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.

My Most Embarrassing Situation

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

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
self-conscious 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.

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 mans-best-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...]

My mother

About seventeen years ago, a beautiful young woman, named Kari, was
trying to adjust and understand the purpose of her life. She was a typical
adolescent, making mistakes and hoping each lesson would guide her in the right
direction of life. At this time, she was living in Germany, occupied in the US Army,
on and off with a boyfriend, and fighting to keep a relationship with her family,
through letters. It may not seem like an ideal situation, but everything in life has a
purpose, the challenge is discovering it. Unlike most adolescents, her life was put
into perspective very quickly. At the age of nineteen, Kari received results from a
test, which changed her life forever. She was pregnant.

In January 1995, at the age of twenty years old, Kari gave birth to a baby girl.
Her life now revolved around her child, Alexis. She got out of her relationship, got a
job, and found a safe place for the two of them. Now living with her mom and step
dad, working as a papergirl (newspaper delivery person), and fighting for divorce,
Kari was struggling. It didnt matter though; she made the best of it.

When Alexis was two, Kari married her husband, Mike. Together, they got a
town home. Now, with a home and family, it may seem like times were great, but
there was still a lot of life to be learned from. Mike was constantly traveling; in fact,
he was in Utah for two years after they got married. Kari was now raising Alexis,
working seven days a week, and working to keep her marriage healthy. As with
everything in her life, Kari took sacrifices and made it work.
 Fourteen years later, looking at this 36 year old, you would never realize the
struggles she has faced in life. She is a beautiful, young, and caring, mother, friend
and wife. She lives in a nice house, takes care of kids, home-schools Alexis and, her
husband is home almost every night. She has many great qualities, but I think the
characteristic that makes her the most unique and genuine person, is her love and
creativity. She was, and is, able to take anything normal and make it enjoyable.

By now you have probably realized, I am Alexis, her daughter. I have a great
relationship with my mom, something many girls, my age, are lacking. In some
ways, its like we grew up together (although twenty years apart), best friends. She
has always provided the loving, but strict mother figure, which I can rely on, in my
life. Her creativity brought me lots of fun times, and cherished memories,
throughout my adolescents. Her strong words and lectures, many she has learned
from in the past, bring me wisdom and guidance for the rest of my life. And her
open and loving heart, gives me a safe place to share my emotions. I never could
ask for a better person to spend my memories with, for they wouldnt be the
memories they are, without her.