PSLE: Inconsiderate Passenger

THEME: Selfishness

An old lady stood at the bus stop. Wisps of silvery hair was plastered to her forehead. Perspiration caused her flowery blouse to be stuck to her like her second skin. She had just gone to the wet market. Carrying bags of grocery which were as heavy as lead, she waited a long time for the bus to arrive. After what had seemed like forever, the bus finally roared into sight. However, the long vehicle was packed like sardines. Yet, everyone was jostling and pushing one another to board the bus. Finally, she managed to inch her way arduously into the bus as her back arched under the strain of the heavy bags.

On the bus, there was no seat. It was filled with boisterous chatter as many children were on board. She tried to balance herself grabbing the pole tightly. Her knuckles felt sore and her hands were aching badly. The merciless scorching sun filtered through the bus window, washing it in its blazing heat. 

Fortunately, a boy, Sam, noticed the elderly lady who was trying to balance herself in the jerky bus. His heart softened. He felt sorry for her and gestured her to come over. He sacrificed his seat for the old lady but an uncouth young man darted to the seat as fast as a whizzing bullet and plumped his buttocks onto the vacant seat. In his haste, he pushed the old lady who let out a startled cry and fell onto a passenger. Everyone fell like dominoes. The young man threw a quick glance but feigned ignorance. He continued his mobile games using his latest i-Phone seven. 

Sam rushed forward to the old lady’s aid and helped her up. He was mad with rage and clenched his fists tightly. His eyes were on fire! Feeling righteousness rising within him, he stormed toward the youngster and shouted, “I didn’t give up this seat for YOU! This seat is for the old granny, not you!” It was futile. His words fell on deaf ears. The stubborn youth remained nonchalant and even put his ear plugs on and turned the volume to the maximum. The music was so loud that one would not be surprised if his eardrums would have popped any moment. 

Tension rose in the bus. Appalled stares were all fixated on the inconsiderate youth. Standing up to justice, Sam squeezed through the crowd and reported the horrid incident to the bus driver. After hearing what he shared, the driver halted the bus abruptly and stomped angrily towards the youngster with a frown on his face. He gestured him to take off his ear plugs and ordered him to give up his seat. By this time, the bus was rippled with muted voices, all discussing about the youngster’s behaviour. Still, the youngster refused to budge. 

The driver threatened not to drive the bus unless the youngster gave up his seat. At this precise moment, a smelly shoe with mud flew in the air and landed on the youth’s cheek. His mouth was agape in shock. It was followed by another slipper which soared and gave his lips a hard smack. A few more eggs and tomatoes came along like a barrage of missiles and hit him bullseye. 

The youngster was mortified with embarrassment. The passengers’ response was so unexpected. Everyone was extremely frustrated. He alighted hastily, regretting his mean action. All the footwear was returned to the rightful owners and Sam cleaned the mess. The old lady got a seat. The bus driver started driving off again and the bus resumed its boisterous noise.

PSLE: Snake Attack!

THEME: DANGER

The sunlight shone through the emerald foliage of leaves, casting their elongated shadows on the ground. It was the beginning of the school holidays, a month of fun and adventure for Jerald had begun. He was wandering around the park alone when he spotted a tree laden with juicy, golden mangoes. He perked his head up for a quick scan. One, two, three . . . Wow! There were at least hundreds of them.  They hung like countless golden coins adorning a Christmas tree, every fruit beckoning to him to eat it.

What should he do? The tree belonged to the park and he should not steal. Besides, he was afraid of heights. After dithering for quite some time, he could not resist the temptation anymore. He threw all caution to the wind and started ascending the gnarled tree. Upon steadying himself on one of the fattest branches, he began devouring with a vengeance. It was super delicious! The best mangoes in the whole wide world! His face flashed a satisfied smirk after downing the thirteenth one. There was just no more space left for his tiny stomach which had bloated pretty big.

Unfortunately, he was oblivious to the danger looming ahead. A loud hiss startled him and immediately a flock of birds which had been singing all along suddenly let out shrill chirps and took flight. Something was terribly wrong! He tilted his head a little and caught sight of a gargantuan snake just a few feet away from him. Its eyes were glaring at him in hostility as its scales gleamed in the brilliant sunlight. 

Temperature quickly sank to sub-zero. Jerald froze in paramount fear. His heart was in his mouth. He dared not even move his muscles a tiny bit. The snake slithered even nearer. The spluttering venom struck fear in his heart that was pounding aloud against his ribcage. His knuckles turned white from clutching the branches. He knew he had come face to face with the grim of death. What if the snake bit him? What if he fell from the tree? Both consequences were just as dire. He knew he was in hot soup, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

The snake blared its glittering, vampire-like fangs and glided forward, hissing portentously. Tears fell down liberally from Jerald’s red cheeks. In that frantic moment, the snake leapt towards the poor boy. Jerald let go of his tight grip and tumbled to the ground with a loud crash! He was writhing in excruciating pain, rolling on top of a pile of mangoes’ seeds and skins. Fortunately, the snake did not follow suit. 

A park ranger found him and immediately summoned an ambulance. Well, the free mangoes definitely did not come cheap.  Savouring them did not serve justice to the danger that he had encountered. Needless to say, he ended up in his bed recuperating from his broken legs for the entire month. The school holiday ended up the most boring one ever. It was definitely a painful experience that he would remember for the longest time.

PSLE: An Unbelievable Rescue

Peals of laughter resounded through the air. The salty scent of the seawater was so refreshing. We had finally reached the beach! Excitement bubbled within me. I could not wait to jump into the azure waters.

“I bet you won’t dare to swim too far,” my little elfin brother, Marcus, half-jokingly teased. “You are such a lousy swimmer.”

I ignored him and stomped towards the beckoning waves. With my Mickey Mouse float around my small frame, I plunged into the waters, having a whale of a time. 

After a short while, I realized I was quite far from the shoreline. Marcus waved at me to come back but I ignored him. I was in absolute oblivion, enjoying the warm seawater under the hot sun. When I looked back at the beach, people were like tiny specks. 

Out of the blue, gentle waves started turning rough. Salty water was invading my nostrils and I was coughing and spluttering non-stop. I was being pulled out against the shoreline by the undercurrents! I tried to steady myself but more waves pounded onto me. Goosebumps broke across my nape. I could barely breathe. Was I going to die? I tried hard to keep my mind occupied from entertaining the horror of drowning out at sea.

