The Bed

you don't realise

the closest friend you have 

is your own bed

with your stained pillow of your scent

and unwashed blanket that is never uncomfortable

mattress that feels like home

between the crumpled sheets

you find your tears

you find your smiles

you find breadcrumbs and water spills

you find dreams and romance

you find nightmares and traumas

you find peace

you find sorrow

you find your life

mornings when you wake up

and nights when you fall asleep

TP : Parenting Challenges in Shaping Youth's Morality in the Age of Heavily Sexualised Social Media

19 December 2014

Parenting Challenges in Shaping Youth’s Morality in the Age of Sexualised Social Media

In the age of free-flowing information through advanced digital technology, society has become active media consumers. As a result, social media has become a necessity in life especially among youth until those who do not own a Facebook account is considered weird or anti-social. Social media is implicitly changing the global culture, the way people think and influences what should people believe in. As influential as social media has become, the challenge of differentiating true and false information is getting more arduous. Although social media has become part and parcel of today’s youth culture, parents must be aware of the possibilities that this medium can lead towards ambiguous morality among children including Muslims.

Ambiguous morality is defined as a euphemism for describing someone who lacks in morals or changes their morals to suit their needs. Originally, this term is used to describe corrupted businessmen or graft politicians but yet, nowadays it is also been used to refer to young generations who do not behave well or conform to an ideology blindly. They worship their idols on the television or Internet obsessively due to massive waves of music and entertainment that appear like mushrooms after a rain. Respect that should be instil in the family institutions has been replaced with the love towards popular celebrities (Chapman, n.d.). People from all walks of life including teenagers face hardships and stresses in life, and they failed to sort out their problems in the right way. Hence, they will find a way to escape the problems, and one way of doing it is through worshipping celebrities. Popular figures can easily tap into their emotions and offer them an escapade from everyday lives by providing a fantasy life to live on (Murphy, 2010). On the other hand, the obsession with Internet makes the Muslim youths spend less time with their family and it may affect the family relationship. The society itself has lost its emotional contacts within the circle. Teenagers, as a young and heedless group fills up the inadequacy of healthy social connection by becoming addicted to celebrities. Isolation put them into the shape of starving for social attention (Murphy, 2010). Popular cultures such as social media, K-Pop, Hollywood and J-Pop, dominated youths’ mentality, dressing code and also choice of words. They play a vital role in shaping one’s behaviour. Youth especially teenagers are most likely to involve in this dogmatic trends because they do not think critically before conforming the culture. Pop culture in media is manifested around the world through movies, music, television shows, newspapers, satellite broadcasts, fast food and clothing, and even consumer goods. (Pop Culture…, 2000). They failed to differentiate which is right or wrong because the media has shaped almost everything that revolved around them. This is where challenges of becoming parents in raising up the children start. The era of digital technology requires parents and adults to educate young people today that morality is not always subjective.

Social media is defined as a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, whereby the content and information are no longer created or published by individuals, instead they are continuously updated and changed by multiple users in a collaborative way (Siibak, n.d.). This is undoubtedly a big development in the world of Internet that allows responds by anyone and enhances participation among people. Due to the massive improvement in Internet accessibility, broadband speed and capacity, and also youth generation whom thirsts for trending gizmos and applications in smartphones, social media is completely in a whole new level of sophistication. Every generation has its own uniqueness that distinguish one from another generations (Shäffer, as cited from Siibak, n.d.). Generations of the olden days depended solely on mass publication and spent time mostly through reading newspapers and books. But not for today’s young generation. Youths in this globalized era grow up with digital technology, thus being called “digital natives” (Prensky, 2001). Research done by online charity YouthNet on a group of 16 and 24 year olds found that 75% of them “cannot live without Internet”, four out of five youths sought advices on websites and one third felt no need to meet person when they have resources available online (Kids’ Top Searches…, 2009). This shows youths are relying on Internet and social media very much. No one can deny the power of digital technology and its importance in the world. But no one can also deny the bad effects that come if people misuse it. The one who is affected the most is youth, as they are the dominant users of social media. Parents should be more sophisticated and take notes on what their children surf online (Youth Cannot Live…, 2009). Mastering the basic skills of using social media might be helpful for parents to control and supervise children’s activities in social sites.

