EXTENTION!

Dear aspiring writers,

Wonderful news to all! The date line of the submission has been extended to 18 July 2014. Continuing to send in your wonderful essays before 18/7/2014 to "iloveessay@gmail.com"

Winners for the theme: Betrayal

1st: Luo Wen

Hilson Nim curled up into a ball, sat at one corner of the dim room and began crying his eyes out. On the floor, the bills were scattered messily around as the light flickered untimely. He was at the end of his tether already, the debts from his gambling problem snowballed into a hot mess. He had no one to turn to, his parents had sworn to break all ties with him. Now, it was just the lonely him battling against the fate of bankruptcy.

He suddenly heard the door opening. “Brother,” the man at the door cried out. Hilson stared at his beloved younger brother Jason Nim with those inordinately ruddy eyes. Jason was Hilson’s blood-related younger brother. When the whole world was against Hilson, Jason was the sole person who continue to be on his side. Jason visited Hilson fortnightly with his parents in the dark, much to Hilson’s comfort.

Jason dropped the groceries bags and scampered over to the tear-ridden fellow. He took notice of the bills on the floor and his lips trembled. “Brother, we will settle these debts together!” Their fingers interlocked as the warmth lingered in each other’s heart. Hilson sighed with despair and stood up wobbly, so did Jason. “Brother, I have an idea.” Jason suggested and Hilson raised his eyebrows. Jason leaned closer and whispered something into Hilson’s ear. Hilson’s eyes dilated.

*

Hilson’s hand wobbled as he picked up the new cheap mobile phone he had just brought. He bit his lips. “Once this phone call is dialed, there’s no turning back.” He muttered to himself. His fear augmented like never before. It was a new stage of horror and apparently his physical body couldn’t handle the pressure. “Brother, just do it. Trust me, everything will be alright.” Jason’s voice was hoarse and shaking as he placed his hand on his older brother’s shoulder for reassurance. Hilson forced a curl of his lips, but the relief was so hollow that he could crumble down anytime. He hesitated and stared the mobile phone once again uncertainly. “I’m ready, Brother.” Jason said.

*

The office lights were switched off and not a soul was seen working. Mr Nim, the father of the Jason and Hilson, shut the door which was imprinted with the word ‘CEO’ and walked out, preparing to go home when his mobile phone rang saliently among the eerie silence of the dimmed room. He checked the caller ID, but it stated ‘Unknown’. He picked it up.

*

“Dad! Dad! Help me, I am kidnapped!” cried Jason as he groaned. The menacing laughter then shadowed over the whimpers of Jason. “What’s up, Mr Nim?” Hilson bellowed, voice deceptively firm and arrogant. Jason looked concernedly at Hilson whose voice was shaking terribly. Hilson pursed his lips and gritted his teeth nervously. He felt overwhelmingly guilty for doing this, but he was in dire straits. Jason’s hand held Hilson’s, and he gave an reassuring look. “Go on,” his mouth moved silently. “We need to get Father’s money.” Hilson closed his eyes and sucked in a big breath before he cleared his throat.

*

Mr Nim nearly had a heart attack as he used the wall for support. His breaths quickened and he couldn’t believe a single syllable he was hearing. However, at a situation like this, all he needed was to keep calm and agitate the kidnapper. “What…what do you want?” he enquired and fiddled with his fingers fearfully.

“Money, of course. Drop $35 000 in the Gillton Park’s rubbish bin beside the entrance and go. Your son will come back 2 hours later. If you contact anyone else, prepare to hear the last scream of your son.” came the reply. The line then went dead.

The night was chillingly cold.

*

Hilson fell on his knees and stared into space. Everything seemed like a blur to him. His actions were incredulous, even to himself. “Brother, good job.” Jason complimented. He frowned and walked to the window and gazed upon the moonless sky. They waited in an abandoned house in a remote location, waiting for the arrival of time.

