavy, my word. With short terms, this is going to be one rushed semester.
Today was more interesting because in the MRT on the way back, I and two of my friends Nadia and Jessica started making up unbelievable stories about ourselves and went on to expand that fictional universe to our classmates. If we keep this up, this could be a running gag for the entire class. The make-up stories, or 'bullshit' (for lack of a better term), involved vampires, androids, anime characters, heavenly half-angel humans, sirens and a whole lot of mystical (and nonsensical) stuff. With luck, we'll be able to pull this off and draw the class into this. *laughs evilly
Gee, looks like I don't have much to say this time around. But from what you awesome peeps have read so far in this post, put in requests or comments to hear more and I'll try my best to recall what happened this past week and type up a more detailed post.
Thought of the day: If you could be part of the mythological universe, what kind of non-human (or part human) would you like to be?
The first week back feels like I've never left school. SP's already feeling like home that I got used to it's hallways, people and food. Not the lessons though, since something's always different every week. I realise I've been crashing into bed everyday when I get home after school. I think to myself: My lessons aren't really that exhausting so why do I feel so tired? Answer: No clue at all. (as usual)
Tying up loose ends from last semester, the lecturers who taught us last semester and this semester reviewed our CA10 (final assignment) from their modules last semester. Only now do I know how much I screwed up my group's stop motion video (it was THAT bad, alright) and my last short story for Creative Storytelling. The new CAs lined up for us this semester are kinda terrifying. We're gonna pitch TV concepts to higher powers in the media industry and its only our FIRST year here. I'm shuddering even worse because we'll be pitching little ideas here and there every week just for practice.
What other horrors are in store? Oh, debates, research papers, creating TV concepts and loads of video-making. Sounds and is heavy, my word. With short terms, this is going to be one rushed semester.
Today was more interesting because in the MRT on the way back, I and two of my friends Nadia and Jessica started making up unbelievable stories about ourselves and went on to expand that fictional universe to our classmates. If we keep this up, this could be a running gag for the entire class. The make-up stories, or 'bullshit' (for lack of a better term), involved vampires, androids, anime characters, heavenly half-angel humans, sirens and a whole lot of mystical (and nonsensical) stuff. With luck, we'll be able to pull this off and draw the class into this. *laughs evilly
Gee, looks like I don't have much to say this time around. But from what you awesome peeps have read so far in this post, put in requests or comments to hear more and I'll try my best to recall what happened this past week and type up a more detailed post.
Thought of the day: If you could be part of the mythological universe, what kind of non-human (or part human) would you like to be?
Monday, 14 October 2013
First Impressions
What better way to start the first day of term in an attempt to annoy your lecturer by jacking her style? Well, that was a fail ultimately but hey it was worth a try.
For me, actually, I started my day at SP by subtly matching the pace of one of my friendos Jessica. Just catch up, saying nothing and just start walking beside her. Been doing this a lot but it never gets old. It was nice to see my awesome peeps from DTVM 02 again. From her reactions about our questions to her vacation, Nadia had a great time at Hiroshima, lucky girl.
Belle was excited for Halloween. I wasn't that hyped I've never seen Singaporeans celebrate the festival but see stores selling costumes and stuff like that, what's up with that anyway? However, I'd consider going to Universal Studios for that Halloween thing if i wasn't too much of a wimp. Belle tells me the price dropped since last year but nuh-uh, no jump-scares for this brother!
First tutorial of the term wasn't too bad, we played the game Re-Zoom, a game where everyone gets a card each and try to match the sequence as the picture zooms out continually. Hated it. While we're not getting projects immediately, we ARE going to get our first assignments next week O.O
Food Court 6 got a new bubble tea and drinks stall. Waffles and ice-cream peeps! Life got a little better ^^ Also Food Haven was replaced by a new stall called Artiste? (Help confirm, I only got a fleeting look at the sign) I missed the auntie at Food Haven though. My heart goes out to your kindness and cooking, auntie! T-T
I saw dudes from PRCS too during my break and after class! Saw Matthew first, man, I always liked him. He's nicely crazy and I love him like a brother. I just got complimented on looking good by him on Twitter and sorry I have to confess I blushed a little because I haven't got a compliment on looking good by anyone outside my family in a long time. Thanks, Matthew!
After class I saw Leonard and the main group of guys who stuck together back in my secondary 3 and 4 years. Familiar faces are nice to see again. Leonard was looking slick as usual, so was everyone else with him. Caught only a few though. Hello to Javier, Ryan, Benjamin and their gang!
Lunch could have gone better. I only had like $5 on me so I and a few of my friends could only afford bread at Four Leaves (Cheers to us peasants!) Other friends ate at Han's. Han's, you know that good stuff is expensive, right?
Here's a fun way to annoy people or entertain yourself when you're bored. Narrate others' lives. Had a narrating streak going today during lunch. For now, if you're interested, narrate only actions, feelings and thoughts are harder to gauge on your 'subjects'. You'll get better with more practice :)
Narrated about three people's actions and thoughts today, a good start, neh?
One-on-one conversations are awkward for me, especially when the two of you are stuck on a really long train ride from Jurong East to Pasir Ris. Pleasant surprise for Jessica (who was with me) because she met one of her old friends, Danielle. It got a little awkward when Danielle asked me whether I was Jessica's boyfriend. As if I was fit to love someone now. But she's cool. It's cool. Well, first impressions count, I guess.
Last item on the agenda is shameless promotion of a friend's aspiring band. Atlas and Atlantic, people. That's the band. Their good, not just because I got a friend in there. Support them guys! They're gonna go recording again tomorrow to add one more to their list of covers (which is only one but they're making progress)
Thought of the day: If you had a band, what would you name that band? Mine would be Bittersweet Honey but sorry no musical talent for this brother here.
Have a good term SP!
For me, actually, I started my day at SP by subtly matching the pace of one of my friendos Jessica. Just catch up, saying nothing and just start walking beside her. Been doing this a lot but it never gets old. It was nice to see my awesome peeps from DTVM 02 again. From her reactions about our questions to her vacation, Nadia had a great time at Hiroshima, lucky girl.
Belle was excited for Halloween. I wasn't that hyped I've never seen Singaporeans celebrate the festival but see stores selling costumes and stuff like that, what's up with that anyway? However, I'd consider going to Universal Studios for that Halloween thing if i wasn't too much of a wimp. Belle tells me the price dropped since last year but nuh-uh, no jump-scares for this brother!
First tutorial of the term wasn't too bad, we played the game Re-Zoom, a game where everyone gets a card each and try to match the sequence as the picture zooms out continually. Hated it. While we're not getting projects immediately, we ARE going to get our first assignments next week O.O
Food Court 6 got a new bubble tea and drinks stall. Waffles and ice-cream peeps! Life got a little better ^^ Also Food Haven was replaced by a new stall called Artiste? (Help confirm, I only got a fleeting look at the sign) I missed the auntie at Food Haven though. My heart goes out to your kindness and cooking, auntie! T-T
I saw dudes from PRCS too during my break and after class! Saw Matthew first, man, I always liked him. He's nicely crazy and I love him like a brother. I just got complimented on looking good by him on Twitter and sorry I have to confess I blushed a little because I haven't got a compliment on looking good by anyone outside my family in a long time. Thanks, Matthew!
After class I saw Leonard and the main group of guys who stuck together back in my secondary 3 and 4 years. Familiar faces are nice to see again. Leonard was looking slick as usual, so was everyone else with him. Caught only a few though. Hello to Javier, Ryan, Benjamin and their gang!
Lunch could have gone better. I only had like $5 on me so I and a few of my friends could only afford bread at Four Leaves (Cheers to us peasants!) Other friends ate at Han's. Han's, you know that good stuff is expensive, right?
Here's a fun way to annoy people or entertain yourself when you're bored. Narrate others' lives. Had a narrating streak going today during lunch. For now, if you're interested, narrate only actions, feelings and thoughts are harder to gauge on your 'subjects'. You'll get better with more practice :)
Narrated about three people's actions and thoughts today, a good start, neh?
One-on-one conversations are awkward for me, especially when the two of you are stuck on a really long train ride from Jurong East to Pasir Ris. Pleasant surprise for Jessica (who was with me) because she met one of her old friends, Danielle. It got a little awkward when Danielle asked me whether I was Jessica's boyfriend. As if I was fit to love someone now. But she's cool. It's cool. Well, first impressions count, I guess.
Last item on the agenda is shameless promotion of a friend's aspiring band. Atlas and Atlantic, people. That's the band. Their good, not just because I got a friend in there. Support them guys! They're gonna go recording again tomorrow to add one more to their list of covers (which is only one but they're making progress)
Thought of the day: If you had a band, what would you name that band? Mine would be Bittersweet Honey but sorry no musical talent for this brother here.
Have a good term SP!
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Afterthoughts
IT IS THE LAST DAY OF THE HOLIDAYS guys, so this post must be written.