Globalization has been a phenomenon around the globe where it affects political status, economic growth and social life. Economic impulse drives it beyond economy and up to the extent of producing commercial global culture. One of the most commercialized culture being promoted due to globalization is the new disgusting forms of slavery known as sex slavery (Global Shame…, 2000). The worst part is not only it traffics millions of vulnerable women, but also children as young as ten years old. These children are sold, abused, trafficked and even worse, prostituted under the supervision of blind community that denies their rights. In numbers, the non-profit organization End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and the Traffic in Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) claimed that children involved in sex industries are more than 100, 000 in all countries in view including Thailand, Nepal, Brazil and India. The success of this industry was proven by the victory to generate 20-23 billion dollar between 1993 and 1995 (Global Shame…, 2000). 20 years have gone by and it is with no doubt that this number is growing day by day. All these numbers and researches show that child pornography is getting worse. In Chicago, 27 people from 4 different countries have been arrested for using an Internet chat room to trade child porn and exchange videos of live molestation. Seven victims in the videos were identified and one of them was less than 18 months old (Child Porn Ring…, 2006). With the abundance of new digital technology, file and information sharing have become a lot more convenient. Perpetrators misuse this digital technology to further luring children into their traps. They are exploiting children for their profits and one easy way to get in touch with the children is simply through social media. It allows the users to create personalized profile and details about themselves online. Social media serves as an electronic door for perpetrators to lure innocent young teenagers and naïve children with affection, kindness and attention before meeting them in person. Parents and adults must be fully aware of what is happening around their children, not only physically but also virtually. Constant monitoring on the adolescents’ online activities must be enforced to avoid them becoming a victim of child pornography. All these while, parents are left with an option to find and install monitoring software on their own. This is troublesome for certain people because they do not have time and knowledge to search for suitable software to be used. Thus, manufacturers should come with a built-in online monitoring system before selling the computers to the customers (Web Content Disturbing…, 2008). It is important to ensure the safety of children when surfing the Internet. In brief, online activities of youths and teenagers should be carefully monitored by parents because there is a high tendency for them to be involved in child pornography through social media.

Social media, when it is misused, will be a platform of moral degradation and crime victimisation. In this context, cyberbullying is one of the major Internet cases happened online. Social media allows its users to hide their true identities using other names and fake pictures. This is where the problem of cyberbullying occurs. By using fake identities, abusers will easily get access to the victims’ profiles and flaming them by mocking, spreading rumours, sending mean messages and posting embarrassing pictures and videos of the victims (What is Cyberbullying…, n.d.). Although social media is built to keep people closer, there will always be bullies out there trying to get in and take advantage of others (Skye, n.d.). Abusers will use derogatory remarks and obnoxious words to portray hatred towards the victims and as a result, the victims feel demotivated and unconfident about their own self. The feeling of rejection by society haunts them and hence, leading to an escapade of life such as isolation and suicide. Furthermore, bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to commit suicide than those who do not experience it. And frankly, those with obese or overweight kids have 63% more tendency to be bullied than those with normal body weight (Skye, n.d.). People who suffer from stress of their personalities will be pessimistic and cynical about living their life, and thus they will take a quick route to end it as soon as possible. Facebook, Ask.fm, and Twitter are sources of major cases of cyberbullying all over the world (Butterly, 2013). Social media is where abusers can obtain personal details about the victims to be used against them. Information such as name, address, phone number, study place, likes and dislikes and even profile picture of a person can be taken from social media. Anonymity of identity increases the urge of abusers to attack their victims through cyber space without being sniffed out. Major suicide cases that caused by cyberbullying are very deteriorating, as the victims were all young and underage. 14-year-old Hannah Smith and 15-year-old Amanda Todd were some of suicide cases happened due to cyberbullying. Parental supervision over online activities of their children must be strictly done to avoid cyberbullying. Children especially teenagers should be advised not to reveal their private information or talking with strangers online and consult to the trusted adults if they cross upon harassing emails or contents (Gerber, n.d.). In other words, parents have to make sure their children are not opening up personal information online as it may be used to harass them by cyberbullies.

Bruce Feiler, a writer who is also a father of two daughters living in the cosmopolitan city of New York was taken aback by the choice of clothes his children chose to wear in public (Feiler, 2013). He was uncertain on how to deal with the issue of children’s emerging sexuality so soon. This shows the critical roles that popular culture has on fashion industry in shaping children’s sense of morality. Fashion is also a popular culture that comes through the emerging world of digital technology. Earlier, fashion is mostly emphasized on adults rather than teenagers or children. But, time has changed and now, fashion is the keyword for almost all teenagers. The bags they carry, the watch they wear and the shirts they put on are involving fashion. The main source of getting information about trending fashion can be easily accessed through digital technology and mostly came from social media. This is where fashion designers or celebrities put their new garments in Instagram or Facebook for public view. Teenagers will have a tendency to copy their favourite celebrities’ styles and looks as they are too naïve to differentiate the appropriateness of what they are copying (Khan, 2014). Furthermore, with the existence of social media that can be updated on daily basis, fashion crisis for youngsters have been more severe. Fashion companies take advantages of this medium to further increase their marketing and pick young adolescents as their main target. Because they know adolescents are their biggest source of income as they are mostly uneducated and uninitiated of the harms in following latest fashion. Trends will always come and go, thus teenagers must spend a lot of money in order to stick with the latest one (Pandey, 2013). It will encourage youths to spend excessively and waste their pocket money for the sake of clothing and accessories. Teenagers should spend their money on reference books and co-curricular activities, not jewelleries or high cut leopard-skinned boots. Following latest trends of fashion will be a major problem for teenagers because this will also affect the choice of the clothes that may be improper for their ages. Not all trending fashion are suitable for teenagers as the dresses are provocatively exposing bodies and adult kinds of clothes. Sexualisation of culture has made its way into children’s fashion and thus, offering sexualizing forms of “childlike fashion”. A young girl will be pressured to grow up too fast because they want to wear all those trendy clothes such as push-up bra and mini underskirts (Ahmad, n.d.). Also they are more likely to deviate from studies due to obsession only in fashion magazines and fashion forums in social media. The emergence of social media that can be updated every single second really influences teenagers whom are crazy for newest trends or styles from their beloved celebrities. Without any proper guidance from parents in fashion and also the usage of social media, this pornification of culture will bring about bad consequences to the children. Parents must bear in mind to educate them about the suitable way of choosing clothes and not to be easily fooled by trending fashion and sexy clothes advertised in social media.

