“But he is just a benchwarmer.” The coach of the team said. When this freshman arrived in the school for the first time everyone quickly recognized him. By the first day ended, even the janitor knew his name. Everybody talked about him behind his back, after all he was rather different from the rest and no club would take him in. He carried heavy books everyday, passed the same hallway and everyone would stop to make way for him. In class, he was always watching the empty field. The teacher often reminded him to pay more attention in class. He did listen but soon got distracted again.
He had a test that day, a difficult one that many were struggling to answer as many questions as they could. When the time was up, others sighed deeply thinking that they had flunked. The thought of even passing never came in mind. The following day, the teacher returned the test papers and true indeed everyone scored badly, no one passed except for this genius, the new student who scored 99%. Everyone was astonished. The boy apologized to the teacher that he would pay more attention in class so that he could give him a full marks in the next test. The teacher understood, knowing that an imperfect person would aim to give his 100% in whatever he did.
The following week, he attended the club which he had signed up for. It was football. The coach tried to change the boy’s mind but the determination he showed melted his heart. He sympathised the boy and gave him the school jersey. The boy was overjoyed to be given an opportunity but his teammates groaned in upset thinking that the new boy would be a huge burden. The next day was the first training of the year; the boy was punctual in full jersey. The coach approached him and asked him to wait near the water tank. He waited patiently there as he watched his other teammates had a friendly match. The coach sat next to him and said, “Kid, when your teammates come here, be sure you give them each a cup of water.” He simply nodded. He thought that he would be playing that day; he guessed that he might have to wait a little longer. Trainings after trainings, he would wait by the water tank, doing his duty without fail. He never missed a single session because he thought that he might be playing anytime. But that dream faded away.
Two painful years he waited by the water tank and he still had not missed any training, rain or shine. The coach never gave him a chance to play. Finally, the team captain empathized with the boy and asked his coach, “Coach, I have looked into the monthly attendance, only one had not missed any training this month.” “I know, he had never missed them in 2 consecutive years.” He replied. “I suggest we should let him be on the field to play with us, after all he is our teammate.” The captain commented. “But he is just a benchwarmer.” He said. “Will you just let him touch the ball at least?” The captain suggested. The coach had had enough and he gave his permission. The captain asked the boy to go to the field. Delightful by what he said, he rushed to the centre of the field. There, he was given a ball; the captain started socializing with him after 2 years of just thanking him for the water he handed when the team went for a break. The other team members looked at the boy in disgust thinking that he finally had poisoned the captain’s mind. Ever since the boy joined the team, they had lost the first round of the neighbourhood competition. And they blamed the boy for being a jinx.
The boy’s relationship with the captain grew stronger each passing week, they were like brothers. The captain was protective of him as he would not let anyone in the team humiliate him for being a benchwarmer. Summer Open arrived, the last event the team had hoped to win for the season. The coach was absent that day and the captain took charge of the team’s strategies and the starting line-up. The boy was sidelined and the match started. By half time, the opposing team had scored 3 goals while they were still unable to find the net. Feeling dispirited, the team lost their hope to win the competition. Just then when they were looking for inspiration, the boy made his presence known by cheering the team up. He said that they can still win the match but none listened to him including the captain. Then, he said, “I don’t have much time, so do you,” and handed a note to the captain. The captain was shocked that the benchwarmer managed to draw up a complex strategy. He browsed the notes for a while, made few substitutions and returned to the field once he explained the new tactics to his teammate. The boy returned to his post waiting for the magical moment to arrive.
A minute the match restarted, the captain dribbled the ball past opposing defenders and struck the ball hard enough to reach the net and the team had pulled one back. It was a sheer magic. The players’ morale were boosted significantly that near the end of the game the 2 teams were level. And it was in the last minute that a swift counter attack allowed the team to turn the tide of the game as the boy’s team was ahead, just seconds away from the final whistle. The shrill of the whistle marked the end of the game and the winning team jumped around in excitement. The captain was hailed as a hero by his teammates. He then humbly denied that he was the hero and mentioned that the boy deserved that title. He told his teammates that he had followed his instructions and it had turned the flow of the game. His teammates felt guilty that they had ignored him all this while and yet he provided the winning formula for them. They decided to thank him personally but he was nowhere in sight.
The following day, the team decided to celebrate their win with the boy but he was absent from training for the first time. It was just unusual that he would be absent for training. The coach arrived and they asked him about the boy’s whereabouts. He took a deep breath and uttered, “He called me yesterday to inform me that he was not feeling good. He also told me that the team had won the match. I was delighted.” The captain asked him, “So where is he, where is our hero?” The coach replied, “Today, I was informed that our young hero had passed away silently in the hospital. I learnt that he was diagnosed with a terminal disease.” Everyone was stunned as the unsung hero had drawn his final breath.
