Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Eight Princesses
Monday, June 16, 2008
Emotions
Monday, June 9, 2008
Jack and Jill (part 2)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Jack and Jill (part 1)
I mean, who on earth would want to climb up an entire hill, just for a pail of water, which, from my experience, wouldn't last for long anyway?
Sooner or later, someone would come along and knock it down, completely emptying the pail of its contents. Just for the fun of it.
At least that's what I'd do.
Mummy would, of course, be very, very angry at me...
Anyway, back to the matter of discussion.
Yes, I may only be an infant, but even I know that there is a much, much more convenient way of getting water.
Namely, by turning one of the protruding knobs on the walls of the Wet Room.
Mummy always gets water this way.
Why am I so certain about this?
I'd hear the water coming out of those deadly knobs every time she calls out one of her most loathsome sentences, "Honey, time for your bubble bath!" and I'd scamper away as fast as I can.
Other sentences include "Bed time!", "This food is yummy! Try some," and the most generally spoken "No".
Traumatic experiences are often permanently etched in our memories.
Another one of the unfortunate facts of life I've learned so far in my one year of living.
If you haven't noticed, I'm a smart baby.
I know things.
***
Jack met Jill.
They became best friends.
Fell in love.
Got married.
Had a baby.
Lived happily.
Not too sure about the 'ever after' part, though.
***
Too much for a baby, who, at the tender age of one, should be enjoying the bliss ignorance provides.
Shouldn't I be clambering around, exploring and experimenting with dangerous stunts while my parents yell at me in fright? Shouldn't I be sticking my wet fingers into socket holes and almost getting my nose burnt by candle lights?
Why is it that I'm so sure it's just some natural phenomena that causes my eyes to see a duplicate of myself when I look at one of the smooth (not to mention slippery at times; I found that out the hard way) walls of the Wet Room (although I'm not too sure of it's explanation)?
Of course, at other times, I'm just your typical inexperienced, carefree baby.
I do realise that I always digress.
It's becoming an annoying habit. I've noticed.
I know too much.
About life and how unpleasant it can be. About how it loses its meaning, and though it's obviously best not to live, people still strive to live longer, drowning themselves in the delusion that one day, their lives will magically turn out to be better. Perfect, even.
Why live, when we're all obviously better off being dead?
***
"That's a good idea. We'll have so much fun. Won't we, Rodya dear?"
I have heard Mummy tell me many times that we human beings can't live without a substance called "Onxyjen". I'm not sure what it is, but I sure as hell know that our lungs can't take in any of those stuff underwater.
"Because we're not fishies," Mummy once said.
To which I rolled my eyes. I mean, "fishies"?
Gosh.
Why do adults treat me like I'm a baby?
Wait...
I am a baby.
*sigh*
I hate it when I digress.
***
"Here we are, Rodya! The beach! Isn't it just beautiful? While waiting for Mummy to get some ice-creams, why don't we wet ourselves in the water waves?"
"Wait... Rodya... What are you doing??"
"Ouch, Rodya, stop it..."
"Arrgh!! Help!!! Somebody, help!!!"
***
Rodya, my dear.
You look so cute when you're asleep.
Your light breath is a lullaby to my ears
And your scent a soothing elixir when I weep.
But I can't believe what I saw today
At the beach when you played with your dad.
I witnessed him being pulled away
Where the waves swallowed him, my dearest Jack.
I refuse to believe what I saw,
But what else to trust, if not my own senses?
Tell me, dear Rodya,
Was it really you who drowned your dad, despite his defenses?
Is it even possible that
A little infant as helpless as can be,
Killed his own parent like a sinister rat
And dumped the body in the deep blue sea?
I love you, Rodya and that's why,
I think I'm going insane.
Nobody would ever think of you as the bad guy
When you're so innocently sleeping here by the window pane.
Being widowed at such a young age,
To stand on my own feet, I know it takes courage.