Living on the 21^st century where all kinds of information is only at the tip of fingers is surely a convenient thing to be experienced. But unfortunately, the easier life is, the harder parenting will be. This is because it is becoming more arduous to look after the children about the hidden dangers of cyber world. Modern child is living in a digital technology world that older generation can barely keep up with. Despite omnipresent technology, parents have to contend with it in order to protect their children from harmful unrestricted access of Internet (Makori, 2012). Digital technology might come in handy, but when it is misused, it can lead to a bigger problem especially in terms of safety and morality. Child pornography exposes children to uncensored sexual contents and encourages sex to the youngsters. Children might be victimized by the perpetrators for sexual purpose and this is where parents have to reinforce the safety of children on the net. On the other hand, social media can also make ways for moral degradation among youths. Simply because it offers vast field of trending news including improper fashion for teens. If parents fail to educate their children on how to differentiate the decent and the unsuitable ones, there will be a problem on guiding the children’s morality.

Children are a blessing of God for married couples. Raising them up righteously is an obligation for all parents including Muslims. Take an example on how the best role model of humankind, Prophet Muhammad PBUH handled many situations involving minors with patience and good-naturedness (Farooqi, 2013). Parents must raise up their children wisely without stressing on hard and fierce methods all the way. Fostering resilience might be one way of controlling and harnessing love in the family as research shows that it creates a positive atmosphere among family members especially for the children (Christakis, 2012). There are lots of factors that can improve children’s abilities such as optimism, flexibility and self-esteem that are not being taught in class. Boosting up these values orally to them will help to make them feel more appreciated and loved. Laughter, quality time and family love are necessities in a family institution. Children being obsessed with social media mainly because they do not acquire all these basic needs in the family. As a result, they switch to the cyber world to get this kind of attention without knowing there are lots of unexpected hazards lie within. Hence, parents must nourish the family with love in order to become close with the children and guide them about clear boundary between improper and proper morality. Not forgotten, they have to cope with digital technology to control and restrict children from dangerous threads online.

Post of Appreciation

 

It's a blissful day

and she won the first prize

Alhamdulillah and congratulations

The road to raconteur is revealing its trigger

and we're heading straight to it

:)

 

 

 



I Like That Tree

 

 

It is raining cats and dogs. The downpour is teeming heavily, making people in the neighbourhood dare not to let their children to play outside the house. Pitter, patter, pitter, patter. The sound of rain resonates so loud that it is rather impossible to hear other environmental sounds that play within. Abruptly, a rumming engine sound comes from afar. It gradually becomes slower and put to a halt in front of an old white vacant villa at the neighbourhood located quite a distance from the other houses and the closest is 500 metres away. Why is there any visitor of that house at this moment, no one knows and no one wants to know.

A manly figure steps out from the car. Tall, perhaps in his thirties and wearing a trench coat paired well with matching pants and black leather shoes, stands blankly facing the old building. He takes out his black umbrella and set it up to prevent him from the crying rain. He wanders slowly, step by step, calmly and steadily forward. The rusty iron gate is being pushed and it makes a creaky sound, one that gives you goosebumps upon hearing it late at night. Without any hesitation, he climbs up the wooden stairs meticulously that leads to the front door. Falter never creeps into him as if he is the commoner of the house.