Suddenly, I spotted a fleeting dark shadow, followed by an enormous fin. A shark! A vociferous scream tore out from my agape lips and I was on the edge of giving up! My heart was pounding hard against my ribcage and my skinny arms were flailing up in the air. Terror was etched all over my face. Anticipating a shark attack, I remembered that sharks cannot see properly and I stretched like a wooden log and kept very still. 

Miraculously, I felt like my body was lifted slightly. A shadow was right under me. It glided up the water’s surface. I was moving in rhythmic movement, up and down, up and down the choppy sea. A dolphin! It was a dolphin. It had come to rescue me! I could hardly believe my good fortune. I held onto its dorsal fin in a death grip and tried not to slip. Within minutes, I returned on the back of the frolicking dolphin and we reached chest-high water. Hooray! I made it to safety. I dismounted and was back on the beach, gazing at the endearing dolphin in deep gratitude.

The dolphin called out in an amazing, high-pitched voice and slapped its tail on the waters as if to say goodbye. Everyone on the beach was touched and in awe. Marcus, however, was in sobs and tears. For a moment, he thought that I was going to die! He hugged me tightly, refusing to let me go. That day, the mischievous boy changed and never teased me again.

Jason Koh P6

A dolphin saves a dog!

A dolphin pats a cat!

A dolphin asks a diver for help!       

PSLE: Fire Alarm at a Supermarket

“Silent night, holy night...” A popular Christmas hymn was blaring from the overhead speakers. Christmas was coming and my parents were at a crowded Cold Storage supermarket busy doing some last minute shopping. I was made in charge of looking after my toddler brother, Sammy, waiting outside the exit. It was a tough assignment! Imagine a ten-year-old looking after a two-year-old. He was quite a handful.

“Sammy Chan Mingwen! Could you please sit still?” my stern voice shouted.

The naughty fellow turned a deaf ear and continued swinging his fat legs to and fro while sitting on the bench. “Hey, that’s Santa!” We saw a fleeting shade of bright red and his dimples burrowed deep into his soft silky skin. Before I knew it, he leapt off, running into the busy supermarket, searching eagerly for the elusive Santa Claus like a hound pursuing its game.

“Come back, you rascal!” I yelled, panting for breaths, chasing after him. Beads of perspiration dotted my forehead.

No matter where he meandered, Santa was missing. It was as if Santa was playing hide and seek with him. I finally caught up with him and with his tiny hand in mine, we marched back towards the exit.

"Follow me closely, Sam, and don't ever get lost again for goodness' sake!" I turned to my brother and issued a stern warning.

Just then, a loud wail rang out and echoed ominously through the air. It was the fire alarm! Somewhere was on fire. The smell of smoke grew strong and invaded my nostrils. Pandemonium broke out. Shrieks of panic-stricken crowd were reverberating in the air. Everyone was running towards the exit. 

As if that was not enough, a sudden blackout took place. Everywhere was blanketed in darkness. Straightaway, the supermarket was plunged into complete chaos. I looked about me. To my horror, Sam was missing! He was gone! Not even a trace! This boy had a phobia of darkness. Where could he be? He seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Cold chills ran down my spine and my heart pounded like the firing of a machine gun. I had to find him – fast! 

Kaboom! A loud blast ricocheted through the air. Fire broke out from the bakery section and all hell broke loose in that instant. Smoke and sparks were whirling in all directions. Cries of fear and despair sliced through the air. People were running amok. Terror filled my heart which was like a piano playing a series of staccatos. 

"Sammy, where are you?" I shouted repeatedly. I searched everywhere, yelling his name and groping in darkness with the help of a tinge of light that shone from the exit. That silly boy would not be smart enough to run towards the light. Just then, I bumped into someone. A lanky man towered over me. 

“What are you doing, boy? Follow me!” his commanding voice ordered as he held my hand like a vice. A familiar bawling sound rang out. It was Sammy! He was probably just a distance away.

“Let me go! Let me go! I need to find my brother! He is looking for me!” I implored.

Out of the blue, another explosion sound blasted through the air. The merciless flames continued to spread fast like the bush fire. The heat was getting unbearable and the inferno was getting intense. The man lifted me over his shoulder and his legs broke into a sprint. He ran like there were no tomorrow. I cried hard looking in the direction of Sammy’s cries which became softer and softer. 

“Sam! Sam! I need to save my brother! Let me go!” I beseeched with tears that fell like sparkling diamonds. My pleas fell on deaf ears. Soon we reached the exit and the area had already been cordoned off. The man gently released his grip. I tried to run back and was stopped by the police. 

Golden flames soon engulfed the supermarket as black columns of smoke billowed upwards like an erupted volcano. As the crowd gathered outside at a safe place, I looked around me and spotted Santa. I ran towards him and my clenched fists rammed into him. “It is all your fault! It is all your fault!” I cried. “Sam would not have run in if not because of you!” The man was baffled. He probably would never have guessed what had happened. Sam died.

Alternative ending

Just then, another man dashed out from the fire. He was clad in red and a white beard adorned his rosy face which was covered with grey ash. It was Santa! In his arms was Sam! Santa had saved my brother! I could not believe my eyes. My legs took flight and I ran towards them. "Thank you, Santa! Thank you!" Words of gratitude poured from my lips. 

There was a poignant pause when I turned towards my brother. Our eyes met. Tears brimmed in my eyes, streaking down one by one. “Sam! I thought I would never see you again! You rascal!” Without a word, my soot-covered brother pounced onto me and gave me a super tight bear hug. His tears unleashed non-stop and soaked my shoulder wet. That night, I realized how much I love that little rascal. 

Fire breaks out at Supermarket.

Fire destroys Supermarket.

Bag of Charcoal Ignited Inside Supermarket

Three teenage boys accused of igniting a bag of charcoal inside of a supermarket were arrested.

Arrests relating to Supermarket Fire.

PSLE: Car Vandalism

Vigas’ big marble eyes darted from side to side. Excitement bubbled inside him for it was his moment of revenge. Surreptitiously, he crept towards the silver Mercedes that was glinting under the scorching sun. He smiled to himself as he gazed at his own reflection on the polished car door. A can of spray paint was in his hand.