Nothing much on my last day during the holidays since the holidays have been more than crap (other than the chalet *sigh). Work, home, sleep, game. But dinner was excellent: Mom-made chicken and soup and fishcake. After dinner was even better, Dad broke out ice-cream with our daily fruit intake and mixed 'em all together. FUSTER CLUCK OF SWEETNESS, thanks Pop!
Now let's go over the common thoughts that might be going through our more than similar mindsets about going back to school.
-Damn, school tomorrow please let holidays be longer can?
-FINALLY, school, after being cooped up so long at home! School, here I come.
-Sigh, another term with those idiots
-Meh
-....SHIT MY HOMEWORK!
-Must I go back?
-What shall I wear tomorrow, hmmm *stares at huge-ass wardrobe helplessly
-Zzzzzzzz
-Hooray, time to have fun with my favourite peeps once again!
Whaddaya guys say? Are these thoughts running through your head currently? Tell me if i missed anything yah? I know some are in my own head.
Just now, I marked a revision paper for my little sis (she's primary 5 and already at my ear level D:) and she didn't do so good. You should've seen her gutsy challenge she set herself after she saw the results. $5 goes to her if she can improve by 20 marks the next time. Maybe I was a little bit too reckless in accepting the bet but hey, motivation is what that girl needed.
Anything else? Oh yeah, I'm actually glad to go back to school because I missed my friends from DTVM (Diploma in Creative Writing for TV and New Media) and more than a few from PRCS. I hope the feeling's mutual for my friends. Also, I was kinda disappointed that my class is taking a little too much time to get close. Been told by my Dad and others that these things take time but I've seen classes that hit it off since orientation (DTVM 01). Hope we can do much better guys.
Right now the class chat is getting its infrequent dose of activity and I'm wondering, it's always the same few people around. I sigh a lot when the class Whatsapp group goes on. My own secondary school chat is GROUND TO DUST. Yup, that's how it is, my absolutely wonderful life.
I promised myself to make a fresh start at the start of poly, I'm still going by it. I hope I change for the better. Less antagonistic that's one thing I must do.
P.S I'm trying to grow out my hair. Long fringe, shoulder length hair? Trying. If the end result is ugly I'll just go with fringe. FABULOUSLY FUGLY, some say.
Ending off with Marty the Zebra
YA TATA TATATA CIRCUS
YA TATA TATATA AFRO
CIRCUS AFRO CIRCUS AFRO
POLKA DOT POLKA DOT POLKA DOT AFRO
Admit it, you sang this.
Bonus hundred points if you sang it out loud :)
Nothing much on my last day during the holidays since the holidays have been more than crap (other than the chalet *sigh). Work, home, sleep, game. But dinner was excellent: Mom-made chicken and soup and fishcake. After dinner was even better, Dad broke out ice-cream with our daily fruit intake and mixed 'em all together. FUSTER CLUCK OF SWEETNESS, thanks Pop!
Now let's go over the common thoughts that might be going through our more than similar mindsets about going back to school.
-Damn, school tomorrow please let holidays be longer can?
-FINALLY, school, after being cooped up so long at home! School, here I come.
-Sigh, another term with those idiots
-Meh
-....SHIT MY HOMEWORK!
-Must I go back?
-What shall I wear tomorrow, hmmm *stares at huge-ass wardrobe helplessly
-Zzzzzzzz
-Hooray, time to have fun with my favourite peeps once again!
Whaddaya guys say? Are these thoughts running through your head currently? Tell me if i missed anything yah? I know some are in my own head.
Just now, I marked a revision paper for my little sis (she's primary 5 and already at my ear level D:) and she didn't do so good. You should've seen her gutsy challenge she set herself after she saw the results. $5 goes to her if she can improve by 20 marks the next time. Maybe I was a little bit too reckless in accepting the bet but hey, motivation is what that girl needed.
Anything else? Oh yeah, I'm actually glad to go back to school because I missed my friends from DTVM (Diploma in Creative Writing for TV and New Media) and more than a few from PRCS. I hope the feeling's mutual for my friends. Also, I was kinda disappointed that my class is taking a little too much time to get close. Been told by my Dad and others that these things take time but I've seen classes that hit it off since orientation (DTVM 01). Hope we can do much better guys.
Right now the class chat is getting its infrequent dose of activity and I'm wondering, it's always the same few people around. I sigh a lot when the class Whatsapp group goes on. My own secondary school chat is GROUND TO DUST. Yup, that's how it is, my absolutely wonderful life.
I promised myself to make a fresh start at the start of poly, I'm still going by it. I hope I change for the better. Less antagonistic that's one thing I must do.
P.S I'm trying to grow out my hair. Long fringe, shoulder length hair? Trying. If the end result is ugly I'll just go with fringe. FABULOUSLY FUGLY, some say.
Ending off with Marty the Zebra
YA TATA TATATA CIRCUS
YA TATA TATATA AFRO
CIRCUS AFRO CIRCUS AFRO
POLKA DOT POLKA DOT POLKA DOT AFRO
Admit it, you sang this.
Bonus hundred points if you sang it out loud :)
Saturday, 12 October 2013
A New Start?
It's been a while and I must say life's a dick (yes, I'm not using this phrase lightly). Sure it puckers up and kisses you but those few passionate moments are all you're gonna get.
For starters, I'm not putting up my writing here anymore. Now it's just details of my boring life (compared to most people I know, it IS boring).
It's the last week of the holidays and I couldn't find a more better way to wrap it up with a so-called class chalet! I mean, yeah only like 9 (out of 21) people came but it was still fun (not to mention the gossip at night). I pinky promised though, that what is said and done in the chalet stays there.
What I can tell you is that it was the first ever night in my life where I DIDN'T SLEEP AT ALL. Badass, right? Okay, maybe I closed my eyes for ten minutes but all that giggling at funny videos kept me awake. And if you're reading this, sleep disturbers, I'm looking at your SOUL. I didn't mind actually, I couldn't sleep anyway. Maybe it was the horrible tequila or just that I didn't want to miss out on spending time with good company. I only slept like less than an hour in the morning after we came back from watching the sunrise on Changi Beach (good for dates if I had one). Almost forty hours and I got less than an hour's sleep. I felt like a monster because I didn't feel the need to sleep.
What else, what else oh yes. We did a little bit of singing. Granted, I sing okay (NOT), but I felt some of the others were better. I always look at friends who know how to music proudly because hey I got to befriend these awesome peeps. I mastered the cup song, actions only but not the singing. Apparently my coordination's not really good. At the same time, I wouldn't call it mastering since I did not actually use it with a cup but with a tuner, percussion-type egg thingy and a bottle of hand sanitizer. So much for 'mastering'.
FOOD. Yes, only one can of chips out of four that I brought was cleaned out after the chalet. Wasted, I say. The drinks fared better: all of them went down our throats. Did you know that Blondies are actually brownies with peanut butter instead of chocolate? Someone confirm please ><! Instant noddles yes, have to thank the girls who did up the entire batch in one huge-ass pot and dolled it out for all of us. Two helpings for me thank you very much. Two measly bottles of horrible tequila. I turned really red but didn't get drunk. One of my friends did and it was better because she was drunk for the first time. I promised though not to say anything more :)
Met a stray cat outside the chalet. She hung around for quite some time. First the name was Yuna? Then Tuno, finally settled on Tuna because that's what we fed her the first time. She thanked us by shitting in our toilet. We all loved her still. Cats or whatever furry pet: I wish I had one but Mom hates them. I cry.
Here we go, the awesome people who came to the chalet
-Claire (or Claire Bear, this girl be big, bad and rad brah!)
-Ker Wei (his parents brought us supper AND breakfast)
-Jessica a.k.a Jess (who got this whole thing started and running)
-Jeremiah a.k.a JJ (that guitar and sporty dude everyone loves, he loves losing at card games)
-Jia Ying (comic relief and BIG GLEE FAN KLAINE AND STUFF)
-Tong Lee (thanks for the tequila brother!)
-Belicia (she sings well and I have her to thank for 'Blondies')
-Yours truly
Maybe I'll get a new drive and start doing this more often. Peace guys. I'll do ranting never.
For starters, I'm not putting up my writing here anymore. Now it's just details of my boring life (compared to most people I know, it IS boring).
It's the last week of the holidays and I couldn't find a more better way to wrap it up with a so-called class chalet! I mean, yeah only like 9 (out of 21) people came but it was still fun (not to mention the gossip at night). I pinky promised though, that what is said and done in the chalet stays there.
What I can tell you is that it was the first ever night in my life where I DIDN'T SLEEP AT ALL. Badass, right? Okay, maybe I closed my eyes for ten minutes but all that giggling at funny videos kept me awake. And if you're reading this, sleep disturbers, I'm looking at your SOUL. I didn't mind actually, I couldn't sleep anyway. Maybe it was the horrible tequila or just that I didn't want to miss out on spending time with good company. I only slept like less than an hour in the morning after we came back from watching the sunrise on Changi Beach (good for dates if I had one). Almost forty hours and I got less than an hour's sleep. I felt like a monster because I didn't feel the need to sleep.
