Caught in a storm

Black clouds gathered above us, but we were too intent on playing football. We hoped that the clouds would go away so that we could continue playing. Our hopes were dashed when suddenly heavy rain began to pour. In a few seconds we were all soaked to the skin. To make matters worst, lightning flashed dangerously close to us. The deafening thunder and howling wind did not help either. We ran towards a large tree under which we had parked our bicycles. The tree provided some shelter from the rain and we were tempted to remain under it. However we knew that it was dangerous to stay under a tree during a thunderstorm. So we got on our bicycles and pedalled off. There was no other shelter available nearby. So I, for one, decided to go home. Since I was already completely wet, I might was well to go home instead to seeking shelter. It was just about the fiercest storm I had ever been in. The driving rain made cycling difficult as I could not see more that a couple of metres in front of me. A car flashed past me. It was too close for comfort. Perhaps the driver did not even see me. So I thought it was better to stop somewhere before I got hit by another car. Luckily I found a bus-stop with a roof. I hurried gladly under the roof even though I had to share it with a dozen other people who were also soaked to the skin. It was a bit of a squeeze but no one complained. For an hour the storm lashed everything around us. We were silent spectators to an awesome display of power by nature. I felt very small and vulnerable, even afraid; but I could do nothing but watch. Finally the rain slowed down to a drizzle and the wind died down. I could still hear distant thunder but the worst of the storm was over. So happily I got on my bicycle and pedalled home. dash sb's hopes vulnerable to destroy someone's hopes able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked rain in very small light drops

drizzle

A seaside resort on a rainy day

Teluk Kemang eight miles from Port Dickson town, is a very popular holiday spot. The beach is covered with lovely white sand and the sea is usually calm and inviting here. Furthermore the water's edge does not change appreciably during low and high tides. So a bather does not have to wade far to get to a decent depth. Come Sundays and holidays, the beach is packed to capacity. This Sunday is no different. When I arrive by car with a group of friends, I have to hunt high and low for a parking space. After some time I find one a few hundred meters from the beach. We do not complain for we are lucky to find one. In double-quick time we are in the sea, swimming to and fro and generally having a good time. From the water I can see throngs of people on the beach. Some are standing, some are sitting while the rest walk leisurely around. Some children are making sand-castles and a couple of white bodies are spread out on the beach, presumably sun-bathing. Too bad for them, the sun is hidden behind black clouds. Black clouds! The thought suddenly occurs to me that it is going to rain. As if in direct response to my thoughts, the rain comes, thick and furious. I can feel the sting of the raindrops falling on my bare shoulders. The sea seems to boil under the incessant onslaught of falling raindrops. I can see the bathers, including me, crouching down as low as we can get into the water to avoid the painful drops. Through the blurring rain, I see people on the beach rushing madly for shelter. Most of the holiday-makers who come here are in their best Sunday clothes. They have no intention of swimming. These people are mainly harried city workers who come here to join in the happy Sunday atmosphere. However this Sunday is not for them. Soon most of them who do not find shelter quick enough are soaked to the skin their clothes, hairdo, makeup and all thoughts of a cheery holiday ruined by the relentless rain. They huddle remorsefully under whatever shelter that are available in the stalls, in the hotels, under the huge trees, in the bus. Some bravely stand in the rain with their umbrellas. What a pathetic sight they present. The beach is completely deserted. The souvenir pedlars are more prepared for the rain for they cover their wares quickly and effectively with plastic sheets. It is obvious that they have had a lot of practice at this. The speed-boats that take holiday-makers for a ride around the bay for a fee are idle. The drivers sit forlornly in the boats, waiting for the rain to stop. Those of us in the sea carry on with our fun. The feeling of getting caught in the rain while in the sea is quite invigorating. Water, water everywhere and enough for anyone to drink. All he has to do is to open his mouth, above the sea that is. Eventually I can feel the waves becoming larger and the wind stronger. In a few minutes swimming becomes impossible as the waves become huge and angry and the wind begins to get

cold. I signal to my friends to get out. Emerging from the warm sea into the cold driving rain is like stepping from a warm bed into a refrigerator. We shiver uncontrollably. So we run to the car. It is so wonderful to be inside the warm car but what a mess we make inside the car; sand, water and salt everywhere. I will have to clean the car when I get home. When I start the engine to move off, I can see buses and cars leaving the beach. It seems like these people have decided to go home too. Judging from the intensity of the storm, I reckon it will carry on for a few hours. There is no point hanging around. Still there are many stubborn holidaymakers braving the pouring rain, waiting for the rain to go away till the seaside becomes cheery and sunny once again.