Hiss… The spray nozzle began to splutter out big blobs of bloody red paint onto the ar. Vigas subdued his evil laughter as he practiced his ‘artistic talent’. “You deserve it, Mr Wee!” Vigas muttered to himself as he recalled how the school principal had embarrassed him in front of the whole school for not arriving on time. It was only the sixth time. The principal was definitely making a mountain out of a molehill. What was the big deal anyway? He cackled as more paint spread across the metallic surface.

“Vigas!” A voice out of nowhere frightened him. He swiveled over and spotted Shian Jun, the nerd with a pair of super-thick glasses. His eyes magnified underneath and his face looked like that of a goldfish. He stood there in disbelief as he stared in horror at the graffiti full of expletives. His eyes and his mouth grew agape in shock. Feeling indignant, he definitely could not accept Vigas’ uncouth behavior.

“You… you’d better stop now!” Shian Jun warned, his penetrating glare boring into Vigas.

“None of your business! Specky! Get lost!” Vigas raised his clenched fist, waving menacingly at him. Tension hung in the air.

Shian Jun stood firm. He chose not to back down. Righteous instincts revved up in him. His face flushed red in anger and he broke into a run, dashing off to the principal’s office. He had to inform the school authorities fast!

Realizing Shian Jun’s intention, Vigas’ legs took flight and sped like lightning towards him. He was quivering in trepidation! Maybe, Vigas could persuade Shian Jun to change his mind. Shian Jun must be stopped! “Shian Jun! Come back!” Vigas cried aloud but Shian Jun refused. He ran until he turned blue in his face. Vigas mustered all of his strength and pounced onto him. The boys lost their balance and rolled down the stairs like two wooden barrels tumbling downwards.

Both had bruises all over. As they tried to stand to their feet, Vigas gave an excruciating cry. To his horror, his right leg was broken. His face was ghastly pale. Shian Jun was stunned and rushed to get help. He found the principal and told him all that had happened.  

“Vigas, are you alright? I’ll send you to the hospital now!” In a fluster, the burly principal piggy-backed him and rushed him to the hospital. Vigas’ leg ended up in a heavy cast. Vigas’ family offered to pay for the car spray. The principal adamantly declined and even settled Vigas’ medical bills, knowing that he came from a poor family. 

 

Vigas paid a heavy price for his misdeed and was filled with remorse. He realized that the principal truly cared for him. Stricken by guilt, he vowed to turn over a new leaf. He has never been late anymore. Well, some say that a leopard never changes its spots but it definitely did under the care of a loving principal.

PSLE: Rage and greed never pay

"All I want is a drink!   A mere drink!   Is that just too much?!"  I yelled at the top of my lungs as I pounded on the buttons of the vending machine violently.  In anger, I waved my fist in the air, cursing whatever that was up there.

 

My throat felt like the Sahara desert, dying from thirst.  I had spent my entire afternoon travelling around Chinatown.  By the end of the day, I was parched, tired and aching all over.  When I spotted a vending machine, it was as if I had finally found an oasis after travelling for days in the desert of deserts.  But alas, my joy was robbed by annoyance and frustration when I discovered that the vending machine was faulty.

 

"Ah! Why do things never go my way?!"  I yelled, completely infuriated by now.  It seemed like I was the enemy of Lady Luck.  She was always far from me.  I slotted another coin in a fit of pique.  The machine rumbled for a second or two but still nothing came out.  I was exceedingly peeved.  My blood was boiling.  I could even feel a nerve throbbing on my forehead.  I began raining punches like a mad man.  My fists were a blur as I treated the machine like my punching bag while a string of expletives escaped my lips.

 

All of a sudden, a loud rumble resounded from the vending machine.  And the least expected thing happened!  An avalanche of one dollar coins came pouring out.  I shut my eyes and counted to ten.  But when I opened them, the mountain of coins was still there!  I was rich!  Dollar signs flashed in my eyes as I scooped up the coins and placed them in my bag.  A mischievous smile painted itself across my face.  Perhaps, Lady Luck finally decided to be nice to me after all. 

 

In the midst of my greedy moment, a large shadow loomed over me.  I swivelled my head around and my breath hitched in my throat.  My mouth hung agape in horror and my pupils dilated with fear.  There before me was a policeman!

 

"What are you doing?" he asked, anger rising in him.  A loud click echoed through my ears and I realised I was in handcuffs.  Nothing I said would matter anymore.    I was done for.  The game was up.  It was time to face the music.  Lady Luck was definitely cruel.

 

Ethan Wong

PSLE: Vandalism

"Ah, the school holidays are here!" I shouted with glee, smiling dreamily at the thought of 'bed paradise' which was only a stone's throw away.  I marched home with a smile plastered on my face.  Nothing could dampen my cheery mood.  Well, at least that was what I thought.

As I meandered through the pillars, taking my time to go home, something caught my eyes, I gasped!  "No, no.  This can't be possible.  My eyes must be playing tricks on me," I thought.  I rubbed them in disbelief.  But when I opened  my eyes again, the same scene met my eyes. I never thought that such an obscene thing could happen.  I was completely dumbfounded.  Blood receded from my face as my mouth hung agape in shock.   There before me were two hoodlums, vandalizing the public property with grotesque and disgusting graphics.

Righteousness overtook my sensibilities.  These two teenagers were the perfect epitome of how inconsiderate people can be.  Unfortunately, no one else was around to berate them for their misbehavior. So the job landed on my lap! 

"Excuse me, what on earth do you think you are doing?" I spoke vociferously.  But alas, they feigned ignorance and treated me as if I were invisible.  I repeated my question - more forcefully - but still, there was no response.  The situation was starting to get me on my nerves.  With a huff, I advanced towards them at the same time, shouting yet again.  "Hello!  If you do not stop what you're doing right now, I'll call the police!

Finally, my words reached their ears.  Immediately, they swiveled around.  Their icy cold eyes bored into mine.  All of a sudden, they started barrelling towards me.  Within a fraction of a second, they were holding me by the scruff of my shirt.  One boy was pimply-faced and his teeth were crooked.  The other had a sharp nose and had small beady eyes.

"You wouldn't dare!"  the pimply one snarled.

"Watch me!" I retorted as I began punching the three numbers.

Before I could even press the third one, they grabbed my phone, threw it on the floor and started stomping on it.  My mouth hung agape in shock.  What they did next was shocking beyond words.  Acting on impulse, the livid pimply one lashed out a pen-knife and stabbed me into the stomach in a swift move.  Blood spluttered out of my wound and pearls of crimson red liquid splattered on the floor.  The horrid boys sniggered at my near demise and quickly ran off.