What else, what else oh yes. We did a little bit of singing. Granted, I sing okay (NOT), but I felt some of the others were better. I always look at friends who know how to music proudly because hey I got to befriend these awesome peeps. I mastered the cup song, actions only but not the singing. Apparently my coordination's not really good. At the same time, I wouldn't call it mastering since I did not actually use it with a cup but with a tuner, percussion-type egg thingy and a bottle of hand sanitizer. So much for 'mastering'.
FOOD. Yes, only one can of chips out of four that I brought was cleaned out after the chalet. Wasted, I say. The drinks fared better: all of them went down our throats. Did you know that Blondies are actually brownies with peanut butter instead of chocolate? Someone confirm please ><! Instant noddles yes, have to thank the girls who did up the entire batch in one huge-ass pot and dolled it out for all of us. Two helpings for me thank you very much. Two measly bottles of horrible tequila. I turned really red but didn't get drunk. One of my friends did and it was better because she was drunk for the first time. I promised though not to say anything more :)
Met a stray cat outside the chalet. She hung around for quite some time. First the name was Yuna? Then Tuno, finally settled on Tuna because that's what we fed her the first time. She thanked us by shitting in our toilet. We all loved her still. Cats or whatever furry pet: I wish I had one but Mom hates them. I cry.
Here we go, the awesome people who came to the chalet
-Claire (or Claire Bear, this girl be big, bad and rad brah!)
-Ker Wei (his parents brought us supper AND breakfast)
-Jessica a.k.a Jess (who got this whole thing started and running)
-Jeremiah a.k.a JJ (that guitar and sporty dude everyone loves, he loves losing at card games)
-Jia Ying (comic relief and BIG GLEE FAN KLAINE AND STUFF)
-Tong Lee (thanks for the tequila brother!)
-Belicia (she sings well and I have her to thank for 'Blondies')
-Yours truly
Maybe I'll get a new drive and start doing this more often. Peace guys. I'll do ranting never.
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Independence Day-Part 2
With thundering footsteps, the three Warders appeared behind Sticks and Bones. Voices further back signalled the impeding arrival of guards. Sticks glanced at Bones, instantly transferring his plan to his younger brother. The chip in Bones' brain registered and stored the plan. The brothers' special means of communication was known only to themselves, Xavier and the late Dr. Cringe. The loss would be great, but the need was greater. With a roar,
Vinyl got up and stabbed Aura with her own shocker. He drove it in with such force that the tip broke out her back and split apart, discharging all of it's thousand volts of electricity. Unfortunately, Vinyl's body jerked along with the screaming Aura. To the Raider's last credit, he did not do so much as blink.
Bones threw Sticks his gun and raced for Vinyl's corpse. Retrieving the cable, Bones took a final glance at his older brother as he ducked into a door. The three Warders hesitated for the moment and two pursued Sticks while the lead Warder started after Bones.
Bones scrambled up onto the roof and began uncoiling the precious cable, connecting it to the crucial parts pre-situated on the roof. He smiled at their bright colours and the thought of the happy faces of the children. He heard the panel burst open and the labouring stomps of the Warder.
Sticks had exhausted his and his brother's guns and only managed to wound one of the Warders in the arm. Their cannons, while not able to hurt the agile Raider, did much more to the maintenance room. Machinery was curled up and blackened, what furniture were there was blasted to bits. Walls were puckered with holes the size of Sticks' head. He was left with his mini mines (M&Ms) and they took time to set up, too long a time. But time was what Bones needed. Gritting his teeth, Sticks unclipped a M&M and threw himself at the Warders, muttering.
Bones had just finished connecting the last of the cable and armed the detonator. Blood still flowed freely from the hole where his arm used to be. The Warder had been quick in turning his cannon, catching the young Raider unaware and leaving him bereft of his entire left arm. Bones collapsed to the edge of the roof, his stamina giving out at last. His rapid breathing slowed, and went slower still, until he stilled. The Warder loomed over the prone Raider, cannon aimed at the head for maximum effect. As the cannon warmed, a blast three times more powerful than his cannon shook the top levels of the skyscraper.
Bones, a split second before the explosion, heard Sticks murmur 'Goodbye.' in his comm. Bones took advantage of the Warder's momentary distraction and drew the detonator. The Warder turned his attention to the Raider, what face visible under the visor contorted in rage. The Warder garbled, "You sonofabitch Raider. You die." Bones clicked the detonator just in time as the cannon vaporised his head and shoulders.
Fireworks cut through the night sky. The children went 'Ooooo' and 'Ahhhh'. As the first fireworks faded, gunfire and explosions erupted throughout Los Angeles. The sounds of war were surprisingly drowned out by the ever present fireworks. Xavier clicked his comm twice. No response. He closed his eyes for a moment, the only sign of mourning for the four Raiders. He checked his antique windup watch, still working since the twenty-first century, the time of his great-great grandfather. Exactly midnight. On the fourth of July, Independence Day. He smiled and returned to his daughter and the children.
Vinyl got up and stabbed Aura with her own shocker. He drove it in with such force that the tip broke out her back and split apart, discharging all of it's thousand volts of electricity. Unfortunately, Vinyl's body jerked along with the screaming Aura. To the Raider's last credit, he did not do so much as blink.
Bones threw Sticks his gun and raced for Vinyl's corpse. Retrieving the cable, Bones took a final glance at his older brother as he ducked into a door. The three Warders hesitated for the moment and two pursued Sticks while the lead Warder started after Bones.
Bones scrambled up onto the roof and began uncoiling the precious cable, connecting it to the crucial parts pre-situated on the roof. He smiled at their bright colours and the thought of the happy faces of the children. He heard the panel burst open and the labouring stomps of the Warder.
Sticks had exhausted his and his brother's guns and only managed to wound one of the Warders in the arm. Their cannons, while not able to hurt the agile Raider, did much more to the maintenance room. Machinery was curled up and blackened, what furniture were there was blasted to bits. Walls were puckered with holes the size of Sticks' head. He was left with his mini mines (M&Ms) and they took time to set up, too long a time. But time was what Bones needed. Gritting his teeth, Sticks unclipped a M&M and threw himself at the Warders, muttering.
Bones had just finished connecting the last of the cable and armed the detonator. Blood still flowed freely from the hole where his arm used to be. The Warder had been quick in turning his cannon, catching the young Raider unaware and leaving him bereft of his entire left arm. Bones collapsed to the edge of the roof, his stamina giving out at last. His rapid breathing slowed, and went slower still, until he stilled. The Warder loomed over the prone Raider, cannon aimed at the head for maximum effect. As the cannon warmed, a blast three times more powerful than his cannon shook the top levels of the skyscraper.
Bones, a split second before the explosion, heard Sticks murmur 'Goodbye.' in his comm. Bones took advantage of the Warder's momentary distraction and drew the detonator. The Warder turned his attention to the Raider, what face visible under the visor contorted in rage. The Warder garbled, "You sonofabitch Raider. You die." Bones clicked the detonator just in time as the cannon vaporised his head and shoulders.
Fireworks cut through the night sky. The children went 'Ooooo' and 'Ahhhh'. As the first fireworks faded, gunfire and explosions erupted throughout Los Angeles. The sounds of war were surprisingly drowned out by the ever present fireworks. Xavier clicked his comm twice. No response. He closed his eyes for a moment, the only sign of mourning for the four Raiders. He checked his antique windup watch, still working since the twenty-first century, the time of his great-great grandfather. Exactly midnight. On the fourth of July, Independence Day. He smiled and returned to his daughter and the children.
Independence Day-Part One
Okay, technically I'm Singaporean and shouldn't be writing this theme but i do it because Despicable Me 2 is released today in my country. Here you go.
"Come on Ginny the fireworks are about to start." chided Xavier. His daughter prised herself from Michelle's arms and ran to his side, clutching his hand. Her ever excited voice asked, "How soon? Very soon? I've never seen fireworks before, I want it to happen soon!" Smiling at Ginny, Xavier hoisted her up and placed her on his shoulders, giving her a better view of Los Angeles. He looked to Michelle and asked her, "Are they ready?" She nodded and went back to the bus to gather the other children. Xavier gazed at the city, pointedly gazing at it's center. He muttered, "Come on guys, for the children."
Vinyl quieted the slightly charred Aura. She slapped a wet wad of torn clothing to her more badly burnt knee. She grunted, "I'll be fine." Vinyl was already uncoiling the cable, edging it down towards where Sticks and Bones would be waiting. Behind him, Vinyl could hear Aura fiddling with her devices, checking the jacked camera feeds for Warders and deactivating sensors for Sticks and Bones. Suddenly a whisper of 'Up!' in his earpiece jerked Vinyl into quickly pulling up the half trailing cable.
The last hint of the cable disappeared into the vent as three Warders strode into the Effects room. They swept the area thoroughly, lifting panels, checking nooks and even flashed an Orb up into the vent the two Raiders were hiding in. They evaded the burst of captured sunlight. One of the Warders barked, "You, go to Tech and get them to send a probe into the ventilation shafts." Footsteps signalled that only two Warders remained. Vinyl gnashed his teeth. Even fully armed, he and Aura could not take down two Warders. They were running behind schedule. He turned to Aura to discuss forming a new plan when Aura shifted and Vinyl felt volts sear through him and he fell unconscious.