On a cold and gloomy night

It was a cold, gloomy night. The wind was howling and thunder could be heard often. It had been like this for several hours, yet there was no rain. Many shuddered but pretended to believe that it was only a storm building up. Why then did we all secretly believe that that night something extraordinary was about to take place ? We, picnickers at an isolated seaside resort in the only hotel (or rather building) for miles around voted for a good night's rest. Suddenly, the telephone rang. That assured us that we were not in an all-that-deserted neighborhood and we rushed towards it relieved and even surprised to know that there was a phone. A low, husky voice informed me that one of the members of our party was in serious danger in an old castle five miles away. Then it dawned on me that my little cousin was not with us. Could he have been the one mentioned ? The line went dead. No further questions could be asked. Everyone was reluctant to leave the hotel, so a search party could not be formed. After much persuasion, I managed to find a young man to accompany me. We set off in an old battered car. The moon was not up yet and there were no stars. Everything was still and the occasional sounds made by unfamiliar creatures frightened us. We were convinced that ghosts were lurking. Yet the thought of my seven-year old cousin all alone in a deserted castle kept us going. Suddenly, a scream was heard. I applied the brakes of the car and it screeched to a halt. Curious to know what had happened, we crept out of the car. There in the middle of the road lay a black cat - dead. Although the car was an old one, its headlights were strong and I felt sure that I had seen no cat around earlier. To make matters worse, it was a black one, symbolizing bad luck. What about the scream we both heard ? That had still to be explained. Deciding that it was wrong to dither at a time like that, we resumed our journey, We both knew where the castle was situated but has not been there before. How then could a seven-year-old who had been with us all evening have disappeared to this castle, notorious for the mysterious sounds heard at night? Few dared to visit it during the day ! We reached the strong iron gates of the castle. At its foot lay a small boy, shivering in the cold my cousin. I rushed forward to get him; he was unconscious. Wrapping him in blankets, we turned to the car, thankful to have found him live and not to have id to enter the castle in the dark. We reached the hotel with no further mishaps and were greeted by relieved smiles. It was the end of our adventure and it had ended well. We were all happy. This baffling mystery remains unsolved. How had my cousin found his way to the castle? Even he was puzzled. Who had telephoned us ? What about the scream we heard ?

A daring rescue
It was a seven story building that had caught fire. The lower floors were used for offices and shops. In the three upper floors people were living with their families. There were several families living in the flats. The fire started in a paint go down on the first floor. How it all started nobody knew. The fire was noticed only when it began to rage. It was an ungodly hour when the fire broke out. The fire was noticed first by a night watch man who raised an alarm. He phoned up promptly for the fire service and police. It was sometime before the fire engines came to the scene. By then the fire had spread to the other floors. Between fire and smoke there were cries of anguish and despair. People were at first rescued with the help of ladders and lifts. In the confusion that prevailed nobody knew who was rescued. In such circumstances people tend to be very selfish. The fire fighters thought they had rescued all. Then suddenly a lady remembered that her child who was sleeping in the cradle had not been rescued. One can understand her anguish and pain. She began beating her breast and wailing, thinking that her baby would have perished by then in the fire. One of the firemen did not lose hope. He told the lady assuredly that if the child was still alive he would go and surely save it. He drenched himself with water, got up the ladder in spite of the warning given by his colleagues. Walls were crumbling down and beams were falling and tongues of fire were still to be seen. Worst of all there was a thick pall of smoke. The man managed to get a foothold on a window. He got into the room and with great difficulty he was able to locate the cradle. It was a miracle that the fire had not done much damage to the side where the cradle was located. He took the screaming child rolled it in a wet blanket which he had brought. He quickly strode to the window and called his colleagues who were waiting anxiously below with a foam mat. He threw the valuable bundle down. His colleagues caught it with dexterity and the child was moved to a place of safety. No words can explain the joy of the mother. In the meantime the fireman slipped down the ladder. In spite of the precautions he had taken, there were burns on his body. He was promptly taken to the hospital and given proper treatment. In appreciation of his service the highest civil authority rewarded a sum of money to him. That was the proudest moment in the life of the fireman . Everybody was saying that he would get the President's Medal for his courageous act. ungodly perish dexterity extreme and unacceptable to die, especially in an accident or by being killed, or to be destroyed the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skilfully with the hands, or the ability to think quickly and effectively

