1

A Horror / Tragic Story

I opened the door, to my horror, a few skeletons lay there, chained on the wall.
Okay, time to recap. I and my friends, Jack and Peter, were playing around an
old, abandoned mansion. We were told that no one was allowed to enter. However,
curiosity overcame us and we picked the lock, granting us entrance into the sacred lair of
the unknown.
At the sight of the skeletons, the three of us were completely stunned. Our jaw
hung wide open for a few minutes before we came back to our senses. My sixth sense
told me that something was about to go wrong, so I urged the other two to back out of
the mansion.
Dont be such a chicken, said Jack, with a shaky voice.
Arent you scared too? I challenged him.
Yes, but we might never get the chance to explore here again if we leave now.
All right, but we leave as soon as the first sign of danger shows.
We ventured deeper into the mansion. The design looked like some sort of torture
room, or a prison. Even though I was afraid, I was eager to discover more. Throughout
the lair, we did not lose sight of skeletons or spider webs. These were at every corner, at
every turn. The occasional howls from a distance made the hair on our backs stand up
straight. We finally arrived at a long hallway. Jack picked up a piece of wood and lighted
it up with his lighter. The flame seared at first, but after it simmered down, I was able to
see the walls clearly. There were ancient writings, the kind we usually see in an Egyptian
grave robber movie. As the expert in history, Jack tried his best to decipher the carvings.
Meanwhile, Peter leaned towards the wall to catch his breath. At that very moment, a
cold chill went down my spine.
Watch out! I shouted.
Before he could react, that portion of the wall he was leaning against flipped,
trapping him on the other side. All he could let out was a loud shriek and he vanished
behind the walls. I pounded against the wall, shouting his name. Only then did I know
what real terror felt like. However, the chance of rescuing him was bleak. I sank to the
ground, desolated and hopeless.
Lets get out of here, we have to inform the adults! suggested Jack.
I got to my feet swiftly and both of us sped through the building. My heart was
racing. I knew that danger may be waiting at the next corner. I could hear blood
pounding in my ears. Wait, was that a creak I heard? Uh-oh, I thought to myself. The
ceiling began to crumble. My sub-consciousness took over. I sprang forward and tackled
Jack. Both of us fell to the ground. Just as I thought that trouble was out of the way, the
burning piece of wood slipped out of his hand and landed in a pile of grease. Fire started
spreading like mad. I struggled to get up.
Come on, theres not much time left! I screamed as I turned towards the exit.
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
In a split second, my head turned 180 degrees. A gigantic marble pillar fell on
Jack. I mustered all the strength from every single cell in my body, trying to lift it up, to
no avail. My eyes were watery. I was completely out of ideas.
Save yourself, leave me, please, muttered Jack, with a weak tone.
This was certainly a tough decision for me. All the moments we had spent
together flashed through my mind. How could I leave him now? As the fire was close to
sealing my only exit, I knew that I had to be rational. I dived for my escape route.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as the mansion erupted into flames behind me.

