PSLE: Fire

It was a quiet night.  My sister and I were at home doing our homework as my parents were out on an errand. 

All of a sudden, we heard raised voices and a strange smell started to linger in the air.  What was going on?  I decided to investigate and looked out of the windows.  To my horror, I caught sight of a group of passers-by looking upwards.  I realized that my neighbour’s kitchen was on fire.  Thick black and fluffy columns of smoke were billowing out of the windows.  My mouth fell agape and my face went as pale as a sheet. 

“Jane!  Let’s get out of here!” my nasal voice screeched as I called out to my younger sister.  There was panic in her eyes and she was trembling like a leaf.  By this time, the burning smell had invaded every nook and corner.  Realising how dire the situation was, we decided to make our way to the stairway - fast. 

Just as we were about to descend the flight of steps, I froze in my tracks.  I suddenly remembered that Grandma was asleep next door.  I told Jane to run for safety while I returned to get Grandma. Jane was reluctant to leave without me but there was no other choice.  

I rushed to her main door and banged hard.  No matter how hard I tried, it was to no avail for my grandma was a sound sleeper and she was also hard of hearing too.  A few neighbours were scurrying for safety and they urged me to leave with them.  However, I was adamant not to leave. Grandma was in danger!

By this time, the burning inferno was spreading and the smoke was suffocating me.  I felt like a roasted pig and I could hardly breathe.  In the nick of time, the door sprang open and Grandma looked perplexed as she stared at me in puzzlement.  Without a word, I grabbed her hand to make our escape.  The roar of the fire was deafening and the raging flames were melting the paint on the walls.  All the exits were blocked!  Beads of perspiration dotted our foreheads and waves of dizziness swamped us, making us sway.  Grandma’s face had turned deathly sallow and I was worried sick.  Standing behind the parapet, we waited desperately for rescue to come.

Fortunately, we heard the wailing siren of the fire brigade and the firemen immediately sprang into action and sprayed the monstrous fire with powerful, snake-like hoses.  Seeing that time was the essence, they also set up a safety net and were encouraging us to leap onto it.  I insisted that my grandma jumped first before I did.  She finally leapt after some coaxing.  I was next.  Holding my breath, I jumped and landed safely on the bouncy safety net.  I gave Grandma a big bear hug. Tears slipped down my sooty face as relief swept over me.  I was grateful that we had emerged from this ordeal unscathed. 

As for the fire, the efficiency of the firemen was astounding.  Within half an hour, the inferno was completely extinguished.  Grandma was prescribed bed rest and I was hailed as the hero of the family. 

PSLE: Pickpockets

The shopping mall was buzzing with shoppers.  It was as busy as an ant’s nest.  It was Christmas eve and everyone was in a festive mood as Christmas carols played melodiously from the loudspeakers.

I was shopping with Mom the entire day and my feet felt sore like crazy.  I decided to sit at a metallic bench to take a breather while Mom continued her shopping frenzy.  I waited and waited, getting really bored.  I spotted two children, an older boy, about eight, and a little girl, probably less than four.  Hand in hand, they looked like they were looking for someone. 

Just then, I spotted a familiar figure.  My mum.  She was waving at me, eager to show me her purchase.  As she was rushing towards me, a girl lost her balance and fell just before her.   It was the same girl I had seen earlier. Immediately, big fat tears rolled down her cheeks.  My mother felt bad and quickly helped her to her feet.  Her older brother was behind my mom and did not even bother to help.  The girl thanked my mom and the two kids sped off.

Upon seeing Mom laden with shopping bags, I sulked and pulled a long grumpy face, folding my arms in frustration. “Sorry to make you wait. Hmm… How about a large cup of Lao Lao yogurt with your favorite white chocolate chips?” she suggested and gave a wink.  I fell for it right away.  My eyes immediately lit up in delight!  How could I turn down such a tantalizing offer? All the wait was well worth it.  We went straight to the yogurt store without delay.

As we were queueing, Mother dug into her Louis Vuitton handbag, trying to fish out her Chanel wallet.  “God, where is my wallet?”  Her face blanched white as all her cash and cards were inside as well.

