Nightmare

   Thick purplish clouds fitted across the raven black sky, splitting the slender crescent moon into halves. The dissonance of bustling traffic soon slowed to a dwindle as night set in, punctuated only by the occasional honking. “Good bye Jack! See you soon!” I shouted loudly against the howling wind. Not wanting to miss the last bus, I quickly dash to a bus stop which held across the road. Twenty minutes later, the bus had arrived. However, the driver refused to drive in as I was his last passenger.

  Not wanting to argue with him, I got angrily. Only at that point, I realized that I would have to walk in at least four miles into my housing area. To add to the unfortunate situation I was in, I had to walk along a lonely stretch of road which is surrounded by Chinese cemetery! Well, it was no use lamenting hence, I buttoned up my jacket and started walking briskly down the lane. As I was passing by the cemetery, a soft shrill scream came to my ear endlessly.

  I increased my speed. Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. In spite of the fear that had begun tugging at my heart, I tried to remain calm. The atmosphere had become really silent, except for the sound of my heart beating fast. Without my noticed, a weathered grave appeared in front of me from nowhere. My heart beat increased all of a sudden and like going to explode in any seconds.

  I calmed myself and peered at the granite headstone where I nearly made out illegible words, `Jenny Melon Queen’. I remembered the name and her tragic death. She was a charming young lady in the bloom of her youth. She possessed all the qualities a woman wants. She had a flawless skin and a milky hue complexion, complemented with a pair of sparkling almond shaped eyes. Moreover, her long silky brunette hair and her shapely body penetrated every men’s hearts in the residential estate. Unfortunately, her beauty doomed her.

  One night, she was gang raped by a group of lecherous youths who supposed to be her neighbours. After that, she was brutally murdered. She was strangled and her beautiful features were disfigured by the youths continuous battering. After a few days, her decomposed remains were discovered in a nearby river bank by the police officers. When I tried to leave the grave, a lanky and a grotesque figure emerged before my wary eyes. Before my scream, the ladylike figure choked me and pierced her razor sharp nails into my abdomen before wrenching its contents out. I witnessed my intestine being pulled and went black out.

  “Adam! Adam! Wake up Adam!” I slowly opened my eyes and my father was in my sight. “Morning dad”, until then, I noticed that I was lying down on a grave which its owner is `Jenny Melon Queen’. Fear filled my heart, I quickly move myself away from the weathered grave. “Son, what are you doing at the cemetery the whole night?” my father asked full of questions in his mind. “……” I immediately checked my body, luckily my body was normal as usual. “What actually happens yesterday?” I asked myself.    

A bad mistake

  I was 15 then, when I was head over heels for a lass from my school. May caught my attention when she walked into the classroom for the first time. She had a pair of light blue sparkling eyes, an aquiline nose, rosy lips which were complemented by her milky hue complexion. Moreover, her long silky brunette hair and her shapely body made her a must to date girl for every guy in my school, including my best friend, Keat. 

  Nevertheless, knowing how I felt about May, Keat lost interest in her and promised to help me instead. Heeding to his idea, I wrote a letter to express my feelings for May. As Valentine's Day was around the corner, Keat suggested it would be the most ideal day for me to hand over this letter to her.

  On Valentine's morning, I got up early and stepped out of my house. As I was strolling towards my school, I witnesses one of the most beautiful morning in my life. I saw the majestic ball of fire made its dramatic entrance, casting its brilliant rays across the sky, signalling the start of a brand new day. The scene was complemented by the melodian, chirping of birds and the overpowering scent of flower which was blown by the refreshing and chilly morning breeze. It was the, I witnessed the scene that I should never seen.

  I saw May sitting at the bus stop with Keat. I couldn't see their faces as I was behind them but I clearly saw Keat put his arm around her shoulders. Anger vibrated from every vein in my body as my heartbeat worked into a frenzy with my rising blood pressure. "How could he, my best friend, betray me like that?"

  I was so hurt, it was like a stake in my heart, pitting me into a deep dark well of wretchedness. Not wanting to be seen, I quickly turned and walked back towards my school. Still seething, I decided that I was going to make him pay for it.