2
Finally, A Voice Message
[PLEASE LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE AFTER THE TONE...BEEP!]
[Hello...How do I start this? Err, its Pippy here. So, how was school? Ive tried reaching your phone
but I was always answered by a robot-voice woman. Your Uncle Tom said you might be too busy, but I
knew my grandson was just being a good boy who wouldnt break the school regulations. How are you?]
Amongst hundreds of scholars scattered dot-like in front of the brick-red edifices of an elite boarding
school, were two friends deeply absorbed in their conversation.
Mick, a bright student, was bargaining his friend to stay with him during the holiday. With little
reluctance, his friend said yes, so much for the 3DVC* Mick owned and so that they could discuss the
Passive Cigarette Filter project.
[Heres the truth about your mother, Diana. When it came time you were born, not a glimpse of
disgust had she shown despite your condition. There was only one regret...]
True, as they say, life isnt all beer and skittles. His fantastic blueprints of childhood dreams, hardship
borne flying suit, smart robot maid, and fountain of youth were sold by his associate, Mick, out of
the trust and friendship they had been through for so long. In fact, there was a story about a mansbest-friend terrier biting its master.
[...her chicken boyfriend. She besought me to be strict with you, and soon she died of AIDS. By Gods
will, you were alive! Dont play fool with lust, believe me He wont save you twice.]
Somehow, somewhere in the midst of glory, he was dragged back to where he began assembling, bit
by bit, the ingredients to bake a cake of success. He felt for and found an old luggage.
Strewn inside were a Bible, an iPhone, and a forgotten photo capturing a grinning boy clasping the
eyes of an old man picture perfect. From this place in an old apartment, through the windowpane, as
he started combining the pieces of nostalgic puzzle, he caught a forlorn view of the boarding school, his
alma mater. Then it dawned on him; his friend wasnt just a biting terrier, he was an evil obscured
beyond the look of an angel.
[Once, you asked why there were still bad people if really God is almighty. You see, on a rainy day,
some cursed, but in truth, farmers, trees, and starving African all gave their thanks. He is fair...simple
answer for simple question. Now stop questioning and read the Bible.]
Soon the decelerating car halted to a rest, floating aloft the electromagnetic roadway. Hence he set
forth all he could an effort to run, with an anxiety that just grew stronger, almost staggeringly so.
He dashed his way inside the house, all the rush only to witness a humorous hanging banner:
WELCOME HOME, CITY BOY. His sight improved to a wider angle. At once he was dumbfounded as he
realized the dust in place everywhere; the unwanted but the logic had happened.
[No one can travel to the past but its never not alright to make mistakes. Upon every breath, give
your best; cherish every chapter of life. If on your way the road gets harsh, step into a carriage of faith
and it will escort you to the triumphant sky. One of these days when your feet crumble, flip the Bible and
inside it youll find wisdom, with little or no searching. Sometimes even the slightest failure can shut the
voice of a fighter, thats when others advices can guide you, but above all, bow your head and pray...]
Gone were the days of storm and chillness, and after came the warmth of the sun and comfort of the
breeze, which blew a pale gold leaf pass three figures, already loud in a lunatic burlesque. While one
busied himself fixing the camera, the other was persuading his cheeky grandson not to stand on the
bench. The way it defied the world, the grandsons synthetic leg wasnt something that brought him
slumping. But that is how it goes with young children: the more you prevent them, the more rebellious
they will be.
The old man gave in and sat beside his grandson. Just a split second before the cameraman (whose
name was Tom) flashed his camera, the bolt-quick hands of the grandson had closed the eyes of his
grandfather picture perfect.
[I know its busy life there but...I really miss my boy. I can still kick a ball you know...I need a tissue,
Tom...Why in the world am I crying like a sissy? Maybe my boy has turned handsome and gentleman
now, but if you need a Grandpa, Pippys not going anywhere ]
[YOU HAVE ZERO TALK-TIME LEFT ON...]
[...I hate that robot woman, for real...]

3
Forgiven
I stood motionless and looked at the solid, dark brown wooden door. The house
was painted white, and black on the wooden beams and window panes. It looked huge
and expensive from the outside. I had to make my mind up whether to knock or press
the bell. I turned to face the garden. I thought about going back to my car and drove
home. Home. That was where I wanted to be; or was it where I would be after I knocked
the door? I sighed and walked to the side where there was a wooden bench by the
beautiful garden. I could see that the woman in the family loved the garden. The smell of
white lilies reminded me of the florist down the road on Sixteenth Street. I sat on the
sturdy looking wooden bench, trying to figure out what I would say if someone was to
open the door. I wished I did not find out where she was so that I would not have three
sleepless nights thinking of why she left me, whether she was looking for me or whether
I should be angry.
I was abandoned at Bliss Home when I was barely four. They said they found me
playing joyfully in the playground, innocently thinking that I was sent to school. After
three years, I found out that my mother left me at the orphanage because she had to go
and find my father who left us when I was two. I was devastated, knowing that my
mother left me to strangers. Funny, I thought, how manipulative and contradictory
adults could be when it comes to giving advice. Those at Bliss Home took good care of
me and made me realise that I was still lucky to be able to enjoy life. Sister Lisa was one
of those who managed to make me see that I should make the most of myself than
being miserable, grieving my unfortunate life; thinking nobody loved me. I stayed there
till I was 12, when I was then transferred to Rouston Public School. Well, Sister Lisa
thought it was a good school. Spurred by Sister Lisas determination to give me life, I
did my best in Rouston and would go back to Bliss Home during semester breaks or
Christmas to be part of the family. Well, I was not sure whether I knew the meaning of
that word, but Sister Lisa convinced me that I was part of them when my presence was
usually welcomed by freshly baked apple pie and mince meat. Then we would all sit in
our warm huge and rather aromatic dining hall. I could still smell Marthas mouthwatering Yorkshire pudding and roast beef in the kitchen whenever I visited Bliss Home.
It was 8 years ago when I started digging files and tailing endless documents to
find out who my biological parents were. Blessed, I found where my mother lived but
was reluctant to go and see her. I knew it would shake her down to her knees and she
would beg forgiveness for leaving me; that she was young and naive; that she would not
have managed looking after me on her own. Even worst, my presence would stop her
heart; that she would collapse unconsciously, leaving me feeling guilty instead. Sister
Lisa was the one who insisted. At the end of the year, I eventually gave in but forbade
her from calling Mom to inform that I was coming; in case I changed my mind. She
gladly agreed and even packed me cheese and tomato sandwiches for the journey. I was
skeptical when she said that Mom would be waiting for me. If mom knew where I was,
why didnt she come and find me?
My thoughts were interrupted by a butterfly flying right in front of my nose. I
looked back at the house to see if anyone noticed my presence. Silence. I glanced at my
watch but I forgot what time I arrived, so I did not know how long I was there. I stood
up and walked back to the sandy path leading to the house. I stopped at the wooden
door again wishing it was an automatic door so I did not have to decide. Spotting a
shadow by the window on my left, my heart pumped. Somebody was at the window and
was walking towards the door. I found it very hard to swallow a big lump in my throat as
my heart thumped against my chest. I thought that I was the one who would be
unconscious.
Hi, can I help you? asked the girl who was standing in front of me with a huge grin. I
swallowed hard while admiring her curly blonde. Seeing that, I knew she must be Moms
daughter. She looked 15, lean and has beautiful brown eyes. Pretty.
Yess.. Ermm yeah.. I was looking for Mrs Collins. Hmm well, is this Mrs Collinss house
by any chance?