I looked around and saw, to my surprise, the same siblings savouring a cup of Lao Lao as well.  In the brother’s hand was a Chanel wallet.  My goodness!  How could he afford a Chanel?  It was a limited edition one.  Could it be Mom’s?  Something inside me clicked suddenly.  I put two and two together and realised that the pair was a pickpocket duo.  The young girl was a decoy and the older one was the thief.

My mom spotted the two and must have realised it too. Immediately, she marched towards them and bellowed, “You useless midgets!  How dare you steal from me!”  The kids turned ashen-faced and were trembling in fright.  They were caught red handed!

The older boy came forward and stammered, “Here... is... your wallet!  Could you give us a second chance and let us go, please?”  The children clasped their hands together and pleaded with their doleful eyes.

Mom checked and realised the contents were all intact except for some loose change.  They could have spent it on the Lao Lao yogurts.  Just then, her phone rang.  It was Dad chasing to meet her at the car park.  Mom decided to let them off after a stern lecture.  After all, it was just a few dollars and they were so young.

As we hurried off, I turned to look at them once more.  I sincerely hoped that the children would turn over a new leaf.   In a far distance, the girl had tumbled onto the floor once more.  They had struck again and gotten their next victim.  I shook my head and sighed in disbelief.  Well, I guess, a leopard cannot change its spots.  

  

Image source: https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/pick-pocket-505392.jpg

PSLE: Terror Strikes

The headlines screamed:  Terrorist attack kills scores outside National Stadium.   As I stared at the headlines, tears streaked down my cheeks as memories of what had happened came flooding back…

“Wow, Dad, did you see how Fandi kicked?  I want to be a star striker just like him!”  I spoke exuberantly.  “Yes, my son will be the greatest footballer and I will get to see it!”  Dad nodded furiously, trying to look serious and not to laugh.  I blushed as we made our way out of the crowded stadium.  We were at a soccer match between the Lion Bravo and the Cheetah Power.  Spectators were all marching out towards the MRT station, discussing the game and the players’ performance enthusiastically. 

As we crossed the quiet road, an ear-deafening ‘vroom’ disrupted the silence of the night.  When we turned around, we spotted an enormous white truck speeding towards the crowd.  Everyone started scuttling off like terrified sheep escaping from a ferocious bear. Chaos broke out.  Shrieks of terror sliced through the air. The situation was tumultuous!  Unfortunately, it was too late.  No one could outrun the speeding truck and men were falling down like bowling pins, lying sprawled on the tarmac ground.

 

For a fraction of a second, I stood rooted to the ground, stunned at the shocking spectacle.  It was a night of terror!  The truck continued zigzagging and steering directly towards the sea of people.  They were all frantically trying to save their loved ones but the unstoppable truck was trying to mow down the maximum number of innocent victims.    It was definitely terrorism on purpose! He was on a rampage!  Such atrocious depravity!  People were falling down like dead flies and their bodies were strewn all over the road as their crimson blood stained it red. 

As I stared in wide-eyed horror, I felt a sudden push from behind. It was Dad, pushing me out of harm’s way of the approaching truck.  However, at that critical moment, he could not escape in time. When I looked back, Dad was already crushed under the gargantuan wheel of the truck.  He was squashed like an insignificant bug.

“Dad!”  I cried aloud.  I could not believe my eyes!  How could someone be so wicked and cold-blooded?    My heart throbbed with intense grief.  In total state of distraught bemusement, I knelt down beside my dad’s motionless body and wept hysterically.  Heartbroken, I refused to leave him and run for safety.

That was a bad move.  The terrorist hopped off his truck and started spraying his bullets at the survivors trying to finish them off.  I tried to dodge but a bullet hit me. I slumped onto the ground, my head spinning non-stop as excruciating pain shot through my body in waves.  Finally, darkness overcame me and I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, swathed in bandages.  Mom was sobbing beside me.  My dad had passed away. Mom told me that a bullet had smashed my spine and I have become paralyzed from the waist down. I was devastated.  Despite the pain I was going through, nothing was more unbearable than the loss of my beloved father.  As for the villain, it was reported that he was killed by the police, his body riddled with bullets.  He deserved it!  

Despite my immobility, I vow not to be crushed by the terror of terrorism but to have an indomitable courage to triumph over such villainous wickedness. 