"Come back, come back!"  I mouthed my thin lips as I grimaced in pain,  clutching my stomach which had a gaping hole.  Was I destined to meet my creator? Dreadful thoughts raced through my mind as each second ticked by.   My breaths became laboured and slow.  I blacked out and the world began to spin and fade away.



Ethan Wong

PSLE: Cheating never pays

"Urgh!  How do you even find the area of this stupid triangle?"  I muttered to myself, frustration evident in my voice.  Maths had never been my favourite subject.  In fact, it seemed that we simply hated each other.  I glared at the paper, hoping that somehow, the answers that eluded me would miraculously appear on my test sheet.  "I know I have studied this before, but this stupid brain just can't work!" 

 

I lifted my head, my gaze spread across the classroom like butter over a loaf of bread.  Sadly, I was the only black sheep around.  My classmates were happily scribbing on their papers while I was sitting on my chair, staring at my blank test papers, feeling like ripping it into shreds and feeling sorry for myself.

 

In the midst of the test, my mind unknowingly digressed and drifted off into a daydream of my favourite game which I longed to play at this moment.  Minutes ticked by.  All of a sudden, a loud clarion voice shook me out of my train of thoughts.  Ten minutes left.  Make sure you check your final answers."  Check?  I have not even started!  I grabbed my pencil and started randomly shading ovals on my test sheet, hoping that somehow, Lady Luck would be kind enough to grant me some correct answers.  Even if I did pass, it would be by the skin of my teeth.  Apparently, I had said out loud.  Compressed giggles filled the classroom.  Oddly enough, the teacher did not overhear it.  Phew!

 

Within a minute or two, I was done with my shading.  A partially satisfied sign escaped my lips.  After a moment's consideration, I came to a conclusion that even by doing this, I would probably still fail the test.  I began racking my brain for ideas on how to get out of this predicament.  A small nagging thought nudged me at the back of my head.  That thought was none other than to cheat.  I quickly brushed aside this idea, thinking that it would end me up in more hot soup than I already was.  But with each passing second, the thought became more and more tempting.  Cheat!  Cheat!  Cheat!  My mind rang.  Soon, I raised the white flag and gave in to their persistent chants.

 

It was only then did I notice that the teacher was not in the classroom.  Oh what luck!  I quickly turned towards the boy sitting next to me.  "Psst... you!  Yes, you!  Could you give me the answers to the test?  Now!" I whispered.

 

"Are you crazy?  My parents and the teacher will kill me!'  he replied in a hushed tone.

 

"Aw... Come on!"  I clasped my hands together and  begged, giving him my pitiful puppy dog look, hoping that he would feel sorry for me and give me the answers.  Lucky for me, my plan worked out perfectly.

 

"Fine, but be quick!" he whispered, his voice nearly inaudible.  He quickly slid his answer sheet towards my table and I began shading the answers like a frantic madman.

 

All of a sudden, a loud gasp of horror stopped me in my frantic cheating.  Imagine my horror when I discovered the invigilator glowering at me menacingly as if to eat me up!  "Ethan Wong!  What on Earth do you think you are doing?!" she screeched in her high-pitched voice.  "Ryan Cheng!  Do you mind explain why your paper is on Ethan's table?"  Her glare shifted to the right.

 

"Err..." Ryan stammered, cold sweat trickling down his face.  Trepidation filled me  as my heart palpitated against my chest.  I imagined myself being grilled by the principal and subsequently being slaughtered by my parents.  Cold shivers ran up and down my spine.  I knew I was done for.  I was in boiling hot soup and had to face the music.  As Ryan and I marched into the principal's office, a large lump grew in my throat.  I swallowed hard, turning the door knob with my shivering hands and stepped into the devil's pits.

 

Ethan Wong

PSLE: Soccer at the MRT Station

I giggled with glee as I dribbled the ball up the stairs of the MRT station.  Behind me, my friend, James, and my bother, John, were chasing after the ball with their arms outstretched.  It was after school and we decided to have a game of soccer while waiting for the train to arrive.

 

As it was only four thirty, the sation was not crowded, giving us more space to play.  We grew more engrossed in our game as each second ticked by.  It was not long before we were totally unaware of our surroundings and more importantly, oblivious to how close we were to the MRT tracks. 

 

James was dribbling the ball with his head when I leaped forward to grab for it but instead missed the ball and fell headlong towards the tracks.  I slowly sat up, rubbing the growing limp on m head.  When I opened m eyes, blurring objects were spinning around.  Little yellow brids were flying around my head.  It must be a hallucination!  I did not think anything coul be more unlucky than falling into the "devil's pits".  But alas!  Boy, was I proven wrong. 

 

A loud honk and dazzling bright lights shook me back to my senses.  The word "train" ricocheted through my mind.  The article of the Thailand girl galling onto the MRT tracks, losing her precious limbs flahsed across my mind.  I was definitely next!

 

I racked my brain for a solution.  What should I do?  For a fleeting moment, I thought my brain would explode from the pressure.  Suddenly, a single switch cloted the brain circuit an a thousand bubls lit up in my head.  I had an idea!  My fear turned into strength as adrenaine pumped through my body.  I scrambled as quickly as I could towards the small niche in the wall.  I swqueezed into it, hoping for the best.  Within seconds, the train whizzed by missing me by a hair's breath.  My heart was beating so madly that I thought it was going to burst out of my ribcage.

 

Soon, the train left as fast as it had come.  I grabbed onto the ledge pulling myslef up with  the help of Kames and John.  They began clapping me on my back and lavished me with praises that could not be any more than just flattery.    I was finally able to gather my bearings.  What a close encounter with death that was!  Thinking back, I could not help but broke into cold sweat.

 

Ethan Wong

PSLE: A very angry teacher

Madam Wong stopped short right in front of my deak.  She leaned forward with her big bulging eyes boring into mine.  Baring her crooked teeth into a sneer, she hissed like a rat, saying, "Would you mind explain why there is one less book I haven't collected?"

I knew it was pointless to lie to this master lie-detector.  Her icy cold eyes would arrow straight through my excuses.  "Erm, I forgot to bring it," I whispered with fear, wishing that I could cuddle up like a ball and be sucked into the core of the earth and disappear in thin air.

"What?  You forgot to bring it?  Again?!  You...you disgusting vermin!" she shouted at me, seething with rage.  Her face was as red as a ripened tomato as smoke was pouring out from her ears.

