PSLE: Ruckus at the Canteen

Cheerful chatter filled the canteen (Sound).  Heavenly aroma of delicious food lingered in the air (Smell) and tingled the taste buds.    Children were jostling about (Touch), queueing to buy their favourite  food during their recess.

Nathali, a lovely girl with sparkling brown eyes and two pony tails, was famished.  She had overslept and missed her breakfast.  Her noisy stomach was rumbling like a washing machine.  She rubbed her growling belly continously and whispered to her tummy, “Shh!  Keep quiet! It’s so embarrassing.” Finally, it was her turn and she ordered a bowl of steaming hot dumpling noodles.  Soon, it was ready and she decided to look for a seat to dig into her scrumptious meal. Slowly and steadily, she carried her food and her eyes spotted an empty table.  She smiled to herself and made her way there.

Unknown to her,  Kevin, a freckle-faced boy, was just behind her. He was notoriously well-known for his clumsiness.  He always bumped into others and had already broken three pairs of spectacles,  his front teeth and even his nose bridge.

All of a sudden, Kevin accidentally stepped on his shoe lace and lost his balance.  As he fell, he collided with Nathali and both of them fell on their fours with a loud thud.  Kevin’s fried rice scattered like wedding confetti all over the ceremic tiles of the canteen floor while Nathali’s noodles splashed onto some younger girls. Ouch!!  Ruckus broke out in an uproar.  Red raw blisters appeared instantly on their skins.  It was a pathetic sight!  The onlookers stared on in bewilderment.  For a split moment, none knew what to do!  The victims were all grimacing in pain and some were even in tears.

Fortunately, the commotion caught the attention of a patrolling teacher who immediately instructed the prefects to bring all the injured to the sick bay.  The teacher, Mrs Lee, painstakingly applied medicated cream on all of them. Kevin was truly apologetic and tearfully offered to buy food for them.  Nathali knew that Kevin was not on purpose and forgave him.  Still,  she firmly decided in her heart to keep him at arm’s length – at all times and at all costs.