  Just at that moment, I saw Keat's elder brother Jack coming in my direction. "Have you seen Keat anywhere? Our mom is getting impatient waiting at the car park," he asked. With venom in my voice, I replied, "He was at the bus stop with his girlfriend." Without waiting, I quickly walked away from the puzzled Jack. Serves Keat right, I thought, as I was sure he was going to get into trouble with both his elder brother and mother.

  The next day, I met Keat at school but both of us were very cold to each other and did not speak at all. I was still angry and expecting him to come up with some kind of apology but he seemed equally angry and stubborn. We were both at the same tuition centre that evening and I noticed that May was not there. As the science teacher Miss Jojo walked in, she looked very sad. "Class, some of you may not have heard the news, but Keat informed me earlier that May's father passed away in an accident yesterday. Please be extra kind to her and visit her if you can," she said.

  Just then I felt a lump in my throat. What a mean, irrational person I had been. I tried to catch Keat's eyes but he refused to look at me. Oh, what a bad mistake I had made and I regret it to this day.

Birthday

  It's my birthday today. I have lost count of how many birthdays have passed, but I still keep my tradition. I climb to the top of the nearby hill, bringing a handful of dirt with me. I press it into the ground. Then, I sit down to prepare my mind for my next annual rite: reminding myself of who I am and why I am living.

I made this hill, actually, and I'm still building it up. I started on my tenth birthday. Now, the hill is large enough for me to ski down each winter. In a world where people stay young forever, persistence pays.

  Persistence was what led Dr Syue Cano to discover the secret of eternal youth. At the age of eighty-four, he identified the gene that causes humans to age and the specific radiation that destroys it. No one will know whether he detonated his "Youth" bomb for the sake of his own immortality or for the sake of the other human beings in the world. However, his defective heart could not withstand the impact of the blast. He died the instant the bomb exploded.

  Mankind will always be grateful for the discovery to which Dr Cano dedicated his life. However, he left the world with one problem: the earth's limited natural resources. Even with plant growth accelerated by scientific wizardry, food and oxygen were becoming inadequate for the world population, which only kept booming.

  Some subtractions were necessary for the survival of the human species. The only solution was to remove some of the people by unnatural means, that is, to execute them. Thus, this was why all crimes were made punishable by execution: murder, theft, adultery, slander, hoarding of food... the list is very long. This was the only way to maintain the valance of nature.

  That's where I come in. I am an Executioner. I work alone, never considering the risk. People say I have a death wish. Perhaps I do. Certainly, yesterday's job was no waltz in the park.

Rob Tao was suspected of stealing and hoarding food. My job was to check this out. As always, I was to be detective, judge, jury and executioner.

  I had enough stealth technology to break into Tao's compound undetected. To get into the house was also a cinch. My vibra-blade cut through the wall like it was butter. In the house, my Arometer detected food, lots of it. I went down corridor after corridor, following the bleeps of light on my Arometer.

The signals went wild outside one closed door. There was a lot of human activity inside, judging by my HUO sensors. I primed a grenade and opened the door just a crack -- enough to see whom I would be executing.

Then I deprimed the grenade. Sitting there were thousands of children. Rob Tao stood amongst them, holding a huge pot of steaming mush. He smiled at me, seemingly unperturbed.

"You're feeding all these children?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Yes," he replied quietly.

"How do you get so much food? I'm sure you steal it," I said.

"Yes, I do. Going to execute me?" Still that gentle smile. Sitting here now, on my hill, I don't understand why I just walked out. I had no excuse for letting him get away with his crime. It was not my decision to make. Yet... I can't remember what I'm killing for; can't remember what I'm living for.

The fright

  Far up in the mountains of Canada, there is an old abandoned log cabin. Once it was occupied by a young couple who wanted to distance themselves from the chaos of this modern world. Here they were miles away from the nearest town. Bob, the husband, made the occasional trip into town to buy supplies whereas Jan, his wife, spent her free time by the fire, sewing. Their life was simply idyllic.