Ohh yeahh.. Hmm..Moms upstairs. And I think shes expecting you. Aunt Lisa told mom
this morning. She smiled pleasantly holding the door. Despite the dazzling big smile, I
could see the quizzical frowns on her forehead. I wondered whether it was because I
frowned first. Obviously Sister Lisa must have had said something to Mom.
I waited. Looking for words, 1 folded my arms unintentionally and looked away at the
lilies, biting my lower lips. I thought of saying that it was a big mistake and should just
walk back to my car. After all, it had been 25 years since she left me. It would not
change anything, would it?
Owh well, you must be freezing. Please come in, shell be down in a minute.
She opened the door and took my left hand, looked at me in the eyes as if to ask for
permission and pulled me inside. As I dragged my feet down the hallway, I could see a
family picture on the wall. Something stabbed me, right on my chest. Deep. I could feel
the pain that I felt years ago when I found out I was left on my own, and was on the
verge of tears. Again, I thought of walking back to the door but I brushed the thought
away when I heard the footsteps. It happened so quickly, I was not sure whether I was
actually there. My stomach tightened when I saw the hopeful look in her eyes.
William, ohh its you. Ive been waiting for you for what..like..30 years? I knew you
would find me. See, its in your nature. Being curious, that is.
Well, as if it was my mistake that she had to wait so long. I thought I was supposed to
wait for her to find me, or at least she should have gone to Bliss Home to find out.
Silence. I could not say anything looking at her fragile face. I noticed that her daughter
was standing by the small coffee table, looking out of the window expressionlessly,
pretending we were not there.
I looked at Mom pityingly and sighed. I was unsure of what to say. As if to wait for me to
invite her in her own living room, she stood by the door and smiled awkwardly. Despite
the quivered smile, I could still vaguely recognise those beautiful brown eyes when she
smiled. Then, she looked down at her hands, which she clenched and unclenched
nervously. I presumed that she was as uneasy as I was. After a moment, I cleared my
throat and forced a weak smile. Seeing that, she ran towards me and hugged me.
Sobbing. Tears welled in my eyes. I closed my eyes, afraid that anyone would see me,
but I knew she was forgiven.

5
Race
Not so fast Lewis! My immature ten-year-old voice yelled out at the fast disappearing
figure before me. I knew the additional two wheels of my glittering silver-tinted bicycle
had given me a disadvantage rather the advantage I thought I would have. I pedaled
with all the force my undeveloped leg muscles could generate, but it only proved to be
futile. I could not win this race.
I had never beaten my brother, Lewis, in any bicycle race after that. He always
seemed to be one step ahead of me, no matter how hard I tried. Lewis was a caring and
understanding brother, but equally so was he competitive and determined. He was my
role model and the person I respected most, but he was also my main rival. Our parents
too supported our healthy competition. Races with Lewis were never short of passion and
excitement, and soon I found myself getting more into cycling, determined to beat Lewis
at our favourite sport.
The years had gradually passed, and the both of us had found a new love,
motorcycle racing. We had worked hard to make our mark in the sport, and both of us
had succeeded thus far, winning respective races in different parts of the world. Yet, he
had won many more titles than me. I could never surpass him, it seemed. Our rivalry
was a race.
Now, it was time for us to compete once more. Both of us had entered the widelyacclaimed MotoGP competition, and a showdown would be inevitable. We had not raced
together for many years, leaving this race down to the tremendous amounts of hard
work we had put in. The press had written countless articles about our coming race, and
it was finally time for the big clash.
I turned my head towards him, and I could see his eyes through the visors of our
helmets. Eyes filled with a colourful mixture of nostalgia, happiness and determination.
Then, the horn blared. We raced, neck to neck from the start. It stayed that way for the
next seventeen laps, before the final lap. He sped in front of me, stretching his engine to
the limit. It would be extremely difficult to attempt to rival his pace, and I tried my very
best to reduce the gap as much as I could. As I saw him riding in front of me, I was
gripped by a sense of dj vu.
Not so fast Lewis! I mouthed, for the sake of reliving our very first race. Only
this time, I would not let history repeat itself. I flicked my wrist back, accelerating my
vehicle. I concentrated on the figure in front of me. I could feel the effect of pushing my
engine to its limits. My gloved hands were feeling the heat from the overheating engine.
We approached the last hundred metres. I was only half a motorcycles length
behind him. With a final flick, we crossed the finish line.
We looked up at the giant screen. A camera replay was being shown. It was too
close to call a winner.
And the winner is Will! the commentator boomed through the sound system.
I felt immense relief and a massive sense of achievement. I had finally done it. I
had won the cup. I had won a race against my brother. I had won the race to surpass my
brother.

