Embedded Files
Stranded
By Raagav
Our family had booked tickets to go on a cruise ship to make this December holiday memorable for all of us. We were all thrilled for this cruise ship as it was a break for all of us after 40 whole dreadful weeks of school throughout the year.
This trip was a three-day, two-night trip. On the first day, we would be departing from Singapore, and the following night, on the sea. The next day, we would reach a tiny island nation named Takkada- the highlight of the trip. The same night, we would explore the place and camp there. The following day, we would arrive back in Singapore and return to our daily activities. But frankly speaking, that one trip was all I needed to enlighten my mood for the rest of the holiday.
Revisiting what I mentioned in the first paragraph. After we exited the highway, we reached the cruise terminal in about 20 minutes. After taking quite some time to clear customs and wait at the boarding gate, they called out to other passengers on the same cruise. Inside of me, I can feel my heart pounding- not in anxiousness, but in elation!
Some polite attendants guided us to our room. I was a bit nervous about sharing rooms with 2 Parents, 2 younger sisters, and one older brother. To my relief, the room was HUMONGOUS! THERE WERE 6 BEDS WHICH MEANT ONE WHOLE BED FOR EACH OF US! Ever since we boarded the ship at 10.30-ish, every second, it just got better. After looking at the room, we were introduced to a 24-hour open buffet, an indoor garden, the Cinema, an enormous indoor mall, a BIG water park, and many more. At about 1.30, we had our lunch at the buffet and continued exploring the area and trying all the features out. That’s how our day went by.
The next morning, we heard the Captain’s voice through the intercom system connected to the rooms. He woke up all the passengers and told them to get ready to reach Takkada Island in about 30 minutes. I was on cloud nine. I was the first to get ready in my whole family. I rushed to the buffet by myself because the others were taking their own sweet time. I had never been punctual!
A while after that, we reached Takkada Island and got off the cruise. My first impression of the island was not that good, as I saw just trees in front of my eyes. But there was a tour guide to show us around. I underestimated the island by just my first look. Behind the tall bushy trees was a HUGE MOUNTAIN. I got excited and asked the tour guide if we could explore the mountain anytime soon, but he said it’s dangerous and rejected. I was sad, of course, but that was just a small part of the island, and there was much more to be excited about.
After a whole day of getting to know the island, everyone was sleepy, including me. As we sat around the campfire and ate our dinner, the tour guide went on telling facts about the island and shared stories.
Then, later at one point, he pointed at me and said, “Remember, you had asked earlier in the day about exploring the mountain? And here’s why I said no... This island is packed with tribes."
"And trust me, you would regret meeting them if you ever did."
Journey in the book of imagination
By Phuong Chi (Lucy)
What is a journey? A journey to a place is an opportunity where we can go and explore different types of culture and tradition in that place. A journey can change one’s perspectives through learning and growing in front of our own eyes.
But is it only a physical journey? Do we go to a country or a place to explore? How about in our own imagination? What about mentally? How about in a book that we like, and it is possible to have a journey and exploration in there? Let’s discuss this together!
What is a book? A book is a set of paper with pictures, words or even both, with some meaningful explanation in every single word that exists in the book. There are different types of books, such as fiction books and non-fiction books, but to me, the types of books do not matter. What matters to me is that the books are a window to the world of imagination.
One of my favorite fiction books is “In Desert and Wilderness,” which tells about how the two main characters, Stas Tarkowski from Poland and Nel Rawlison from England, were abducted to the desert and how they have to face their worst nightmare of all. It also depicts how they are brave and fight their fears, eventually they get back to their parents safe and sound. How did this book bring me on a journey of fear and difficulty, yet challenging and exploratory?
“In Desert and Wilderness” was written by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Poland’s most famous novelist. Stas Tarkowski and Nel Rawlison are the two main characters in this book. Their parents work for the Suez Canal company, which oversees the communication channels and control of the European Continents and wields a lot of influence. Stas and Nel’s fathers, Mr.Rawlison and Mr.Tarkowski, are two important engineers of the company. The dangerous rebel group, the Mahdists, which revolted against the British colonial rule in Sudan, kidnapped Stas and Nel to threaten their father to cooperate with them since the Mahdists want to cut off and slow down the European influence. Their parents have tried to track down Stas and Nel, but since the desert is very dangerous and the Mahdists are growing stronger by the day, finding Stas and Nel is a nearly impossible task for their parents. Their parents cannot find Stas and Nel right away, so Stas has to protect Nel from every difficulty they have to face with each other and lead one another to navigate through the Wild and desert.
