Part I

July

The school announcement system squealed in protest as Mrs. Goh, the school principal of Farview Secondary School spoke, her voice sounding hollow and strange, “Students and teachers, sorry for the interruption. Please pay attention to the following: All classes have been cancelled. Teachers, please end your lessons after this announcement and proceed to conference room one. Councillors, please attend to your posts immediately to ensure students leave the school in an orderly manner.”

Richard was in his office consolidating the results of this year’s fitness test during the time of the announcement. Shortly after, his desk phone rang.

“Richard, this is VP Lim here. I don’t think you have heard the announcement in your office. Please come to conference room 1 now. There has been an accident. Mr. Tan lost consciouness on the school compounds.” Mr. Lim’s voice was terse and withheld.

“My goodness, what happened? Mr. Tan died? HERE?”

“Yes, this is very sudden, all teachers need to convene immediately. I’ll explain everything when everyone is here. Click” Richard blinked and replaced the receiver with care. He left his office immediately and checked that the magnetic lock on his door clicked before rushing up the stairs to the conference room.

On his way there, he could see a mass exodus of students exiting the school compound as a police vehicle and an ambulance entered it.

Richard entered the conference room which by now, was overcrowded with teachers. Mr. Lim was already in the room talking on the phone, presuming calling some of the teachers back who were out for lunch. Mrs. Goh entered behind him and calmly closed the doors behind her.

“Please, everyone take a seat.”

Everyone shuffled around pretending to make space for everyone else. A few seconds passed and Mrs. Goh looked at Mr. Lim, who then addressed everyone.

“Just a few minutes ago, Mr. Tan has collapsed on his desk at the library basement while marking the mid term papers. Thank goodness it was during classes so no students were in the library. The librarian found him unconscious facing down on the table and she called me immediately. The paramedics have confirmed his death.”

Mrs. Goh paused, checking her staff’s reaction and mood, which ranged from loud gasps to silence. Murmurs grew within the conference room and some teachers shook their head solemnly. Richard considered the information that was just handed to him, he didn’t know what to say next despite many of his colleagues who were whispering to each other speculatively. Mrs Goh cleared her voice and asked, “Are there any questions?”

A hand shot up from the back of the conference room and the head of Chemistry said, “The Chemistry department will be able to take over Mr. Tan’s teaching duties. However who will ensure discipline in school then?”

Mrs Goh pursed her lips and looked at Mr. Lim, who replied, “As for now, no decision has been made. We will announce the next discipline master later after this has sorted out. If there are no more questions, then let us vacate the school once the coroner has verified the cause of death.”

-------

3 Days Later

Richard was leaving Mr. Tan’s wake with Patricia Ong. The wake was attended by a few people. Not many of the staff members of the school came to pay their last respects. Mr. Tan is survived only by his parents. Richard did not see any of Mr. Tan’s students. Richard did not know the man in the coffin well, he was only here because Patricia was there. And Patricia was there because her boss was there. Her boss was there only because the principal insisted that she represented the school.

“Wow, I know that man wasn’t a very kind person, but I did not expect a wake to feel so empty.” Richard didn’t know what to reply and so he muttered in agreement.

Patricia and Richard are an odd couple. They have common breaks and so have the opportunity to have lunch out of school together most of the time. His other P.E staff used to joke how they looked like a couple. Richard was uncomfortable at that thought. It was not something that he could entertain in his mind. He was the head of the Physical Education (P.E) department. He took care of the health results, namely NAPFA of the school. Last year, he took over the retired Mrs. Seng as HOD and the school’s NAPFA results have never dipped below 95% passing. An amiable feat, since roughly about the same percentage of the school were also unwilling participants of the test. Patricia was a Chinese teacher. Petite and with square framed glasses, she was what fashion called Geek Chic. Yet, armed the weapon of bilingualism, she wields affection from both English-speaking and Chinese-speaking students alike. She understood that being a snob at Chinese will not win affections and enthusiasm from her students. She talked at their level, and so students affectionately called her, “小黄老师” since she shared the same surname as the HOD of Chinese who is called “老黄瓜” (old cucumber) for his grumpiness and stern command in class. The two of them are as different as they come - Richard, a no-nonsense teacher with the ends that justifies the means, while Patricia believing in compassion and trusting in the results to reveal themselves in time.

“Anyway, I have a feeling you’ll be the next discipline master.” Patricia remarked, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses.

“Why? Why not Mr. Tay? He seems to be more keen for the role.”

“Mr. Tay? Please, he’s too lenient. I think Mrs. Goh prefers someone who observes strict conduct and obeys the rules as well as enforces them. Someone like you.”

“Nah…I am just going to be a P.E HOD that’s all. Usually it’s the high flyers from the MOE scholarships that get such chances.”