Now that Jack is gone and we're alone,
I promise I'll take good care of you all on my own.
***
Trust me, it's never a pleasant feeling to fall.
I love gravity.
***
"Rodya, get away from the window NOW!"
Birthdays,Ghosts, and Love.
The Common Thing between Birthdays, Ghosts and Love
Kat looked at the letter with scorn. “My dear Joanna, how silly you have been. I truly despise you,” Kat said. She crumpled the piece of paper and stomped on it. Then, she walked away into the dark, silent night.
I love mummy and daddy. Lately, they have been really nice to me. They play with me everyday and we always have so much fun together. Daddy does not go to work anymore. He says it is because he wants to stay at home and spend more time with the family.
Last week, we celebrated my eighth birthday. Mummy bought me a beautiful doll, the one I had always wanted. I was so happy. We did not invite anyone else to the party. We had fun playing musical chairs. Mummy played my favorite tune on our piano as daddy and I circled a stool. We would try to sit on the small seat when mummy stopped the tune. She would always stop it so abruptly that we always had to pause for awhile before grabbing the seat. After playing musical chairs, we dressed up my new doll. Mummy helped me to choose a pretty dress for my doll. I named her Carmelita. Mummy said she looked just like me. Daddy agreed too.
* * * *
“Yes dear, of course I remember Sophie’s birthday. I’m baking her birthday cake right now. What time are you fetching her from the kindergarten? Be sure to be back early so that we can celebrate her sixth birthday together. Bye.” Joanna smiled as she put down the receiver. She was so excited as if it were her own birthday. She hummed a tune as she sauntered back into the kitchen.
The melody brought back memories. It was Sophie’s favorite song. Joanna had hummed the same tune to Sophie whenever she rocked her to sleep. Since then, Sophie had always wanted her mother to hum the tune to her every time she went to bed. When Sophie felt down, Joanna would hum the tune to cheer her up.
The phone rang, snapping Joanna back to the present. She sighed as she wiped her hands on her apron and hurried to answer the phone before the answering machine did. “Mummy!” a voice squealed into the phone just as Joanna pressed the receiver onto her ear. She cringed and quickly pulled the receiver away from her ear.
“Happy birthday, honey. Why did you call?” Joanna asked. “Mummy, I just saw a beautiful doll on sale. Can you please buy it for me as a birthday present? Please?” Joanna was silent. She had seen the doll herself and she had planned to buy the doll for her daughter. Unfortunately, the doll had cost more than she could afford. After a little hesitation, Joanna agreed to buy the doll.
“Sophie will be so delighted when she sees this doll,” Joanna smiled to herself as she sat the doll on a mantelpiece. She stood back to admire it. It was then when she noticed it. The doll seemed to have charmed her. “Sophie, I will love you forever,” she crooned to the doll as she caressed it.
Joanna paced up and down. Sophie was supposed to be back hours ago. Joanna was getting vexed. She picked up the phone and dialed a number. She heard a voice. “Hello? Dear? Is that you?” Joanna asked. The voice kept repeating itself. It said, “I’m sorry. The number you had dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Thank you.”
* * * *
What is happening to me? It was only yesterday that you bought another doll for me but now it seems like I’m almost invisible to you. Mummy, don’t you love me? It hurts to see you ignoring me. Mummy, I will love you forever. I will never leave your side.
* * * *
“I’m sorry, Joanna. I know it’s hard for you add I wished that there was some way I could help,” said Kat, Joanna’s best friend. “I had the doll ready for her and I even baked a cake for her,” sobbed Joanna. “Why did she have to leave me all alone? Why?” Kat put her arm around Joanna affectionately. “Joanna, you are my best friend and I hate to see you so miserable and lost. Sophie is not totally gone. You must remember that she will always live in you forever, if you want her to.” Joanna smiled through her tears. She felt much better already.