My eyes moved from left to right, unsure of how to respond.  My mouth opened and closed like a goldfish.  I stole a glance at my classmates.  The proverb "One man's misery is another man's joy" was indeed true.  But why it had to be me? 

"No recess for the rest of the week!   You hear me?" Madam Wong screamed with rage.  She was obviously burning mad.  I nodded slowly and with that, she stormed off in a huff like the raging bull.  I stared down at my shoes glumly.  "What'd I done?  It's only the fifth time!" I gave a long sigh of resignation.


Ethan Wong

PSLE: Terrorists in MRT train

The MRT station was bustling with crowds of familes.  The mixture of conversations sounded like ducks clacking.  My sibings and I had decided to spend our day at Downtown East to take our minds off the coming examinations.

 

Minutes later, when the train finally arrived, we stepped past the sliding doors, not knowing that the seats in that train were reserved for impending death.  As the train whizzed off, we clung onto the pole of the crowded carriage, awaiting our destination.  We stopped by station after station.  The train was unsually slow.  Before long, I became impatient.  Why couldn't the train go faster?

 

Somehow, a sudden wave of uneasiness hit me.  My sixth sense had always been fairly accurate.  The hair on the back of my neck was standing.  Cold shivers were runing down my spine constantly.  What could be so wrong?

 

I was knocked out of the train of thoughts when a sudden ruckus arose.  Men wearing large cloaks rose from their seats.  They pulled out large weapons concealed under them.  But the most shocking part that left me with a loss of words was that the man standing in the middle of the bunch of burly men had grenades wrapped around his body. 

 

The word "terrorists" ricocheted though my mind.  What was these men up to?.  This question kept replaying continuously in my mind like a spoiled CD player.

 

A blast suddenly shook the train and it screeched to a halt.  The sudden jolt had caused me to lose my balance and I fell head first towards the floor.  It was only then that I realised one of the terrorists in another cabin and threw a hand of grenades towards the front cabin, causing the train to buckle in two.

 

Pandemonium filled the train.  Adults begain banging at the doors, bellowing at the top of their lungs.  Children began sobbing and wailing with sobs of fear theat echoed through the train.  The train was so chaotic that saying this was hell would be an understatement.

 

It was only then thtat I realised that my Jake was also banging crazily at the cabin doors while my younger brother, Tom, was crying his eyeballs out. 

 

As if this was not enough, the terrorists went on a shooting spree and began pulling their triggers and killed dozens within seconds.  A heap of corpses piled one on another.  Among the dead bodies strewn across the bloodied train floor were my two younger brothers!

 

Silent tears flowed down my cheeks.  I smeared blood onto my face and body and feigned death.  Words had failed me.  Nothing could describe the agony and anger inside me.  I took a secret peek at the terrorists, walking around looking for survivors to exterminate.  I felt like screaming with hatred.  The hundreds that had once filled the train had decimated to tens.

 

All of a sudden, wails of siren ricocheted the streets.   Help was on the way!  Certainly, these wicked men would make their escape immediately.  However, the hope that rose within me was immediately dashed when I discovered that all the terrorists were planning to perish together.  Fear gripped my heart, crushing me slowly as the thought of being blasted alive engulfed me.  Hades was waiting.  The terrorists began to pull the pins out of the grenades.  A fraction of a second later, they exploded and the huge explosion rushed towards me like a huge wave. Darkness took over...

 

Ethan Wong

PSLE: Supermarket Ruckus

“We must shop fast! Father is coming back soon. If not, we will not have enough time to prepare the scrumptious four-course dinner for Father's Day celebrations!” I reminded, while pinching Roshel's cherubic face. My younger sister's sparkling white teeth glittered as she nodded her head fervently.

Together, we nudged our way into the gargantuan Giant supermarket and meandered through the busy aisles. Bustling crowd of shoppers were doing their meticulous shopping, cramming their trolleys with victuals. 

Roshel was all smiles and exuberance bubbled inside her. She could hardly contain her excitement. “May I push the trolley, please?” Roshel pleaded in her bubbly voice. Before I could even answer, she grabbed the trolley bar and whizzed off.

Despite her puny frame, Roshel was able to push the trolley at breakneck speed. Girlish giggles escaped from her pinkish lips as she zoomed down the aisle, treating it like the F1 race track.   However, her delight was fleeting. In a split second, she accidentally tripped over and toppled forward. 

The metallic cart gained its own momentum and went out of control.  It zoomed forwards and shoppers started dodging it. Unfortunately, an earth-shattering tumble ensued. It crashed into a tower of sardines cans which came cascading downwards onto the ceramic floor. Some cans even slammed onto a stroller with a sleeping toddler inside!  The little girl was immediately awakened and starting wailing in excruciating pain due to the heavy impact.
 

Everything came to a standstill. Roshel and I were in dismay, staring speechless at the scene that had just unfolded right before our eyes. Our hearts lodged in our throats as our faces blanched in trepidation. Onlookers were staring at us disdainfully. 

Immediately, the appalled mother rushed towards her child and carried her in her comforting arms. She tried to soothe her but no words could calm her down. Big tears coursed down the little girl's rosy cheeks.

Frustration mounted and fury began radiating out of the mother's pores. Her eyes flashed with simmering anger and her lips curled in distaste as she glowered at Roshel. She marched towards us and 'smack!' instinctively gave her a tight slap. My sister was stunned! A red palm print appeared instantly.  The mother then started berating her at the top of her high-pitched, nasal voice.

Roshel realized she was done for and had to face the music.   She fumbled for words of apology but could not.  She knew she was in the devil's pits. Her legs felt like lead and she stood as still as a Roman statue. 

As if that was not enough, the bellicose manager stomped into the picture. His unwavering glare of hot coals was fixated on us. I clutched Roshel's little hand tightly and pleaded for forgiveness on her behalf. However, my pleas fell on deaf ears. Roshel stifled her sobs and hung her head in humilation as she received the mother of all dressing-downs. She was utterly embarrassed!

In the end, Father came to our rescue but our savings were exhausted in paying for the dented sardines cans and Father even needed to top up. Fortunately, he did not scold us.