Hilson stood up in a blur. “Is this right?” he asked. The hoarse voice alerted Jason who was immersed in the beauty of the sky. “It is too late already, isn’t it?” Jason replied and paced forward. “It’s not, it’s never too late.” Hilson clenched his fists. “I can’t drag you down with me, Jason. I can go forward and confess that it was a one-man doing.” Hilson said, much to the dismay of Jason. “Or, you can stick to the plan. You get the money, I return to Father and convince him not to pursue the matter. We promised to be in this together, you won’t betray the promise, right?” Jason forced a smile after saying that. He was a bundle of nerves, and he tried all his might to conceal the fact that he was scared too. Hilson allowed the question go unanswered.

“I will go outside for a walk. Stay here.” Hilson said and shut the door.

*

Mr Nim held on to the pack of money dearly as he hurried to Gillton Park. Then, he swiftly dropped the money into the rubbish bin as told. He succumbed easily, losing his son wasn’t an option. “He better uphold his promise,” muttered Mr Nim before he took his leave.

*

Hilson had a destination. He started running. He ran past the park, the rubbish bin. He had made up his mind. He couldn’t err anymore, so he decided to stop before everything explodes by nipping it in the bud. He arrived at the police station, sweating like a horse. “I’m sorry, Brother.”

*

Jason waited but Hilson had never came back. He called his phone, but to no avail. He knew what Hilson could have possibly done, but he was too afraid to think about it. He stood up and ran to the police station too. He had a glimmer of hope that he could thwart him as he approached the counter.

“Did someone by the name of Hilson Nim come here?” He asked, wishing the answered would be a negative. “Erm..yes we did, just not long ago. He confessed to a crime and claimed to had done it alone. Is there a problem?” Jason’s worst fears came true.

*

Hilson did not betray his brother, but he betrayed something even more important. He betrayed the promise Jason and him had made. Jason’s face went pale as he seethed in anger. “How can you…” Jason’s eyes began to well as he bit his lips. He deliberated. “Since you betrayed me first…”

He looked at the officer at the counter. “I would like to confess to a crime.”

2nd: Nicole

Piles of worksheets were sent flying to the ground like the autumn leaves, leaving Andy sitting in the midst of the devastation, sighing to himself while carefully bending over to pick them up.

“Not again…” mumbled the anonymous people who strolled by, peeking over their shoulders as they watched Andy clear up the mess. Way ahead a young boy hollered, “Eat my crap, Andy!” while sticking his tongue out in mockery. Andy briskly walked away miserably, with his head down, to his “quiet corner” in the canteen while dwelling in self misery and rubbing the sore spot on his elbow where he used to break his fall after being jostled out of the way by Roger.

Just a year ago, well 351 days to be exact, Roger and Andy were a newly formed duo, like two peas in a pod. Not only did they look alike, they spoke alike and even dressed alike, and even liked the same things. Those who did not know would have thought that they were twins. If they were dashing and sporty like the other boys, girls would have surged onto them and showered them with attention. However, they were both avid readers and were very fond of baking. While the boys were anxiously racing after the soccer ball, Andy and Roger would sit on the benches and read their favourite “Divergent” trilogy.

The worst part was, the both of them liked the same girl – Raechel, as well.

Raechel sat in front of both of them in math class back in grade 8, and since then, both of them have been immensely in love with her.

Also, to the most popular and boisterous clique in the school, these two geeky boys were definitely on their list of “most played”. There was nothing wrong, of course, with being studious but to the clique, they were an outcast, a lower race, like a bunch of cattails in the midst of a bouquet of lavenders – they just didn’t fit in.

To everyone in the school, Andy was a reserved and well-mannered boy and so was Roger. Despite being constantly bullied by the clique of popular guys, they merely ranted and consoled each other that their seniors were simply being playful. For the following months, insults got harsher and the physical abuse got stronger. The more the boys gave in, the stronger the bullying got. They say “give an inch and they’ll take a mile”.

“ANDY! LISTEN TO ME!” exclaimed Roger and a wave of superiority and authority took over the atmosphere. Roger desperately tried to explain to Andy that they should not take it laying low but instead fight back. To Roger, it was the only way they would be able to set out of their current predicament. On contrary, to Andy, one should be forbearing and not blow matters up.

