Blessing or Curse

You've been wanting to have a little sister? WOW!!! Are you sure? Have you considered it and ask someone who does have a younger sister to give you opinion? Cause I honestly think you should know the truth. Well, now I, who have a younger sister, will tell you.

Well, let's say, younger sisters are not always good. So here are the examples of why younger sister can be horrible sometimes. And I mean it.

Point 1: Younger sisters can be annoying. Like when you want something, she'll purposely take it from you just to spite you. When I want to bath. she immediately says she wants to bath and dash into the bathroom before I could react. When I say I want to eat chocolate, she rushes and put it into her mouth before you can say, "STOP before I smack you!"

Point 2: Younger sisters loves to complain. Well, whenever you like to get away with something wrong, she'll tell on you and make you suffer the consequences. I am not going to give example for this one because it's pretty embarassing.

Point 3: Younger sister love spoiling your fun. Whenever you want to surprise your parents, she will tell about the surprise to them before you can stop them. Then you'll feel like smacking them. Like the first time I got full marks for my Maths test (yay!). I wanted to surprise my parent but guess who interfered? Yes, my younger sister! She told them and it was damn irritating. I know, sooner or later my parents will know but it will feel different, right?" Like would you rather hear "Hey, Jie Jie (older sister in Chinese) got full marks for her Maths test. She wants to surprise you." Or "Mummy, mummy! I got full marks for my Maths test!"

Point 4: Younger sisters love making you want to kill them, and then when your parents come, they will be like "hey, what did I do?" Yep, my sister does that a lot. She will be like one second kicking you and pinching your cheeks and pulling your hair and then a second later, "la~la~la~" Yes, singing. Luckily, my mum is pretty used to my sister pretending to have done nothing.

Okay, enough of bad points. Now let’s talk about her good points. Not a lot but there are some. Like if you want someone to play with and you want someone to complain to about parents.

Point 1: Younger sisters can be great fun. Like when I play board games like Monopoly, Chinese chess, International chess, UNO, carrom, etc. with her. Mostly , it’s fun because I always win. Also, when we play basketball and badminton, it’s kind of fun but also because of the same reason. And when you feel like doing something bad like eating after bedtime and playing after bedtime when parents are asleep, you know who to look for.

Point 2: Younger sisters love to complain. This is stated earlier but this one is a good thing. You see, if your mum scolds you and you’re very angry, go to your younger sister and start complaining. She can come up with over millions of bad things about mum.

That’s all. I know, so less. But I can’t think of anything more. Now I’ll tell you what you younger sister is the queen of.

Complain Queen: Don’t think it is necessary to repeat myself.

Lazy Queen: Yes, sisters absolutely love lazing around. She hates doing homework and always laze around watching television and playing computer. No kidding, she loves to sleep to. And when she does, it’ll take about 15 minutes to wake her up. Even more if it is a rainy morning on the weekends.

Drama Queen: She always acts and it’s a pity she doesn’t go for drama class. It can be a bad thing if you hate dramas but a good thing if you take it as entertainment. Of course, it isn’t fun when she’s acting you and coping whatever you do and say.

Food Queen: Yup, she loves eating. She can stuff the whole bread into her mouth. Not kidding. It’s amazing watching her eat that speed.

Gadgets Queen: She knows everything there is to know about technology. Especially television. She adjust this and that and then suddenly, your phone have some weird ringtone. Click click and your computer suddenly have a very weird arragement. Another twist twist and you’re watching some channel that shouldn’t have been allowed. Great help sometimes but sometimes, like when she changes your ringtone, you wish she’d just leave your things alone.

Now you know all this, consider whether you want a little sister. Think hard or you might just regret it.

by Happy Snow (It's up to you)

Happy Unforgivable

“Help! Help!” I screamed, straining to keep the unconscious Jason above water while swimming towards the leaving ship. My voice grew weaker and weaker as I watched the ship sailing away. Please let someone hear me, I prayed.