When we returned home, instead of a nice scrumptious dinner party as planned, our Father's Day celebrations consisted of a four-course; the meal consisted of sardines soup, sardines salad, sardines spaghetti and sardines pies for our Father's Day celebrations.  Yucks! 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to use a semi colon
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon
 

PSLE: Bullies

It was finally after school. Alson, at a quiet corner, was playing with his brand new i-phone 6, desperate to win his soccer game. “Goal!” he exclaimed as his eyes sparkled with delight when his score kept ascending upwards. 

Out of nowhere, dark shadows loomed over him. Alson looked up and a gasp of shock escaped from his thin lips. It was the notorious school bully, Martin, flanked by his two sidekicks, Jinming and Jintao. 

“Hand over your phone now!” Martin commanded threateningly with his outstretched hand as they glared at him with menacing eyes.

Frozen with terror, Alson shivered like a leaf and backed towards a corner. Martin swaggered even closer towards him. “Give me that phone or you will be dead meat!” he bellowed loudly, his face contorted in ire. 

Alson knew that he was in deep trouble. Shivers ran down his spine and his face turned ashen white. What should he do now? Should he run or fight back? 

He tried to make his escape hastily but the sidekicks blocked him. “Trying to escape? Not so easy! Nobody has ever escaped from the 3X gang!” Jintao snarled, rubbing the tip of his fat nose.

They shoved him hard and he landed onto his butts. As if that was not enough, the trio pounced on him like enraged wild monkeys and pounded hard fists onto his limp body. Alson groaned in excruciating pain as waves of agony swept through him. 

“Give me the damn phone now!” Martin hollered in rage but Alson stubbornly clenched his fingers around his phone tightly, unwilling to let go.

In his fury, Martin's eyes bulged with villainous fire. He stepped onto Alson's skinny hand with all his might. Instantly, the mobile screen cracked into smithereens and the shards cut into Alson's palm. Crimson blood flowed from his wounds. Ouch!  Hapless tears streamed down Alson's cheeks. The sidekicks were shocked! Even they did not expect Martin to be so ruthless. 

At this instant, Rael, the head prefect, was passing by when he overheard soft whimper. His quick wits told him that something was fishy. He went in search of the source of the cry and spied the trio bullying Alson mercilessly. Rael stared on in horror and his heart fell! He wasted no time and crept quietly away to inform the discipline mistress, Mrs Teo. Her mouth went wide agape when Rael related the incident. Swiftly, they went in search for the wayward boys. 

The clickety-click of heels resounded as they approached the trio. By this time, Alson was covered with blemishes and bruises. A great wave of relief washed over Alson as he knew his saviours finally arrived!

A commanding voice rose above the din. “Follow me to the office now!” Mrs Teo bellowed. The boys immediately shot alert and realised that they were in hot soup. Meekly, they marched towards the office like fattened pigs heading for the abattoir while a teacher brought Alson to the sick bay. An ambulance was summoned and it swiftly whisked Alson to the nearest hospital. 

The boys ended up in serious trouble. The police was called in and a police report was filed. The boys had to attend juvenile court and the judge subsequently sentenced them to months of community service order and probation.

Fortunately, the bullies have turned over a new leaf and Alson's hand has recovered speedily. Needless to say, the bullies never dare to bully Alson anymore.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court deals with offences committed by persons below 16 years of age. The Juvenile Court is empowered with various options to deal with a juvenile offender, such as committing the offender to the care of a relative or other fit person, community service orders, probation orders, detention and reformative training.

PSLE: Theft at a drink stall

The day was hot and humid. The scorching sun at noon cast its rays on the baked ground with its intense heat radiating everywhere. Mingyao and I were drenched with sweat from head to toe. Basketball training was finally over. We were overcome with fatigue. The thirst was killing us! We decided to call it a day and go to the nearby drink stall to buy some ice-cold beverages to appease our parched throats.

After plodding for a while, we arrived at Mr Muthu’s drink stall. The Indian man, whose signature moustache was as curly as ever, greeted us with a cheerful grin and asked, “Coke for you, Mingyao, and Fanta for you, Rongxuan?” The boys nodded in unison. The stallholder always remembered his regular customers’ orders. Soon, the duo was seated on the bench, guzzling down their refreshing drinks with relish.

Out of the blue, Mingyao spotted a man acting suspiciously. Dressed in t-shirt and jeans, he had a long scar at the side of his face. His marble-black eyes darted slyly as he puffed rings of cigarette smoke into the air. He kept staring at the plastic pail of money that was brimming with notes. I noticed it too! We decided to spy on his movement since Mr Muthu was always busy chatting with his customers.

Suddenly, the man sprang into action, grabbed the bucket of money like a vice and took to his heels.

“Stop right there, you thief!” Ming Yao and I shouted in one accord. When the man heard us, he immediately escaped, running like an Olympic athlete. Alarmed, Mr Muthu also dashed out of his stall like a whizzing bullet while Ming Yao chased after the thief and I called the police.  

Soon, we came to a busy road. The vehicles were zooming past us non-stop. The thief managed to cross the road. Mingyao was adamant to nab the thief. As he was about to cross, Rongxuan grabbed him and yelled above the traffic din, “Mingyao, are you crazy!? You want to die? You are courting death!” Mingyao turned a deaf ear and gave chase.  

Bang! Mingyao, hit by a truck, flew a few metres away. I could hardly believe my eyes! My best friend was injured or could even be dead! The thief stared at the accident scene in disbelief. A tinge of guilt swept across his ashen-white face.  

Mr Muthu was in shock! Seeing the puddle of blood pooling on the tarmac ground ceaselessly, he fainted at the gory sight. All the traffic halted. The thief snapped out of his trance and ran away until his silhouette became a dot in a distance.

Someone alerted the ambulance. Soon, the wail of sirens reverberated through the air. The paramedics came and whisked both Mr Muthu and Mingyao to the nearest hospital. I stayed behind to give the police my statement. Fortunately, Mingyao survived and Mr Muthu was discharged on the same day. 

A mixture of remorse and relief inundated me. I was feeling a sense of regret as I did not manage to stop Mingyao from dashing across the road but immensely relieved that he recuperated well from his injuries. However, what was infuriating was that the thief was subsequently never caught.

PSLE: Store Robbery

A joyous occasion was around the corner. My eldest sister was about to get married and Mother brought me to the jewellery store to buy her a diamond necklace. We had been there for at least two hours and till now, Mother had not made her final selection.

 “I think we will get this one. No, no, no. Maybe that one,” she muttered in frustration.

 The lady promoter with very thick make up flashed her saccharine smile and suggested, “Madam, maybe you should buy both. One to wear in the day and the other at the dinner. I'm sure I will try to get you the best price.”