Patricia snorted, “We both know they are not cut out for this. They are afraid of the students we have. Can you picture Ms. Lee, our resident MOE scholar handing out public canning in the school parade square?”

Richard pondered on that fact and said, “I’m not sure, but it isn’t healthy to speculate now. Mr. Tan’s body hasn’t even turn cold and we’re already shoving him into the furnace?”

They both laughed. Richard opened the car door, and before getting in, asked Patricia “Hey, you’re going to the MRT right? Want me to give you a lift? It’s quite long to walk the distance.”

Patricia gave him a fond smile and said, “Since you asked, why not?” and got into the passenger seat. Richard put his gear in reverse and then accelerated into what will become, a very uncertain future.

5 Days later

“Have you heard what happened to Mr. Tan?”

“Of course, who hasn’t man?”

“I heard from Diana that their relief teacher told them he passed away due to a stroke. So sad right? I mean he was only around 30 plus years old. He no family right?”

“Not sure. Jared say he got girlfriend. Although I cannot imagine who will want to be with his tight ass all day long.”

“Maybe he treats her differently from us. We’re students, no rights one. If he is afraid of his girlfriend then take it out on us? You never know.”

“Please man...that man has issues. He has a sad, sad childhood. At least some things like late-coming he still close one eye. If not our school life will be hell.”

“But at least we have no discipline master for the time being. Can ditch the ugly school socks and wear ankle socks now!”

“You very lame. They won’t let the school have no DM for long. Just hope the next DM is not as anal as Mr. Tan. With a DM like that, I’m not surprised that a stroke killed the man.”

“So who do you think will be the next DM? Mr. Loh or Mr. Tay?”

“Mr. Loh? That loser? Germaine told me that his P.E classes like army boot camp. He make them run 2.4km every P.E lesson then after that make them do 30 sit ups all those shit. If they don’t do them well he will shout at them. He is exactly like Mr. Tan. Only much worse. Please, no I hope that it’ll be Mr. Tay.”

“Mr. Tay slacker. I don’t think he cares that much. But I also hope is him next time, then we don’t have such a hard life.”

“This school is screwed up. I mean come on, they keep enforcing strict discipline, but they don’t get it that students are just going to rebel more. That’s why our school will never be ‘well-behaved’. No freedom of speech.”

“This is Singapore. Freedom what speech? You can talk very good already.”

“Whatever. Hope Mr. Loh will not be the next DM. If not the whole school will turn into one sadistic P.E lesson.” imitating Mr. Loh’s voice, he said, “Ankle socks?! Drop 20 now!”

“You think military camp ah!”

The two students conversing in the canteen, did not realise that they were not alone. And the entity observing, was less than please with what he heard. The entity, now armed with the knowledge of the past, present and future, decided that something must be done before Fate starts to do her thing.

August

Richard stood on the school podium. Palms slightly sweaty, perspiration beaded above his lip. It wasn’t entirely due to humidity either. The words spoken by Mrs. Goh slipped past him like slime without registering anything. He was excited and dare he say, with a little sadistic anticipation.

“Now school, I am proud to introduce a familiar face. Today Mr. Loh will take over the late Mr. Tan as the Discipline Master. He will still be teaching P.E with his additional roles as DM. Let us welcome Mr. Loh warmly shall we?” Mrs Goh cued the school by clapping herself.

The sound of her applause, was louder than the smackering of applauses from the students below. Not that Richard noticed of course.

Of course.

Richard took the microphone and it whined loudly in protest. From where he stood, he could see some of the students snickering at the ‘accident’. Their faces almost revealed the fact that ‘even the mic hates you’. Such childishness. Then again, he could be too sensitive. Right?

Right.

Richard cleared his voice and addressed the students below, “Good morning school. As we all know, Farview Secondary School has not have a good record with the neighbourhood. We have had more cases of delinquent behaviour and loitering than any of the schools around. As the new head of discipline I will try my utmost in improving the situation.”

He could have spoken in German because none of the students responded or even looked up. No one can be perky 7:30am in the morning. Besides, even some of the teachers are threatening to doze off. The season of exams are here. Ho Ho Ho.

Not that it affected him in anyway. He need not set papers nor mark them. The physical education tests were over as far as he was concerned and thanks to the new policies he implemented, the students never scored better.

Richard, or Mr. Loh as he was affectionately called by his students, was also in charge of the Trim and Fit Program (TAF Club). Mrs. Goh had praised him for keeping the obesity rate of the school well below the national average, which earned the school some recognition, which of course gave Mrs. Goh more leverage in asking for funds in the Ministry and hence his speedy promotion to being head of discipline and a 10% pay rise.

“So as your new head, I would like to remind you to wear your uniforms properly, make sure that you stay out malls and trouble after school. Be noted that I will enforce the rules strictly if they are broken. Under all circumstances.” A chill went through Richard when he said those last words. It must be the breeze, Richard thought. Yet, a little part of him knows that it was not. Especially when the weather in Singapore is always over 25 degrees.