The door, as expected, is tightly locked with its knob that almost looks like it’s impossible to be used. He reaches a key inside his pocket and slowly stuff it into the shallow keyhole. It fits nicely and the door opened. Nothing has changed at all except that it’s now mended with cobwebs of spiders. The large patio looks squalid enough to demand a desperate cleaning. He creeps slowly, scrutinizing every corner of the living room and halts in front of a huge picture frame of a happy family hanging dully at the wall near the stairs that leads to the second floor. Out of the blue, the memory of the past comes to abreast his long stare upon the sorrowful picture. It is quite disturbing for him to remember all those mixed up feelings of jubilance and woes. Extremely crestfallen of his past, he’s on the verge of tears. The rains outside is pouring its heavy loads, as if acknowledging the drastic change of emotions inside the abandoned villa. Vividly floating in his mind, that one night which left him a deep bleeding gash and changed his entire life.

February 11^th it was. A night the family were happily enjoying their meal that ironically, turned out to be the last dinner they had together as a whole. On the way home from having a big feast full of family jokes and laughter, a truck drove by a highly intoxicated drunken man turned to be a big fullstop for most lives. It ramped on their car and sent them to their narrow escape of death in the jungle by the roadside. His parents and 4-year-old sister were up to heaven straight on the spot after the crash. Leaving him alone staggering and gasping for a soul to help. Luckily, there was a car of a good Samaritan happened to witness the accident. And he’s the one responsible for saving the boy and sent him to the hospital for further help. But the future is so cruel for the boy, having to live his life alone at such a young age. And it was a dreadful nightmare he has to bear with for the whole life.

The man passes a blurry window in the hallway and ceases there for a moment, notifies something that caught his attention. A tree. Nope, the tree! The tree that becomes his only shelter and friend after he lost his family. He took a long time to heal himself out of the terrible trauma. He wasn’t himself at all. Not so warm and friendly David anymore. He’s cold and he just wanted to be left alone. Until one day, an adorable little girl came to play under the tree. She wore a beautiful white dress and held a Barbie doll in her hand. Jasmine is the name. Jasmine isn’t a normal girl. Though she’s pretty, but she’s disable. She cannot speak after involved in an accident that took away her voice box when she was 4. Nobody wanted to be her friends and she just wandered and played alone with her Barbie doll. And the meeting with the boy named David under the tree gave her a chance to at least met someone of her age that didn’t judge her harshly. David wasn’t fond of her at first but he didn’t repel her as well. He just let Jasmine played under the tree with her doll. Until one day, he found out that Jasmine can play piano very well. And he’s interested to know her as he also loves music. Guitar is his favourite. And he came to her house frequently as her family loves to know their daughters made friend. They played alongside each other, interacting more through music than words. Music is their mutual language and also through music, their hearts get tangled together slowly and deeply. And the knacks are what made them today, a professional guitarist and a talented pianist and both are lovable entertainers of many. And love makes their story even sweeter.

It has stops raining completely. The man goes outside and approaches the tree, fumbling for something between the barks. His hand touched a piece of paper and he smiles, knowing that he found what he wants. He opens the half-crumpled-and-half-folded paper and there it is, a handwritten poem written on the old paper.

 

A tree obviously cannot bear,

Without immaculate water, light and air,

A timid tree can’t be a tenacious king,

It will die a scrubby thing,

Good timber doesn’t grow with ease,

Stronger wind, stronger trees.

 

“David?”, a pregnant lady reproaches the man. Although her tummy bloats, but she still looks gorgeous in her white dress.

“Sorry, dear. I was just remembering things. This tree and this poem, remember?”, David replies while slowly approaching the lady and hugs her from behind.

“Hmm of course I do. How can I not.”, her face turns red a bit to the thought of their childhood memories.

“My Jasmine.”, David whispers softly at her ear and kiss her lightly on the cheeks. He smiles and hug her tighter. “Come on, dear. Let’s go to the car. It’s not good for you to be out at this terrible weather especially after the throat’s surgery. And also for this little hero.”, he kisses her tummy and caress it gently.

“I’m fine, dear. Sure. Let’s.”

They hold hands together and the lovebirds walk away from the villa with laughter and joy.

 

He & She

He likes CN Blue. But she likes MCR

He likes blue. But she likes red

He said white. But she'll say black

He chooses chocolate. But she dislikes them

Instead she'll have vanilla. And he agrees to

He doesn't like going to kitchen. But she loves cooking

Feeding everytime they eat, making him want to

He worships Nokia. Her phone is Sony

Both quarrels which one is the best

But end up accepting each other

 The way he looks at her. And the way her eyes glow when they're together

Resembles how much love they're in

Despite differences they have

 There is one thing they see it in the same way

They see their hearts looking at their true soulmate

And it just feels right

To be with one another

Should I Tell Him?

 

 

Have you ever wish to do time travelling?

If yes, why?

Do you wish to see your country before our independence day?

Or do you wish to see the world, how good is the olden days?

Maybe you want to watch how was vehicles back then in 17th centuries?

Or

perhaps,

do you want to see someone who will mean the world to you in the future?