Being a bargain hunter by nature, Mother's eyes sparkled in delight. It was a bargain she could not resist. “Alright! I will take two.”

She paid with her credit card. Just as she was about to make her way out, two dark figures bolted into the store like ninjas. Both wore helmets with balaclavas, brandishing their long, silvery parangs.

 “Get back in!” one of them ordered as he shoved us in. His malicious eyes gave me the creeps and made my skin tingle.

Panic-stricken, Mother and I huddled in a corner together with other customers. Our mouths were agape in horror and no one dared to breathe a word. The dark-skinned robber then bellowed, “Surrender all your valuables and dump them in these bags NOW!” His voice reverberated through the air.

There were three sales promoters on duty. All of them were shaking like a leaf, quivering in trepidation. Trays and trays of glinting gold and sparkling diamond accessories were poured into the bags. The robbers' eyes widened in awe as it was their moment of jubilation. Excitement bubbled inside them as they gazed at the alluring gems. For a fleeting moment, they seemed to be hypnotised as if in a trance.

Seizing this golden opportunity, I crept towards the store entrance, trying to avoid being noticed. My heart was pounding so fast that it felt like it was going jump out. I was getting very close to the entrance. The hostages and Mother were signalling me to hurry up and escape.

All of a sudden, the fair-skinned robber saw me and boomed, “Where do you think you are going!?” My face turned ashen white. The robber quickly dashed towards me swiftly, swallowing the distance between us. I took to my heels and fled like the wind.

I dashed to a nearby awaiting car and knocked furiously on the window. A man shot me a curious look. In between my breaths, I related what had happened. Alarmed, the man followed me to the robbery scene. Near the entrance, he suddenly pushed me in and yelled, “Hurry up, you stupid! A child has escaped and you are still so slow. Luckily, he bumped into me!” 
 

Oh no! I realised that this man was in cahoots with the duo. My fate was sealed. In villainous rage, the trio rained down heavy punches and kicks on me mercilessly as if I were a rag doll even though I was only a little child. Tears fell non-stop like a gushing tap. My mother pleaded piteously for mercy but it was in vain.

Soon, the last of all the jewellery vanished into the humongous sacks. The robbers took to their heels and fled. I lay there, breathing laboriously. Life was seeping out of me. As Mother crawled towards me, she cradled me in the nook of her arm.  Fat tears fell down her porcelain cheeks. “Mom, I'm sorry. I don't think I can attend the wedding. I love you. Tell Sister I love her too.” I breathed my last.

PSLE: A cat in the tree

The golden sun shone through the emerald foliage of leaves, casting elongated shadows on the ground. It was a lovely morning. Tom padded along the edge of a glittering lake, admiring the scene of a pair of swans with a string of cygnets tagging close behind. 

“Tommy, help!” A familiar scream sliced through the air which almost caused Tom's heart to skip a beat. It was his three-year-old sister, Roshel! She was on the wooden bench just a moment ago. Now, she was missing! 

Tom hastened his steps in search for his sister. A thousand thoughts darted across his mind! Where could Roshel possibly be? Was she in danger? He finally located the source of her cries which came from the direction of an old Oak tree. He rushed toward it. Looking up, he craned his neck trying to catch a glimpse of where she could be. His eyes squinted as he needed to fight against the bright light from the strong morning rays. Finally, he spotted her right on the - highest - branch.

“Roshel! What on earth are you doing on the tree? Are you trying to get me into trouble again?” Tom yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Tommy! There is a little kitten on the tree! I think it's stuck. I must save it!” she exclaimed frenetically.

“Come, kitty, kitty! Come to mummy!” Roshel spoke gently, trying to give the kitten assurance. The cat was quivering in trepidation at the end of the tapering branch, meowing in fright.

Knitting his brows earnestly, Tom had to assess the situation fast. Being round and fat, he could not possibly climb up at all. Thinking on his toes, he contemplated seriously his next line of action.

A sudden loud crack echoed through the air. The branch that Roshel was on was about to snap into two! Her face went ashen and her palms turned clammy. “Save me, Tommy!” she pleaded earnestly, hugging the branch real tight.

By this time, Tom's heart was palpitating against his ribs. Fear pulsated in him as he knew he would be done for if Roshel would have met any mishap! 

Just then, he spotted a huge garbage bin a few metres away filled to the brim with dried leaves and twigs. In a flash, he made his dash and pushed the bin towards the tree.

Crack! “Awwww!” Roshel screamed as she fell towards the ground with the kitten as well. It happened so fast that Tom's mouth grew agape in horror. He could not even catch his breath. Both human and feline plopped straight into the bin! Phew!

“Are you okay, Roshel?” Tom asked, slapping her face lightly. She opened her marble black eyes and a grin splitted across her face as if nothing had happened. “Of course, I am!” she replied, giggling. The kitten turned out fine too. What a relief for Tom!

Tom heaved her sister out of the bin. Cradling the white furry kitten in her arms, Roshel's face lit up in delight and asked, “Tommy, you think Mommy would let me keep the kitten?” Her naughty smile showed her full set of pearly white teeth sparkling in the brilliant sunlight.

Tom stared at her in disbelief.  Shaking his head, he wondered to himself when Roshel would get him into trouble again. 

PSLE: Late!

The sun shone through the window panes and washed the bedroom with its brilliance. The day curtains swayed slightly in the morning breeze. Rael was in deep slumber. Just then, the penetrating sound of the annoying alarm clock shook him out of his very sweet dream. However, he ignored it and continued sleeping soundly by muffling his ears with his thick, fluffy pillow to block the noise.

“Rael, you are late for school!” Mum bellowed in her high-pitched nasal voice. She stomped into the bedroom and whipped off the warm blanket. “Wake up, now!” Mum shouted as she smacked his round, fleshy buttocks. “Two more minutes,” Rael mumbled under his breath. “No way! You are really late!” Mum insisted.

Rael sat up and wiped the sleepiness from his bleary eyes. He took a quick glimpse at the alarm clock and realised to his horror that it was already seven in the morning. He was going to miss his bus if he did not hurry up. Swiftly, he zoomed to the toilet and changed into his school uniform. He did not even brush his teeth!

“Remember to take your umbrella!” Mum nagged. He turned a deaf ear and rushed out of the house. As he made a mad dash, perspiration drenched his back. He prayed that the bus would wait for him. Fat hope! Even before he reached the bus-stop, it had left and a downpour started. 