Well almost always anyway. This morning could be the exception right?

Right.

September

“Shit, I think my old ankle injury is acting up.” Yong Kuang murmured.

“What? Are you all right? Should we tell Mr. Loh to stop?” His running partner Kelvin asked.

“No, we can’t. If we stop, the rule is that we both have to do double. That’s not fair to you. And that’s also 10km of hell I’m not about to give Mr. Loh the satisfaction of giving us. It’s almost the end, I’ll tolerate it” Yong Kuang said. His face betraying any sensation of pain except that his lip has gone entirely pale.

Which made Kelvin even more worried that his friend and partner could be pushing too hard for his own good.

“Are you kidding? We have another 3km more and it’s all down hill from here. Your ankle certainly will be bad after this.”

“Then let us deal with it after.” Yong Kuang ran ahead. Kelvin caught up and put an arm around his partner, “I’m concerned. Let me know if you have to stop. I’ll carry you even if it breaks my back.”

Yong Kuang breathe a breathless laugh, “Great, so after our TAF Club program we’ll both have broken body parts.”

Kelvin kissed his partner’s cheek and said, “Well, the only loss is that we both have to postpone our after school ‘activities’ for a week thanks to your fat ass that I have to carry later on.”

Yong Kuang wanted to carry on the playful banter if not he saw Mr. Loh coming on from a distance and spat “Shit.”

“What?” Kelvin asked, startled by Yong Kuang’s sudden outburst.

“Mr. Loh, I think he busted us. He saw you kissing me.”

Then it was Kelvin’s turn to spit hokkein-mixed-english-and-a-sprinkling-of-cantonese obscenities. When Kelvin swears, he goes all the way. A true man, that Kelvin.

Richard slowed his jog and called to the two students ahead of him. He could not believe the audacity he just witnessed. Both students paused and stood close together bracing themselves.

“What did you just do to him?” Richard spoke directly to Kelvin while gesturing towards Yong Kuang.

Kelvin looked down and after a second’s passing, brought his gaze straight into Richard’s eyes and said, “His ankle was hurting.”

Richard crossed his arms. He almost wanted to close his eyes and wished he didn’t just see what happened. Worse still, these two nutcases don’t even want to admit their act and made up some excuses to cover the sacrilege they just did. This world in moral degradation and this is why he has this job and damn him if he was going to do it well.

“What the both of you did was wrong. It should not happen again and tomorrow, I want the both of you to come to my office and we’re going to talk about this. In the meantime, you’ll both run an additional 2km for your misconduct which you know you did.” Mr. Loh gave the students a pointed look and they took the cue and started running.

The pair ran in silence the whole way, both steaming in fury of their own flavour. 500m towards the end, Yong Kuang collapsed near the school gate. His face was pale and he was clutching his ankle, which had been swollen to twice its size. Yong Kuang gasped, “Kev, I can’t stand any more of this. Like literally huh.” Kelvin was surprised that he could still laugh at the grave situation but quickly melted as sincere concern took over.

“I could carry you for the last 500metres. How bad is your ankle?” Kelvin asked while trying to pull away his socks to see the extent of the injury.

“No, it’s ok. I can hop to the clinic just opposite our school. Do you mind picking up my bag and I’ll meet you there?”

Kelvin stood up and started to heft Yong Kuang around his shoulders. Yong Kuang protested by Kelvin simply said, “I’ll carry you to the clinic and get your bag. Stop fiddling before I really start to break my back.”

Yong Kuang found it hard to say no and leaned his cheek on his sweaty partner’s back, smiling. He nibbled Kelvin’s ear and whispered, “I love you.”

After dropping Yong Kuang at the clinic, Kelvin walked back to school to sign off their attendance at Mr. Loh’s office. He entered and did not see Mr. Loh anywhere. He said a quick silent thank to the gods and signed hastily for both of them and went to fetch their bags to meet Yong Kuang at the clinic.

Little did he know that Richard was watching him with immense displeasure at a corner when Kelvin exited the office and was even more cross to see two signatures when there was only one student.

--------

“As your Discipline Master and teacher-in-charge, I have given both of you 1 week suspension for your truancy.” Richard said. The two students came to his office as ordered during the TAF club training yesterday. Lucky for them, or it could have been worse if they did not come. Richard thought morosely. Kelvin wanted to blurt out a protest but Yong Kuang cut him off saying, “Fine, but we would want to know what truant act we did yesterday.”

Kelvin nodded and echoed, “Yeah, what did we do yesterday?”

Richard looked from Kelvin to Yong Kuang and said solemnly, “Why did Kelvin sign off for you? Did you go home without my permission and get Kelvin to sign for you?”