  Then, one midwinter's day, Jan woke up from bed with a strange ache in her bones. Putting it down to overwork, Bob shooed her to bed and made sure she rested. Though Jan was impatient to get to her chores, Bob soothed her, "Relax, Sugar. You're overdoing things. All these chores will be here when you recover."

However, Jan seemed to be getting worse instead of recovering. By evening, she was running a high fever and in greater pain. In spite of his best efforts, Bob could not manage to ease her suffering. And then suddenly, she started to lapse into unconsciousness.

  It was then obvious that she was seriously ill. What could Bob do? He had no experience in treating the sick and Jan was getting worse by the minute. He knew that there was an old doctor in town but he lived three miles away, downhill. Pot-bellied and obese, there was no way the doctor could make it up to their cabin.

  Something had to be done quickly! Bob racked his brains but to no avail. The only thing left to do was to go to the doctor. In Jan's condition, she could never walk that far in the waist-deep snow. Bob would have to carry her!

  Bob searched his mind for a way to move poor, sick Jan. Then, he remembered. He had once made a sledge so that they could ride together over the mountain. They never got around to using it though, because the whole mountain was thickly covered with rocks and trees. He had never found a safe way down, not even once.

  "Well," he thought, "looks like I'm going to have to try it anyhow," as he dug out the sledge from the storeroom. "Jan may die unless I get her to the doctor, and life means nothing to me without her." With this thought in mind, Bob gently tucked Jan into the sledge, got in the front, and with a short prayer for safety, pushed off.

  How they got through that ride alive, Bob has never figured out. As trees loomed up in front of him and just as quickly whizzed by his side, close enough to touch, he felt relieved that Jan was not awake to experience the ride. It was all he could do not to scream as collision seemed imminent, time and again, with only inches to spare.

  At last, bursting from the mountainside, the town came into view. Barely slowing down, they sped through the icy streets, only losing speed as they neared the doctor's house. The sledge, battered through the journey, collapsed in the left ski as it came to a halt, spilling out its occupants. Bob picked up his Jan and made his way into the doctor's house.

  After what seemed to be a long winter, Jan recovered fully from her illness but Bob never recovered from his fright. They moved into the little town so as to be near help in times of crisis, and have lived there ever since.

Wonderful holiday

  The journey by bus to our destination was absolutely agonizing. The hot humid weather, coupled with the dry, dusty wind from the north, made us flinch and fret in our hard seats. Apart from scenic little villages, scattered along the roads, the views were a far cry from what we had expected seen in our very, beloved country. Still, what had we expected? The whole purpose was to observe, experience and learn life as well as nature in abundance, not to witness sophisticated urbanization.

  As the bus turned into the vicinity of the jungle-resort area, we held our breath. Nothing at all prepared us for the excitement nor magnificence that awaited us.

  The wooden chalets were built right in the middle of a dense jungle. Our warm and friendly Malaysian guides informed us that we were at the foot of a forested mountain range, the great Mount Kinabalu. The whole resort area offered its guests, an unrivalled opportunity to enjoy one of the most stunning locations in Asia. Remote and private, far from hustle and the bustle of the city life, the resort was equipped with modern facilities and security.

  We were immediately settled in and were offered welcome drinks and local fruits. While we watched in absolute delight Sabahans performing their local native dance, all around us were filled with the natural sound of nature. Chirping birds and crickets accompanied the dances. On the trees, there were the long nosed, pot bellied proboscis monkeys, jumping from the branches. They were amazingly trusting and friendly. Sabah's rainforest is situated on the plains of the Kinabatangan river and we were told that the Orang Utans would roam freely and that we could observe them from a close distance. The tourists groups who came with us seemed absolutely delighted at the idea.

  That night, we sat and ate to our heart's content, varieties of Malaysian delicacies and desserts. Perhaps, it was the refreshing and natural atmosphere, but we ate like there was no tomorrow, everything and anything that was served.