Sticks looked up fearfully in at the soles of the Warders' boots. Bones was running through his holo-pages at the patrol rosters and skyscraper layout. Neither brother were confident of killing Warders. They were rigged in full Raider gear, but would two of them be sufficient to kill even one? Hell, if the reports of Clyde were to be believed, there were only three Warders left in Los Angeles. Alexis would not send them here if he was sure that-
Sticks gasped softly. Someone betrayed them to the Empire! He turned to look at his younger brother who seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. Just as they were about to contact Vinyl, Aura pinged their comm. She said with apparent glee, "Look up boys." Sticks and Bones looked up in surprise at the two barrels pointing down at them.
"Move!" shouted Bones as the two Warders fired their cannons. Sticks wisely dodged towards his brother instead of going the other way to be separated from Bones. The explosive rounds tore twin holes three levels deep down the skyscraper. Sticks hauled up Bones and they ran, firing their own guns. The Warders shook off their ballistic, high-velocity assault rifle rounds with ease, cannons charging again. Aura taunted in their comm, "Slow down boys, his Greatness Alexis merely wishes to chat with you about further plans for the Raiders." Bones cursed Aura, ignoring her mocking laughter he used to like hearing. Sticks yelled, "This way! The show must go on!"
The two brothers turned the corner only to find Aura standing in front of them, pointing a gun at Vinyl's head.
Vinyl looked up dazedly and mouthed 'Go!' Sticks riled up at the sight and screamed at Aura, "You bitch! We trusted you! Xavier trusted you! And...and," Sticks calmed at a pat of the shoulder from Bones. Vinyl shifted slightly, grimacing at the movement. The brothers alos noticed his shoulders tense. Aura, who did not work with the veteran for long, was oblivious to the significance. She pinged her comm and muttered, "They're here, in the corridor leading towards the roof access." The brothers stared. The roof access! The plan may still be carried out.
"Come on Ginny the fireworks are about to start." chided Xavier. His daughter prised herself from Michelle's arms and ran to his side, clutching his hand. Her ever excited voice asked, "How soon? Very soon? I've never seen fireworks before, I want it to happen soon!" Smiling at Ginny, Xavier hoisted her up and placed her on his shoulders, giving her a better view of Los Angeles. He looked to Michelle and asked her, "Are they ready?" She nodded and went back to the bus to gather the other children. Xavier gazed at the city, pointedly gazing at it's center. He muttered, "Come on guys, for the children."
Vinyl quieted the slightly charred Aura. She slapped a wet wad of torn clothing to her more badly burnt knee. She grunted, "I'll be fine." Vinyl was already uncoiling the cable, edging it down towards where Sticks and Bones would be waiting. Behind him, Vinyl could hear Aura fiddling with her devices, checking the jacked camera feeds for Warders and deactivating sensors for Sticks and Bones. Suddenly a whisper of 'Up!' in his earpiece jerked Vinyl into quickly pulling up the half trailing cable.
The last hint of the cable disappeared into the vent as three Warders strode into the Effects room. They swept the area thoroughly, lifting panels, checking nooks and even flashed an Orb up into the vent the two Raiders were hiding in. They evaded the burst of captured sunlight. One of the Warders barked, "You, go to Tech and get them to send a probe into the ventilation shafts." Footsteps signalled that only two Warders remained. Vinyl gnashed his teeth. Even fully armed, he and Aura could not take down two Warders. They were running behind schedule. He turned to Aura to discuss forming a new plan when Aura shifted and Vinyl felt volts sear through him and he fell unconscious.
Sticks looked up fearfully in at the soles of the Warders' boots. Bones was running through his holo-pages at the patrol rosters and skyscraper layout. Neither brother were confident of killing Warders. They were rigged in full Raider gear, but would two of them be sufficient to kill even one? Hell, if the reports of Clyde were to be believed, there were only three Warders left in Los Angeles. Alexis would not send them here if he was sure that-
Sticks gasped softly. Someone betrayed them to the Empire! He turned to look at his younger brother who seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. Just as they were about to contact Vinyl, Aura pinged their comm. She said with apparent glee, "Look up boys." Sticks and Bones looked up in surprise at the two barrels pointing down at them.
"Move!" shouted Bones as the two Warders fired their cannons. Sticks wisely dodged towards his brother instead of going the other way to be separated from Bones. The explosive rounds tore twin holes three levels deep down the skyscraper. Sticks hauled up Bones and they ran, firing their own guns. The Warders shook off their ballistic, high-velocity assault rifle rounds with ease, cannons charging again. Aura taunted in their comm, "Slow down boys, his Greatness Alexis merely wishes to chat with you about further plans for the Raiders." Bones cursed Aura, ignoring her mocking laughter he used to like hearing. Sticks yelled, "This way! The show must go on!"
The two brothers turned the corner only to find Aura standing in front of them, pointing a gun at Vinyl's head.
Vinyl looked up dazedly and mouthed 'Go!' Sticks riled up at the sight and screamed at Aura, "You bitch! We trusted you! Xavier trusted you! And...and," Sticks calmed at a pat of the shoulder from Bones. Vinyl shifted slightly, grimacing at the movement. The brothers alos noticed his shoulders tense. Aura, who did not work with the veteran for long, was oblivious to the significance. She pinged her comm and muttered, "They're here, in the corridor leading towards the roof access." The brothers stared. The roof access! The plan may still be carried out.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
I'm Looking for My Sister
Danny was hauled to his feet by Mr. Jetson. "Keep running, Daniel!" roared the old man. Danny kept running as fast as his nine-year-old legs could carry him. Mr. Jetson was tall and despite his advanced age, could outpace both Danny and their pursuers.
Pursuers who could not be seen, only heard. Danny could hear the screams of their countless victims, including Sam and Veil and Mr. Gardner and the other friendly workers of Industry. Danny was terrified of the invisible Netters, but the lanky reassuring sight of Mr. Jetson and the thought of being reunited with his sister spurred Danny on.
Dodging, ducking, crawling. Mr. Jetson led Danny through the ruins of the Factory. Pulling levers, repairing moving platforms and the like, Mr. Jetson helped the little boy put distance between themselves and the Netters.
The duo retreated further into the Factory, bypassing it's many basements. Soon they reached it's deepest sub-level. The giant Plant that used to power both the Factory and the troubled city of Kin. Mr. Jetson lifted a panel and beckoned to Danny to crawl in. Danny emerged on the other side and gasped.
Like the gigantic Plant, it's insides were just as big. The gears and turbines rivalled Kin's lost Hotel. Covered in rust and growths, the silent parts were unsettling. Mr. Jetson laid a hand on Danny's shoulder and whispered, "See, the only way out of Kin is to cross the Plant and go out the other side. It's big, it's cluttered with unused parts. I'll get you to your sister soon Daniel." Danny nodded, exhausted. With a huff, Mr. Jetson lifted the boy and hurried down the Plant.
Danny was unclear as to how long Mr. Jetson carried him while crossing the Plant. Through his tired senses, Danny witnessed Mr. Jetson's never-flagging efforts to see him home. With his small toolbox, he whirred long-dead machines to life to make their crossing easier or faster. He activated the Up and Down switches to get them up unreachable heights or life-threatening drops. He jumped from tooth to tooth of massive gears. But yet Danny could hear Mr. Jetson's panting, his ramrod straight posture sagging, his eyes turning unfocused. He was tiring.
They were at the edge of a long and tall platform. Looking out, Danny could only see never ending darkness. Even Mr. Jetson's torchlight hardly revealed what was ahead but more darkness. Mr. Jetson nodded. "This is it, Daniel. The way back to your home." Danny looked at Mr. Jetson, confused. The old man pointed into the darkness, saying, "Believe me Daniel. This is the way back to your home and home to many others. Kin is not a place you want to linger much longer." At this Mr. Jetson smiled gently. "Do you trust me Daniel?" Danny nodded slowly. Then he heard the screaming of the Netters.
Mr. Jetson positioned Danny right at the edge of the platform. The old man retreated to a switch. It looked like an Up and Down switch, but the arrow pointed towards the darkness. Mr. Jetson called, "Ready Daniel?" Danny shouted, "Ready Mr. Jetson! Let's get out of Kin!" But Mr. Jetson shocked Danny by shaking his head. The old man sadly said, "No Daniel. This switch must be held at 'on'. I cannot return." Danny protested, "But you can fix anything! Solve any problem! You can come with me!" Mr. Jetson shook his head more vigorously. He shouted, "Farewell Daniel! Don't worry I'll follow behind!" Before Danny could say anything more, Mr. Jetson pulled down the switch.
As the crying boy disappeared into the darkness, Mr. Jetson smiled and murmured, "I have succeeded. I can return at last." In a blast of light, the old man vanished just as the first Netters invisible feet plodded on the platform.