 

It all lies within our heart

Our wanting to do something beyond human science

 

As for me,

I want to go time travelling

and my desire to travel to the future

isn't as much as my heart to play back times

to tell him something I should tell earlier

when he's still here....

 

 

...............................................................................................................................................

 

March 14, 1999

I have a new friend today. His name is Darren. He's in my class. I think he's a little cute. But he's too shy to play with us. He only talks to me.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

April 20, 1999

He asked me to come over to his house. I'm very happy. He has a big house. And he has many toys. We played Scrabble today.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

June 16, 1999

The other boys picked on Darren. He's a small guy. So I think maybe that's why they can beat him. I went to him and help him out. Poor Darren. I hope I can protect you.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

May 10, 2000

Darren and I are still in the same class. We're 5 now. But Darren is still short. Hahaha. 

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

July 6. 2001

Our drawing class today is great. Mrs. Wallace asked us to draw our partner. I made a team with Felicia. But then I saw Darren. He doesn't have much friends. No one wants to be partner with him. I took him to be my partner. Felicia got angry. But I can't let Darren alone. He drew beautifully. He truly has a knack in drawing. But I looked away everytime I met his eyes. It's distracting to look at his eyes when he's focusing. And he caught me staring today.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

January 12, 2004

Today is my 9th birthday. My mom held a birthday party at our house. I asked Darren thousand times to come because lately he always forget things and he's tardy. The party almost over and I'm not happy at all. But then he came. I'm very happy but not without getting mad at him first. He gave me a book I favoured the most in bookshop. Yeay! Thanks Darren.

 

Should I tell him?  

 

 

May 25, 2004

Darren turns 9 today. But his parents don't make a party for him because they're busy. I accompanied him to our favourite ice cream shop. He seemed a bit sad but he ate a lot! What a weirdo.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

February 5, 2010

It's been a while since I last met Darren. He is always with his new friend, Jessica. Blergh!

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

May 25, 2010

Darren's parents made a birthday party for him this year. I wanted to give him the best book I used to read because he loves reading too. Not really but he'll read if I asked him to. I went there and he just greeted me "Hi, Katie. Glad you made it. Thanks for the present." and he went on with his 'pretty' friend. What a moron!

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

November 11, 2010

He went to my house today and we had a little chat. I can't believe it! He told stories about Jessica all the time! What! You think I care with you guys! Get a life.

 

But I think I shouldn't shout at him just now.

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

January 12, 2011

"Happy Birthday, Katie! Let's hang out together sometime."

Yeah right. Like you still have time for me at all. Go screw yourself with that hoe.

 

I hate you! But should I tell him now?

 

 

February 18, 2011

Got a phone call from him. Jessica dumped him. Serves you right, Darren. Hahaha.

 

But, why suddenly I become this happy? Should I tell him?

 

 

April 2, 2011

He asked me to meet him at Starbucks today. Gosh he's a mess! His hair is a disaster. My handsome friend, I can't recognise him anymore. And he keeps telling about that girl. Damn! Gather yourself, Darren! Tomorrow I'm gonna make sure he has his hair cut and go shopping some new clothes. He needs some time to enjoy I suppose. I will make you smile again. I promise.

 

But, should I tell him?

 

 

April 3, 2011

He looks cheerful and happy again today. God, how I miss that smile. His hair is neatly trimmed and we got some new shirts and jeans for him. And went for a little ice skating for a while. This is my first time and I was a bit scared. Darren played a lot and he's like a pro. Sliding and swinging gracefully in front of me. He took my hands and I tried to walk a little. Numerous times I got myself about to fall down. But he's always there to catch me. Always. His smiles never leave his handsome face. Did I blush? Oh God! 

 

Should I tell him?  

 

 

June 5, 2013

It is our prom night next week. And I've no one to go with. And I asked Darren whether he got his partner and he said no. Well, I used to promise with him to go to this prom night with him as bestfriends if we can't get partner. I never thought I'm still single in my final year of high school!

Am I waiting for someone?

 

Should I tell him?

 

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Oakleyville , June 11- A tragic accident occur at 11PM in Route 39 involving a truck and a red sedan. The truck driver believed to be drunk and without proper control of his mind, the truck whacked over a sedan by the roadside owned by two newly graduated students after attending their prom night together last night. Both of them were seriously injured and taken to the hospital nearby but the boy, Darren James died on the way there due to severe blood loss. Katie Watt is now under treatment. The truck driver is being interrogated for further investigation.    



 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Katie, wake up. Can you hear me?", a warm kiss landed on my cheeks.

 

I woke up to a bright light above. Is this heaven? I asked myself. And I looked to the person who gave me a kiss on my cheeks just now. He looks familiar. His smile, his hair and his scent. Everything seems familiar.

 

"Darren!"

 

 He smiled his usual smile, nodded as he was thanking me, and faded away.

 

I should tell him. I should tell him earlier.  