On the three hundredth and forty eighth day, Andy received a well decorated card, embellished with pretty ribbons and fancy fonts. It read “Hey Andy, see you at the soccer field at 9pm. Love, Raechel.” Andy’s mouth was agape, tears were welling in his eye sockets, he leapt with joy and screamed. He could finally be close to Raechel, the girl he had always wished was his. For months, he had been dropping notes in her locker and sending her flowers and chocolates, hoping to one day catch her attention. However, he knew, she was smitten with Roger, who too had a hopeless crush on her since the beginning of the term.

Sensing that something was amiss, Andy carefully threaded towards the soccer field. Before his eyes, was Raechel, weeping sorrowfully. Despite knowing that Roger and Raechel had been “together” since last month, he raced over to her and threw a bear hug onto her. He felt triumphant and jubilant as he thought that he could take the chance to win her heart.

Twenty metres away stood Roger, appalled and furious, who raced over and threw a heavy punch onto Andy cheek. Outraged by the actions of Andy, he threw countless of punches against bench, baring the whites of his knuckles which instantly became red.

“Betrayer!” bellowed Roger, who was close to breathing fire.

“True shame, Andy. What a great friend you are.” whispered Tom, into Andy’s ear before breaking out into chuckles of laughter again.

Andy stumbled away carelessly, holding onto the bruised spot on his cheek.

The entire series of events came too quickly to Andy who was still completely taken aback. When he regained his composure, he then realised that Tom had put their friendship to a test and in the meanwhile took the chance to break up the duo. He was engulfed in regret and shame as he sprawled against the cold, hard wall of his dormitory. Flashbacks of the times he had spent with Roger in the past 342 days and broken trust and friendship they had fostered along the months. Andy knew, no amount of apologies could patch their strained relations and no amount of guilt could make up for the lost friend.

All of these came to naught.

3rd: Amoz Low Xu Jie

I was once a refined and handsome boy. I was adored by many, in fact too many. I was praised by many people for my good behavior. I always thought that real beauty lies in our hearts, like our parents who care so much for us, like God who loved us so much that he gave us his only son. I thought everyone thought the same, until one fateful day, when I ran into an accident.

The accident left a huge scar across half of my face, which needed 40 stitches. Many of my friends were standing outside of the examining room, waiting anxiously for me. Though I was sad, I knew I would always be beautiful to my friends. When I was pushed out, I said to them,

“I’m alright, I’m fine. God gave me another chance! My wonderful friends, I’m alright!”

“Friend? How could I be your friend when you look like this? People would think I’m crazy if I’m close friends with you”, they replied curtly and left after that. I was devastated and at the same time disappointed and hurt at my friends’ reaction. Father and mother tried to comfort me but I could not help it but cried for days.

I was always being bullied every day since then. Of course, some people still care for me. I soon decided that I try to prove my friends wrong about their vision of me. I tried topping the class, asking the teacher more questions and helping my friends with their homework but to no avail. Soon, once again, I met with another accident, this time, I had finally proven them wrong.

One Friday afternoon, I headed to the bus-stop to wait for my bus. I saw my once “closed” friend, Michael, who had betrayed me by distancing himself from me since my accident. He was walking across the road, engrossed with his phone. All of a sudden, a car came rushing in round the corner. Shocked, I threw down my bag and bolted to the open road. I pushed him aside with all my might and took the hit. I flew into the air and landed on my head. Michael, traumatized for a moment, called for the ambulance. Soon the ambulance arrived. The paramedics quickly but carefully lifted me onto a stretcher and rushed me to the hospital.

Hours later, I was pushed out of the emergency room. I was once again surrounded by the same group of friends who had shunned me earlier due to my new ugly look. This time, however, guilt was written all over their faces.

“I never thought you still cared for me. Thanks so much for saving me!” Michael exclaimed. The rest of my friends were also guilty for shunning me and apologized to me.

“So long as you know that beauty lies in the heart, I’ll forgive you,” I replied.

Now, as I looked back, I was glad my friends realized their folly and learnt a valuable lesson that will remain etched in their minds for a long time.

A.C.T.S Essay Competition 32nd theme:Bad Habits

Let's put our hands together and welcome the 32nd theme:BAD HABITS.