Fire
Fire is one of the four basic elements believed to be composing the universe and necessary to human life and the continuity of human existence. The simple word 'fire' has, over the years, acquired a large number of connotative meanings and seems to envelop the whole area of human life ranging from its daily needs like the cooking of meals, and the heating of rooms to emotional and poetical meanings. Fire is required for the purposes of war and peace, for the performance of many religious ceremonies, and for the continuation of civilization. Yet. it is one of the most primitive forces present. One can only guess how man learnt to ignite a fire. Perhaps the use of fire preceded this knowledge of the method of lighting a fire. Primitive man, when he chanced upon a burning fire, kept it burning for long periods. It gave him light and offered him protection from wild animals. Later he learnt that tools could be hardened, metals melted, and food cooked. Gradually he also learnt that fire could be lit in a number of ways - by knocking two stones together or pieces of broken pottery or bamboo sticks. He was later to learn the use of matchsticks. gas lighters and electric lighters. Fire held him in awe. This was partly due to the mysterious origins of fire. And in most of the ancient. pre-Christian religions, fire had a place of worship. The Hindus worship it and it is necessary for the performance of a "Yagna" or a religious offering of prayers and for the performance of a marriage ceremony. The funeral pyre is also consumed by fire. The Parsis worship fire and have Fire Temples where they offer their devotion. Coal. oil. wood. gas and electricity are used to keep a fire going. They are all sources of energy and each has its own utility. The steam engine and the early industrial gadgets were dependent on the steam produced from coal. Now oil in the form of diesel and petrol has got an equally important part to play. Central heating and railway services, cold storage and many medical facilities depend upon electricity. But there is nothing to beat a good, warm fire in winter for creating good will and friendly feeling. Civilization has brought in many changes and has almost driven the simple wood fire out. Yet Gypsies and other tribal people still continue to gather around a communal fire and sing songs and dance to their heart's content. Most camps end in a camp bonfire. In literature, fire has a dual role to play, as it has in real life. It symbolizes both creation and destruction: it is both a cleansing and an annihilating agent. Robert Burns wrote in a poem "Epistle to John Lapraik', "Gie me ae spark o'Nature's Fire. That's a' the learning I desire". He meant by this that he wanted to feel intense passion and ardor and out of this all good is born, all creative activity takes place. Yet fire also destroys. The Great Fire of London burnt away huge sections of the city. a napalm bomb when it explodes causes burns and loss of life and an immense amount of destruction. A forest fire, as dwellers in the tropics know, is disastrous. Fire destroys and when it dies down. it kills something in man and turns him into a cold, callous human being. It is said that the gods did not wish to share this gift with mankind and Prometheus stole fire from heaven for the use of mankind. Though he was punished for this act, the rest of mankind has benefited from his act. It is a divine quality not to be idled with. A fire accident can be a gruesome affair. There has developed the idiom "He has come through fire" and also the proverb "It is foolish to play with fire". Man must take it in its proper measure: creation not destruction.

A Daring Rescue
Johnny was sound asleep when he was awakened by a loud commotion. He opened his eyes and lay listening. He could hear shouts and screams coming from the outside. Sensing that something was wrong, he quickly threw on his t-shirt and slipped into a pair of jeans, discarding his cotton pyjamas, and rushed out of the house. There was a huge crowd gathered at one of the houses further up the street. The house was ablaze and thick clouds of smoke were floating up into the clouds. Johnny went back into the house and made an urgent call to the fire department. Then, he ran out again towards the house on fire. It was Mr. Ong's house. Mr. Ong and his wife were safely out of the house but their young daughter was still trapped inside the burning inferno. the neighbors had formed a human chain and were using buckets of water to put out the fire but it was of no avail. Johnny could hear the frantic cries of the young girl inside the burning house. Without thinking twice, Johnny furled himself at the door and broke into the house. He was almost overcome by the thick smoke. Johnny held his breath and managed to locate the young girl. He carried her over his right shoulder and dashed out of the house and placed her on a grass patch. Soon, the fire engine and ambulance arrived. The paramedics quickly transported the girl to the hospital accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Ong. The firemen used their big hoses to put the fire out but the house was completely ruined. A few days later, Mr. and Mrs. Ong came to Johnny's house. their daughter was still recovering in hospital as she had suffered some minor burns. The couple thanked Johnny for rescuing their daughter.