Now it was Yong Kuang’s turn to protest and Richard cut him off, “There can be no excuses for your behaviours yesterday. I saw what I saw and yesterday’s act just reflected badly upon yourselves.”

Kelvin could not hold his anger any longer and sprouted, “So this is about us being gay?”

Richard looked at him squarely and answered, “No, this is about misconduct and you’re going to get 4 hours of detention extra for speaking to your discipline master like that.”

Yong Kuang saw no point in holding back since his partner was going to get 4 additional hours and spoke his mind, “discipline master my ass.”

Richard snapped his head back as if he had been slapped and growled softly, “What did you just say?”

Yong Kuang looked at him with piercing black eyes and said, “I just said ‘discipline master’. My. Ass.” pausing on the last two words for emphasis.

Richard immediately drew out another form and filled it in while rattling, his face flushing, “You will be suspended for two weeks for insubordination and truancy while Kelvin here will be suspended for one week plus 4 hours of detention for the same but lesser offence. That will be that. Now get out of my sight.”

The two students shuffled out of his office and before the door clicked shut, Yong Kuang gave him a hateful gaze and said, “You just made this personal.”

Richard was fuming and set down to write his report. This school has no respect for authority which is why the discipline codes must be enforced and examples be made of these two. Or the future of the country will go to the dogs.

As he set down to write his report, he noticed an embarrassing fact. He has no idea what their full names are. Sighing, he shuffled his under the Everest of clutter on his table for the TAF Club register form.

October

“Mr. Loh, we’re planning for this year’s prom for the sec 4s, do you want a copy of the proposal?” Daniel asked. He was the newly appointed Council chairman and this was this first major project for the school.

Richard looked at the gangly boy with a over-sized badge up and down and replied in a cold manner, “No I don’t suppose I need a copy because you won’t be planning for one this year.”

Daniel did not even hide his shock and let his jaw hinge drop. Cancelling prom was unheard of. No scrap that, he didn’t think it has happened before.

Sure, the teachers always protested against their theme, their budget, their everything but they did not outright cancel because the students always paid the costs in full and therefore it does not concern the school directly. Informing the school as more of a courtesy than a necessity. It was considered a school service (of course they all knew that it was more of a service took upon by the student council voluntary so that they could all earn more credits in the CCA) and a favour to the graduating students. Daniel thought since prom was not exactly part of school policy, he could at least fight for it.

“Mr. Loh, we had a prom last year at the Marriott and it was an immense success. I was only a junior council then but the Chairman graduating this year ought to have a good send off from us juniors. Plus the fact that the students all offered to bear the full cost of prom night. So I cannot see why you would want it cancelled?”

Richard could feel his temper rising. What do these kids know? Spending their parents’ money on some silly party? Their parents will be tripping over their heels to thank me for cancelling this ridiculous annual event. Richard calmly and coldly said, “Daniel, you do not understand. This prom is ultimately a waste of the school’s resources and your time, which should be placed in your studies than to think what colours the hall should be decorated in. An O’ levels will guarantee you a future, not some silly activity showing up in your CCA certificate.”

“But Mr. Loh…”

“No more, the principle agrees with me -” although Richard knew that was not entirely the truth. But what the kid doesn’t know wouldn’t hurt him right? “- and we’ll cancel the prom this year. I was about to announce it during weekly assembly tomorrow.”

Daniel knew it was a lost cause. He felt that he have to make those who had elected him of this post, proud. He had a sinking feeling that he was about to make this school very disappointed.

“Mr. Loh, our seniors deserve a send off after their exams and so do I when I graduate next year. Will you consider?”

“Daniel, my answer is final. There will be no prom this year.”

“Sure, if that is what the school wants.” Daniel left Mr. Loh’s office on that heavy, albeit sarcastic, note. It was pesante. Dejected at his abilities that he could not persuade Mr. Loh as he had persuaded the school to trust in his appointment should be become Chairman. He had a sinking feeling that the school will not take kindly to this.

--------

“So, the Council and I have discussed the arrangements for prom this year.” Richard spoke slowly and deliberately into the microphone, making sure that no one will miss what he was going to say next. “The Chairman has agreed with me, that there will be no prom for this year, or the subsequent years. We both felt that it is too much hassle and time can be better spent for the graduating students on their O’level examinations and hopefully, achieve 100% graduation this year without unnecessary distractions.”

Daniel hung his head low, unable to face his classmates not his peers. This was not why he pledged to take the position, to be betrayed by his own teacher-in-charge. His friend asked him sotte voce, “I thought you were going to hand Mr. Loh the proposal yesterday? Why did you change your mind?”

Daniel was too disappointed. All he could say was, “the teachers always have a last say, what was I supposed to do?”

His friend made a disgusted sound and replied, “You should have fought for us.”

And deep inside, Daniel replied, I did.