Soon, I was so weak and tired I can hardly swim or scream. Tears of regrets spilled uncontrollably as the memory of what happened just now appeared in my mind. If Jason doesn’t survive this, I will never forgive myself. He’s only ten years old!

Then, I spotted it. Thank God! I stopped screaming and swam with all my might towards it. After what seemed like hours, I reached it and swung my arm over it. To my relief, the log floated steadily on.

My heart told me to stay awake and not go into dreamland until we were safe but my eyelid grew heavier and heavier and in less than a minute, I was sound asleep.

It was the third day on board Starry, the ship my family and I were on and I was extremely bored. I realized that the wind was unusually strong and, since it was my brother Jason’s birthday, I decided that I would do something exciting with him.

“Hey, Jason! Do you want to…” I whispered the rest of the sentence to him. I saw him quaking like a leaf and thought he would back out so I added, “It’s tenth birthday, you’ve got to prove that you’re no longer that little winp I’ve known nearly all my life.”

“Su…sure, and I’m not a coward!” he stammered, shuddering probably at the thought of doing the dare. The little coward, I thought rolling my eyes. He won’t admit it but I know he was scared. I ran up to the top deck as he hesitated for a while before running after me.

By the time he reached, I have already done the dare. I was sitting on top of the railing and apparently, I underestimated him.

He climbed up and sat on the railing, shaking violently. He counted to five seconds and was about to drop back onto the deck when a gush of wind shoved him mercilessly overboard.

All I could do was stare in shock at where he was sitting only seconds ago. I tried to figure out whether I should jump down or run to the deck shouting “Man overboard!”. I was about to do the latter when another gust of wind forced me into the sea.

Before I knew what was happening, I was already dropping into the wide ocean. I guessed I had to the former. I swam around looking for him and I screamed when I saw him. His head was bobbing up and down, barely above the water.

As I swam towards him as fast as I could, I saw him went under and when he was supposed to come up, he did not. No! I thought and swam forward. You can’t drown! You’re my only brother, I thought in desperation. Finally, I got to him and pulled him out of water but he was heavy. I pulled with all my strength and nearly did not make it. His life depended on whether I had enough strength...

“No! Help!” I cried. Just then, I felt something near me moved and startled, I woke up abruptly. I saw Jason stirring slightly and remembered where we were. I held to him tightly and hoped wholeheartedly that he was fine.

After what seemed like forever, water spilled out of his mouth and his eyes flew open. I hugged him in relief whispering, “I’m really sorry!” He smiled weakly showing that he forgave me but let out a groan.

He’s younger, he needs food more than you and this is your fault, I told myself and handed him the soggy chocolate bar from my pocket which he ate gratefully. I looked around hoping I could find something but it was absolutely hopeless.

I forced Jason to rest while I continued swimming, constantly blaming myself for my thoughtlessness. After a few hours or so when the sun had started stooping lower down, I realized the log was sinking slowly. It couldn’t take the weight of us both. I vowed that if necessary, I’ll make sure that I am the one who goes into the ocean.

When Jason woke up from his sleep, I mumbled another sorry but I doubt he heard it. I was so tired my voice was barely a whisper. I raised my voice, “When I... go under the... must promise... stay alive... for me... please...”

He looked at me and for the first time in his life, refused to listen to his big sister. “You’re not going!” It was his turn to make me stop and swam instead. “We’ll be alright,” he promised but I wasn’t going to believe that as readily.

I was going to object but before I could do so, I passed out.

Suddenly, I felt a bump and I realized that we were on an island. I turned and saw Jason climbing out and lying on the soft, white sand. “Land at last,” he sighed. I gave a dry chuckle and went over to lie beside him.

“We have to look around. Find something to help us attract attention but don’t eat anything, they might be dangerous,” I warned Jason.

“Yes, ma’am,” he shot back cheekily as we walked into the thicket nearby. With his usual jokes, the tense feeling around us seemed to evaporate. We looked up and down literally leaving no stone unturned. By the time we were back, we found some dry leaves and wood.

“Claire, how do we start a fire?” asked Jason, worried. Having no other ideas I sat down and rubbed two stones together vigorously. I didn’t turn but I heard Jason sat beside me doing the same.