Write a story based on this line : "By evening, she was running a high fever ... "
Far up in the mountains of Canada, there is an old abandoned log cabin. Once it was occupied by a young couple who wanted to distance themselves from the chaos of this modern world. Here they were miles away from the nearest town. Bob, the husband, made the occasional trip into town to buy supplies whereas Jan, his wife, spent her free time by the fire, sewing. Their life was simply idyllic. Then, one midwinter's day, Jan woke up from bed with a strange ache in her bones. Putting it down to overwork, Bob shooed her to bed and made sure she rested. Though Jan was impatient to get to her chores, Bob soothed her, "Relax, Sugar. You're overdoing things. All these chores will be here when you recover." However, Jan seemed to be getting worse instead of recovering. By evening, she was running a high fever and in greater pain. In spite of his best efforts, Bob could not manage to ease her suffering. And then suddenly, she started to lapse into unconsciousness. It was then obvious that she was seriously ill. What could Bob do? He had no experience in treating the sick and Jan was getting worse by the minute. He knew that there was an old doctor in town but he lived three miles away, downhill. Pot-bellied and obese, there was no way the doctor could make it up to their cabin. Something had to be done quickly! Bob racked his brains but to no avail. The only thing left to do was to go to the doctor. In Jan's condition, she could never walk that far in the waist-deep snow. Bob would have to carry her! Bob searched his mind for a way to move poor, sick Jan. Then, he remembered. He had once made a sledge so that they could ride together over the mountain. They never got around to using it though, because the whole mountain was thickly covered with rocks and trees. He had never found a safe way down, not even once. "Well," he thought, "looks like I'm going to have to try it anyhow," as he dug out the sledge from the storeroom. "Jan may die unless I get her to the doctor, and life means nothing to me without her." With this thought in mind, Bob gently tucked Jan into the sledge, got in the front, and with a short prayer for safety, pushed off. How they got through that ride alive, Bob has never figured out. As trees loomed up in front of him and just as quickly whizzed by his side, close enough to touch, he felt relieved that Jan was not awake to experience the ride. It was all he could do not to scream as collision seemed imminent, time and again, with only inches to spare. At last, bursting from the mountainside, the town came into view. Barely slowing down, they sped through the icy streets, only losing speed as they neared the doctor's house. The sledge, battered through the journey, collapsed in the left ski as it came to a halt, spilling out its occupants. Bob picked up his Jan and made his way into the doctor's house.

After what seemed to be a long winter, Jan recovered fully from her illness but Bob never recovered from his fright. They moved into the little town so as to be near help in times of crisis, and have lived there ever since. idyllic rack one's brains batter simple and carefree strain to find a solution to damage as by heavy wear

As part of your school assignment, your teacher has asked you to describe on eyewitness account of an accident.
It was a very cold morning as it had been raining very heavily the previous night. As my mother was feeling a little under the weather, my sister volunteered to drive me to school. I had overslept and as a result, was running a bit late for school. We got into the car hurriedly. The road was already congested with traffic. It appeared that everyone was late as well. My sister was a careful driver and despite the fact I was already late, she refused to drive fast on the slippery road. I was lucky she was such a resolute and careful person because a few hundred meters away from the school, we witnessed a tragic accident. it all happened very quickly, as most accidents do. A car full of school children had made a left turning without signaling and as a result a school bus crashed into it. A few cars behind the school bus rammed into the bus as they could not brake in time and soon it became a pile up. The already congested road became jammed with vehicles that came to a crawl. I told my sister that I wanted to help the victims and she nodded silently. She brought the car to a halt not too far from the accident spot. The scene that greeted us was something I would never forget. It left an indelible imprint in my mind to date. The impact of the accident had plunged three school children out of the car. The driver, a lady, lay lifeless on the steering wheel. I rushed to the children who were preschoolers. Two of them were seriously hurt and bleeding profusely from the head and hands. they were conscious although too weak to realize what had happened. One of them had her left hand severed and appeared unconscious. I think she was killed on the spot. In the meantime passers-by had called the ambulance and while waiting we tried as best as possible to help the victims. The passengers in the school bus too were injured. I dashed into the bus and saw the driver laid slumped on the wheels. He had severe injuries on the head. While my sister helped him down from the bus, I told the injured school children to stay calm. Most of them appeared to suffer from minor cuts and bruises on their arms and bodies. it was really fortunate that nobody was badly hurt. By then a few adults had entered the bus and together we instructed the children to come out of the bus slowly. The children were crying and screaming for their parents and we had to hug them to keep them quiet. Meanwhile, two ambulances had arrived. A traffic police car was there too. Two policemen were taking down statements from eye-witnesses. The injured and the dead were whisked away to the hospital. My sister and I later gave an account to the police of what had happened. I was late for school. In fact, many drives were also late for their work. I informed my teacher of the accident and both felt that it could have been prevented if the drivers had been more careful. Innocent lives would not have been lost otherwise.