 

 

My New Friend

 

 

Have you ever meet someone who you think suits you best?

A friend you feel very close to.

A partner you feel incomplete without him.

A teacher you are inspired with.

Or a stranger whom you met online.

 

 

This is my story. Based on real life experience. Something I don't think quite necessary to put into my happy memories. Something I should've forgotten a long time ago.

 

But I can't.

 

Because he doesn't want me to...

 

 

...................................................................................................................................

You are online.

 

Mike : Hi, there.

Me : Err..hi. Excuse me but do we know each other?

Mike : No. But I think you're cool.

Me : Hahaha go home you're drunk. Sure dude. Who are you?

Mike : Name's Mike. 16. Living in Kansas. A Kansas High School student.

Me : Dude! We are in the same school! Kevin. Kevin Wellington. Class 7B. What class are you in?

Mike : That's cool, man! 7D. I'm not a learning nerd. Used to hate school very much. Hahahah.

Me : Crap. Who loves school? I mean, getting into class, learning boring subjects, get homework, com'on! We only live once. Why waste many times for that lame stuff.

Mike : You're my man, bro. My man. If you go for school president's post, I'll vote for you like hundred times a day. But yeah, indeed. We only live once....

Me : Chill up, man. We still have time to enjoy. How 'bout we hang up tomorrow after class?

Mike : I want to. But I can't attend school tomorrow. Something's up.

Me : That's okay. We always have time to hang up. Gtg bro. Xbox is calling. Hahah.

Mike : Sure....

 

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 17/1/2012

 

..................................................................................................................................

You are online.

 

Mike : Long time no see, pal.

Me : Too busy with this History project. Sorry bro.

Mike : Have time now?

Me : Sorry but I really need to get going, Later, dude.

Mike : Sure....

 

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 24/1/2012

 

.....................................................................................................................................

You are online.

 

Mike : How is it going? I  mean, your History project.

Me : Just handed it off two days ago. Ahh shut up! I don't wanna talk about it.

Mike : Hahahah. You got C+.

Me : Are you kidding me?

Mike : Why should I?

Me : How did you know?

Mike : I am not what you think I am. Heheh.

Me : Hahaha go die. Hey, gotta go. If only mom know I use her laptop in the middle of the night, she'll be in total rage. See ya.

Mike : Sure...

 

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 31/1/ 2012

 

.......................................................................................................................................................

You are online.

 

Mike : Dude, what's up?!

Me : You're right.

Mike : About what?

Me : My project.

Mike : Told you so.

Me : My mom will kill me. I'm a dead meat.

Mike : Nah, she won't. She'll hug you and bring you to a trip in London.

Me : London? In your dream. She won't even buy me a PS3.

Mike : Sure...

 

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 6/2/2012

 

.....................................................................................................................................................

7/2/2012

 

Mom : Kevin, would you tell me about your grade in History project?

Me : Hmm. (Mom will kill me!!!!)

Mom : Kevin?

Me : First of all, I would like to say that I've given my full effort for this project. I made the first draft two weeks before the deadline, and sent it just on time.

Mom : Yes, and then?

Me : Hmm it's just a C.

Mom : *hug* It's okay. I know you've given your best for it. That's why I want to give you a present.

Me : Present?

 

And she showed me a flight ticket to London.

 

..................................................................................................................................................

You are online.

 

Me : Man, you're creepy. Who are you for real? A psychic? Wizard?

Mike : Hahahah. I'm just good in guessing things.

Me : Yeah right. And how good are you in this 'guessing things' thingy?

Mike : So so. Hahah why?

Me : You nailed my life twice. And they hit bull's eyes.

Mike : Told you so. Hahah.

Me : Say, I never see you in school before. I asked some friends of mine but they never heard your name before. Are you pulling my legs?

Mike : It's true. But you won't like it when you see me. You won't like the view.

Me : Rubbish! I've been meeting ugly brats and jocks and I'm not that inhumane enough to deter people away.

Mike : Sure...

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 13/2/2012

 

..................................................................................................................................................

You are online

 

Mike : You wanna meet me? See me at your locker after school tomorrow.

 

Last seen 2:00 AM, 20/2/2012

 

...................................................................................................................................................

21/2/2012

 

I waited for Mike at the promised place. In front of my locker? What a weird place to meet. The school was about to empty now but I didn't see anyone going to my way yet. Ten minutes passed, and I gave up. "Maybe he has something else to do." I thought. And I opened my locker to take my bag but there was something caught my attention. It was a book. A thick old book that I could know just  by looking at the yellowish papers and torn out cover. Roughly I thought it's maybe decades old. And I took it slowly. Full of curiosity and terror. How could I never see this book inside my locker before. Who put it and why would he put it. To creep me out. Heh, I don't think so.

 

And meticulously, I opened up the cover, revealing the first page.