Entry opens on 28/6/2014 and closes on 11/7/2014

Send your best essay in less than 1000 words before 11/7/2014 to "iloveessay@gmail.com"

Extension

Greetings to all aspiring writers!

How have your June holidays been so far? Due to vacation period, we will be extending the submission date for the BETRAYAL theme to 27 June 2014.

Send in your best essay before 27 June 2014 to "iloveessay@gmail.com".

Winners of 30th theme:WEATHER

1st: Carrie Tam, 14, TKGS

Weather

I am a loyal friend who is willing to grow with you, go through good and bad times with you and be there for you all the time.

I am everywhere. I can be found at grassy fields, nourishing dry lands, watering growing flowers, admiring life, the universe and everything. When they need me, I will quietly come down, make them all soaking wet, and then hide away in fits of giggles…

The living things that I enjoy observing the most are humans. This is because they are from all walks of life and have different stories to tell.

When I see the romantic scenes when lovers are together, I will fall down from the sky gently and softly, careful of not making any noise, so that I can eavesdrop the sweet words exchanged between them.

When I see a girl crying piteously because her romantic relationship has ended, I will dance around her at a loss, hoping that I could soothe her soul.

When I see cold-hearted parents abandoning their child cruelly, I will pound onto the ground lividly, loud and clear, in the hope that I can pound awake the conscience of that pair of parents.

When I see a harmonious family, I will cleverly hide away, and let the Sun to take my position, allowing her to warm that family.

Sometimes, when I am tired, I will just drop into the rivers, travelling in the “public bus” towards the vast blue sea. When lying in the river, I will look up at the sky, and unconsciously going to sweet dreams. When I am awake, I will return to the sky, staring down at the mother earth, looking for the next location to rest at.

My life seems beautiful and carefree, but actually it is not. I always feel very lonely, and have few friends whom I can actually talk to. I don’t dare to be near the Sun because he is scorching hot; Neither do I like the moon because he seems too cold. All I can do every day is to help the flowers and trees to grow and observe the lives of humans.

Until one day, I met the Cloud…he is gentle and understanding, and accepts everything that I am. No matter how playful and mischievous I am, he will always watch me quietly and wait for my return patiently. He observes humans with me and have reflections on their lives with me. He can help to overcome all my difficulties and fears, and as days pass by, I find that I become more reliant on him and we cannot leave each other anymore.

I changed. I do not like the trees and flowers anymore; I no longer observe humans. I prefer to float in the air with the Cloud, and not care about other things. At that point of time, I only indulge in a life of pleasure and comfort, however not knowing that I had done the biggest error in my life.

Until one day, my father, the God, gives me a good dressing down. He ordered me that I can only meet with the Cloud one hour before I reach the earth. I don’t understand why my father will do that to me, and kicked up a big fuss. But my father only left me with one sentence:”You look at what you have done yourself.”

The once fast-flowing rivers are drying up, the crops are dying in the hot sun, people are facing hunger almost everywhere. i watched these with tear-filled eyes, feeling like there are thousand knives piercing through my heart.

Short meetings with the Cloud do not reduce my reliance on him. When I am in the rives, I look up at him; when I am a vapour, I encircle around him; when I fall from the sky, I think of him. Although I am not as happy as before, but I feel that my life has become more meaningful.

I will work harder at fulfilling my task from today onwards and silently vow that I will not let the humans down again, but I also hope that you can understand me, enjoy me and admire me…

After all these being said, I forget to introduce myself.

My name is Rain, a trustworthy friend who will be there for you. Always.

2nd: Liu Kim

Weather

Weather is the state of the atmosphere,to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy.Weather, seen from an anthropological perspective.There are socially and scientifically constructed understandings of what weather is, what makes it change, what effects it has on humans in different situations etc. Weather generally refers to day-to-day temperature and activity, whereas climate that is the term for the average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time.[When used without qualification, “weather”, is generally understood to mean the weather of Earth.