Danny realised he was home. He saw the cottage and the treehouse he and Annie shared. Annie! Danny searched frantically. There! His little sister was picking flowers while their mother watched from the porch. He ran towards her, shouting her name. Annie looked up but her expression brightened Danny's mood. Danny stretched out to hug his sister.
And passed through his little sister. Stumbling, Danny turned, horrified. He tentatively reached out to feel his sister's blond hair. Danny felt nothing. He grabbed at her hair frantically. He could not find purchase. "No..." sobbed Danny. To come all this way, and some evil magic did not allow him to be reunited with his sister! He watched, tears flowing as Annie gathered her flowers and joined her mother. Danny followed, still attempting to call out to his mother and Annie. They reached the back of the cottage and Danny stopped, dumbstruck at the sight of what lay behind the cottage.
A gravestone. On the gravestone read
Daniel Anthony Masterson
1923-1932
Young you shall forever be
"It's time to go home Daniel." murmured a voice behind Danny. The distraught boy turned and saw Mr. Jetson smiling his reassuring smile at him. "Mr. Jetson. I t-thought the Netters got to you." Mr. Jetson shook his head and said, "I was never in danger. It was my job to get people like you home."
"But I am home." sobbed Danny.
"Your home is not here anymore. You know where we're going." replied the old man.
Danny took hold of Mr. Jetson's hand, not noticing he could grasp him. Together the two retreated far away from Annie laying her freshly-picked flowers on Danny's grave.
Danny tiredly asked his guide to the afterlife, "Where are we going?"
Mr. Jetson calmly said, "Heaven. It's where you should be after being trapped in limbo."
Pursuers who could not be seen, only heard. Danny could hear the screams of their countless victims, including Sam and Veil and Mr. Gardner and the other friendly workers of Industry. Danny was terrified of the invisible Netters, but the lanky reassuring sight of Mr. Jetson and the thought of being reunited with his sister spurred Danny on.
Dodging, ducking, crawling. Mr. Jetson led Danny through the ruins of the Factory. Pulling levers, repairing moving platforms and the like, Mr. Jetson helped the little boy put distance between themselves and the Netters.
The duo retreated further into the Factory, bypassing it's many basements. Soon they reached it's deepest sub-level. The giant Plant that used to power both the Factory and the troubled city of Kin. Mr. Jetson lifted a panel and beckoned to Danny to crawl in. Danny emerged on the other side and gasped.
Like the gigantic Plant, it's insides were just as big. The gears and turbines rivalled Kin's lost Hotel. Covered in rust and growths, the silent parts were unsettling. Mr. Jetson laid a hand on Danny's shoulder and whispered, "See, the only way out of Kin is to cross the Plant and go out the other side. It's big, it's cluttered with unused parts. I'll get you to your sister soon Daniel." Danny nodded, exhausted. With a huff, Mr. Jetson lifted the boy and hurried down the Plant.
Danny was unclear as to how long Mr. Jetson carried him while crossing the Plant. Through his tired senses, Danny witnessed Mr. Jetson's never-flagging efforts to see him home. With his small toolbox, he whirred long-dead machines to life to make their crossing easier or faster. He activated the Up and Down switches to get them up unreachable heights or life-threatening drops. He jumped from tooth to tooth of massive gears. But yet Danny could hear Mr. Jetson's panting, his ramrod straight posture sagging, his eyes turning unfocused. He was tiring.
They were at the edge of a long and tall platform. Looking out, Danny could only see never ending darkness. Even Mr. Jetson's torchlight hardly revealed what was ahead but more darkness. Mr. Jetson nodded. "This is it, Daniel. The way back to your home." Danny looked at Mr. Jetson, confused. The old man pointed into the darkness, saying, "Believe me Daniel. This is the way back to your home and home to many others. Kin is not a place you want to linger much longer." At this Mr. Jetson smiled gently. "Do you trust me Daniel?" Danny nodded slowly. Then he heard the screaming of the Netters.
Mr. Jetson positioned Danny right at the edge of the platform. The old man retreated to a switch. It looked like an Up and Down switch, but the arrow pointed towards the darkness. Mr. Jetson called, "Ready Daniel?" Danny shouted, "Ready Mr. Jetson! Let's get out of Kin!" But Mr. Jetson shocked Danny by shaking his head. The old man sadly said, "No Daniel. This switch must be held at 'on'. I cannot return." Danny protested, "But you can fix anything! Solve any problem! You can come with me!" Mr. Jetson shook his head more vigorously. He shouted, "Farewell Daniel! Don't worry I'll follow behind!" Before Danny could say anything more, Mr. Jetson pulled down the switch.
As the crying boy disappeared into the darkness, Mr. Jetson smiled and murmured, "I have succeeded. I can return at last." In a blast of light, the old man vanished just as the first Netters invisible feet plodded on the platform.
Danny realised he was home. He saw the cottage and the treehouse he and Annie shared. Annie! Danny searched frantically. There! His little sister was picking flowers while their mother watched from the porch. He ran towards her, shouting her name. Annie looked up but her expression brightened Danny's mood. Danny stretched out to hug his sister.
And passed through his little sister. Stumbling, Danny turned, horrified. He tentatively reached out to feel his sister's blond hair. Danny felt nothing. He grabbed at her hair frantically. He could not find purchase. "No..." sobbed Danny. To come all this way, and some evil magic did not allow him to be reunited with his sister! He watched, tears flowing as Annie gathered her flowers and joined her mother. Danny followed, still attempting to call out to his mother and Annie. They reached the back of the cottage and Danny stopped, dumbstruck at the sight of what lay behind the cottage.
A gravestone. On the gravestone read
Daniel Anthony Masterson
1923-1932
Young you shall forever be
"It's time to go home Daniel." murmured a voice behind Danny. The distraught boy turned and saw Mr. Jetson smiling his reassuring smile at him. "Mr. Jetson. I t-thought the Netters got to you." Mr. Jetson shook his head and said, "I was never in danger. It was my job to get people like you home."
"But I am home." sobbed Danny.
"Your home is not here anymore. You know where we're going." replied the old man.
Danny took hold of Mr. Jetson's hand, not noticing he could grasp him. Together the two retreated far away from Annie laying her freshly-picked flowers on Danny's grave.
Danny tiredly asked his guide to the afterlife, "Where are we going?"
Mr. Jetson calmly said, "Heaven. It's where you should be after being trapped in limbo."
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Morbid 101
The ambulance doors flew open, it's rusted chain breaking apart. Patient 101 stumbled out, coughing out the fluids that had been pumped into him. The garage doors were locked tight. The only vehicle was the ambulance he just broke out of. The other door in the cadaverous garage was the staff entrance. Patient 101 searched the dashboard of the ambulance and turned out a staff access card. He tapped it to the scanner and shuffled into the hospital.
He did not know how long he walked, noticed that he saw no one or that there were hints of struggling in several open wards and stains that were not cleaning or medicinal fluids. Patient 101 only knew that he had ended up into the Head of Surgery's office. Unconsciously , he closed the door behind him. The click alerted the delirious patient that something was wrong. He tried the handle and was rewarded by nothing. He looked around the clean office. The shelves were lined with medicinal books, papers and countless awards for 'Best Doctor' and the like. Patient 101 searched Dr. Vincent's desk, his shelves, browsed his open laptop. Nothing. His initial alarm turned to desperation. He repeated his search, ransacking the office. As 101 sank to the pristine floor among the overturned furniture, he heard a click.
The door swung open. Patient 101 ran out of the office and was secretly glad to be in the unsettling hallways of the hospital. However, this time the lights were dark. The only light working was the red light above the operation room. There was a surgery in progress which means there would be someone in this place. Someone with answers.
No one was in the operation room. The shrill tone of the flatline was overwhelming in the silence of the hospital. The other patient was covered entirely by the sheet. Blood stained the sheet, the surgical tools and over the floor. The blood was fresh so noticed by 101 when he slipped by treading on a blood stain. His desperation turned to anxiety. He could not stop his morbid curiosity as to who was under the sheet. Trembling, 101 reached out towards the sheet. Grasping it, he pulled it away, revealing the cold, dead face underneath.
Patient 101's scream echoed throughout the dark, silent hospital.
He did not know how long he walked, noticed that he saw no one or that there were hints of struggling in several open wards and stains that were not cleaning or medicinal fluids. Patient 101 only knew that he had ended up into the Head of Surgery's office. Unconsciously , he closed the door behind him. The click alerted the delirious patient that something was wrong. He tried the handle and was rewarded by nothing. He looked around the clean office. The shelves were lined with medicinal books, papers and countless awards for 'Best Doctor' and the like. Patient 101 searched Dr. Vincent's desk, his shelves, browsed his open laptop. Nothing. His initial alarm turned to desperation. He repeated his search, ransacking the office. As 101 sank to the pristine floor among the overturned furniture, he heard a click.
The door swung open. Patient 101 ran out of the office and was secretly glad to be in the unsettling hallways of the hospital. However, this time the lights were dark. The only light working was the red light above the operation room. There was a surgery in progress which means there would be someone in this place. Someone with answers.