Now, there is always an empty chair next to the window where the boy used to sit. Ever since, there was no one sitting by the water tank. Everybody in school wondered where the imperfect boy had gone to. Then, when the yearbook was issued, he appeared again but this time he was in black and white photograph. It says, “In memories of the wheelchair bound boy. Entered Dawnfield High School and was a member of the football club for 2 years. Helped to win the school’s first trophy in 5 years and was hailed a hero by the football team. Won the top student award in the first year with an A+ in all subjects and received a sum of $50,000 for winning the top prize in the young writer of America competition in the same year in which he had donated all of them to an organization that caters for the children who suffered from long life illnesses. When asked why he donated all his money to this organization, he said, “I don’t have much time left but these children still have a future ahead of them.” Diagnosed with a terminal spinal disease and leukemia since birth, he persevered throughout his life to be perfectly normal just like any human being and helped those who are less fortunate than he was. Upon his death, he asked for his healthy organs to be donated. Later, he was awarded the only Nobel Prize given to youth for humanity. May he rest in peace; for a kind hearted soul, there will always be a place in heaven.”
The coach said to himself, “He is not just a benchwarmer after all,” as he closed the yearbook.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Sunday, January 09, 2005
A Night To Remember...
Tonight was his last opportunity to know what dwelled in her heart. Smartly dressed in a glossy tuxedo, he appeared at the entrance of the grand ball. He put on his mask to cover his face, hiding his identity just like the invited guests. It was a masquerade, a party to celebrate tomorrow’s big event, the wedding ceremony. The sparkling floor was filled with couples dancing accompanied by the rhythm of the music. He looked around to spot the woman he was looking for. He thought that the bride-soon-to-be was not going to show up soon. He took a glass of wine and separated himself from the crowd to the balcony, overlooking the lake. The night seemed so right, starry and the moon shone brightly. He took a sip and sighed. He knew he was a fool not telling the woman who turned his life upside down; his true feelings and now, she was going to be somebody’s wife.
Meanwhile, the woman was in her room, browsing an old photo album. She could recall the faces in the album and on the last page she found her photo with the man of her dreams. She remembered how tender the relationship they used to share. But she did not have the courage to tell him how much he meant to her. She could barely smile as she was going to marry someone she did not love. She walked out of the room into the balcony and sighed as she enjoyed the simmering water of the nearby lake. She did not see a reason why her parents wanted her to marry so soon especially to a man who was a complete stranger.
The time had come, the music stopped and everyone stopped dancing. They moved away from the dance floor and lifted their heads high to the second floor corridor. There, stood the lucky bachelor. They looked at him with awe, he was prince charming. The man entered the dance floor and stood amongst the crowd at the front. He took a sip again and waited. The woman put on her mask and headed out of the room, leaving the last page of the album open. As she neared the staircase, she noticed that hundred pairs of eyes were on her. The prince helped her as they stepped down to the dance floor. He thought that she looked splendid in the white gown she was wearing. The prince then walked her to the centre of the floor. He began addressing the guests telling them what a joyous occasion that night and he was glad that everyone was present to witness.
He uttered confidently, “My fellow guests, I am pleased that we are all gathered here to witness the moment of truth. I would like all of you to take off your mask for the time being as there is a surprise.” Everyone followed his command except the man. The crowd soon moved away from the masked man, allowing him to stand out of the crowd. The woman saw this and she tried to figure who he was. The prince then said, “You can take off your mask now. You need not hide your heart and yourself anymore.” The man was rather stunned. Finally, he unveiled himself in front of the woman. There was a deafening silence in the room. The prince addressed the crowd again, “Ladies and gentlemen, here stand the couple we have been expecting for.” Both of them were dumbfounded.
The man walked slowly towards her and he said, “I don’t want to lose you ever again so I am going to tell you what I wanted to all these while. I need you because I love you…” The woman replied, “I love you too with all my heart.” The lights dimmed and the music started playing soft music. Only the centre floor was lighted, the man and the woman held each other’s hands and they began to dance. It was rather romantic as every guest lighted their candles to light the room, creating a passionate atmosphere. No words could describe the couples’ feeling as they were dancing slowly with elegance. She whispered, “I don’t want tonight to end.” The man softly replied, “Me too. Tonight we celebrate our everlasting love.” The lovebirds kept dancing through the night not wanting time to separate them from each other again.
Meanwhile, the woman was in her room, browsing an old photo album. She could recall the faces in the album and on the last page she found her photo with the man of her dreams. She remembered how tender the relationship they used to share. But she did not have the courage to tell him how much he meant to her. She could barely smile as she was going to marry someone she did not love. She walked out of the room into the balcony and sighed as she enjoyed the simmering water of the nearby lake. She did not see a reason why her parents wanted her to marry so soon especially to a man who was a complete stranger.
