PSLE: One evening, while you and your family were having your dinner, the telephone rang. Your mother answered the phone. She cradled the receiver and turned to us crying.

My family used to be one of the happiest in the world. I had the best, most devoted father. He loved my baby sister, my mum and me dearly. Every day, we would be waiting for him to come back from work faithfully without fail. He was a hardworking man. But ever since the casino had opened, he became an addicted gambler, always claiming that it would be the last time but it never was. He had lost all our hard-earned savings and even owed a lot of money. He started being extremely deprssed and desperate to the extent that he started abusing Mother and even started to steal.

"Fanny, come down for dinner now!" my mother called out. I hopped down the stairs and greeted her. There she was, pixie-like, thin to the extreme, with short cropped hair. My baby sister was beside her.

"Let's dig in," Mother spoke. I saw my favourite dish and smiled like a Cheshire cat lapping a bowl of milk.

"Ringgg!" the telephone screamed for our attention.

"What? You get into trouble again!" my mother cried as she cradled the receiver and turned to us, crying. I looked at my mother and I knew that she was heartbroken. It must be because of Father!

"Your father is... coming b...back. He is hiding from the police," my mother spoke in-between sobs.

Soon, the sound of keys turning echoed through the air. It was Dad. His hair was tousled like a mop, his heavy eye bags hugged his thin face and his prickly moustache stuck out of his pores. It looked like he had not caught a wink for days.

"Where is your gold wedding ring?" he grunted.

"I don't know," came the weak reply.

"Don't waste my time!" He burned an angry look at her.

"I'm not going to give you!" Her wintry, piercing eyes glared at him.

Instantly, my father's eyes became two belligerent balls of fire. The veins in his eyes became like streaks of red lightning shooting across a white sky. They started arguing and smack! My father's heavy hand flew and hit my mum. Blood streaked at the corner of her lips.

I was scared out of my wits and I grabbed my baby sister, ran to the bedroom and hid. What would happen to Mummy? Why couldn't Dad let Mummy off? A million thoughts hurtled through my mind. My heart was palpitating rapidly as the fight ensued in the living room. Smash! Bang! Boom! I peeked from behind the door. The whole living room was in disarray and the broken furniture was all over the floor. Dad was searching every nook and cranny for the ring. Mum was bruised and badly injured. She was in such excruciating pain. Yet, she stubbornly refused to divulge where the ring was. My insane father started kicking her stomach mercilessly like a deflated soccer ball.

What if Mum died? At this rate, Dad might even find the chopper! What should I do? If I called the police, Dad would be arrested. If I did not, Mummy would be beaten to death. I had to do something - fast! With trembling hands, I picked up the phone and dialed triple nine.

"Please come and save my mum! My dad has gone mad!" I pleaded with hot tears flowing downwards.

Soon, wails of siren ricocheted the air. Upon hearing that, Dad made an attempt to escape but the police had cordoned off the area and pounced on him, swiftly arresting him. Hapless sobs yanked from my throat for it was so painful seeing my dad being arrested.

Woebegone emotions fell on me as I hugged Mum. As Dad was being led away by the police, my mum suddenly stopped them. She limped towards them, clutching her abdomen as she gingerly took out the wedding band from her pocket and placed onto my father's handcuffed palm. The golden ring glinted its glow under the fluorescent light.

"I will wait for you to wear this on me again," she spoke resolutely, her tears-brimmed eyes gazing into his. Dad nodded and left with heavy footsteps, crying tears of infinite sorrow, each a testament of regret as he entered the police car which disappeared down the tarmac street.

Gambling has indeed cruelly robbed me of my dad, my family and my life.

Raeann Lee P6