No one was in the operation room. The shrill tone of the flatline was overwhelming in the silence of the hospital. The other patient was covered entirely by the sheet. Blood stained the sheet, the surgical tools and over the floor. The blood was fresh so noticed by 101 when he slipped by treading on a blood stain. His desperation turned to anxiety. He could not stop his morbid curiosity as to who was under the sheet. Trembling, 101 reached out towards the sheet. Grasping it, he pulled it away, revealing the cold, dead face underneath.
Patient 101's scream echoed throughout the dark, silent hospital.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Mist
Cedric sat up instantly with gun raised when Leslie poked him. Leslie held up her hands and wearily said, "Truce, Ced. It's your turn." Cedric grunted and motioned Leslie towards the survivors' only tent. Cedric crawled forwards and sat on the forest floor with gun at the ready.
Already he could hear Leslie's gentle breathing underneath Stevie's snoring and Ollie's muttering. Cedric scanned with alert eyes the mist-enshrouded forest in front of him. The small party had camped with a reasonably-sized river behind them so the rotating guard could hear any splash if someone attempted to get across. With the thick mist, even hostile survivors with guns would be hard-pressed to identify the group let even kill them from afar. Cedric, despite having more or less perfect eyesight, could not pierce the veil that nature granted him and the infected.
Cedric breathed in sharply at the thought of the infected. Four months saw the end to civilization after the first outbreak. Those few who did not catch the initial disease succumbed to it's victims, madness and fear. A loner by living and nature, Cedric had no love for outsiders and his own faith in humanity went crashing down during those terrible months. Cedric felt a pang as his thoughts shifted to his neighbors, Mrs. Johnson and her daughter Annie. He got them into his house to keep them safe from the disease and looters. Looters were the least of their worries. The disease got them first. Cedric had been saved by looters of all people from the woman who regularly brought him little cakes and the sweet little girl who he occasionally looked after.
Then the looters turned on him.
Through rage and adrenaline, Cedric killed all four of them.
He looted them instead, and took off for the countryside, where he felt he should be safer. He joined a larger group of survivors who had the same idea. Almost forty strong, everyone thought safety in numbers would get them to the countryside quickly. It only made them a target by infected, looters and military. Sadly, most of the survivors were killed by uninfected humans, something which tore at Cedric everyday at how humanity had turned out.
The splash was what alerted the weary survivor.
Gun raised and already two steps closer to the tent and the river, Cedric peered into the unsettling mist, trying to make out what caused the disturbance in the calm of the forest. He did not call a challenge or wake the rest of the party. He waited for the intruder to reveal themselves. Cedric waited. And waited still. But nothing emerged from the mist. Not a gunshot, the swish of an arrow or rock. Not another splash or footsteps. Nothing. Cedric did not let down his guard. The splash he heard was definitely not normal. Someone was out there.
He'll find the intruder later. Infected or not, the intruder could hardly see the survivors. Cedric turned and woke Stevie. He curled up in his bedroll and tried to sleep.
Cedric woke up again. He spied the silhouette of Ollie with his beloved hunting rifle. That would mean it was almost dawn. With slow and steady movements so the rest would not hear him, Cedric packed his personal supplies and quietly left the tent. The bedroll he left in the tent. Cedric did not want for human company, even if the other three were suitably good people. He would rather stay a loner.
Carefully he crossed the river with the makeshift platform he painstakingly built when he found the spot. He drew his gun and scanned his surroundings more carefully now. He was on the side of the river where the intruder apparently was. He moved very slowly, but was sure he made a fair distance from the camp by now. Cedric felt a small pang for leaving the others behind. He shook his head and asserted himself that he was a loner. He was not fit for society no matter how wrecked it is now. So absorbed in his thoughts the hardened survivor was caught off guard by the two sleeping children he nearly stepped on.
With a startled cry by all three, the survivors leapt to a side. Cedric's eyes widened. Two children alive in this world. At a young age to boot! The older one, a boy seemed only nine while the girl was about six. They looked frightened, starved and dirty, similar to most of the survivors roaming the world nowadays. Cedric crouched to their eye level and said as gently as he could muster, "You two alone?' The boy nodded shakily. "You need help?" The boy just stared at him. The girl held tight to his arm. Cedric smiled and said, "Hey, I got a group of friends down the river, we got some extra food. We're handy with the infected. Wanna stay with us? We can keep you safe." The boy shook his head vigorously. Cedric held his patience and said "Hey come on, even squeakers like you should know that this world is dangerous, especially for unarmed kids. We can help you." Then the boy said in a surprisingly strong voice, "I never said I was unarmed." Too late, Cedric realized the boy had a hand in his jacket, and was pulling it out with startlingly speed.
The shot cut through the mist and the silence of the dawn.
The boy sifted through the dead man's pockets while his sister rummaged the rucksack. Sarah piped up, "Gabe, we can;t carry such a big rucksack. Should we still grab the food in here?" The boy, Gabriel, shook his head and said, "Take what we can carry and need. Forget his gun. It's too heavy for me. Hurry, his 'friends' should be here soon. No one is trustworthy in this world." Stuffing Cedric's food in their pockets and schoolbags, the two siblings disappeared into the mist.
A figure emerged from the mist and stood over Cedric's body. Growling, the infected howled and bent over the body. From out of the mist lumbered out five more infected. They had not feasted for days.
Then the looters turned on him.
Through rage and adrenaline, Cedric killed all four of them.
He looted them instead, and took off for the countryside, where he felt he should be safer. He joined a larger group of survivors who had the same idea. Almost forty strong, everyone thought safety in numbers would get them to the countryside quickly. It only made them a target by infected, looters and military. Sadly, most of the survivors were killed by uninfected humans, something which tore at Cedric everyday at how humanity had turned out.
The splash was what alerted the weary survivor.
Gun raised and already two steps closer to the tent and the river, Cedric peered into the unsettling mist, trying to make out what caused the disturbance in the calm of the forest. He did not call a challenge or wake the rest of the party. He waited for the intruder to reveal themselves. Cedric waited. And waited still. But nothing emerged from the mist. Not a gunshot, the swish of an arrow or rock. Not another splash or footsteps. Nothing. Cedric did not let down his guard. The splash he heard was definitely not normal. Someone was out there.
He'll find the intruder later. Infected or not, the intruder could hardly see the survivors. Cedric turned and woke Stevie. He curled up in his bedroll and tried to sleep.
Cedric woke up again. He spied the silhouette of Ollie with his beloved hunting rifle. That would mean it was almost dawn. With slow and steady movements so the rest would not hear him, Cedric packed his personal supplies and quietly left the tent. The bedroll he left in the tent. Cedric did not want for human company, even if the other three were suitably good people. He would rather stay a loner.
Carefully he crossed the river with the makeshift platform he painstakingly built when he found the spot. He drew his gun and scanned his surroundings more carefully now. He was on the side of the river where the intruder apparently was. He moved very slowly, but was sure he made a fair distance from the camp by now. Cedric felt a small pang for leaving the others behind. He shook his head and asserted himself that he was a loner. He was not fit for society no matter how wrecked it is now. So absorbed in his thoughts the hardened survivor was caught off guard by the two sleeping children he nearly stepped on.
With a startled cry by all three, the survivors leapt to a side. Cedric's eyes widened. Two children alive in this world. At a young age to boot! The older one, a boy seemed only nine while the girl was about six. They looked frightened, starved and dirty, similar to most of the survivors roaming the world nowadays. Cedric crouched to their eye level and said as gently as he could muster, "You two alone?' The boy nodded shakily. "You need help?" The boy just stared at him. The girl held tight to his arm. Cedric smiled and said, "Hey, I got a group of friends down the river, we got some extra food. We're handy with the infected. Wanna stay with us? We can keep you safe." The boy shook his head vigorously. Cedric held his patience and said "Hey come on, even squeakers like you should know that this world is dangerous, especially for unarmed kids. We can help you." Then the boy said in a surprisingly strong voice, "I never said I was unarmed." Too late, Cedric realized the boy had a hand in his jacket, and was pulling it out with startlingly speed.
The shot cut through the mist and the silence of the dawn.
The boy sifted through the dead man's pockets while his sister rummaged the rucksack. Sarah piped up, "Gabe, we can;t carry such a big rucksack. Should we still grab the food in here?" The boy, Gabriel, shook his head and said, "Take what we can carry and need. Forget his gun. It's too heavy for me. Hurry, his 'friends' should be here soon. No one is trustworthy in this world." Stuffing Cedric's food in their pockets and schoolbags, the two siblings disappeared into the mist.
A figure emerged from the mist and stood over Cedric's body. Growling, the infected howled and bent over the body. From out of the mist lumbered out five more infected. They had not feasted for days.
Monday, 3 June 2013
Tag
The two children were inseparable until Jason moved. His best friend Nichole, dubbed Nicky by the then seven year old boy, always played tag everyday after school with him and several other children around the fields of the small town they lived in. Nichole sobbed harder than when she was only a baby when Jason told her the news. Jason's father had gotten a job in the city, and his employers were willing to set him up with a house there.