Image source: 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/11/14/16/2E70C67F00000578-3317776-image-m-132_1447516923153.jpg

PSLE: Writing a great introduction and close for a PSLE composition

Theme: Danger

Original Introduction

It was a balmy day and the water looked as smooth as glass except for the occasional ripples.  Jay intended to explore the river behind his grandmother’s house.

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Writing Techniques: Senses (sound, smell, sight, taste, touch), Appearance + Dressing, Thoughts and Feelings, Hook

It was a balmy day. (2-3 details on how you think a balmy day looks like)  Birds were chirping melodiously on the gnarled tree branches.  Butterflies were already busy fluttering around collecting nectar. The smell of the colourful flowers lingered in the air.  Jay was making his way to the river bank.  His lanky (appearance) legs thumped on the dead leaves, making them crackle.  He smiled (facial expression) as he gazed (do not use ‘see’) at the river.  The greenish (color) water looked as smooth as glass (simile) except for the occasional ripples.  Exuberance (feeling) bubbled in him when he spotted (do not use ‘see’) a boat beside the river bank.  It was going to be a day of adventure.  Little did he know that great danger was looming nearby... 

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Original Conclusion

Suddenly, while Jay was struggling, the whole boat capsized.  Without hesitation, the crocodile immediately attacked Jay’s right leg trying to pull him down into the water.  After that, no one knew where Jay was.

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Revised Climax and Close

The crocodile gave the boat a massive slap with its humongous tail.  The impact was so powerful that the boat overturned and Jay flew off the boat and splashed into the water.  (BODY) Jay was choked by the water that rushed into his mouth and nostrils.  Being a lousy swimmer without a life jacket, he struggled for air.  As if that was not bad enough (THOUGHT), the crocodile lunged (vivid verb) towards him and opened his gigantic jaws wide.   Lines of razor-sharp teeth glinted in the sun. With a loud snap, Jay’s right leg was completely ripped off. Blood immediately turned the river crimson red. After a struggle, the splashes and ripples soon turned feeble and became no more.

The day turned dark and dreary.  The birds no longer sang.  The butterflies hid themselves.  The smell of death rose like vapour from the ground.  The greenish water looked as smooth as glass once more.  No one knew where Jay was.

The river awaits its next victim. (Implied Theme)

PSLE: Expanding the climax with writing techniques

In a recent composition I marked, the 'Before' is the climax done by my student.  Using her work as a sample, I taught the class on how to expand the climax and hook the readers. The 'After' is what we discussed in class.  Not too bad, right? 

Before

The sound signalled the start of the race.  The competitors sprinted as if they were on steroids.  It was hard to win in such a race.  Timothy overtook them one by one.  Soon, he was the first.  Dashing as fast as he could, he crossed the finishing line and won.

After

Bang!  The blast from the starter gun signaled the start of the race.  The competitors typhooned down the race tracks like strong gales as if they were on steroids.  It was hard to win in such a race.   Was Timothy going to win?  Maybe yes?  Maybe no? Yet, Timothy refused to give up and held a tiny glimmer of hope inside him.   Whooosh! What was that? It was Timothy.  He had picked up his pace and was running at a breakneck speed.  Timothy had never run so fast in his life before.  Where did he get all this leg power?

His unexpected performance caught the spectators’ attention.  They were all holding their breaths.  Everyone was at the edge of their seats, all eager to know who the winner was going to be.  They were all cheering for their favourite runners.  The whole stadium was instantly electrified! 

As Timothy charged forwards, his strong legs thumped against the orange rubbery tracks.  His heart throbbed violently against his ribcage and his lungs were screaming for air.  Sweat was dripping down the sides of his forehead. Despite the intense ache in his legs, he overtook them one by one.  Soon, he was neck to neck against the strongest runner nicknamed ‘The Flash’!  Winning him would be a miracle.  Was Timothy going to win?  Dashing as fast as a bolt of lightning, he ran like no tomorrow and overtook his opponent.  Yes, he crossed the finishing line! He won! Filled with triumphant jubilation, he punched the air in victory!