6
Write story ending with: "That is the reward for my patience and hardwork."
No guts no glory. No pain no gain. Those are my life mottos. I feel that nothing
can be achieved by simply sitting and doing absolutely nothing to make dreams come
true. Life can be so hard especially when you are not born with silver spoon in yuor
mouth. It is also the time when true friends are hard to comeby just because you do not
much money to treat them at Kentucky Fried Chicken or Burger King. That is something
that I have experienced ever since my family moves to this metropilitan city and I study
in the new school.
In my new school I study hard to complete with all my fellow classmates who come
from all walks of life but most are from rich background. They have all that I have ever
wanted in my life but fail to get. They can buy branded shoes and clothes, unlike my
worn out Bata. They afford the latest handphones brands with the latest technology but
me? There is nothing I could do to be on par with them. So, I just let them show off their
fancy gadgets without feeling remorse with the fact that I am only an ordinary student
coming from a family clerk. I just feel sad that they act as if I do not have feelings. I do
not feel the least discourage since I know that I can also be like them one day if I work
hard enough to score in my SPM exam.
Day after day, night after night, I do not to do anything else but concentrate on my
studies. Spm examination is just around the corner and I have no other wish apart from
wanting to pass Spm with Flying colours. My parents are my inspirations. They always
remind me to work hard and hange our fate, make them proud as well as prove to
everybody that a son of a plain clerk can also succeed in life and deserve some respect.
At times, I feel so stressed out that I almost give up and cry. Nevertheless, thinking of
my parent's hope and wishes, I would never surrender and that is my final decision. I
engage myseld in group discussion, have consultations with my Physics and Chemistry
teachers, the two subjects that I am weak at as well as burn as much midnight oil as
possible to atain my ultimate goal-10A+ in the exam. Sometimes, I feel overworked
myself but I know I have to muster every single once of my strength to pull through this
ordeal and pray that it will end soon.
The most awaited moment has arrived. With prayers and good luck wishes from my
father and mother, I step into my examination hall with full awareness that I have to do
really well in the exam to realize all my parent's dreams and mine. The torturous
moments last for three weeks and as far as I am concerned time really flies but I trust
myself that I have given my very best for each paper.
March 2015 comes I heard on the television that the SPM 2014 result will be out
today. With anticipation and nervousness I walk to school with my good friend Samah. I
cannot imagine getting less than 8A+ because according to my conselor, only getting
8A+ will I be able to secure any scholarship, something which is very important to me
due to my parent's incapability to pay for my tertiary education. The moment Ms. Asiah,
my form teacher hands me the result slip, my heart skips a bea. i am cold from feet to
toe from the suspense. Then the moment arrives! It is the most unforgettable time of
my life. I mange to get 10A+ and my prayer has been answered. Thank God for giving
me apportunity to succeed and make my parents proud. That is the reward for my
patience and harwork.