 

 

MIKE MORRISON

 1979

 

 

Mike Morrison? As in Mike? Is this his job? And why is it 1979? This is insane. I'm gonna kick his ass for this trick. I'm dead serious.

 

 

I'm not a bad person.

Why did they always beat me up.

I just want to be left alone. With my gadgets.

But why did they disturb me and punch me on my face



I never interfere their business

But why they always tease and call me names

Why? Why is it always me?

Even at home, mom and dad quarrel a lot

Dad beats mom everyday

And I'll be his punching bag

At school, it's just the same

I don't have any friends

If and only if,

Someone would willing to be my friend,

I'd have been happier during my life.

 

 

That was written in the second page of the book. And that's all. No other writings inside the book, not until I realised I heard some scratching sound from the back of it. And it shocked me out when I saw a small portion of the last page was wet with fresh blood. What's more shocking was something that was written there....

 

 

You! You!

Kevin! Yes, you!

You are my friend now!

And I won't leave you alone!

 

 

 

 

 





Grenade

 

 

 

 

He reads again.

The letter in his hands.

Every line of her farewell words

Without he realising, a warm drop of water rolls on his cheeks.

And drops just nicely on a word written on the piece of paper.

The ink fades

But the word remains...

 

 

 

..........................................................................................................................

 

"Why did you say such things to her?", Daniel asked Josh, felt a bit surprised by his actions.

 

Josh tried hard to search for the relevant answer but all that he could say is,

 

"I didn't know...."

 

"Now you know. So go get her."

 

Confused of what he should do, he perused Daniel's face. Not wanting to think about what should he say to her later on.

 

"It's now or never. Take it or leave it.", Daniel kept pressuring him.

 

Josh got up and went out from his apartment. Hot. A word that can describes his room perfectly. It's not a luxurious stay, 100 bucks per month, so he thought he should be grateful for that. He was jumping to the seventh sky when he saw that 'House To Rent' ad in a local newspaper. Until the moment he stepped into the place, the floor greeted him with an eerie sound and the ceiling is too generous to let some water go through her. "Perfect! Just perfect!". He did improve in cursing nowadays, thanks to the cheap apartment.

 

Daniel, not really his friend, but more like his brother. They've known each other since the day they were born. Well, not really, but literally their mothers shared the same labouring cubicle in the hospital. And later, Josh's family moved to Daniel's neighbourhood and at the age of 4, they were partners in children's crimes.

 

They shared the same apartment because they studied at the same university. Working as a freelance band, they would perform every night at clubs or cafes to earn a living. Typical rock bands with cute bandmates, and they aren't an exception. Josh with his stage name, The Josh. Known for his beautiful voice and cute figure that even Angelina Jolie would die to spend a night with him. Dragon, Daniel's nickname, given because of his black guitar that has a golden glow-in-the-dark dragon pattern. And to be honest, his hair is similar to Hiccup, the animated character in the sequel How To Train Your Dragon, although he never know the movie exists at all.

 

These brothers couldn't be separated, until one day a girl came into their life.

 

 

...............................................................................................................................................

 

 

"I'm sorry, Sofia. I know I shouldn't say that.", Josh begged.

 

"It's not your fault. Don't worry, okay?", Sofia replied nonchalantly and heartlessly. There's a tone of ignorance inside every word she uttered. It's not like she didn't like Josh at all, but she thought that his sorry isn't necessary because it's really not his fault.

 

This newly discovered disease, Influenza 99 has got nothing to do with him. Just because he said something harsh to her about getting the disease because she's too paranoid of getting it, didn't mean he was the one to be blamed. And Josh, getting annoyed of her attitude, teased her about it.

 

"Well, I think people who worry the most will always get bad luck." -Josh, 2 weeks earlier-

 

His words turned out to be a bitter truth. They went for a medical check-up and she was confirmed to have the virus inside her blood. It was a huge blow for both of them, especially her. But she refused to tell her parents nor friends, let alone the secret buried with her.

 

"Honey, please don't give up. We still have time. Let's pray that the doctors will discover the vaccine. Okay?", Josh hugged her tightly and she let her body relaxed in his embrace. She sniffed his Giorgio Armani perfume deeply as if it was his last embrace for her. It was always him she felt right. His looks, his fragrance, his words, his everything are just perfect for her taste. Always.

 

But she would have to leave him anyway. She didn't want him to feel a great amount of pain. She couldn't stand the fact that the man she loved so dearly would have to cry because of her. No. Not Josh. He has to find someone else. We have to go separate ways now.

 

........................................................................................................................................

 

"Did you remember my favourite song?"

 

"Yup. Grenade by Bruno Mars. Why?"

 

"Will you catch a grenade for me?"

 

"Heck no! I love my life."

 

"Hahaha you're mean."