* * * *
Today, a strange man approached mummy. I did not like that man. He talked in a weird and funny way. I persuaded mummy not to listen to that man but mummy turned a deaf ear to my cry. Maybe it was because I did not call her loud enough. I tried to raise my voice but I could not. It seemed like I had lost much of my strength. I felt so weak.
Mummy, please stop thinking of what the man said. It was nonsense. You told me never to trust strangers. I love you more than he does. Why are you even considering his advice? You do not know what trouble you are getting into. Please. I am very weak now and I need your help and support. Please, I do not want to die again. Why are you doing this to me?
No!! Don’t forget me! Don’t erase daddy and me from your life. It feels awful to be ignored and forgotten. The whole world has forgotten me. You are my only hope.
Mummy, if that is what you really want, I will not stop you. I just want you to know that despite all your faults, I will still love you. Daddy and I are waiting for your arrival. We know you will come soon. We are waiting.
* * * *
Kat looked around. The dampness of the atmosphere hung all around her. The click clack of her shoes echoed through the house. As she stepped into a small room, she took a deep breath to hold back her tears. She walked to a dressing table nearby and dusted the mirror with her handkerchief. Then, as gently, she pulled out a drawer under the table and took out the last monument. She opened it and read it wistfully:
Dear Sophie,
I never did forget you. You misunderstood me. It was only manners to listen to the man. He was supposed to be a psychologist. I did not really believe him. I only pretended to. I am sorry I made you so weak. I did hear your soft cries. I am sorry for neglecting you. Deep down, I loved you. Have you not heard that a mother’s love is the greatest of all? Sophie, I am weeping tears of regret, remorse and sadness as I write this. My heart aches to think that you are in such a critical condition. I am sorry I made you wait for so long. As Kat said, you will live in my heart forever, if only I wanted you to. I never meant to hurt you in anyway. I am coming, Sophie. You do not have to wait any longer. We will be a happy family once again. I am coming.
* * * *
Monday, June 2, 2008
Erotica
***
The swooshing of hair kept him awake. Excited.
Erotic.
***
I love him. Does he feel the same way about me?
I miss him. Why doesn't he visit me more often?
I miss the times when we cuddled each other to sleep. How we shared our breakfast in the mornings; sometimes skipping breakfast altogether to spend more time snuggling in bed.
Why? Why is it that he has left me for another? Are all males like that? Do they always only want new things? How is it that they are able to completely wipe off the happy memories they had?
He was the light of my life. My everything. My reason for living.
Now, he's gone. How can I ever live without him?
Nobody can ever, ever comprehend my feelings for him. No one can ever love a man as much as I loved him. I've begged him. I've tried multiple ways to please him. Why, oh, why doesn't he come back? I miss him so much...
So much...
***
"Oi, come help me at the attic lah!!! The things here damn dusty leh. The previous owner siao one. Keep so many useless things."
"Coming..."
"Hey, look at this!"
"Aiya, Kevin, don't look liao lah. Lets go for dinner first. Tomorrow only we continue unpacking."
"Wait... I think I see something..."
"Come on down!! I'm starving!"
"Something just moved leh! So freaky!"
"I don't care! Lets go."
***
I miss him. It's been so long. He promised me he'd be back. He'll keep his promise, won't he? He'll come back for me, won't he? One day, he'll eventually realise that I'm the only one for him...
Won't he?
***
"Rise and shine, darling! Lets start unpacking!"
"Mmph...??... Good morning Gloria..."
"Eh... You sick is it? Why your face so pale one? Last night tried to 'get you going' but you didn't respond..."
"Huh?? Oh, sorry... Maybe I was too tired lah."
"How about tonight?"
"We'll see..."
***
The swooshing of hair kept him awake. Excited.
Erotic.
***
What was that all about?
***
He swayed to the rhythm of his own groaning.
Damn, what the hell is going on?
The long, flowing hair... So smooth... So soft... The mere feeling of it on his skin sent tingles down his spine. He breathed in the sweet, erotic scent. Just a single sniff put him in nirvana.