November

Alicia was late for school. She tucked in her flapping shirt into her skirt, disregarding propriety altogether because the alternative for not doing so was much more dreadful. She glanced at her wristwatch. The minute hand was precariously close to the 25 minute mark. She looked ahead and realised that she was not going to make it. Better start thinking about your excuses Alicia! Alicia thought as she sprinted.

From the distance, she could hear the school bell chime 7:25am.

Shit Fuck Crap. She cannot afford to do detention for a stupid thing as being a minute late for school. Ever since Mr. Loh took over as DM. The school has never been more awful. The detention room has never been more packed and the attendance never more meek. Late-coming was considered capital punishment in Farview now and the punishment was 8 hours of detention.

8 hours! Even when I turn 21, I’ll never clear that debt. PLEASE not let Mr. Loh be at the gate today.

Alicia panted as she rushed into the school gate knowing that she was already late. She decided to gamble on her chances and tried to sneak past the barricade of councillors and the school guard by hunching behind the hedges that decorate the school entrance.

She almost made it when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She chilled and quickly stood up and turned.

Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit was all Alicia could think of. This is NOT a good day. First, she woke up to her younger brother’s cries for milk to have found her eldest brother sprawled on the floor in a drunken stupor from last night’s partying. Her mother is nowhere to be found and her father has obviously went to another of his ‘business’ trips. Her family was far from perfect and she vowed to herself that she will leave this shithole, bringing her infant brother along to a better life elsewhere. She knew that he wasn’t her blood brother. She long suspected that her mother had an affair and bore him, claiming that his birth was an ‘accident’ between her parents.

She knew it was not possible because her father was not in the country during the approximate time of Gerald’s conception. Alicia knew better to shut up. If she voiced it out, she’ll lose the only shelter because her parents will not hesitate to throw her out. Yet, every Chinese New Year family gathering, she have to pretend that she belonged to this wonderful happy perfect family. She lived in terror that she will lose her parents, just as she feared the punishment that the man before her can give her. She hoped that the new DM don’t ask too many questions and just let her go. Alicia really do not want to air dirty laundry in public - a reflex action that her parents ingrained into her. Alicia, you do not tell others about what is happening at home ok? This will only make matters worse. You don’t want us to throw you out of the house for that do you? So keep your mouth shut about our family.

“What were you trying to do? Were you trying to sneak past me for being late?”

Alicia snapped into reality and froze at the voice above her. She stood up slowly and turned to see the man behind her. Shit, can this day get any worse? Alicia thought depressingly. It was Mr. Loh peering down at her.

Richard looked at the student before him. Her hair was uncombed and not tied to school’s standards. Her uniform blouse was crumpled and unkempt. She hasn’t even pinned on her name tag. Her pleated skirt seem to have seen better days with stains dotting random places down to her yellowing white shoes. Her bag was dirty and bulging. In short, she was a mess.

“Ummm...I didn’t know you were here. I just made it a minute late, I can still make it for the morning assembly if I go now.” Alicia tried to answer primly. She had to control her voice to not make it sound like a whimper.

“Don’t you know that school starts at 7:25? If I let every student that was JUST a minute late to go unpunished, then it wouldn’t be fair to those that come on time right? You know the penalty, you’ll report for detention after school today.” Richard recorded her name and class on the notebook that he now frequently carries to track punishment.

Alicia panicked. Gerald will be left alone if she stayed back for detention. She drops Gerald at her grandmother’s for the day and picks him up after she releases from school in the afternoon. However, her grandmother works afternoon to evening shifts at Macdonald’s and she cannot afford to keep her grandmother waiting while she stays for detention.

This is bad this is bad this is bad. “Mr. Loh, can you let me off this once? I have some family problems to attend to and I really cannot stay back for detention everyday.”

Richard dismissed her request and said, “Don’t give me that kind of rubbish. Everyone have their own family problems. This is not an excuse. If you do not report for detention this afternoon, you’ll be facing more serious punishment. I’ll have to call your parents and tell them that you are suspended.

Furthermore, I have observed you since the beginning of the year, you are always late for morning assembly. If you are going to argue with me, things can always get worse.” Richard threatened. He was on the brink of tallying up her late coming and multiplying it with the hours of detention that she has to do. Boy, she’ll have to stay back everyday for the rest of the term to be able to clear the hours. If she knew better, she’ll keep her mouth shut.

Alicia knew it was better to have nothing more to say. She grabbed her sling bag tightly and stomped off for the morning assembly. No one understands and nobody cares. She felt that life was unfair. Without her grandmother’s pocket money, she could not possibly afford to eat. Her own parents tell her that her own school fees are the only things that they can pay. Since young, her mother tells her that their births was a mistake and when they grow up, they should repay her father and mother for putting them through these torment of taking care of them when they were young.

Feeling very alone, that her own school cannot understand her predicament, Alicia changed her mind and ran to the nearest toilet and racking sobs rocked her little body - the hollow acoustics of the wall only serve to echo the pain and despair she felt.