The raindrops were pelting down in torrents. He was drenched from head to toe, looking like a soaked duck. He was shivering like a leaf in the freezing cold. His shoes went squishy-squashy as he ran. A car whizzed past him and splashed a puddle of muddy water onto his white uniform. He ended up looking very much like a mud pie. What a way to start the day!

In a distance, the next bus came rumbling into sight. He waved frantically and boarded the bus, praying that that the bus driver would drive him to school in a jiffy. Within minutes, he reached his destination. Rael made another mad dash to the school gate. The school gate was locked! There was no one in school. He realised that it was a school holiday and he had forgotten to inform his mother about it! Sadly, he trudged back to the bus-stop to wait for another bus to send him home. Oh, what a day!

PSLE: A stranger at the door - a very different kind of story

Gusts of wind were blowing into the room, making the curtains flutter a little. Elle was trying to take an afternoon nap. Her super-single mattress was so comfortable that she was so tempted to laze in bed the whole day instead of revising for the upcoming examination.

The door bell chimed noisily out of the blue. Feeling lazy like a sloth, she ignored it and continued to hug her bolster, trying to fall asleep. However, the door bell kept ringing relentlessly. Who could be so annoying?

 

Frustrated, she stomped towards the door and swung it open. As she was about to give the visitor a piece of her mind, her beady eyes fell on a little girl in tattered clothes She had a box in her stick-like arms. A huge grin was plastered across her porcelain face. Two deep dimples bored into her rosy cheeks.

“What do you want?” Elle bellowed in frustration.

“Would you like to buy some pineapple tarts? They are really delicious!” the little girl lifted her whole box of pineapple tarts in her face. 

“Goodness gracious me! You woke me up just to taste your pineapple tart!” Elle smacked her forehead in disbelief.

The little girl swallowed a stone in her throat and took out one. “Try it. You will like it,” she replied, hoping that Elle would at least sample it.

Elle refused and gruffily brushed her hand off, causing the tart to drop and it flew to the cement ground and broke into crumbs. 

Salty tears brimmed in the little girl's eyes and splashed onto her collar. Her nose turned red and watery too. Bowing her head, she uttered in a soft “sorry” and turned to walk towards the next neighbour.

As she plodded off, Elle suddenly felt stricken with guilt. How could she be so mean to a little girl when all she wanted was to sell some tarts? Overwhelmed with pity, she called out to the girl, “Hey kiddo, come back now!” 

The girl turned around and wiped off her tears with her torn sleeves. This time, a faint grin flashed across her face. “How much is a bottle?” Elle asked in a kinder tone. 

“Only five dollars a bottle,” she replied. “I will buy one bottle but don't ring my doorbell again, promise?” Elle warned gravely. 

“Promise!” she nodded profusely.

Elle pushed five dollars into her tiny fingers and got her tarts. Curious, she popped one in her mouth.

And another.

And the next one.

They were - heavenly. The crust was soft and buttery and the pineapple jam was sweet and melted in her mouth. The best pineapple tarts she had ever tasted. The bottle was empty in a matter of minutes.

Elle was hooked.

The urge was irresistible. Elle dashed out of the house in search of the girl. The little peddler was just a few doors away, trying to sell the next bottle to her neighbour. Elle rushed forward just in time to say to her stout neighbour, Mrs Singh, “Sorry, the bottle is sold, all sold for the day!” She pushed the girl right back outside her door and bought the whole box of twenty bottles. It made the girl's day. Elle could see her skipping all the way, with her pony-tails bounching in the wind.

Elle was reprimanded by her mother of course for buying so many tarts. Still, undoubtedly, those tarts were definitely the - best - tarts ever.

Senses, senses and more senses

School in the Morning

The sky was still dark (sight) and the air was cold and refreshing (touch). The rusty (touch) school gate had already swung open to welcome (personification) the students' arrival. Soon, a trickle of them ambled in. Soon, more arrived and before long, the sun bathed the school in its warm light and a sea of white uniforms gathered at the parade square, chattering non-stop like rumourmongers gossiping in the market (sound). Enthusiasm was in the air. The school bell chimed, catching everyone's attention.


A Busy Shopping Mall

The gigantic shopping mall was packed (touch) with shoppers, milling (sight) about like the bees in a busy beehive. Exuberance (feeling) was everywhere since Christmas was around the corner. Christmas carols (sound) were blaring from the speakers. Makeshift stalls were adorned with Christmas decorations, hoping to attract customers. Joyful chatters filled the air.



A Busy Theme Park

Deafening music blared (sound) from the speakers, as if to welcome the visitors (personification). The crazy (personification) roller coaster was already busy at work (personification), zooming up and down (sight), left and right, to the delight (feeling) of the screaming (sound) children. They were definitely on cloud nine (feeling) on this special day. The merry-go-round rides were spinning (touch, sight) round and round like the spinning top , making the adults dizzy (feeling). Children were pestering (sight, sound) their parents to buy them sticky (touch) golden (sight) popcorn and cotton candy (sight). Colourful balloons (sight) in rainbow colours or cartoon characters swayed to and fro (sight) in the breeze while tied to the makeshift wooden shopping carts (sight).

Using Five Senses to Describe a Haunted House

 

Out of curiosity, Alson and Junhui entered a dilapidated house.   A musty and stale odour lingered in the air.  They were not afraid.  Using their handkerchiefs, they covered their noses as they walked further into the abandoned house.  The living room was full of cobwebs and huge hairy spiders. In a corner was a suite of broken furniture covered with thick layers of dust. The cushions were badly gnawed by rats.  The mouldy curtains were swaying in tandem with gusts of howling wind.  The floor was infested with an army of cockroaches and ants. 

Undeterred, the boys decided to venture upstairs.  The floorboards creaked nosily as small clouds of dust swirled around their feet.  Suddenly, the cold and dead fireplace lit up with flames.    The old chandelier flickered on and off again and again.  Wild dogs started barking gruffly.  The ancient grandfather’s clock started chiming.  Heavy iron chains were heard dragging against the floor.   Bats which were hanging upside down began fluttering around the ceiling and rats scurried across the room, squeaking uneasily.  Then, ghostly figures rose from the ground and their wails ricocheted off the walls mournfully.  Shaking like a leaf, the two boys fled like the wind and ran out of the haunted  house.