They face multiple difficulties during their time escaping. Nel nearly gets killed by one of the cruel kidnappers named Gebhr. Stas has shot Gebhr with a revolver he has stolen from a soldier, and Stas saved Nel for the first time in their harsh journey. Stas and Nel are finally free and safe from the kidnappers and their rebel group, but unfortunately, they still have to face more challenges ahead of them. They met two kind African children, Maki and Mea, who had helped them greatly. After several months in the desert, facing so much danger like wild animals, lack of food and water, and sickness. Both Stas and Nel finally reach a British military station and are rescued by soldiers there. At the end, Stas and Nel got to get back to their parents, who had never stopped loving and looking for them in desperation.
After reading this book, I feel Stas is very brave and courageous, while Nel has a strong heart, with the help of their new friends. When reading this book, I can imagine being in the character’s shoes, and it was amazing! I face all the dilemmas and challenges with Stas and Nel when I’m imagining. I really feel like I am a real character in the book.
The journey really takes me everywhere, both physically and mentally, but I like the mental journey. It takes me through the harsh and struggles of every task that is happening in the book, yet I still can feel the encouragement and bravery that the characters feel.
Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “A room with books is like a body with a soul.” Reading a book is also a journey through the imagination of our own, with fun and full of interest that we imagine ourselves in. We can cherish the time we have spent on the journey inside it. Reading books provides intellectual and emotional depth.
The Boy (Then)
Born ninth of ten in a house worn thin,
His lullaby was silence, punctuated by loss,
Three siblings had gone before he understood grief,
Held tightly to his sister’s skirt to feel safe,
He followed her to school, barefoot and shy,
Letters danced beyond his reach,
But he chased them with the hunger of the overlooked,
Taught himself more than the teacher could give,
A child of fields, firewood, and folded dreams,
He carved knowledge from dirt, sweat, and night,
His mind wandered where his feet could not,
He rose each dawn to a rooster’s command,
Fed cows before feeding himself,
Cleaned dung with dignity and silence,
Walked miles under the sun and the storm to reach a blackboard,
He read by a streetlamp after chores,
A scholarship came, like a gust of hope —
But coins didn’t stretch as far as dreams,
And the offer vanished into the family’s silence.
He served his country without question,
Wore ambition like armor beneath plain clothes,
Wanted to fall as a soldier, proud and known,
But his father’s word outweighed his own,
Married by arrangement — duty over desire,
He packed away his uniform of dreams,
Moved to Singapore with calloused hands,
Labored in silence, decade by decade,
Sent money back, received letters rarely,
Built a home out of longing and limestone,
So his children would walk where he once wished,
He watched her write essays he once dreamed of,
She spoke English with ease — his foreign flame,
He planted in her a courage quiet and fierce,
Her exams became his medals, her freedom his revenge,
In her laughter lived the boy he used to be,
And though he never wore the rank he craved,
His war was for a life she could live freely,
And now she carries not just books —
Twin Cinema: From Village to Vision
By Swaathi
The Daughter (Now)
Born the youngest of two in a home fortified with love,
Her lullaby was laughter, wrapped in warmth,
Her only grief: stories she never had to live.
Held gently by her mother’s arms each morning,
She strolled into class in socks and shoes,
Letters welcomed her like familiar friends,
And she embraced them with the comfort of the nurturer,
Taught by teachers who knew her name,
A child of high-rises, homework, and quiet meals,
She absorbed it from screens, pages, and light,
Her world stretched far, yet always felt close,
She rose to a digital alarm and a father’s voice,
Fed on ideas before breakfast,
Never touched filth but understood effort,
Rode minutes to modern classrooms with open doors,
She studied with desk lamps and quiet spaces,
Opportunities surrounded her like summer air,
She walked on bridges built from sacrifice,
And never knew the cost of what she held,
She serves her goals with wonder and will,
Wears freedom like breath — effortless, earned,
Wants to rise as a scholar, whole and seen,
While her voice sings louder than silence ever did,
Free to choose love with her compass,
She unfolds her passions with joy and light,
Grew up in Singapore with softened ones,
Learned in classrooms his sweat had paid for,
Sent thank-yous forward, held his hand daily,
Lived in a home filled with hope and memory,
So she could fly where he once fell,
She read him lines he’d only known in thought,
He listened with pride — her fluent fire,
She bloomed with that courage, wild and whole,
Her success is he echo of every no he swallowed,
In her dreams, the man she came from,
She wears his legacy on every page she writes,
Her peace is a monument to his war,
But his name, his hopes, and the breath of both their lives.