-------

Patricia Ong was packing her desk after the end of the academic year. She was exhausted after staying up 2 days in a row marking Chinese papers. She has eye bags that are officially large enough to hold back the Yangtze river. Who needs the 3 Gorges Dam?

As she was trying her best in putting away bits of administration documents and stray papers, she could almost hear the desk beneath catch its breath. It has most definitely gone pale from the lack of light with all those papers and clutter piled on top of it. Her eyes, fell on a stack of papers. She felt her heart clench as she filed the set, staring at the neatly printed letters on the forms and the principal’s signature at the bottom of it. Looking at it, she was worried about Richard. One of her students from her form class had come to her asking for a transfer. She was stunned into silence and asked him about the circumstances of the transfer. He was a bright and consistent. Usually the smart ones know they can do last minute work, and the consistent cones usually know they are not as smart. For one to be both smart and consistent was as rare as they come.

Although Patricia was not the sort to intrude in personal business, in her career of 3 years, she never once had a case of a student wanting to transfer out. She could not help but ask Yong Kuang for the reasons why. He told her, “Ask Mr. Loh. He is the reason that I am transferring to St. Francis.”

Patricia was shocked. She prodded and probed for him to elaborate, but Yong Kuang darted around her questions until both of them gave up. Before leaving the school, Yong Kuang gave her a quick hug and gave her a box of chocolates for “the Teacher’s Days to come.”

It was a poetic gesture, one that put a smile on her lips now. Still, currents run deep and she felt a compulsion of tell Richard what Yong Kuang told her.

He deserves to know right?

December

It was the holidays, Richard could almost weep in relief. Yet here he was, sulking in his office with Patricia sitting opposite him.

“Do you remember Yong Kuang?”

Richard shifted his eyes left as raked his memory banks. “No, I don’t remember him. Is he a student I should remember?”

Patricia sighed inwardly. “He was a student of yours Richard. He was in the TAF Club.”

Ah. “That student. Yes, he gave me a few problems a couple of months ago. I remember him now, and his friend Kelvin.”

Patricia caught the slight in his voice at the end. She would be deaf to not have caught it.

“He has transferred out of school.”

“Oh, he said why?” Richard asked, reaching behind Patricia for the file. He could smell her subtle perfume of roses and….well, roses. He took longer than necessary to ‘find’ the file so he could take in that scent.

Silent passed between them. Patricia cleared her throat, thinking perhaps it was a bad idea to tell him after all. She seriously wondered if Richard cared enough to want to rectify the problem. Richard thought that he had revealed too much in his unseen intentions and hastily plop back to his seat.

“Yong Kuang...he said that he transferred because of you.” Patricia tried to suppress her voice and made it as objective as possible. Instead, Richard laughed. His laughter was warm and unabashed. It flowed over Patricia like warm syrup. Unlike syrup, this one did not make her feel sweet.

“Why are you laughing? I am serious! He told me on the last day of school that he really transferred out because of you.”

“No, really why?” Richard was still chortling in between words.

“He didn’t want to say more. All he said was that the reason lies with you. And I am concerned about you which is why I am here. Can you imagine if this gets out to Mrs. Goh, it’ll not be a joke. A student transferred because of YOU Richard, what do you think that makes me feel?” The dam finally broke and suppressed words finally flushed out of Patricia’s system.

Richard stopped his filing and replied her dryly, “Over-reactive. That’s how that makes you feel. Shit, I understand he’s a student in your form class right? But this is just a simple transfer. Students say things all the time. I don’t see what’s the problem.”

Patricia felt her hands tighten on the cushion of the chair. Sitting opposite Richard across the narrow desk, she cannot help but feel patronised. Here she was, concerned about his reputation as a teacher and his reaction was all but a swatting of an irritating fly named Patricia Ong.

“Ok, fine. I don’t think you believed what he said. If he goes to the new school and starts to say things about you. How will that bode with your reputation? This will come back to eat you Richard, and that’s why I am afraid for you. Are you sure you did not do anything to him?”

Richard leaned back into his chair and said, “No, I gave that boy and his friend suspension for truancy. They left school premises without permission in the middle of school activity and Yong Kuang even talked back at me if I may remember. This is regarding the school’s discipline. How can I just let him go off without punishment?”

Something clicked. “Richard, do you think your punishment was too severe?” Patricia lowered her voice, afraid that someone will overhear.

He felt something boil. Is Patricia questioning him? Her faint perfume started to itch in his nose.

“Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?” Richard’s voice dropped dangerously.

Patricia knew she over stepped boundaries. Time to bail.

“No, but as your friend and colleague I thought you might be interested to know.”

Richard took in a deep breath and drawled, “No, you thought wrong but thanks anyway.”