“I got it!” I cried in delight as I lit a leaf. The fire spread very quickly and, within, seconds, the orange dragon was much bigger. The dragon was about to burn a long stick when Jason snatched it out of the its reach. To my surprise, he tore off his favourite bright yellow tee-shirt and tied it onto the long stick. He struggled to pick up the long and heavy stick.

Finally, I caught on. I went over to help him. Together, we raised the yellow flag and stuck it into the sand and made sure it was firm. “Jason’s great sacrifice, the yellow flag,” I mumbled, giggling silently and Jason snorted before both of us fell into a dreamless sleep instantly.

“Oh, they’re alive!” cried an extremely familiar voice. I wondered where I heard it before. “Claire! Jason!” a deeper and firmer voice called out to us. To us? Isn’t that mom and dad? I sat up instantly.

I saw mom and dad (just like I thought) running towards us and it took me a moment to remember what happened and focus. I guessed, I mean know, that they would be pretty freaked out and I was right.

“You can’t imagine how anxious we were!”

“Where have you been?”

“Is Jason okay?”

“Are you okay”

“What happened?”

Finally, I held out my hand, signalling them to stop. I was satisfied. We were about to be rescued and we were safe. Stories could wait for later and Jason might still be a coward but he’s a lot less impulsive and crazy which unfortunately, I am.

By Happy Snow (It’s up to you) 

Twist in Life

“Don’t move or I’ll hit you!” threatened the boy holding a stick. I studied the boy, who looked about my age, and decided that he was no threat. After all, he wasn’t even an adult.

I raised my hands above my head and show that I had given up. He obviously did not realize that my fist was clenched on a tiny object, waiting for the right moment to strike, and his whole body relaxed.

He came nearer to tie me up. I waited for him to approach looking afraid. He was about to grab my hand when, in a swift motion, I hit him with the stone in my hand and picked up his stick.

“Move an inch and I’ll hit you,” I told him, smirking. I dragged him to a tree and tied him against it.

“Now, what are you doing here?” I asked in mock politeness. He glared at me until I pointed the stick that once belonged to him at him and thought better of talking back. He sighed and said, "Running away from home.”

“Really?” I asked, trying to keep hope of having a companion out of my voice. “Why?”

“My parents are horrible! They never care about me. Money money money, that’s all they can think about. Even though they are already so rich!” He exclaimed. My heart dropped. No matter how much I hope for a companion, there was no way I was going to let him stay. His parents’ would be worried. He didn’t know how caring parents can be. He still has them.

I know, how about me, right? I ran away from the orphan home, not my parents. It’s different. You couldn’t understand unless you were the victim of those crazy kids who run around bullying younger kids like... well, like me. Where are my parents? They are in paradise. They went there and one day, they will come and bring me to that paradise with them. Heaven. Or at least that’s what I’ve always thought.

“Are you crazy?” I exclaimed. “You can’t worry your parents like that! It’s irresponsible. Return to them!”

I went towards to the tree and untied him intending to drag him home when he crossed the line.

“Didn’t you run away from home too? You look about twelve and you can’t possibly be just roaming,” he challenged. The incident of what happened that fateful day replayed in my mind. My daily, or nightly, nightmare.

I was in the car with my family and my father was driving. I was turning three that day and we were going to an amusement park. I couldn’t remember anything else except for…

Crash! A truck crashed into our car. Through blurry images, I saw a man getting out of the truck. He was walking towards us, swaying vigorously, and then he fainted onto the floor. My mother and father were unconscious. The world was swaying, or was it me? My vision blurred and I started seeing stars. Then, I blacked out.

I collapsed onto the ground as uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks. “Are you okay?” The boy asked in a small voice sounding a bit worried, shaking me back into reality.

I nodded. Before I knew it, I was blubbering. I told him about the accident, my first day at the orphanage, how I got bullied, the day I ran away when I was five, the time when I was ten and I met that horrible grizzly bear…

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, looking genuinely sorry. I hoped he would say he will go back to his parents.