A Door into Wonderland
By Ethan
A dream is how I would describe it
A door into the world i read and thought about
Alice in wonderland, a famous hit
And I was lucky enough to get on that route
As I looked around I scrambled to find her in a fit
Alice, my favourite character, the one I always talked about
Although, when I finally found her, it made my opinions split
Alice had ignored my wit and went away with a obnoxious pout.
My world shattered
Everything I dreamt about
This was not the world I wanted it to be
I tried to avoid my suspicions and talked to her despite my doubt
However, my suspicions were proven right.
She opened her mouth and screamed lies, all this for clout
Rumors spread and soon everyone hated me
All because of the girl I previously couldn’t shut up about
Her pout, her attitude, I hated everything about her.
See, I used to admire her, without any doubts
Before she put all my hopes down
A person so famous yet denies all her fans.
My limit had been reached
I was going to tear her apart
I would make her a side character in this story
From now on I have no heart.
I will end her glory
The first thing I did was to gain back people's trust
And when the rumors died down, I struck
The whispers of my name slowly began to adjust
A new name was whispered “Alice”.
My luck had finally turned around
But I was still filled with disgust.
Was this really what I wanted?
I was still stuck
Now just with a useless enemy
Useless gossip wont do anything
And forgiveness is the only way I could get anything done
I have to live here
So I shouldn't do it with a lingering hatred.
Changing My Fate
By Zicen
After what felt like an eternity of school, the weekend was finally here. I lay on my bed, doomscrolling on my phone. I was so engrossed that when a whisper flowed into my ear like wind, I jolted in shock. I swiveled my head to locate where the voice came from, but found nothing. That’s when I spotted a glowing trail of mist coming from the gap in my closet door. I stared at the strange mist, trying to process what I was seeing. It took me a moment to realise that an invisible force was pulling me towards the door. When I finally noticed, it was too late. I was standing face to face with the strange door in my closet. It creaked open slowly, almost like it had been waiting for me to push it. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to push it open. What waited for me behind the door would change me forever.
I stepped through the door and the deep ocean waves surrounded me instead of the air. Such a drastic change made me forget how to breathe. I promptly turned around to go back, but the door had already faded into nothing but water particles that blended with the ocean. I mentally slapped myself for not stopping. Instinctively, I wanted to swim to the surface, but my legs felt glued together. When I looked down, the vibrant orange tail with a trail of red that greeted me left me stunned. As I was observing my new appearance, a soft humming interrupted my thoughts. I turned around and saw Queen Calissa’s back behind bars, her magnificent ice-blue tail swishing idly.
That’s when everything clicked. My tail looked familiar because I’d seen it before. I was Eris, a villain in my favorite book and before me was Queen Calissa, my sister, whom I had cursed to weaken her powers and take over the kingdom, Oceana. I cautiously approached the bars and kept my eyes on Queen Calissa, my thoughts in a mess. “Calissa..?” I called out. She turned around slowly and I met her sparkling sapphire eyes, her face aged like fine wine, and her appearance as regal as ever, even when imprisoned. Knowing Eris’s fate, I vowed not to live the same ending. I would change mine.
I let out a deep, apologetic sigh before speaking, “I apologize.. For wrongfully ruling Oceana. I should’ve never done it, but I was blinded by jealousy.” I kept my tone sincere. Calissa studied me, her eyes wary. How could I, her cruel, power-hungry sister, change so suddenly after everything I’d done to her? I met her calculating gaze again and fell silent. Since words wouldn’t convince her, my actions would.
First, I used my powers and lifted the bars that kept her locked up for far too long. Then, I tried my best to remove the lifelong curse I had selfishly cast on her. Not long after, her aura brightened visibly, the invisible weight on her shoulders finally lifting. But I wasn’t done showing her my remorse. Slowly but steadily, I took off the crown on my head that had never belonged to me and held it out to Queen Calissa, the rightful owner. I looked up at her.
After a while, she finally spoke, “Eris, have you really changed?”
I nodded immediately. “I have, sister.”
Hearing me call her sister was all she needed. She slowly approached me, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips. Before long, I was wrapped in her warm embrace. I froze, feeling overwhelmed, but soon returned the hug. We stayed like that for a long time; neither of us wanted to break the embrace. Finally, we reluctantly let go.
Soon, news of our reunion spread like wildfire across Oceana.
I had no plans to go back to my original life, not because I didn’t want to, but because I had no idea how. But this life wasn’t so unpleasant that I needed to escape. Even without powers, I felt at peace. I realised that even with infinite power, it’s useless if your character is horrible.
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