The time had come, the music stopped and everyone stopped dancing. They moved away from the dance floor and lifted their heads high to the second floor corridor. There, stood the lucky bachelor. They looked at him with awe, he was prince charming. The man entered the dance floor and stood amongst the crowd at the front. He took a sip again and waited. The woman put on her mask and headed out of the room, leaving the last page of the album open. As she neared the staircase, she noticed that hundred pairs of eyes were on her. The prince helped her as they stepped down to the dance floor. He thought that she looked splendid in the white gown she was wearing. The prince then walked her to the centre of the floor. He began addressing the guests telling them what a joyous occasion that night and he was glad that everyone was present to witness.
He uttered confidently, “My fellow guests, I am pleased that we are all gathered here to witness the moment of truth. I would like all of you to take off your mask for the time being as there is a surprise.” Everyone followed his command except the man. The crowd soon moved away from the masked man, allowing him to stand out of the crowd. The woman saw this and she tried to figure who he was. The prince then said, “You can take off your mask now. You need not hide your heart and yourself anymore.” The man was rather stunned. Finally, he unveiled himself in front of the woman. There was a deafening silence in the room. The prince addressed the crowd again, “Ladies and gentlemen, here stand the couple we have been expecting for.” Both of them were dumbfounded.
The man walked slowly towards her and he said, “I don’t want to lose you ever again so I am going to tell you what I wanted to all these while. I need you because I love you…” The woman replied, “I love you too with all my heart.” The lights dimmed and the music started playing soft music. Only the centre floor was lighted, the man and the woman held each other’s hands and they began to dance. It was rather romantic as every guest lighted their candles to light the room, creating a passionate atmosphere. No words could describe the couples’ feeling as they were dancing slowly with elegance. She whispered, “I don’t want tonight to end.” The man softly replied, “Me too. Tonight we celebrate our everlasting love.” The lovebirds kept dancing through the night not wanting time to separate them from each other again.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Some Things Can Be Expressed Without Being Spoken...
He was finally ready after all these while. He reached deep into his pocket to make sure that he had not forgotten to bring it along. He took out his hands with a faint smile. Though his mind was filled with uncertainty, he remained calm and preserved. He then looked over to the vast ocean, fascinated by its wonders. The azure sky had turned red but the boy still stood on the wooden jetty with his elbows resting on the railings. Many had noticed the boy’s strange behaviour after all he had been there for three days enduring the sun’s blaze and the pouring rain without food or water, not even moving away from the spot he was standing on. Judging from his dried and crumpled clothes, many would have ignored him. But when approached by a concerned stranger on the fourth day, why he had been standing there for so long, he weakly replied that he was waiting for someone. Surprised, the stranger walked away. The stranger then looked back wondering if he had spoken the truth. True enough, the boy still set his eyes on the calm waters.
The determined boy kept standing even though his legs were tired. He did not mind the pain; only one thing remained in his head, to keep waiting until she arrived. Time soon corrode his strength to hang on, the boy spent his fifth day sitting down this time with his back facing the blue sea. Hunger, thirst and fatigue had drained all his stamina, but he persevered. He then noticed drops of water falling from the dark, grey sky on the jetty’s wooden planks. He thought that he had reached his limits and he might topple anytime sooner. He was worried that he would not be able to see her that day after all he was at the brink of his defeat. He tried to save some energy by shutting his eyes and listened to the rain. The heavy downpour once again drenched him but he did not bother much.
He then heard the rain was getting softer somehow and felt that no more water fell over his head. He breathed in and slowly opened his eyes. He gave away a fond smile soon after. He had an umbrella over him, shielding him from the piercing raindrops. He weakly got up back on his feet as he searched down into his pocket. Unknown to him, it had slipped out of his pocket as the tried to stand up. He was searched frantically to find it but to no avail. She then turned him around and looked at him in the eye. She placed her smooth hands on his wet cheek and tears flowed. He was finally face to face with her after these long years. He replied by looking deep into her eyes as if he was looking straight into her heart. After a minute of comforting silence, he hugged her in relief and overflowing joy. Now, he was certain. Even with words left unspoken, they understood each other. She let go of her umbrella and the rain drenched both of them. The hug provided warmth that defeated the chill of the shower. Love had revived his broken spirits and love too had made her realize which was more important to her. He kept her in his arms, not wanting to let go and she hoped for the same too as the rain accompanied them.
The determined boy kept standing even though his legs were tired. He did not mind the pain; only one thing remained in his head, to keep waiting until she arrived. Time soon corrode his strength to hang on, the boy spent his fifth day sitting down this time with his back facing the blue sea. Hunger, thirst and fatigue had drained all his stamina, but he persevered. He then noticed drops of water falling from the dark, grey sky on the jetty’s wooden planks. He thought that he had reached his limits and he might topple anytime sooner. He was worried that he would not be able to see her that day after all he was at the brink of his defeat. He tried to save some energy by shutting his eyes and listened to the rain. The heavy downpour once again drenched him but he did not bother much.