  Our first few mornings and afternoon were filled with hiking activities. There were so many wonderment of life that we could not pause to rest. Malaysia's flora and fauna is one of the most rare and unique in the world that we did not want to waste a single minute getting acquainted with them. From our hikes, we took photographs of swiflets making edible nests from high tree tops and how Orang Utans ate from our hands. Later, in the evenings, when the sun sets its glorious light, we ventured out into the beach where we strolled along on its sandy white sands, feeling the cool waters at our feet.

  Perhaps, in our memories, one picturesque image settles. We had seen a huge waterfall in the depth of the jungle during one hiking trip. Hundreds of feet above huge boulders and smooth rocks, falling in rushes into little streams down below, was the most amazing waterfall. Its crystal clear water gush down in strange flowing motion, reflecting multi-coloured lights and shades. Hearing the sound of water gushing eased the tired mind and brought deep solace and tranquility to us. We hoped that we would be able to relive this grand experience once more soon.

Ways to improve tourism in malaysia

  Malaysia is a magnificent holiday destination that boasts many different types of getaway ideas, from the tropical beaches of Terengganu to the historical sites of Malaka and the cool highlands in Sarawak. Tourism is fast becoming a major revenue for our country and Malaysians as a whole should rise to the challenge of putting Malaysia on the map of becoming one of the top holiday destinations in the world. To achieve this there should be a collective effort from all, be it the government departments responsible, the public sectors, the NGO's and most ofall from us Malaysians.
  The first step in putting Malaysia on the map is to open up more channels for others to get know our beautiful country. More dynamic steps need to be taken by the government to showcase Malaysia to other foreign countries. The internet could be used to reach numerous target groups from all over the world. It could help to introduce the many different products and attractions that are offered, to whet the appetites of tourists, which will ultimately spur them on to come and visit our country. Special websites could be set up with the sole purpose of informing about what our country has to offer and very soon we would see that all eyes would be on Malaysia.
  The next step towards boosting tourism in Malaysia is to ensure that we as Malaysians are able to deliver the goods as promised. At the top of the list would be to make Malaysia a clean and safe place to visit. No one wants to spend their hard earned money in a place where their lives and the lives of their loved ones would be under potential threat. Neither do they want to spend time in a place where hygiene is compromised and litter is seen all over the place. A more concerted effort should therefore be taken to curb crime rates so that tourists are able to go about town unharmed and feel at ease when they need to use the toilets as they are always kept clean.
  In conclusion, in order to increase tourism in Malaysia there needs to be a more sincere effort from all of us. In the spirit of  one Malaysia we should first of all feel proud to be Malaysian and count our blessings for the freedom and peace that we so often take for granted. Only then would we feel delighted to see others coming to our country to enjoy what we have and at the same time bring along returns which in the long run benefits us all.