PSLE: A Surprise Party

“Auntie Lynn is going to get the biggest SURPRISE ever!” Rachel, a bubbly girl, with deep dimples burrowing into her fat cheeks, exclaimed as she took out the birthday cake from the fridge. 

“You’d better get the living room ready when she arrives,” Rael, the oldest boy in the family, reminded as he acted as the lookout, looking through the window pane.

The house was buzzing with excitement.  The three children were feeling thrilled about the surprise party that they had planned for months for their beloved helper.   It was her fortieth birthday and they decided to throw her a party to thank her for all the love lavished on them.

“Let’s hurry up,” Risa, the middle child, ordered as she arranged all the food on the table.  The kids had to hurry up before Auntie Lynn returned from her day off. 

Suddenly, a loud whistle sliced through the air.  “Auntie Lynn is on the way!” Rael called out.  The house then became as quiet as a tomb.  In a distance, the faint sound of shuffling footsteps echoed in a distance.  Soon, a bunch of keys jingled and the door sprang open. 

“Surprise!” the children trumpeted vivaciously.  Streamers popped and confetti sprinkled on the stunned head of their beloved helper.  The kids burst into a happy birthday song while Rael played the tune of Happy Birthday on the piano.  Wow, what a reception!  Bright unshed tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at the beaming faces of the three lovely children. 

Tugging her rough hand, the children brought her to the table covered with a pretty lacy cloth.  The table groaned under the weight of all of Auntie Lynn’s favourite food.   Hawaiian pizza, curry chicken, French fries and a lovely Chocolate mousse cake.  Everyone tucked in and enjoyed the scrumptious spread, chattering and laughing.

After the food were the presents.  Rachel made a pictorial collage of all the memorable moments of the time the kids spent together with Auntie Lynn.  Rael gave a generous hongbao with all his savings inside and Risa gave her a golden Seiko watch.  Tears flowed freely and Auntie Lynn gave everyone a tight bear hug.  It was definitely a surprise birthday celebration that she would never forget.

PSLE: An achievement

Lakdul gave a long sigh and stared with his worn-out Nike shoes.  It was the Sports Carnival and he was supposed to participate in the 4 by 100 metre relay.  His nickname was – Fatty – and he had violently protested when he was selected for it but it was in vain.  Mrs Tan thought that he needed to cut some flab and that was it. 

Could he win or bring shame to his class?  He had been training hard for the past few weeks.  He could not bear to disappoint his classmates, could he?  Keeping his fingers crossed, he stepped onto the tangerine rubbery track and got ready.

The stadium was teeming with spectators.  It felt like a boisterous cavalcade, filled with chatters and laughter.  Every seat was filled and the pupils’ faces were flushed red with energy and glistened with sweat.  Perspiration soaked their shirts.  Student vendors were selling popcorn, Coke and whatnots. 

Soon,it was Lakdul’s event - the final one.  Bang!  The starter gun fired into the air and the athletes took off and typhooned down the tracks like strong gales.  All the students, dressed in brightly coloured sport attires, stood up to watch the race.  Their faces were painted with intense excitement as the class scores on the tally board were all neck and neck.  This was THE race to decide the winning class!

Cheerleading teams from each class were doing their magic.  It was as if they were on a test on which team was the best.  One sounded like a broken radio that was badly coordinated.  The next team was better and sounded like a trumpet.  The best was the team from Lakdul’s class.  Known to be the class of nerds, they proved everyone wrong by giving the loudest cheer.  The voices were like lava that erupted from a dormant volcano, which sliced into every nook, crevice and corner.

Lakdul could hear them loud and clear!  “Run Nerdies run!  Do us proud! Win them out! Run Nerdies run!” they boomed from a distance away.

Lakdul gulped down the stone in his throat.  The next class was a little faster and their last runner had sprinted off.  He had to be better than him!  It was win or die!

Soon, he caught hold of the metallic baton and blasted off like a cannonball out of a cannon.  To say that Lakdul ran very fast was definitely an understatement.  He was lightning fast!  Swishhhhhhh!  His feet stomped harder and faster than ever and he raced towards the finishing line like there was no tomorrow!  At the last split of a second, he finally overtook his opponent!