“I’ll go back when they start searching for me. I want to know if they care enough. By the way, I’m Timothy,” he told me.

“Jane,” I replied and his mouth turned into a comical “o” shape in surprise. I stared and demanded, “What?”

“You are Jane Evans? The one with so many notices put up of her. It’s been... what, 7 years?” I blushed deeply and changed the topic.

"Can’t you just be happy that you have living parents and go home?” He shook his head and I could almost see how much resilience he was going to put up.

After a heated argument, he finally agreed that he wasn’t experienced enough to go in the wild but instead of returning to home...

“I’ll come with you. You have already been in the wild for 7 years,” he pointed you. I sighed deeply but agreed. It was the best solution until his stupid parents (they’d better hurry up and search for him) come along searching for him.

I brought him back to my tent. On the way I pointed out many things to him.

“See that, that’s a riped ands safe berry. That one is poisonous and that one probably has an animal in it so we’d better not take...” Well, one thing was for certain, he was not good at picking berries. He nearly picked up a poisonous berry.

“That one?”

“Poisonous.”

“That one?”

“Probably has animal.”

“That one?”

“Probably has animal.”

“That one?”

“Yes, but it was luck, wasn’t it?” He blushed deep red and I sighed. “I’ll pick them myself,” I said as I went around picking berries and planting them into his hands.

“Can’t pick them, hold them.” I said, grinning at him.

“Whatever!”

“You just can’t admit you lose to a girl.”

“What?! No!” He cried indigantly.

“Whatever!” I replied, imitating him. “Done. Enough berries for tonight and hopefully tomorrow. Let’s go.” He nodded and we headed back to my tent. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a real family again. Someone human beside me.

Days past and everyday, the same thing happens over and over again. He stayed in the tent and pack up, clean up, protect with his stick.Though I could have done a better job since I knew some animals like squirrels and sometimes rabbits who would inform me of what beast was coming beforehand but with his help, I could leave the tent and go further to collect more berries.

The most interesting one was when my darling squirrel came over and signalled to me that she didn’t have enough food. I let her in to share food with us, like I always do when she didn’t have enough food. Timothy looked surprise.

“You talk squirrels?”

“No, of course not. It’s her body language.” Timothy nodded though he didn’t seem reassured. I’ll tell her you’re a friend,” I said starting to signal the squirrel.

“NO!” he yelled and the squirrel jumped. “You might signal wrongly... It might intepret to enemy... or... or...” I laughed and move forward slowly, coaxing the squirrel forward and telling her Timothy was a friend. Inch by inch, the squirrel came forward and finally, she continued eating peacefully. Timothy looked impressed and sighed with admiration.

Although life seemed pretty normal, it felt great to be able to talk to someone who would reply and understand. Smile and respond. It was probably my best days since the car crash.
Days past and I was having a great time. Normally, in a week time, you can't have become great friends with someone but this was different. We're in the wild and here, things works differently. However, good things don’t last forever.

A week later, I returned from plucking wild berries. I shoved a paper into his hand. He looked at it in surprise. His parents had finally put up lost notices and started looking for him.

"Time to go,” I told him but to my surprise, he shook his head. I was about to say “You promised!” when he said, “Come with me.” I was about to insisted that this was my home but the offer was too tempting. I couldn’t say no to a friend who cared about me, parents and a real home. I nodded but after thinking for a moment, requested for something...

A month has passed since everything have settled down. His parents officially adopted me, I started school, made new friends and most importantly, had a pet name Chocolate. I’m sure you can guess who Chocolate is. Yes, the wonderful squirrel whom I helped many times and helped me in return by telling me the grizzly bear was coming.

"So how's life?" Timothy asked cautiously, as though afraid that I might be angry, upset or depressed by the new life.

“Wonderful,” I replied. “Thanks for being my friend.” He smiled and the room seemed to brighten up a bit. Having friends felt strangely good.

Apparently, good things don’t last forever. They end, bringing better things.

by Happy Snow (It's up to you)

Greetings to you!

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From: It's up to you


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