While Nichole was glad that Jason's family would earn more money (the Garnets never had enough to get by), that would mean losing her best friend in town. Soon enough, the moving truck from the city drove away with the last of the Garnets' furniture and belongings. The Garnets' themselves were getting ready to go. Many of the townsfolk came to see the well-liked family off. After much pleading with her parents, Nichole managed to get her siblings and Jason to play tag one last time.
The outcome was as expected. Lightning fast Jason caught them all under ten minutes. Even those who hid themselves well (or so they thought) were discovered and caught by Jason. While the kids sprawled themselves on the grassy fields, Nichole asked Jason, "Don't you ever get tired of winning Jason?" Jason rolled over and propped himself up with his elbows. He replied, "Nah. I woulda asked you if you're tired of losing to me Nicky." Nichole whined, "But you always win. You're the fastest in town, and you know all the good hiding spots." Jason's tone grew solemn and he said, "Well, you always pick me to be the catcher right?" Nichole grew red while her siblings went, "Oooooo".
Nichole started to say something when Mrs. Garnet called for Jason. The kids got up. Jason shrugged at Nichole and her siblings. He slowly said, "This is it, I guess." Nichole and her two sisters and brother crowded around Jason and took in turns to hug him. All of the kids were crying after their last hugs. Jason ran off to his mother. Before climbing into the beaten-up pickup, Jason turned and waved to the children he grew up with. Nichole waved back, along with her siblings.
Nichole was still waving when the pickup had long gone and her siblings had returned home. She sat down alone in the field and stayed there until her worried father found her and brought her home.
Time flies...
Nicky followed the four men from the rooftops of the crime-filled area of Old Town. It was not a town per se, but rather a dirty, scum-ridden outskirt of the city. It was where crime is not just a part of town, but a way of life. Seventeen-year-old Nicky had lost her parents and brother to this godforsaken outskirt, her parents in a botched robbery and her brother to a drunken driver. With her two sisters Shirley and Cassandra left and her as the oldest after Damien died, it fell on to Nicky to scavenge and steal in order for the three sisters to survive.
Now Nicky was tailing a group of four men to see if what they held in their bags was cash or drugs. If it was drugs, Nicky would throw them aside since she had no clue about peddling them. If it was cash-Nicky would be very careful on spending it. It did not trouble the girl that the men might have guns or connections, she lived and stole here long enough to know how to navigate among the streets, rooftops and alleys of Old Town. It would be just like playing tag back in the fields of her home. Easy, made easier that Jason was not here to catch her this time. God, Jason, I wonder where in hell are you now, thought Nicky as she poked her head over the edge of the building she was on.
The men had stopped in one of the countless alleys in Old Town. Their bags were unslung and plopped to the ground. Out of the shadows of the alley emerged an equal number of men, also carrying bags. The two sides stared at each other and muttered code words and greetings. Nicky did not care for the inner workings of the gangs here, she just wanted to know if there was any cash present.
Then, a phrase drifted up towards her. It was "We got the cash..." It came from the lead man of the group she followed. With silent, eager steps, Nicky picked her way down to ground level.
Nicky peeped around the corner at the men. The bags wer between the two groups. They maybe armed, maybe have itchy trigger fingers. so she had to act fast. At best, Nicky could startle them long enough to only grab one bag, before guns were drawn. She inhaled and thought of her family, both deceased and living. She turned just as the shooting started.
Nicky whipped back, the shooting stopped almost immediately. She heard someone give orders. "Right, Chris, Shark grab the dust. I'll get the money. Sly, watch our backs, cops might get here soon." That tears it! One of them will stand guard. Nicky had to either chance it or forget the bags. The choice was easy. Nicky bowled past the man sent to guard the alley and shoved another aside, grabbing the bag of cash he just zipped up.
Nicky had scaled the fire escape and was already on the roof when the first shots were fired. She heard shouting and picked up her pace. No telling if any of those gang members were skilled at navigating Old Town, she had to pick up her pace.
Nicky leaped over the gap between the two tenements and glanced back. Her eyes widened as a figure swung up the building she just leapt off. She swore as a bullet whipped past her hair, cutting a lock off. The gangster was accurate in the dark and nimble to get up on the roofs quick enough. He was it.
Time to play Tag.
While Nichole was glad that Jason's family would earn more money (the Garnets never had enough to get by), that would mean losing her best friend in town. Soon enough, the moving truck from the city drove away with the last of the Garnets' furniture and belongings. The Garnets' themselves were getting ready to go. Many of the townsfolk came to see the well-liked family off. After much pleading with her parents, Nichole managed to get her siblings and Jason to play tag one last time.
The outcome was as expected. Lightning fast Jason caught them all under ten minutes. Even those who hid themselves well (or so they thought) were discovered and caught by Jason. While the kids sprawled themselves on the grassy fields, Nichole asked Jason, "Don't you ever get tired of winning Jason?" Jason rolled over and propped himself up with his elbows. He replied, "Nah. I woulda asked you if you're tired of losing to me Nicky." Nichole whined, "But you always win. You're the fastest in town, and you know all the good hiding spots." Jason's tone grew solemn and he said, "Well, you always pick me to be the catcher right?" Nichole grew red while her siblings went, "Oooooo".
Nichole started to say something when Mrs. Garnet called for Jason. The kids got up. Jason shrugged at Nichole and her siblings. He slowly said, "This is it, I guess." Nichole and her two sisters and brother crowded around Jason and took in turns to hug him. All of the kids were crying after their last hugs. Jason ran off to his mother. Before climbing into the beaten-up pickup, Jason turned and waved to the children he grew up with. Nichole waved back, along with her siblings.
Nichole was still waving when the pickup had long gone and her siblings had returned home. She sat down alone in the field and stayed there until her worried father found her and brought her home.
Time flies...
Nicky followed the four men from the rooftops of the crime-filled area of Old Town. It was not a town per se, but rather a dirty, scum-ridden outskirt of the city. It was where crime is not just a part of town, but a way of life. Seventeen-year-old Nicky had lost her parents and brother to this godforsaken outskirt, her parents in a botched robbery and her brother to a drunken driver. With her two sisters Shirley and Cassandra left and her as the oldest after Damien died, it fell on to Nicky to scavenge and steal in order for the three sisters to survive.
Now Nicky was tailing a group of four men to see if what they held in their bags was cash or drugs. If it was drugs, Nicky would throw them aside since she had no clue about peddling them. If it was cash-Nicky would be very careful on spending it. It did not trouble the girl that the men might have guns or connections, she lived and stole here long enough to know how to navigate among the streets, rooftops and alleys of Old Town. It would be just like playing tag back in the fields of her home. Easy, made easier that Jason was not here to catch her this time. God, Jason, I wonder where in hell are you now, thought Nicky as she poked her head over the edge of the building she was on.
The men had stopped in one of the countless alleys in Old Town. Their bags were unslung and plopped to the ground. Out of the shadows of the alley emerged an equal number of men, also carrying bags. The two sides stared at each other and muttered code words and greetings. Nicky did not care for the inner workings of the gangs here, she just wanted to know if there was any cash present.
Then, a phrase drifted up towards her. It was "We got the cash..." It came from the lead man of the group she followed. With silent, eager steps, Nicky picked her way down to ground level.
Nicky peeped around the corner at the men. The bags wer between the two groups. They maybe armed, maybe have itchy trigger fingers. so she had to act fast. At best, Nicky could startle them long enough to only grab one bag, before guns were drawn. She inhaled and thought of her family, both deceased and living. She turned just as the shooting started.
Nicky whipped back, the shooting stopped almost immediately. She heard someone give orders. "Right, Chris, Shark grab the dust. I'll get the money. Sly, watch our backs, cops might get here soon." That tears it! One of them will stand guard. Nicky had to either chance it or forget the bags. The choice was easy. Nicky bowled past the man sent to guard the alley and shoved another aside, grabbing the bag of cash he just zipped up.
Nicky had scaled the fire escape and was already on the roof when the first shots were fired. She heard shouting and picked up her pace. No telling if any of those gang members were skilled at navigating Old Town, she had to pick up her pace.
Nicky leaped over the gap between the two tenements and glanced back. Her eyes widened as a figure swung up the building she just leapt off. She swore as a bullet whipped past her hair, cutting a lock off. The gangster was accurate in the dark and nimble to get up on the roofs quick enough. He was it.
Time to play Tag.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
The Last Resident of Cloven Hills
Michael and Kathy got out of the car, still staring at the empty spot that used to house the town of Cloven Hills. Kathy clung to Michael tightly as if to reassure her that he would not disappear unexpectedly too. Michael voiced what Kathy wanted to say so badly.
"How? How did-" Michael asked to no one in particular. He faltered. How could a good-sized town just vanish into thin air in a matter of a few hours? Michael was very sure they had reached Cloven Hills. They passed the welcome sign and Jeff's Corner Stop. Jeff. Maybe he was still around. Michael grabbed the still stunned Kathy and pulled her towards the store.
