Shadow...

"Hey kid, where are your parents? You should not be out here this late. Go home, kid." the soldier said with a commanding voice. The young boy shook his head and turned away back to his dwelling. As he walked on the cobbled pathway under the streetlights, he noticed his shadow imitating his every move. Curious, he tried waving his hands in the air and jumped around in circles. The shadow followed his actions in the exact same way. He was delighted. He realized that he had just found a friend, a friend who is exactly like him only pitch black and unable to reply his burning questions. Nevertheless, he felt that he was no longer alone and this made him feel a little lighter on the inside.

Back in his dwelling, under a bridge, he neatly prepared his bed made of pieces of cardboard. Before heading to bed, he took out a piece of bread he stole earlier that morning. The lost fragrance of the bread indicated that it was no longer fresh. But who would think twice of consuming it when their stomach was growling and mouth felt so watery. Penniless, the boy considered this plain bread a feast, he thought that at least, it would keep him alive for another day. Before he finished his last bite, he tore a small crumble and placed it on the ground. He noticed a kitten looking at him eating from a distance with its tongue licking its mouth and whiskers repeatedly. He knew it was starving just as he was. His thoughtful deed was repaid when he found the kitten sleeping peacefully beside him. All he could do was to smile.

Still in his tattered clothes, he rose early the following morning to find food for the day. He went around the townsquare to beg for food. Some from the rich simply tossed a penny at him. He would then nod his head as a sign of gratitude. The rich kids who looked at him could not stand his sight that they sometimes made fun of him and ordered him to leave. Powerless and shamed, he would fulfill their unreasonable demands while they threw pebbles at him. He knew his place in the heirachy so he did not fight back. He was not revengeful or took it personal, he just want to stay away from trouble should he see it coming.

After a tiring morning, he would take a rest by the river. There, he laid down facing the blue sky with arms crossed behind his head. He thought how blissful it was if he could live like this every day, away from poverty. When it was time to go, he saw his shadow again. This time, it was noon and his shadow has shrunk. He thought that it was dying so he ran back to the townsquare hoping to find a place where there were many shadows. After a wild search, he finally found the perfect spot, the entrance of the train station with huge pillars supporting the facade of the infrastructure. Huge shadows were cast on the marble floors where commoners passed by bustling with chatters and other incomprehensive noises. The boy stood on one of the pillar's shadow and waited patiently for his shadow to appear. It never did until sundown. He was estatic. He thought he would lose his only companion when he was lonely. At that moment, he finally realized that his life is somewhat similar to his shadow...

The boy lost his parents when he was young. Ever since, he was left all alone in the streets. No one to turn to, he learnt the importance of survival in the streets himself. The faces of violence, poverty and hunger were evident yet he somehow maintained the innocence of a child. Many would wonder how a boy could stay alive in these mean streets filled with the negative images of life. Perhaps it was due to the strokes of luck but there was something in him, different from others who were also in his shoes.

He valued his shadow, an evidence of his very own existence in this world. He could see himself just as a shadow among all the rich and all the people who were more fortunate than him. He was always there but always left unappreciated by those around him. They saw him as an insignificant object of zero importance. So when he saw his own shadow, he wanted to view his shadow as his only companion who would always be there wherever he fell, wherever he cried although it could say nothing at all. The rich and powerful have forsaken their shadows, their humble beginnings and origins. If their shadows decide to leave them in times of desperation, who else can they turn to? How are they going to value their existence? Living without a shadow means that he or she does not even exist in the first place.

This story is inspired by "Unwell" by Matchbox 20.

TJC Orientation...

The past four days spent at Temasek Junior College was a whole full of blast. I have never seen or experience the fusion of energy and thrill like this at this institution. Although this was just an orientation where group bonding was essential, much of it was much more exhilarating, making it all look as if there were other factors than a simple class bonding. Throughout the four days, we hardly had time to catch our breaths simply because there were lots of activities to be part of. Nevertheless, the fun factor still seemed limitless and the best part of all, the students from other schools were very participative and full of enthusiasm thus, we felt as if we were already permanent students of the college.

The most interesting of all the activities was the mass dance. In this exclusive event, every year ones was to master from simple to complex modern dance steps with music as background to liven up the atmosphere till it reached the climax. Dance steps were accompanied by music such as Dhoom, Let’s get it started and S Club party. Using all parts of our body, from head to toe, we had to practice these dance steps within two days as we were performing at Suntec City fountain of wealth in front of the public eyes. Realizing the importance of the performance and so as not to embarrass ourselves, dance masters as well as the two left-footed students toiled to memorize the dance steps. For me, the mass dance had made me for flexible and not too rigid. Overall, the mass dance was really the utmost fun filled activity such that once done, we just could not stop. It was a very addictive activity with positive results as it made all of us to master certain dance steps although we were not natural dancers. Well, at least we had become better at dancing in some ways and that’s awesome.

Next, it was the cheering, stomping and clapping. All these things almost brought down the whole college hall. We were cheering all day long; stomping like no one cared and clapped as if no one listened. When we won, we cheered. When we lost, we also cheered. All because we were all not cheering for achievement but for the enjoyment from the games played or taunting opposing groups. When the students rocked the hall, the floor shook, glass windows almost shattered and the roof was going to tumble on us. Non stop cheering was too evident and was so frequent that it had become a habit. And when we cheered, it sounded almost like a war zone. Like it or not, cheering did raise morale and team spirit.

As for the rest, there were interesting too but if explained, it would take days to complete. It had to be experienced than be written down. Primary source through one’s own experience would make a whole lot of difference than just words. There was no word good enough to describe this college’s magnificent orientation. Through the whole orientation, I had so much fun and excitement although some of which I had rather hidden them in my heart than showing it through crazy and wild actions. To sum up, Temasek Junior College can be a nice place to settle and further my studies if I would be allowed to when the O-level results are out. There would not be other college with so much passion, purpose and drive like Temasek Junior College.

Inspired by "When You Say Nothing At All" by Ronan Keating.