7
A holiday I would never forget

Holidays, a time everyone gets hyped up over, parents planning activities for the family to spend
quality time with and school children ( as well as teachers) jumping for joy. Hello, waking up late,
celebrating, goin for tuition and best of all, vacations! In myy case, a holiday I would never forget
is a fruitful one I expereinced five years ago, where my family I spent six days in the land of K-Pop
and ' kimchi '- Korea.
Finally, after ages of waiting, our family arrived in beautiful Korea. Stepping out of the plane,
we could feel the chilly weather to our bones. Never experiencing that kind of weather, my siblings
and I were totally excited. Passing through immigration and baggage claim, we were talking
animatedly about our new surroundings. Since we went with tour group, we knew we were in good
hands.
Incident number one. We were supposed to take a bus to check in at the hotel, as instructed.
I guessed I was overeager and without thinking. I ran to a random bus and knocked on the door.
The young bus driver opened the door and looked at me with a puzzled expression. He started
asking me something in Korean, which of course I did not understand. I tried to reply in English,
but before I could make the attempt, my father quickly apologized to the driver and walked me
back to the tour group who was watching from afar, shaking with laughter. It turned out that the
bus I was running to was not the bus we were supposed to take. I dismissed my burning cheeks. I
was glad I could be the butt of everyone's jokes on my first day in a foreign country.
It was a bit past lunch time when we were done checking in our hotel. Not doubt,
everybody's stomachs were grumbling. Thank God after checking in, we were going to have our
lunch and do a bit of sightseeing. While waiting for the others outside the hotel, we walked around
nearby. There was a row of vending machines that sold various snacks and beverages, including
Haagen Dazs ice-cream , and instant noodles. My mother had a craving for Nescafe, so she spent
her first Korrean money on that.
At the restaurant, a delicious meal was already spread out for us. That was the first time we
all tried kimchi, a spicy and sour vegetable side dish.I did not think it was horrible, buut I
preferred the fish kimchi much better. We all ate using chopsticks, so that was kind or awkward for
me and my siblings, as we were not skilled at using them yet. Being Malaysians, we were used to
rice, so it was a good thing that the Korean meal included rice and a few other side dish, eaten
from a Bento box. It was weird though, the rice was stickier compared to the rice we eat at home,
mainly to make it easier to eat using chopsticks. There was also hot and scumptious miso soup
together with the meal. Since my sister and my brother did not like it much, I finshed up theirs. I
gulped the warm soup down my throat- a nice connntrast from the shivering weather outside.
One of the highlights of our activities that we did in Korea was skiling. Everybody from the
tour group was looking forward to that, even the 52-year old couple traveling with us. Since it
was'nt fully snownig yet, the hill was coverred with artificial snow. After grobbing our ski gear, we
listen to a briefing by the instructor. He was very help ful, especially with us kids annd the elderly
couple.
Feeling jumpy and hyperactive, me and my sister made our way to the cable car and
successfully skied down a slope. I thought, " We're natural at this," and my sister could not agree
more. When we came to see how our parents and brother were doing, my brother started to throw
a snowball towards me and my sister. It hit me, and we started having a small snowball fight of
our own, just like in the movies! I guessed we got a bit out of hand and my sister accidentally hit a
woman's back. when she turned around, she had this angry look on her face and started to walk
towards us.I hurried my siblings to continue skiing with our parents,and we ran away before she
cold catch us. Breathless, we giggled innaivety as we recapped the moment.
In a way, skiing is like swimming. Why do I say so? Well, when swimming ,you do not feel
tired , but you would see the effect when you get ravenous and eat more after a session or when
you aintend to tke a nap, but it is extended to long hours. The same goes to skiing. When we
arrived at the hotel after skiing, we were drained out and starving. Instant noodles saved the day!
We all ate curry-flavoured Maggi together, savouring the memontary pleasure. We also dozed off
quite early that night , right after going for a walk to enjoy the amazing night view of th
mountains, and breathing the cool, fresh winter air.
Shopping in Korea was also different compared to Malaysia. Its malls were packed with small
shops or stalla on every floor. Big boutiques were not seen as much as the quaint kiosks.
Nevertheless, I found shopping at their markets more enjoyable, especially because you could
haggle the price. Their specialities were crystals, fabrics and outerwear. Apart form that, I also
liked their wet markets , mainly because they were very clean and they did not have that fishy
smell. I remembered a shocking incident when walking through the stalls of the wet market. A
large fish jumped out its aquarium and onto the floor. I stared at it and suddenly, I saw a huge
cutting knife slicing through the fish's neck! It was the owner of the stall's doing. Then, the owner
left the fish flapping around lifelessly without a head.

8
There was also a treasure trove among the stalls of the wet market- a tiny shoop which
served grilled seafood. My family stepped into the shop and ordered some grilled fish and cockles.
After saying our prayers, we devoured our mouth-watering find of the day. Dripped in a type
of souce, the seafood was the best I had ever eaten, as you could taste the freshness. Or maybe I
was just hungry after a full day of activities.
If it was up to me, there were so many things to write on my memorabe trip to Korean. Not
onli we got to spend quality time together as a family, but we also learnt countless new things and
even discovered hidden talents. My father always said we should travel with an open mind and an
open heart. This is when you get to see your capability to adapt to changes. Just enjoy the simple
things in life and be thankful of what you have. So, do just that. Who knows you might discover a
part of yourself you never know existed?