They crashed through the door with Michael yelling, "Jeff! Jeffery! The town, it's-" Michael paused, drinking in the condition of the store.
While the outside had looked more or less alright, but the inside was a far cry from the outside's appearance. The shelves were all smashed to bits, products spilled all over the floor. Tins, cartons and glass bottles were all crumpled, trodden upon or plain destroyed. The few notices and pictures were ripped or missing pieces. The counter where Jeff and his customers always hung around to chat or barter had disintegrated to piles of wood fillings and splinters. The cash register lay on its side, metal structure all bent out of shape.
The worst aspect of the store was the body.
Well, it was not really a body. Like the store, the body looked as if it had been thrown into the meat grinder, taken out by someone and to piece it together but threw it all away in resignation. Revoltingly, the head was intact. Michael gagged.
It was Jeff. His cold face was in disbelief, as if he could not believe who his killer was. At least, that's what Michael thought. Jeff's eyes were missing. The head sat on a large pool of blood and gore. Scraps of skin and sinew were strewn about it, creating a macabre wreath. Michael heard puking. Kathy must have lost her cool. He took a tentative step forwards and was rewarded by a sickly squish. Michael lifted his shoe and saw he had stepped on one of Jeff's missing eyeballs. Now he joined his future wife in puking.
When they both regained their composure, Kathy gripped Michael and whispered, "It's horrible, j-just horrible." Michael held her hand to reassure her. " He shakily said, "We'll ring the police. Even if they don't believe us about Cloven Hills they should know about this, this scene." He waved at Jeff's body. Kathy nodded fearfully. Hands holding each other, the two stumbled out of Jeff's Corner Stop.
To be met by a figure standing right behind them. Kathy gave a small scream and stepped back. The figure was clad in a long tattered cloak with a hood that obscured his or her face. Their eyes were visible. They were a dark, glowing black which managed to be seen. The hood turned to face Kathy's direction. A voice that was neither male or female emanated from the darkness of the hood. It muttered, "Sleep."
Kathy crumpled in Michael's arms. Michael screamed at the figure, "What did you do to her! Did you kill Jeff? The town? I'm bringing you to the police!" Before the young man could go any further, the figure mumbled, "She is not needed. You shall come with me. Michael felt an unseen force suddenly propel him up. And up. And up. The figure rose with him. Michael screamed Kathy's name as her limp figure laid sprawled on the ground.
Just as Michael was about to lose sight of his childhood friend and fiance, Kathy's head exploded in a shower of blood and brains.
Michael screamed himself raw. He tried to struggle, to reach out to the cloaked figure and kill them. He strained further, fingers just brushing the tattered ends of the cloak. A blast rocked him back and he blacked out.
"How? How did-" Michael asked to no one in particular. He faltered. How could a good-sized town just vanish into thin air in a matter of a few hours? Michael was very sure they had reached Cloven Hills. They passed the welcome sign and Jeff's Corner Stop. Jeff. Maybe he was still around. Michael grabbed the still stunned Kathy and pulled her towards the store.
They crashed through the door with Michael yelling, "Jeff! Jeffery! The town, it's-" Michael paused, drinking in the condition of the store.
While the outside had looked more or less alright, but the inside was a far cry from the outside's appearance. The shelves were all smashed to bits, products spilled all over the floor. Tins, cartons and glass bottles were all crumpled, trodden upon or plain destroyed. The few notices and pictures were ripped or missing pieces. The counter where Jeff and his customers always hung around to chat or barter had disintegrated to piles of wood fillings and splinters. The cash register lay on its side, metal structure all bent out of shape.
The worst aspect of the store was the body.
Well, it was not really a body. Like the store, the body looked as if it had been thrown into the meat grinder, taken out by someone and to piece it together but threw it all away in resignation. Revoltingly, the head was intact. Michael gagged.
It was Jeff. His cold face was in disbelief, as if he could not believe who his killer was. At least, that's what Michael thought. Jeff's eyes were missing. The head sat on a large pool of blood and gore. Scraps of skin and sinew were strewn about it, creating a macabre wreath. Michael heard puking. Kathy must have lost her cool. He took a tentative step forwards and was rewarded by a sickly squish. Michael lifted his shoe and saw he had stepped on one of Jeff's missing eyeballs. Now he joined his future wife in puking.
When they both regained their composure, Kathy gripped Michael and whispered, "It's horrible, j-just horrible." Michael held her hand to reassure her. " He shakily said, "We'll ring the police. Even if they don't believe us about Cloven Hills they should know about this, this scene." He waved at Jeff's body. Kathy nodded fearfully. Hands holding each other, the two stumbled out of Jeff's Corner Stop.
To be met by a figure standing right behind them. Kathy gave a small scream and stepped back. The figure was clad in a long tattered cloak with a hood that obscured his or her face. Their eyes were visible. They were a dark, glowing black which managed to be seen. The hood turned to face Kathy's direction. A voice that was neither male or female emanated from the darkness of the hood. It muttered, "Sleep."
Kathy crumpled in Michael's arms. Michael screamed at the figure, "What did you do to her! Did you kill Jeff? The town? I'm bringing you to the police!" Before the young man could go any further, the figure mumbled, "She is not needed. You shall come with me. Michael felt an unseen force suddenly propel him up. And up. And up. The figure rose with him. Michael screamed Kathy's name as her limp figure laid sprawled on the ground.
Just as Michael was about to lose sight of his childhood friend and fiance, Kathy's head exploded in a shower of blood and brains.
Michael screamed himself raw. He tried to struggle, to reach out to the cloaked figure and kill them. He strained further, fingers just brushing the tattered ends of the cloak. A blast rocked him back and he blacked out.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Gone
"Now, wasn't that dinner great?"
"Oh Mike, you sure know how to give a girl a great time."
Michael smiled as Kathy leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The two were returning home after a dinner date which had been put off for far too long due to their busy schedules. Everything went off without a hitch as Michael planned. The violinist, flowers and steak were all expertly handled by his friend at the restaurant. Michael made a mental note to buy Fernando a drink the next time they went out for drinks.
It was getting dark, and Michael was starting to worry. They should have been able to see the houses of the suburb they lived in fifteen minutes ago. He was sure they were not lost, yet the absence of the houses or even Jeff's Corner Stop which should be the first building to come in sight was troubling. Kathy asked, "Mike, are we lost? I know it must be tiring, but-" Michael cut her off, "I know, I know. Tired, that's all. Don't worry hon we'll be home soon." He turned a left. He was very sure he was not lost.
"Mike, look. The sign." pointed out Kathy. Michael looked to where his fiance was pointing and nodded. The ever-present sign which said: You Are Entering Cloven Hills. Their home. Michael always had to amuse himself that there were no hills anywhere in or near the town they live in. It was a clean and nice town with friendly folk. Kathy had approved when they were picking out a home. They would be happy there.
The car had just passed Jeff's Corner Stop when Michael saw a sight so shocking he slammed on the brakes. Luckily Kathy and he had their seat-belts on or they would be thrown forwards. Nonetheless, Kathy yelped in pain at the sudden jerk where the seat-belt pressed into her. Kathy blew her hair off her face and asked Michael angrily, "Michael! What are you doing?!" Michael shushed her and whispered, "The town..." Kathy looked to the horizon where the peaceful town of Cloven Hills stands. Kathy gasped as she registered what Michael saw.
Where the town was supposed to be, was barren land.
"Oh Mike, you sure know how to give a girl a great time."
Michael smiled as Kathy leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The two were returning home after a dinner date which had been put off for far too long due to their busy schedules. Everything went off without a hitch as Michael planned. The violinist, flowers and steak were all expertly handled by his friend at the restaurant. Michael made a mental note to buy Fernando a drink the next time they went out for drinks.
It was getting dark, and Michael was starting to worry. They should have been able to see the houses of the suburb they lived in fifteen minutes ago. He was sure they were not lost, yet the absence of the houses or even Jeff's Corner Stop which should be the first building to come in sight was troubling. Kathy asked, "Mike, are we lost? I know it must be tiring, but-" Michael cut her off, "I know, I know. Tired, that's all. Don't worry hon we'll be home soon." He turned a left. He was very sure he was not lost.
"Mike, look. The sign." pointed out Kathy. Michael looked to where his fiance was pointing and nodded. The ever-present sign which said: You Are Entering Cloven Hills. Their home. Michael always had to amuse himself that there were no hills anywhere in or near the town they live in. It was a clean and nice town with friendly folk. Kathy had approved when they were picking out a home. They would be happy there.
The car had just passed Jeff's Corner Stop when Michael saw a sight so shocking he slammed on the brakes. Luckily Kathy and he had their seat-belts on or they would be thrown forwards. Nonetheless, Kathy yelped in pain at the sudden jerk where the seat-belt pressed into her. Kathy blew her hair off her face and asked Michael angrily, "Michael! What are you doing?!" Michael shushed her and whispered, "The town..." Kathy looked to the horizon where the peaceful town of Cloven Hills stands. Kathy gasped as she registered what Michael saw.
Where the town was supposed to be, was barren land.
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