Sea pollutions

    Water pollution is a problem that effects all living things. Every living organism on the earth needs water to survive. When the water is polluted, it not only effects the plants and animals, it harms people. Taking care of this planet's water is very important to the short term and long term survival of living things. The oceans are constantly being polluted by individuals and many industries. These waters must be cleaned up before the costs are too great and the damages beyond repair. Action to clean up the Earth's water supply is long over due. People in all countries must begin to take action. Plans must be made to rid the waters of pollution, and prevent any further destruction of the only source of water that the earth has. The actions taken will not only make the planet safer and cleaner for now, but for generations to come.
    For years, the world has thought the oceans are much too big to be effected by human action. The idea that the ocean is indestructible has met its end. Peter Weber a Research Associate at the Worldwatch Institute says, "Today, with technologies that allow us to penetrate the salt water depths, we have discovered that despite their size and imperturbable appearance, the oceans are vulnerable to the same unsustainable trends that are degrading the terrestrial environment.". The oceans are one of the most important natural resources on the planet. Many plants, fish, and mammals have made the ocean their home. Much of the world's human population depends a great deal on the ocean for their own food or to make a living. Because of the importance for the ocean, it must be taken care of to insure a future for a clean planet. Right now, the oceans are facing destruction. Each day new pollutants find their way into the ocean's waters. The pollutants that contaminate the ocean take many forms. Each year millions of gallons of oil are put into the ocean. Toxic materials are dumped into the oceans and add up to deadly proportions. Tons of trash such as plastics and paper are pulled out of the ocean each day. This trash contaminates the water and causes many deaths of marine animals.
    Everyone on the planet has polluted the oceans one way or another. Factories that are in various industries make an enormous contribution to ocean pollution. These factories use unbelievable amounts of water to make their products. The Natural Resource Defense Council says, "More than four out of every ten gallons of water used in the US are used for industrial purposes." A large amount of this water is dumped back into the oceans. This water is usually not clean, and may contain thousands of different chemicals. When this happens it can kill marine life, contaminate food supplies, and endanger people who use waters for fishing, swimming, or drinking. Water is also dumped back into the oceans by power plants who use it to cool reactors. This water is placed back into the oceans at high temperatures. Dumping water at these high temperatures causes a disruption in the marine environment. According to the book by Peter Weber, "The water from power plants kills coral and other temperature related species." Many harmful airborne particles also pollute oceans. Exhaust from cars and factories, and chemicals like pesticides are carried into the atmosphere through vaporization. When it rains, many of these chemicals fall into the ocean. H.L. Windom says, "Up to 25% of the annual DDT production was rained out into the worlds oceans." One of the most harmful pollutants is oil. Gallons and gallons of oil are dumped, leaked, or seeped into the ocean each year.
    Contaminating the oceans will damage every living thing in one way or another. Deadly chemicals and radioactive materials get into the oceans and cause serious damages. One of the most deadly of all the toxins that enter the ocean is oil. According to the Worldwatch institute, "Low-level oil contamination can kill larvae and cause disease in marine life." The oil can coat marine animals and cause death. Many animals also ingest the oil. Marine life is effected by all of the pollutants, not just oil. For instance plastics are also a big killer of marine life. Researcher, Peter Weber, claims that, "Plastics entangle marine life or is mistaken as food." According to Dwight Holing, "Areas with chemical contamination, fish and shellfish have developed genetic defects such as chemical burns and tumors, and bottom-dwellers are showing fin erosion and cancer." Farming and mining all contribute to the dumping of sediment into the ocean. Peter Weber states, "Sediments that make their way into the ocean can cloud the water and prevent photosynthesis, clog the gills of fish, and carry toxins that poison fish and other marine life." People also suffer from pollution. Beaches are frequently closed due to high levels of bacteria contamination from sewage and from medical wastes that wash up to shore. Sewage and waste from livestock can contaminate seafood and cause many diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Although scientists do not know the effects of radioactive material on marine life, the potential effects are frightening.
    Many years ago people would never have thought that the ocean would ever need saving. People would wonder how something so big could ever be effected by their own actions. There are many ways to begin to clean up the oceans. From individual action to government action. Some suggestions are to use biodegradable detergents and shampoos, avoid using and disposing plastics and styrofoam, do not pour hazardous chemicals down the drain, and to recycle old motor oil. Also people need to push the government for action. According to Oceans Day, "Having beach seeps, eco-regattas, youth projects, exhibits, concerts, research, and conferences will help to get the word out." Not any one plan will save the oceans. The problem must be attacked at all levels. The government must take action, the companies must take action, and individuals must take action.
    Cleaning the oceans would mean a healthier planet. Having healthier seafood will make healthier people. Clean oceans give people a good place for recreation. The fact of cleaning and monitoring the oceans will provide many new jobs. The main reason people do not clean the oceans is because of the cost. The oceans do not appear to be in immediate threat, but if the world waits to long to take action, the cost to clean up the ocean could be a lot more. So even though it may sound expensive, it will be a lot cheaper in the long run. It is the responsibility of every person on the planet to take care of the earth and its resources for ourselves and the future generations to come.