Yayyyyy!   He made it! He was the first to cross the yellow line and was declared the winner!  The Nerdies had won the overall class championship of the year.  What a win!  Mouths hung open in astonishment!  Lakdul, the fat boy could run!  Wow!  Everyone in class rushed forwards and threw him in the air!  He was the hero of the day. Woohoo!

Lakdul smiled.   He was glowing like a light bulb with pride.  It was an achievement that would stay with him for a long time to come.  No one called him Fatty anymore.

PSLE: Taking The Blame

Tom gave a long sigh.  He was bored to tears, not knowing what to do next.  His older sister, Jane, was busy mugging for the impending examination.    It was home-alone time for the two siblings as their mom had gone out and their dad was out at work.

The five-year-old boy decided to grab the markers on the table.  “Hmm, what should I draw?” he thought to himself.  “Ahha!  Aslan the Lion!” he smiled at the thought and searched high and low for drawing paper but there was none.  He decided to use the whole wall as his white canvas instead. 

Standing on a wooden stool, he started his doodling.  The majestic mane, the piercing eyes and the imposing composure.  Perfect!  What a masterpiece!  Feeling proud of himself, his marble black eyes sparkled in delight.  Calling out to his sister, he exclaimed, “Hey, Sis!  Come and see.”  Wondering what his naughty younger brother was up to this time, she decided to take a breather and marched into the living room.

“Aaaahhhhh!” She could not believe her eyes!  Her mouth fell agape and a gasp of shock escaped from her lips.  “Tom Lim! What did you do this time?!” she yelled.  Tom flashed a sheepish grin and replied, “It’s nice, right?  Aslan, the majestic lion from Narnia!” 

Jane stared on in bewilderment!  It definitely did not look like a lion to her.  It definitely smelt like trouble to her.  “You’ll be dead meat when Mom’s back!” she hollered. 

Both the siblings were frightened of their tigress mother. Instantly, hysteria overwhelmed him and his face blanched white in trepidation. Tears welled up in his eyes and he started weeping for he knew he was in hot soup. 

Seeing how petrified Tom looked, she felt sorry for him.  The quick-thinking sister frantically took some sponge and detergent from the kitchen and started to clean the wall.  Tom tried to help too but no matter how hard they tried, the stubborn paint marks refused to give way.  In the end, Aslan turned into blotches of black and grey.  It was a pathetically ugly sight.

Just then, the children heard the front door open.  Mum was back!  The panic-stricken Tom quickly hid behind her sister.  Jane felt sorry for him and gave a sigh.  She decided to take the blame. 

Gulping down the stone in her throat, she stuttered nervously, “Sorry mummy…I… drew…and even…asked…bro…”

Smack!  A red palm print instantly appeared on her colourless face.   "Why are you such a lousy sister?  Why are you such a bad role model?" she admonished. It was followed by red welts lashed all over her frail body.  Hapless tears streamed down as she clenched her fists tightly, trying hard to bear with the excruciating pain. In her heart, she yelled, "I am a good sister.  I really am!"  But no words tumbled out of her lips.

Tom was shocked to see the villainous fury of his mother.   In desperation, he ran to protect Jane with his own body.  That stopped Mom.  She froze for a minute and finally flounced out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

Tom stared at all the red marks and started crying like a baby.  It was then that he realized how much Jane loved him.  The boy threw his arms around her and gave her a tight hug.  “It’s all my fault!  I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he spoke, his tears flowing down like gushing taps.  “I guess that’s what a big sister is for,” she replied, stroking his chestnut hair gently, smiling despite her searing pain.  

PSLE: Be considerate

The train whizzed through the long dark tunnel as it made its way to the next station.  All the cabins were packed as it was the peak hours.  I was fortunate to have a seat after a long day at school.  I was dead tired.  With my schoolbag between my legs, I was devouring a novel, flipping the pages eager to know the ending soon.

Soon, the train reached the next station and more passengers came in.  It was hard work jostling, pushing and shoving one another to get into the cabin.  An old man caught my sight.  He was probably in his seventies.  With a slight hunchback, he shambled in with the help of a walking stick.  His hair was snowy white and the age spots on his wrinkled face made him really look like a wizened, weather-beaten old man.