Couple Foils Robbery Attempt

PULAU PINANG, Thu An elderly businessman and his wife foiled a robbery attempt by
two men armed with a screwdriver and a knife. The victims were reported safe from any
bad injury.
Tan Ah Wok, 60 and his wife were taking a morning walk near their home in
Helen Heights yesterday when two men on a motorcycle stopped them under the pretext
of asking for directions. As Mr. Tan was giving directions, one of the robbers pointed a
knife at him and ordered them to keep quiet. He then relieved Mrs. Tan of her jewellery
and instructed Mr. Tan to hand over his ring and watch. When he refused, a struggle
ensued. Meanwhile, his accomplice grabbed a helmet and hit Mr. Tan on the head with it.
On seeing this, his wife started screaming.
One of their neighbours, R. Subramaniam, who was taking his dog for a walk,
heard the screams and when to investigate. On seeing Subramaniam and his dog, the
robbers fled. I was taking my dog for a walk when I heard someone shouting for help.
Knowing that something was wrong, I ran there as fast as I could. Before I reached the
scene, the robbers fled on a motorbike. They were probably afraid of my Rottweiler.
Mr. Tan, who suffered a small cut on his head, was given outpatient treatment at
a private clinic. He said that it was a horrified experience as he never expected the two
men would attack his wife and him. He thought that they were lost and needed help. He
also mentioned that the guard who in charge nowadays easily allowed the strangers to
enter their residents. State CID Chief Supt Harun Din advised him and the people to be
more careful in giving help to strangers. The guard also must be stricter in letting people
from entering any residents without proper permission.
He added that the suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were believed to be illegal
immigrants. He said there had been similar incident last week when two men
approached a factory worker who was on her way home after work. The duo then
relieved her gold chain and cash. He advised the residents to be alert and reports to
police any suspicious-looking characters lurking in their area.

Write a story starting with: The widow had to work hard to bring up her little
son alone...

9
The widow had to work hard to bring up her little son alone. This was after her husbands
early death. She and her son lived in a wooden house. It was a small house with only
one bedroom and a kitchen.
Mariam wanted Sam to study hard to get good result. So she would not let Sam
help her do any household chores or wash his own clothes. The years flew by. Sam sat
for his SPM examination and pass with flying colours.
His mother was very happy. She went round telling her friends, My Sam will be
leaving for the city to study in a college. He will become a Manager one day. Ill move to
live with him in the city. Then, my struggle is worth it.
So Mariam continued to work hard to send money to Sam who was studying a
business degree. For Mariam, it was a tough life. Meanwhile, Sam kept on phoning home
to ask for more money. Mariam even had to borrow from her neighbours and friends to
send her son the money.
Three years Sam stopped calling home. He did not even let his mother where he
was. When she phoned the faculty, they told her that he had graduated and left for job.
However, they could not her more. Mariam was baffled. Where was Sam? She was so
sure he would come back and fetch her for city. So, she started to pack some of her bags
and boxes.
Three months later, there was still no news or call from Sam. One day, Mariams
niece, Kate, came to talk to her about Sam. She told her aunt, Auntie, a friend of mine
met Sam in a bank. Hes the branch manager. This is his address.
Early in the morning, Mariam took the first bus to the city. At the bus station,
she took a taxi and showed the taxi driver the bank address. On the way there, she told
the driver about Sam and what a filial son he was.
The driver stopped his taxi in front of a tall building. She got out of the taxi and
smiled at him happily. This was the moment she was going to meet Sam. She imagined
him showing surprise and delight at meeting his mother. Inside the building, a security
guard asked her who she was looking for. She told the guard Sams name.
The bank staff saw an old lady holding a worn-out handbag. They were
wondering, Who is this woman? Why is she asking for our manager?
Meanwhile, Sam pretended he did not know his mother. Feeling disgusted and
ashamed, he asked the security guard to ask her to leave. Mariam was shocked to hear
that! She looked Sam in a disappointed feeling ever, and ran out of the bank.
Back in her house, Mariam cried the whole night. She cried and cried till she had
no more tears. The next morning, she was sitting by the window with Sams photo on
her lap. She saw him walking towards their house. Soon she was shouting and crying,
My Sam is back! My Sam is back!
Sam ran towards her and hugged Mariam as he never let go. He was so sorry
and regretted the way he behaved. His colleagues were the one who made him realized
his big mistakes neglected his mother.
The neighbours heard her. They too shouted and cheered, feeling happy for her.