 

-Josh & Sofia, 3 months earlier-

 

..........................................................................................................................................

 

"Hello. Excuse me. Is this Mr. Josh Hutchenson?"

 

"Yes. Josh is speaking."

 

"I'm from Princeton Hospital. We would like to confirm the date for your operation. It's on Monday, March 31st right?"

 

"Yes, it is on that day."

 

"Okay. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Hutchenson. Oh and by the way, do you want us to inform the girl you swapped your blood with that it's a mistake?"

 

"No. She better not know it."

 

"Okay. Have a nice day, sir."

 

He hung up. And he was on the verge of crying.

 



 

.............................................................................................................................................

 

 

And

It has been 4 months now

She left him for good

Only with a letter of goodbye

Knowing nothing

That he has catch a grenade for her...

 

 

 





That Boy...

I saw a boy begging for money by the roadside. His dirty baggy singlets and torn shorts are pain in the eyes, protruding the feelings of disgust by public. His hair was a mess and it looked like it hasn't been touched by waters for weeks. He looked pale and hungry. Perhaps begging is not that luxurious for him to find something to eat. Everything you read or watched in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist is right there within that kid. Street orphans begging for money, involved in outlaw juvenile pickpocket and stealing food for a living are what pictured in the story. Everything looks solidly similar. But the difference is the story was in 1800's, but today is 2014. There is not much cases of poverty here in our country. Even if there are, they won't reach the extent of begging.

I put my coffee aside. And after a while peering on the boy outside, I took my newspaper and began to read the headline.

LET'S STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

A campaign made by the government to promote disagreement towards human trafficking is currently a hot plate. They put a lot of banners, posters and advertisements all over the country to show that they are against this unlawful act. Politicians do numerous interviews, television broadcasts cover special programs for the talk, and even businessmen carve the 'Stop Human Trafficking' logo on their products. Things are being well taken care of, says them. And to make the society feels that they are protected by these so-called mankind guardians, the police would make an ambush to the places they said are the lair of the putrid business, which I found quite funny because why would make such broadcasts now and not 5 or 10 years ago as this problem is not new to the citizens of the world at all. 

Human trafficking has been a complete disaster, and a problem hardly to be ceased even after years of trying. And it's not new in our country. But why only now, they take the matter seriously? 

I flipped through the pages. And one small portion of the paper caught my attention. 

MISSING CHILD

Name : Josh Priestley

Age : 10

Height : 160cm

Description :

-Caucasian

- Green Hazel Eyes
-Love to eat chocolates
-Has birthmark on his left wrist
Last seen on 11th February 2014

If found, kindly please contact this number, 0197776666. 6000 American Dollars will be given to those who found him. Your cooperation is highly appreciated. Thank you.

A small photo of the boy is enclosed there in the searching advertisement. The boy looked happy, his broad smile enlightened from ear to ear, wearing a green stripes t-shirt and long black pants. It's sad to see nowadays child kidnap has been a major crime and one core source of contributor towards the global phenomenon of human trafficking. Children are weak and helpless, and criminals always take them for granted to do their dirty jobs. Sometimes pickpockets, sometimes beggars, if not maybe cheap workers or even sex slaves. "What has become to our society today?", I asked myself. Looking at the photo, I wondered what happened to this poor little boy.

I put the newspaper down after scavenging through some sports news. Seems like Portugal will face Germany for the World Cup 2014 final match after both teams won in their semis. Portugal defeated Spain 2-0 with style and Germany won 3-2 in the breathtaking historical match against Brazil. Way to go for both teams. Me? I don't like soccer that much but I know how to play it. Not like some crazy fans of the game but don't even know how to kick the ball. And they are merely supporting and fighting among them when their team loses the match. Increasing cases of hooligans are mostly contributed by these shameful fans. *sigh*

I sipped a bit of my coffee on the table. And looked the hectic town through the transparent glass of the cafe.

The whole world is in hustle and bustle. Circling around one figure I keep my view close with from the beginning of time I came here. The figure that has been ignored by the people who are too busy to even care. The figure that has been sitting there, observing the cars on the driveway and people in suits on the walkway. The figure of one small boy with his empty begging can.

It's like the world revolved around him. But no one seems to notice his existence.

No one...






No one...






No one...


"Mr. Priestley, sorry to keep you waiting. Here's your pancake." a waitress came and put a plate of strawberry pancake on my table.

"It's okay.", I said with a desperate smile, in attempt to be polite.

And I looked back to observe the boy. But no one is there. He was vanished into thin air in the crowds.

And then I realised something, "Where's my newspaper?"

And since when I have birthmark on my left wrist.




Everything went blank. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder. I opened my eyes to a blinding light. Sunlight. And my ears ached hearing deafening sounds. Sounds of a busy street.

"Here's a penny, boy. Have some breads to fill that stomach of yours."