Despite his unsteady gait and his shrivelled appearance, no one took a second look.  All those who were seated continued to sleep or chat or stare at their mobiles.  I thought of giving up my seat but I dithered too as I was way too exhausted. 

Just then, a little girl stood up.  Dressed in a pink polka-dot dress, she called out, “Hi, uncle, please take my seat!”  Her pearly white teeth glinted as she flashed a very genuine smile at the old man. 

The grateful old man was surprised and flashed an appreciative smile.  After clearing his throat of some stubborn phlegm, he patted her head gently and muttered a soft thank you.  The little girl beamed a bright smile in return and tried to stand, clutching the metallic pole with a firm grip.  

The train continued its way but somehow, there was a sudden jerk and some passengers almost lost their footing.  However, the girl was not so lucky!  She fell to the ground with a loud thud, bursting into tears of pain.  A plump woman dashed forward and lifted her to her feet, saying, “Nat, you should have kept your seat.  You just had a leg operation, my darling.”  The girl continued crying and big tears streaked down her face as she tried to grab hold of her mother as tightly as possible this time.  The old man stood up to offer her back the seat she had given up but she refused to accept his offer.

My heart ached upon seeing that.  My conscience pricked me really hard.  How could I be sitting down comfortably while a little girl could give up her seat and offer it to a stranger even though she was in pain herself?  She taught me a valuable lesson.  A lesson of kindness.   A lesson to sacrifice and put others first.

Strangely, many of us must have felt the same way at the same time and all of us scrambled to stand and stood up to offer our seats instead as if she was some VIP.  A whole row of seats became vacant instantly and all were for her to choose.  It was a heartwarming sight.  As she plonked on my seat, I made my way to the train doors.  I decided that day that it is okay not to have a seat because there will always be someone who needs the seat more than me.  It is always more blessed to give than to receive.

PSLE: In Cahoots

Mingze stared hard at his exam paper as he tried to ignore the questions that he did not know. It was a difficult math paper and many of the questions were not from his routine curriculum practices.  

There was only one person who knew how to do it.  It was the Math genius, John, who was sitting beside Mingze.   The poor boy’s heartbeat was beating much faster than the ticking of a clock. Beads of perspiration trickled down his forehead as he wrecked his brain over the challenging questions.

The invigilator was pacing up and down the classroom in what seemed like an awkward and frigid posture.  Something was on his mind and he finally spoke, “Class, I will be back after a call. Please continue in silence,’’ and the invigilator hurriedly took his leave to make a call.

When Mingze saw his chance, he hurriedly whispered to John, “Can you help me please? You can just give me the paper to copy.” When John heard it, he gave it to Mingze without hesitating. They were best friends after all. How could John turn down his request?

Unfortunately, another invigilator arrived saw Mingze and John passing papers. She stood behind them. It was clear that Mingze and John were caught red-handed. The invigilator confiscated both of their papers, brought them out of class and straight into the principal’s office.

In the room, John broke down into a flurry of tears and sobbed uncontrollably while Mingze kept a cool front. However, under the grilling interrogation by the principal and the prospect of summoning his parents to the office to have a discussion, Mingze caved in and also pleaded for a second chance.

In the end, both parents were notified of this incident. For cheating, Mingze was barred from the rest of the exam and was suspended from school for a week. John, on the other hand, was made to re-sit for the paper and write an apology letter. Hopefully, both would turn over a new leaf and learn from their mistakes.

Written by Joelle, P4

Image source: https://frigginloon.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/anti-cheating.gif

PSLE: A Ruined Class Party

In life, we may make many mistakes, but there was an unpleasant incident that happened to me that I would never forget, this is what happened to me a few years ago…

The classroom was in a hive of activities and everyone cheered when the teacher announced that the class party would be held this Friday.  Everyone jumped with joy and shrilled in delight, except John, the most mischievous boy in school.  He flashed a sinister smirk and sat on his chair, staring at his box filled with tricks.

The next day, which was a Friday, was the class party where bad or good memories could take place. Everyone had brought scrumptious food and origami for the party. They could not wait for the party to start. Miss Jane, our teacher, was busy laying the table with all the sumptuous dishes that my classmates had brought. I stood with my mouth agape as saliva dripped down from my mouth. When the other kids saw me, they burst into peals of laughter. Everyone was enjoying themselves. After the big feast, my classmates and I played games such as the five stones, the Nerf gun showdown, the hide-and-seek and many more.