A night of mystery

   Spots of lights from the towering flats framed the neighbourhood's night landscape with a subtle glow. The dissonance of bustling traffic soon slowed to a dwindle. The chill night air stung my cheeks pink. I rubbed my numbed fingers and my toes curled in the comfort of my thick woollen socks. I glanced at my watch for the hundredth time. Almost eleven. Not wanting to miss the last bus, I dashed to a bus stop which held across the road. Ten minutes later, the entire sky was momentarily illuminated by the flash of lightning. Soon, rain came crashing down in torrents. In a distance, the trees swayed and danced to the tune of the wind.
   Before I noticed, a bus stopped in front me. However, the driver refused to drive in as I was his last passenger. At the moment, white flecks of spit flew out of my mouth as anger rose in me at an alarming rate. Only at that point, I realised that I would have to walk in at least three miles into my housing area. To add to my unfortunate situation I was in, I had to walk along a lonely stretch of road which included a park and an old Muslim cemetery! Well, it was no use lamenting. Hence, I buttoned up my jacket and started walking briskly down the lane.
   Up above, thick purplish clouds fitted across the raven black sky splitting the slender crescent moon into halves. Walking along the deserted road, I felt the soft breeze blowing around me giving the air a tint freshness. The foliage of leaves on the tree tops rustled and whispered in the wind. The huge, shady trees at the park loomed in darkness. I had reached the playground. Strangely, I had a distinct feeling of being watched. In the distance, dogs were howling sadly to each other and I could hear the crickets singing in a melancholic tune.
    I increased my speed. Cold sweat dripped from my forehead. In spite of the fear that had begun tugging at my heart, I remained calm. The atmosphere had become really silent, except for the sound of my heart beating fast. Soon, I reached a large bamboo tree. The cemetery was coming into sight! I looked ahead. My vision became blurry and in moments, I saw mists forming in the air. Immediately grandma's stories at the kampung came to my mind. Villagers there believed that, at the bamboo tree, the spirit of a dead, pregnant woman lived on. She would prey on unsuspecting and helpless men, often appearing in the form of an angelic looking young woman. Usually, her presence would be preceded by mists!
    I shut my eyes tightly. My whole body was trembling and I wanted to faint. Then, I read aloud, whatever versus from the 'Bible' that I could remember. How ridiculous this was! Suddenly I scolded myself. There was absolutely nothing out there, just my own creative imagination running wild. Besides, I was not going to let myself to be the subject of my friends' ridicule and taunting any more. Even if there was a vampire and she looked something like Jennifer Lopez, I would gladly welcome her company.
    Before the words left my mind, the smell of jasmine filled the air. Such an empowering fragrance it was, enveloping the night with its delicate sweetness. Oh boy! I thought desperately, now, I'm really going to get it. Suddenly, I heard a thumping noise which coming from the cemetery not far ahead. Walking cautiously towards the noise, coming into view was the silhouette of a man. I could not see him clearly but he appeared to be working with a chisel and hammer, the sound of hammering ringing clearly in the silence of the night.
    The man stopped working and called out to me, "Hello son! Where are you off to so late at this hour?" Upon hearing his voice, I visibly relaxed. The voice of another human being was such a relief that I almost jumped up with joy. "Hello Pakcik, working overtime hah?"  I asked him, wiping the sweat from my brows. My shirt was drenched with sweat. "You shouldn't walk alone like this, it's not safe," the old man said to me. Then he continued hammering. "I know, I was already late. The bus did not want to come in," I told him. "You know Pakcik, I'm so glad to see you. I was so frightened out there, you know, all the stories," I said again. "How come you are still working?" I repeated my question.
    He stopped and turned towards me. "Oh......actually I live around here. You see, they wrote my name wrongly," he said, pointing to the tombstone of the grave he was standing on. "So, I came to correct it. Want to help me?" he said smiling at me, his yellow teeth, gleaming under the moon light.............