My Most Embarrassing Situation

Everyone has been embarrassed at one time or another. It is that moment in

10
time when you wish the earth would open up and swallow you. The anxiety and
discomfort felt during that time which may only last a few seconds feels like time has
stood still.
I remember so well when I had my most embarrassing moment. I was in Form 4
and it was during the school recess. The minute the bell rang for recess, I rushed to the
toilet because I had been controlling my urges since class started. I didnt want to miss
class because the lesson taught that morning was to include tips for the forthcoming
examination.
Without realising, I had rushed to the girls toilet. The prolonged control and an
upset stomach made worse by two glasses of cold milk in the morning made me grunt
and groan in what I thought in what I thought was the privacy of the cubicle. I thought I
heard giggling outside and wondered why the giggles sounded unusually near. A few
minutes later I came out the cubicle and discovered my horror that I had entered the
girls toilet. To make matters worse, the few girls standing outside didnt even turn away
when I came out. Instead they looked down at me, then only they turned quickly away.
Horror of horrors, I had forgotten to zip up! No beetroot could have matched the colour
of my face at this point in time!
They news of my predicament spread like wild fire throughout school. I was truly
the talk of the town. I felt like I could either walk around feeling perpetually selfconscious and embarrassed or I could turn the situation round, perhaps even to my
advantage. I remembered my mothers words that if you cant beat them, join them. So
I decided to make fun of myself, to laugh at myself too. It works. Everyone got bored
after a while and nobody teased me after that.
It was indeed an eye-opening experience for me. I have learnt that when people
laugh at you, you should laugh along. You must not take yourself seriously. Learn to look
at yourself through other peoples eyes and you will realise that most of the time when
they laugh at you, they just want to have some fun. They mean no harm. If you can
make people laugh, its like bringing sunshine into their lives and as someone said,
those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
A Road Accident
Road accidents are reported in newspaper and on television every day. There are
more frequently caused by reckless drivers rather than faulty vehicles. Last Saturday,
while I was travelling from Ipoh, I witnessed a serious accident. The scene of the
accidents was vivid in my mind.
A motorcyclist was following behind was taxi very closely. He was so impatient
that he was trying to overtake my taxi even near a sharp bend. At that critical moment,
there was an oncoming car. The taxi driver swerved to the roadside and I got a terrible
jolt. It was too late for the motorcyclist to avoid the car. His motorcycle ran against the
bumper of the car and smashed its windscreen. The motorcyclist somersaulted over the
car and was found lying in a pool of blood. It was a scene to chill the flesh! The car
driver, who was cut by the flying glass, was in a state of shock. All that happened in split
second and fear overwhelmed us.
The taxi driver stopped his taxi and I quickly ran to the nearest to the nearest
telephone booth to inform the police and the hospital. From a distance I could see some
people trying to help the injured motorcyclist and the car driver. They carried them into
one of the onlookers car and sent them to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile the taxi
driver tried to control and directs the traffic. Soon the police arrived and they promptly
took some measurements and evidence. After that they moved the damaged car and the
motorcycle to the roadside to ease the traffic congestion. They also took down the
evidence provided by witnesses and onlookers. Some sweepers were clearing the debris
and the blood stains on the road.
When the taxi finally continued the journey, I silently thanked God for my
narrow escape. I learned a good lesson that impatience and recklessness would bring

11
harm and danger. I was happy to see that Malaysians are public-spirited and they render
help to others readily. Since then I remember and follow the saying more haste less
speed and prevention is better than cure. I believe good road manners and roads
safety campaigns can help to reduce the number of road accidents which cause injuries,
loss and lives and properties.
The Importance of Studying English

will help you to further your studies

will help you to get a job

will help you in your job

will help you in your travels

will help you to enjoy many interesting programmes in television

will help you to appreciate many of the worlds most beautiful literary works

It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of the

importance of English language as they tend to ignore to learn the language. Students
attitude towards the language is also crucial to make sure that these teenagers can face
the future world better by learning English language as it is an international language.
Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of English,
many students are still not bothered about studying it seriously. There is also a
campaign that still on to make all the Malaysian becomes a better English learner, which
is Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthen the English. English is the most
important and the most useful language in the world today. There are many reasons why
you should study the language properly.
First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you want to further
studies. Almost all books at university are written in English in all subjects. Plus, it is a
compulsory for any candidate to pass English with credit before entering any universities.
So, if you are poor in English, you will blow you chance for better education or worse,
you are going to have a big problem studying at university.
The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will help you to
get a job. When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk to you in
English. The first impression you should give in order to success and have the job is, to
respond in English fluently. Your chances of getting the job are very slim if you stutter
while interviewing.
A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job. If the
company you work is actively involved in international trade, you have to speak to
prospective customers in English. Miscommunication might occur if your English is bad.
And this will put your company at risk and you will likely be dismissed if this happen.
Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country in the world
studies English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak fairly good English! At
least some of the people you meet on your travels in other countries can understand
English. The language is certainly practical when you are lost in your trip.
Communication problem will not happen if you can converse well in English. Inevitably,
English is one of the languages used in any airport in the world in making
announcement. Knowing English well, therefore, make travelling overseas easier.
Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will
experience if you good in English. You will enjoy televisions best programmes. We must
admit that many of the best programmes are produced by the Americans and British
companies. High self confidence influenced by the programmes will indirect inculcate in
yourself when you are fluent in the language. Quality time is worthily spent if you