Weather is driven by air pressure differences between one place and another. These pressure and temperature differences can occur due to the sun angle at any particular spot, which varies by latitude from the. The strong temperature contrast between polar and tropical air gives rise to the jet stream. Weather systems in themed-latitudes.As the Earth’s axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane, which is incident at different angles at different times of the year. On Earth’s surface, temperatures usually range ±40 °C  annually. Over thousands of years, changes in Earth’s obit affect the amount and distribution of solar energy received by the Earth and influence long-term climate and global climate change.

Surface temperature differences in turn cause pressure differences. Higher altitudes are cooler than lower altitudes due to differences in compressional heating. Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. The system is a chaotic system ; so small changes to one part of the system can grow to have large effects on the system as a whole. Human attempts to control the weather have occurred throughout human history, and there is evidence that human activity such as agriculture and industry has modified weather patterns.

3rd: Su Qi, 15, TKGS

Rain

It was raining outside. I sat beside my window in my room, watching the annoying bad weather. I didn’t like rainy days, actually, I hated them. During these days, I could not go out and play, I could not enjoy the golden sunshine shining on me, I only felt cold and wet.

It was a Sunday afternoon and I was doing my revision for my final year exam. However the sound of the rain made me cannot remember anything. I was so angry and throw my books away, stood up and open my window. I put my arms outside the window; I waved them in the rain, trying to get it away, to ask it to return my peaceful Sunday afternoon. The rain was not very heavy, it was drizzling. It was not like the rain in Singapore, heavy but straightforward. The rain was as shy as a traditional Chinese woman, keeps all her emotion inside her brittle heart. The small raindrops drop on my arms, cooled me down. The cold air rushed into my room, dispersed the stuffy air.

This sense is not familiar to me, I had never opened my windows when it was raining before. I closed my eyes, trying to feeling the raindrops. They were so tiny, and cool. They dropped on my arms, gave me a temporary coldness and soon became warm because of my body temperature. I put my head outside the window also and breathe. Some raindrops also enter my nose with the cool air, cooling my trachea, my lung, and my whole body, disperse my anxiety towards my coming exam. “The rain seemed not to be so annoying!” I said to myself.

I could see my community from my window. The rain gave the world a silk quilt, made it look mysterious. It was so beautiful! I suddenly forgot that how I used to hate the rain. The rain itself was not annoying; I hate it just because I didn’t know how to find beautiful things in my life, in the world around me. Everything has pros and cons; we need to focus more on the wonderful things. Why? Because we cannot change the world, sometimes, we have to accept the things that make us angry. How? By finding their beautiful sides, by learning to love them. If we cannot do that, we will be angry and upset all the time. Whether I can spend my life happily or not, depending on how I treat the things in my life.

Half a year ago, I came to Singapore. I gave up everything I used to have: family, friends, honor, and of course, the gentle and magnificent rain in my hometown in the central part of China. Raining days are very common in Singapore. Here, the rain is unconstrained, no one can bond them. I miss the rain in China a lot, miss its softness, and miss its shyness. Now, the rain is not just rain anymore, it contains homesickness. I really hope that I can be a small raindrop, free and happy, running back to my hometown. However, I also know that I have no choice but to work hard in Singapore. Once the raindrop drops into the soil, it can never go back to the sky unless it suffers from evaporation to become water vapor, then, it can rise and go back. For me, I have to work hard because I don’t have a bridge of gold. I have to be good, to achieve my goal, and go back with honor and achievement.

I really like rainy days, though I used to hate them. They can remind me of my home town, remind me that what is my goal, encourage me to work hard. Maybe, someday, I will miss the rain in Singapore.

A.C.T.S Essay Competition 31st theme:Betrayal

Greeting to all writers!

The 31st theme BETRAYAL is offically released.

 

Submission of essay opens on 7th June and closes on 20th 

June.

Send in your entry to "iloveessay@gmail.com"

A.C.T.S Essay Writing Competition 30th theme:Weather

Great day to all aspiring writers,

the 30th theme of A.C.T.S Essay Writing Competition is now 
released. 

Opens 24/5/2014 and closes on 6/6/2014
Send in your best essay in less than 1000 words to 

"iloveessay@gmail.com" before 6/6/2014