Popular girl in school

   Being a form one student in secondary school makes me feel so small, both in size and in personality. When I walk pass, people do not seem to notice me especially the mush older students. I have not always been invisible like this. Last year when I was still in primary six, I was a committee member of the prefect board that made the younger students hold a high opinion of me and listen to what I have to say. Now, no one does.
   I am afraid of the form five girls. I do not normally want to cross their paths for they could be very nasty to us younger girls in the school. So I would only go out of the classroom when the coast is clear.
   I go to a prestigious all girls' school in the capital city and as expected, competition is stiff where good looks and social status are concerned. Everyone seems to want to outdo the other. However, among all the students in the school, I believe Emily a senior in Form Five, is the prettiest and the most popular.
   When at the school canteen during recess Emily clearly stand head and shoulders above the rest because of her natural brown curly hair. I was told by one of my closest friends that her father is Scottish. She is also blue-blooded as her mother belongs to the royal family from a state in the north. That explains the huge black car that would religiously wait for her at the school front gate everyday after school. Emily is one of the lucky few who do not have to deal with teenage acne as she has extremely smooth and clear complexion. You can see that almost everyone in school is blown away by her beauty and never fail to steal a glance or gawk outright at her when she is around.
    Nevertheless, to my surprise, not everyone holds a high opinion of Emily. One of my friends said that Emily is really conceited because being the privileged position that she is in she likes to looks down on others  without really thinking, I tool my friend's word for it. My opinion about Emily remained the same until one day, Emily actually came to my rescue. It was a Monday morning and I had arrived late to school. I suddenly realised that I in my haste had left my school tie at home. I knew I would be reprimanded for it because the school tie is a must on Mondays. I was close to tears when Emily came up to me and handed me her tie. I said I couldn't possibly accept it as then she would be scolded by the other prefects. As she put her tie around my neck with a smile she said,"You need it more than I do." Only then I realise why Emily is put on the pedestal even by the teachers. It is because she has a good-hearted! I felt really silly for believing what my friend had said about Emily. As the saying goes, we should never judge a book by it's cover.

    

Memories

   I glared anxiously at the overcast sky, dark and gloomy, the gale of wind howling like a banshee. My heart was filled with worries and some sort of fright which I could not explain. It might be the rain, I sighed. Not wanting to be drenched in the heavy downpour, I dashed towards an old shack across the road. Seconds after arriving at the humble shelter, the entire sky was momentarily illuminated by the flash of lightning. Soon, rain came crashing down in torrents. The wind howled furiously and the old shack trembled and creaked, its roof shaking violently due to the nature's fury.
   I held on bravely, barely able to save myself from becoming completely drenched. As I stood there, watching the raindrops bouncing as thousands of silver rod, steams of muddy water flowed endlessly on the road. In a distance, trees swayed and danced to the tune of the wind. My mind began to wander to far away places, to a time long ago where life was simple yet blissful. I looked around the old shack. Many years before, it used to be a little candy store, where children of all ages paid their visits. Madam Money, a septuagenarian owned it. She was generous and amiable, always with a pleasant smile on her wrinkled face. I remember running there after school, to grab the candies, stick ice and the local cakes she sold. Now that she was gone, the shop was abandoned together with all the memories surrounding it.
   I glanced at my wrist watch and noticed it was quite late, I knew my mother's face will scowled in infuriation and would give me a lengthy lecture on punctuality when I had gone back home. As I was walking back, I remembered my mother, she was no longer the same woman she used to be, youthful, vibrant, optimistic and always with this amazing zest for life. The rain had been responsible for robbing away her happiness, in fact our happiness.
   It was two years ago, I remembered my father became a victim of a severe respiratory malady, asthma. The rolling thunder was like cymbals, clanging and clapping for 48 hours. The chillness caused severe asthma attack. Unfortunately, his Ventolin inhaler was empty and my mother prepared herself to pay a visit to the pharmacy.
   However, she left and came back as there was a massive flood due to a heavy shower. We panicked when father became unconscious and his face turned blue due to the lack of oxygen in his body. I could hear my mother's shrill scream as she was unable to make my father breathe. I felt my father's hand which held my little fingers slowly losing its grip. My father is then struggled and opened his mouth slightly and exhaled his last breath. My mother hugged me and cried. "He is only 32, too young to die. How did he have the heart to leave behind an angel like you?" Tears were rolling down her cheeks and I asked myself why it had to be rain that caused my father's demise. I knew that it would haunt me for the rest of my life.