That felt like a cold slap on her cheeks. That bastard! WHY even bother? Patricia stood up suddenly and as she was walking out, paused at the door, “I thought you a different person. Now I wonder if making you as DM has changed you somehow, or that you wanted this all along. If you did, then perhaps I may have cared wrongly.” She waited a heartbeat for a response from Richard and not hearing any, she closed the door behind her. Sealing the conversation behind her. She felt like a walking fool who should have known better.

Didn’t they already say that office romance was bad?

-----------

1 week later

Richard sprawled listlessly on his couch watching a re-run of the movie on a local channel. It was boring as hell, crappy as hell and there’s not a single sexy ass in it that made it marginally more watchable. It was cartoon. Who airs cartoons on late night Saturday programmes?

Christmas is tomorrow. He know he should be out with his friends at parties and gatherings. He should, but he couldn’t. Every year, there was no invitation or even his friends dragging him along to their parties as a gate crasher. Perhaps it just wasn’t his thing. Over the years, he has convinced himself that he did not want the hot, humid, sweaty parties with mindless chatter and equally mindless people. TV at home with air-con comfort has become the rule, not the exception every holiday season.

His digital wall clock beeped 23:50. Groaning to no one in particular, he got off the sofa, shuffled his feet across the parquet floor into the kichenette, flipped open the light switch. Cursing at the sudden flood of white light, he squinted as his eyes adapted to the change from the dark living room.

With a cup of hot chocolate on his right hand and the remote on his left, he started to channel surf. Finally it landed on another local channel with a huge clock ticking 23:55 and a commentator rattling aimlessly at the anticipation of a countdown. He looked down at his empty mug and frowned. He drank that fast? It was late and his memory was hazy. Maybe he finished while flipping through the channels. Yet some little part of him cannot be brought to believe it.

23:57.

He got up from the sofa a second time to wash his mug in anticipation of Christmas. His mind aimlessly wandered. Didn’t countdowns only take place on New Year, since when Christmas have those as well? Argh, people will take any opportunity to party...hmm….need to buy more dish washing liquid. Long weekend. Running tomorrow….then suddenly he heard glassware broke. Senses suddenly alert, he rushed back into the living room and saw that crystal bowl that held the house’s knick-knacks (you know, keys, stray candy, bits of rubbish here and there) has been shattered into pieces. The broken bits were in a spread of disarray, reflecting light in the most beautiful way.

Richard caught himself being mesmerised by it momentarily. The cheers from the TV finally broke the spell when the countdown to Christmas finally reached 2400. “Merry Christmas to me.” Richard muttered under his breath and started moving to fetch the broom when all of a sudden, the crystal shards whirled up into a mini tornado. Richard turned when he heard a strong gust of wind humming behind him.

The tornado teased the objects near it, sending them to quiver and rattle. It was subtle and the air around it hummed with restrained power.

Then as quickly as it came, it melded together into a gelatinous form that was clear and hard. Yet it managed to feel warm and started to throw reflections of colours outward at the same time. Like a disco ball, but in a much more dignified fashion. It came to rest at a respectable distance from Richard. Richard on the other hand, was white-faced and his extremities start to pool in cold sweat. Scary much?

It, whatever that thing is, seem to hover slightly above ground and bobbed as if it were carried by waves. It was also captivating and seem to be waiting for something to happen. Richard curiously reached a finger and touched the object, not knowing what might happen if he did. At the slightest glance, the object shone with such brilliance that Richard had to shield his eyes with his arms turn his head away from the light.

The light dimmed slowly. However Richard closed his eyes so tightly that he did not notice that object in front of him had transformed into a middle-aged man. The man went for Richard’s ear and whispered, “Boo!”

Richard leaped. He actually LEPT and stumbled into the wall, ungraciously hitting his back sternum head on it while his bum plunged down towards the direction of gravity. He rubbed his head and lifted his eyes. Spots where dancing in front of his eyes and it took a while to register the person that now stood in front of him.

Mr. Tan was bending down at the waist with a concerned look on his face. Richard sat there, shocked for the second time that night - unable to speak anymore than, “Huh?”

Richard stood up quickly as Mr. Tan eased up, stammering, “Are...are..are you...you...here tototototo haunt me?”

Mr. Tan grinned and tilted his head slightly. Richard took that as a yes.

“But ghosts don’t exist!” Richard tried. He heard that if something you don’t believe exist, the n it simply does not. Faith in something gives it power, so if this entity does not have his faith, it will simply disappear. HAH! Logic in the time of scary.

The ghost of Mr. Tan seemed pretty miffed and spoke, which almost gave Richard another heart attack. “I tried the silent and scary grand entrance tactic but I reckon even those up there should try the tried and tested method sometime.” Mr. Tan cast his gaze upwards in an irritated look. Then he turned his gaze to Richard.