He then heard the rain was getting softer somehow and felt that no more water fell over his head. He breathed in and slowly opened his eyes. He gave away a fond smile soon after. He had an umbrella over him, shielding him from the piercing raindrops. He weakly got up back on his feet as he searched down into his pocket. Unknown to him, it had slipped out of his pocket as the tried to stand up. He was searched frantically to find it but to no avail. She then turned him around and looked at him in the eye. She placed her smooth hands on his wet cheek and tears flowed. He was finally face to face with her after these long years. He replied by looking deep into her eyes as if he was looking straight into her heart. After a minute of comforting silence, he hugged her in relief and overflowing joy. Now, he was certain. Even with words left unspoken, they understood each other. She let go of her umbrella and the rain drenched both of them. The hug provided warmth that defeated the chill of the shower. Love had revived his broken spirits and love too had made her realize which was more important to her. He kept her in his arms, not wanting to let go and she hoped for the same too as the rain accompanied them.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
New Season...
As a new chapter draws near, I begin to realize that this year it is the time to shine. Because this year, it is the last season I am going to spend my life in the school that I have opted for. I do have regrets for not trying to establish a badminton club in my school but I guess; things happen for a reason. True enough, I have enjoyed my life in this school even when the odds are against me. I have met new people who I can call friends and experience the ups and downs of a student in a typical government school.
The First Year: Participating in the National Parade came unexpectedly when I enrolled. Nevertheless, I braved the heat and the exhausting practices to put up an excellent display on August, 9. After the overture of the Parade, we partied like we have never partied like before. We felt a sense of accomplishment and we thought of letting go of our hard work by enjoying ourselves.
The Second Year: One of the highlights was my performance in the final examinations which came to be a surprise. Good grades overall scoring 90+ in History and Geography. I think the credit should go to the teachers for pushing us beyond our limits. This year too I became a PSL which I have never thought of becoming one. Therefore, when given this opportunity I gladly took it without hesitation. Not only that, I have been chosen to become a Senior PSL too without prior knowledge. My only clue was when Eric said, “We have senior meeting today.”
The Third Year: Many happened this year. The Pahang trip was exhilarating. It was the first time I visited Malaysia and deep in the middle of nowhere. Surrounding us was just thick forests, small villages and oil palm plantations. It was during this trip I became closer to nature and it was a good opportunity to test my resilience to live 3 days without much electricity and far away from the comfort of home. This year too I won the inter house badminton competition, perhaps my only achievement throughout my life here. Well, a medal for safe keeping was worth the effort.
As a new chapter is about to unfold with its pen all ready to write history, I guess I am prepared to face the unpredictable future. It may have come soon than expected but as long as blood still run in my veins and my heart still beats, I shall take on the thorny path with perseverance. Even if I am at the brink of defeat and have reached my limitations, I will not give up. Perhaps I may stumble and fall, but I will get up back to my feet as long as there is hope. Even the tiniest flame of a candle can overcome darkness and guide its master to find his way out eventually.
The First Year: Participating in the National Parade came unexpectedly when I enrolled. Nevertheless, I braved the heat and the exhausting practices to put up an excellent display on August, 9. After the overture of the Parade, we partied like we have never partied like before. We felt a sense of accomplishment and we thought of letting go of our hard work by enjoying ourselves.
The Second Year: One of the highlights was my performance in the final examinations which came to be a surprise. Good grades overall scoring 90+ in History and Geography. I think the credit should go to the teachers for pushing us beyond our limits. This year too I became a PSL which I have never thought of becoming one. Therefore, when given this opportunity I gladly took it without hesitation. Not only that, I have been chosen to become a Senior PSL too without prior knowledge. My only clue was when Eric said, “We have senior meeting today.”
The Third Year: Many happened this year. The Pahang trip was exhilarating. It was the first time I visited Malaysia and deep in the middle of nowhere. Surrounding us was just thick forests, small villages and oil palm plantations. It was during this trip I became closer to nature and it was a good opportunity to test my resilience to live 3 days without much electricity and far away from the comfort of home. This year too I won the inter house badminton competition, perhaps my only achievement throughout my life here. Well, a medal for safe keeping was worth the effort.
As a new chapter is about to unfold with its pen all ready to write history, I guess I am prepared to face the unpredictable future. It may have come soon than expected but as long as blood still run in my veins and my heart still beats, I shall take on the thorny path with perseverance. Even if I am at the brink of defeat and have reached my limitations, I will not give up. Perhaps I may stumble and fall, but I will get up back to my feet as long as there is hope. Even the tiniest flame of a candle can overcome darkness and guide its master to find his way out eventually.
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