Everyone was having a whale of a time. The mischievous John took out a fake spider toy and placed it on the table when no one was looking.  “AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!’’ a horrifying sight greeted me.  Instinctively, I let out a piercing scream when I saw the hideous-looking spider and leapt onto a nearby table. It was huge and hairy!  My response caused a wave of panic among my friends but John ended up in stitches, laughing hysterically non-stop.  He laughed so hard that his whole face turned red like a ripened tomato.

Suddenly, Miss Jane’s voice boomed, “What did you do?’’ She stood with her arms akimbo and breathed heavily as though smoke was coming out from her nostrils. Her glare was enough to turn him into a timid mouse.  John knew that he was in the wrong. As he imagined the red welts on his buttocks, shiver ran down his spine and he hung his head low.  Everyone regained their composure and heaved a sigh of relief when they realized it was only a fake Tarantula. 

After the party was over, everyone pleaded on John’s behalf.  Tears brimmed in his eyes and the teacher decided to let John off the hook.  Touched by his classmates’ kind gesture, John was determined to turn over a new leaf. He decided never to play a prank on anyone ever again.  From that day onwards, John has transformed from a mischievous rascal into a perfect angel. Well, almost perfect.

Written By: Teo Mingzhe, P4 (edited by Mrs Lee)

Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Brachypelma_smithi_2009_G03.jpg

PSLE: Drowning

A recurring nightmare keeps replaying in my head and haunts me for years after my younger brother passed away.  I blame myself all the time for causing his death.  How I wish I could turn back the clock but this could never happen…

It was a lovely day as white fluffy clouds puffed overhead.  The temperature dropped to a comfortable cool and I could feel the sprays of seawater misting my skin.  I could almost taste the salt in the air.  It was a perfect day for a dip in the sea with my brother, John.  He was a scrawny fellow with an air of arrogance about him.  He always liked to boast and even though I had always been a better swimmer, he had always refused to admit it.

“Hey!  I bet you can’t swim to the shark net and back faster than me!” John threw me a gauntlet.  I ignored him for I would rather build sandcastles than swim with a little rascal.  Anyway, I could not believe he could do it. 

“I bet you can’t even reach halfway,” I taunted and continued my digging.  A majestic sandcastle was taking shape.

“I’ll prove you wrong, Bro!” he replied arrogantly.  The daredevil then stomped off, plunging into the azure waters.  I brushed it off and continued to build my dream sandcastle.

A few minutes passed.  I was surprised that he had not come back boasting about his accomplishment.   He was nowhere to be seen.  I was getting a little uneasy.  What was John?

I scanned the surface of the sea whose waves were glinting under the brilliant sunshine.  Suddenly, I spotted a flailing arm.  It was definitely John.  He was bobbing up and down the surface of the sea.  Somehow, he could not swim properly.  It could be that the undercurrents were sucking him downwards.  Then, John vanished.

Panic struck!  John could die!  I would not be strong enough to drag him to shore even if I could swim and reach him.  A brainwave struck me.  I ran to a toned-bronze lifeguard and pleaded, “My brother has just disappeared under water.  Please save him!”

Alarmed, he jumped into the sea and attempted to find him.  I prayed fervently for his safety as I had promised to take good care of John when I had suggested to Mother to bring him for a beach outing, just the two of us.  Even though he could be annoying at times, I realized that he was really precious to me after all.

After what had seemed like eternity, the lifeguard emerged to the surface with John.  He was unconscious.   With strong, deft strokes, the lifeguard swam towards the shore, with John's head tilted up.  

Once they reached the shore, the man laid him on the sandy beach.  I sprinted toward him, crying out, “Are you okay, John?”  There was no reply.  The saviour then administered CPR on John but failed to revive him despite repeated attempts.   John was dead.

My heart plummeted.  Tears trickled down my sunburnt cheeks as I fell onto the ground, blaming myself for his untimely demise.  The waves came and washed away my sandcastle.  They took away my brother as well.   

I wish I never jeered.  I wish I was a little more patient.  A little kinder.  

Late.  Too late.