The skin felt smooth. No, better. It was perfect. Who could ever ask for more?
He felt her exploring. Down, down, down her lips went. To his standing member...
Gosh, what is happening to me?
A split second, a moment of peak pleasure.
***
He's back. After years and years of waiting, he's finally back.
I knew he'd come.
***
"Eh, home come you spend so much time in the attic these days? I though you said you saw something freaky up there?"
"Huh...? Ah... No lah... Just unpacking stuff. Nothing important."
"By the way, dear, your performance last night was great. I love you."
"Oh... uh... thanks. I guess..."
***
That bitch!!!! He came back but he brought a bitch along with him!!! How could he??
***
The swooshing of hair kept him awake. Excited.
Erotic.
Shit. It's happening again.
His member, already familiarised with the situation, immediately perked up. It knew it's role, and it was eager to play it well.
The hair... The skin... The scent...
Her lips...
Shit. Stop it now.
Like a ritual, her lips had memorised it's route. It explored, expertly knowing where to linger, and when to move on.
He felt her tongue enter and twist around his.
And then, it went lower...
Lower...
Damn, I can't breathe. What's happening??!!?? Help!!!!
***
"Kevin, wake up!! Wake up!!!!"
***
KUALA ULU: After decades of endless debating, The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has finally announced the closing of an aging housing estate, following the mysterious deaths of a recently married couple. Kevin, aged 27, and his wife, Gloria, aged 25, were recently found dead in their new home at the northern, secluded area of Kuala Ulu.
Police has deemed this case homicide, but so far has found no proof of any intruders nor any signs of struggle between the couple.
***
I miss him so much...
When will he be back?
Nothing.
Ten million feet and counting.
How much longer could she hold on?
On the floating piece of...say...thing (nobody knows what it really was; it could be a piece of tile, some rocky surface, etc), she had been standing; holding on. It definitely didn't help much when that thing held only sufficient space for both her feet, and nothing else.
For a very, very, very long time, she had been there.
Not that time was a factor to her anymore.
How old was she now?
Twenty? A hundred? A thousand?
She couldn't remember.
Her youth remained, though.
Which was what bothered her most.
If only she could age.
She'd know how long it had been.
Most importantly, she'd die and be released of the curse brought unto her.
She recalled of the book she'd read some time before.
When her life was still normal.
What was normal anyway? Was she normal? Maybe this was how normal was supposed to be, and all the other wretched humans leading their so-called normal lives were merely illusions.
A very subjective thing, she thought.
And her mind drifted back to the book.
Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo.
She remembered reading about a man, condemned to his death, saying to himself that if he had to live on a cliff side, a ledge, so narrow that it had only adequate space for his two feet, and he had to stay like this forever - for eternity, with eternal solitude, eternal darkness, and eternal storm all around him, it would be so much better to live than to die right now.
She recalled.
Book II, chapter 2.
Apparently, her memory was still as good as new.
How did she do that?
She didn't know.
There were many things which she wished she knew the answers to, but she had learned a long time ago that some things are best left unknown.
Curiosity kills the cat.
Since a moment ago, she had been thinking a lot.
Had she always been thinking like this?
Wasn't her mind usually kept empty, just staring into the emptiness of nothing?
She couldn't remember.
And yet, she could still recall the book she read years ago.
Or was it only for a few moments ago that she was left stranded like this on this...this...thing?
Panic overwhelmed her.
But...why?
Wasn't she used to this? Wasn't this normal to her?
She'd been standing like this for years...
Hadn't she?
Or was it all in her mind?
She didn't care anymore.
She'd had enough.
She closed her eyes.
Calmly, slowly, she dropped herself into the endless bottom.
Not knowing what beheld before her, she fell...
Moments later (or was it an eternity? She didn't know), she opened her eyes.
And saw.
Underneath her feet, was a...a...
Thing.
She looked around her.
Emptiness.
How long had she been there? How long had she been standing like this?
She couldn't remember.