12
understand and enjoy the programmes.
Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see the
importance and realise how importance the language is for their own future. Although it
is a second language in our country, it is now a main language all over the world.
Pollution
Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. There
are many types of pollution, namely air, water and noise. Pollution in our environment
will undoubtedly affect our quality of life. Our naturally beautiful world becoming ugly
because it is suffering from the effects of environmental pollution. Pollution can also
cause various health problems and other negative effects.
Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles, factories and
open burning. Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles on the road as society gets
more affluent. More and more people strive to have a better quality of life by having the
convenience of driving to their destinations instead of taking public transportation.
Automobiles provides transport to millions people around the world to enable them to
travel to their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us is getting
more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon monoxide is another type of
gas which harmful to the environment as it can cause the reduction of oxygen in the
bloodstream.
Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing factories.
The manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing demand of society is also
causing air pollution. Factories release toxic gases to the environment. Some factories
also use coal to generate heat and energy. As a result from the burning of coal, carbon
dioxide is released into the environment.
Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as a way of
disposing their household wastes. Although burning our household wastes is a
convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is harmful to the environment as it
contributes to the worsening of the air quality. As a result, air pollution causes people to
suffer from health problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme cases, people
can contract lung cancer.
Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The marine life is
the first to suffer from water pollution as they depend on the nutrients in the water to
survive. As a result, we are robbed of beautiful sea corals and unique species of fishes.
Besides ruining our marine heritage, the disappearance of marine life will affect the
livelihood of fishermen, not to mention our source of food. Water pollution is caused by
harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are dumped into our
sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This irresponsible act contaminates our
drinking water and can cause serious health problems and can even culminate in death.
Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy machinery and
vehicles can cause hearing problems and in extreme cases, deafness. As there is growing
number of vehicles on the road, we are exposed to noise pollution every day. The
government in advanced countries encourage their citizens to take the public buses and
trains by providing an affordable and efficient transportation system. This effort
discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently reduces the
number of vehicles on the road.
We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future generations can
live in a healthy, unpolluted environment. As the saying goes, precaution is better than
cure. Lets hands on hands together by recycle and conserve the world for the better
future.

13

The best of friends, the worst of enemies

Write a story about a family feud
Hock and his cousin, Huat were the best of friends. Born in the same year, Hock was
a day older than his cousin.
They were inseparable, a fact known to their mothers who were kindergarten bosom
friends. But Chuan, Hock's father and Seng, Huat's father were sworn enemies and what was
strange was that the fathers were blood brothers, having the same father.
But their friendship was the best kept secret of the town. Even their mothers were
their allies. The two cousins behaved like total strangers in the presence of their fathers.
Hock was curious how Uncle Seng could be his father's favourite enemy and viceversa. Hock and Huat tried to squeeze the secret out of their mothers but their mothers
pleaded ignorance and they really had no one to appease their cat's curiosity.
But one night Hock's parents had a visit from a China lady, dressed in traditional blue
samfoo and black trousers. She spoke a strange Cantonese dialect but she was warmly
welcomed by Chuan who started behaving like an indulgent child. She spent a night with
them and boy, was she feted!
The next day, she visited the family house and spent some quiet moments with Hock's
grandmother who was as pleased as Punch to see her. Huat informed Hock that she had
dinner with them that same night and Seng was thrilled to bits at her visit.
Hock and Huat could not but be intrigued by the lady's visit. It just could not be a
coincidence that she came to visit both their fathers and was treated majestically by both of
them. So the two boys cornered their mothers who happened by a strange act of fate to be
having tea the next day together.
The two mothers knew they could not wrangle their way out of the situation and so
graciously revealed the family skeleton.
Chuan was the eldest son of the first wife while Seng was the youngest son of the
second wife. Chuan's mother passed away after his birth and that China lady was his milk
mother. Huat's mother, their grandmother married into the family so that she could ensure the
growth of the clan. Altogether she had six sons and three daughters. She treated Chuan justly.
Unfortunately her husband died suddenly of a heart attack. She was forced to take over the
business and ran it so efficiently that she turned it into a multi-million business empire. Her
household was run by the China lady who favoured only Chuan and Seng. She just
concentrated on her business. Her right-hand man influenced her to cut Chuan out of the
business and install her favourite son, Seng as the sole heir.
Of course, Chuan protested vehemently seeing that he too had played his role in
stabilizing the company after his father's death. Even Seng tried to talk his mother out of it,
an action known only to both mother and son as Seng had to be wary of the cunning sly righthand man. Chuan thought Seng had a hand in stealing his birthright from him and he was
furious. He refused to talk to his stepbrother and since that day, he acted as though Seng
never existed. This was the scenario for five years until the right-hand man died.
The matriarch realised her mistake and on the influence of the China lady, reinstated
Chuan as an equal shareholder together with the other six sons. She held an equal share.
Despite his reinstatement, Chuan did not forgive his stepbrother and continued to have
nothing to do to him.

14

The return of the China lady brought the two brothers together. She revealed the truth.
The old family feud ended.
The two cousins could now openly be friends, much to the pleasure of the two
mothers. Seng rumpled Huat's hair, "You didn't fool me. I knew you two were friends."
Chuan smiled sheepishly, "That was our quarrel, not theirs. Hock, I wasn't fooled either !"