“Ah...Richard, Richard, Richard. This Christmas you will be visited by three ghosts.” Mr. Tan help up the middle of the three fingers for effect. “They will teach you, as you should be taught, the wrong-doings onto which you have done to others….”

“Woah Woah Woah” Richard interrupted, “is this some kind of sick joke? Who sent you?”

The ghost of Mr. Tan’s expression suddenly changed from casual, to amused. “Oh, The Being who loves you more than you love yourself, has sent me. Being a recently-dead, I am in a sense, a rookie and this is my first assignment. You are my first assignment.”

“Job? Rookie? What rubbish…?” Richard still could not believe his ears.

“Ah...maybe I should start from the beginning. You see, when people die, their ghosts enter the next world. You are made of matter, but after you die, the soul within you is released as anti-matter. Because of that, our touch is lethal to the living. If I were to touch you, we will cancel out each other and both of us will simply not exist. Its what some Zen people called the balance of order. However, the recently dead try to go back to the living because they cannot bear to see the people they leave behind suffer in the living world. The Other Side is simply so much better know? Can you imagine if every dead schmuck with a death certificate tries to reach to every loved on in this living world? The space will be a void. A vacuum.”

Richard listened attentively, trying to grapple the information.

Mr. Tan continued, “So, a rule was set up that all the ghosts like me could only reach the living by influencing their lives during Christmas. We have to submit a proposal to the Ghosts. Capital G for that, on who we want to help. So you see Richard, I chose you.”

Richard retorted, “Why me? I am sure you have many loved ones who require your help. Go ‘influence’ them instead of giving me a heart attack.”

Mr. Tan’s eyes gave a sad gaze. A moment later, Richard could feel the pain throb in his heart. It was foreign yet part of him at the same time. Richard realised retrospectively that what he felt was an echo of Mr. Tan’s pain.

“It is because I left the world with many things uncompleted. One of which was to be a better teacher. Compared to my family and friends, you - a teacher - could influence others more later on than a single ghost like myself. For this reason, I sought you out as my first project. Besides, my girlfriend cheated on me and called me on the phone to tell me that our relationship was over. That was what gave me the stroke that killed me. I think I can stand to see her suffer a little more. But you Richard, I’ve seen your records with the upper Beings. Your heart is good. Yet, the things you do hurt people. That’s why I am here, to help you to lead a better life.”

“I think I’m leading my life well. So thank you very much so erm...please go back to where you came from?”

“Ah, that is precisely why I have come. Richard, despite having an education as a teacher, you have no idea how to BE a teacher. You’ve caused more damage than any teacher would have done. In just 6 months too!” Mr. Tan crossed his arms in front of him and carried on, “I have made many mistakes as a teacher, but you my living friend, take the cake.”

Mistake? As a teacher? Since when? Richard thought to himself. He thought he was doing a fine job. Making the school more disciplined, despite the increase in punishments, the school has never received less complaints. Furthermore, he always had a good record in the P.E department. What can possibly be wrong?

“Everything Richard. Everything is wrong. You will soon learn that results are not all that is. So,” Mr. Tan cleared his throat and continued, “You will be haunted by three Spirits. That’s capital S. The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of…” Mr. Tan suddenly turned a shade of red, he mumbled something about forgetting his lines and took a piece of paper and read the rest, “ah, I knew it! Ok, and the Ghost of the Christmas-yet-to-come, a.k.a. Future, will visit you. I hope you do not tread the path on which I have trodden and grasp this last straw of hope or you will die a miser, suffer in your own indignity and in death, learn the pains of your misgivings.”

Mr. Tan folded the paper and placed it back in his pant pocket. He held his hands in front of him and said softly, “Richard, I am not here to make you difficult. But I have learnt in these 6 months all the mistakes that I have made and seeing the consequences of that have gave me pain beyond comprehension to you. I do not wish a teacher as I were, cause such misery in this world. We are teachers, both you and I, and the things that we do have effects far beyond your own imaginings. We have been told, but now, I want to show you.”

Richard trembled at his predecessor’s words as it resonate deep within. “So what happens now?”

“ ‘Expect them tomorrow, when the bells tolls One. Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us.’” Mr. Tan said, smiling. “Dickens went through the same as you you know. He wrote the Christmas Carol for man as a form of a heads-up.”

As he said these words, a door appeared between Mr. Tan and Richard’s window. Behind the door, Richard could see lush gardens and feel a warm breeze escape. Mr. Tan saw Richard’s expression and chortled, “See? I told you it was good.”

Richard started to walk towards the door. However, Mr. Tan raised his hand, warning him to come to further. The door closed slowly behind the Mr. Tan and Richard surged forward through the weakening apparition only to see many ghosts like Mr. Tan stepping through doors like the one he just saw.

Shivering, Richard closed the window and awkwardly went to his bed. Pretending that nothing happened, he switched off his lamp and settled into sleep.

Part II

To be continued…2011