Responses

The dark canvas of the new year’s sky overhead shimmered with the sequins and glitter of explosions.

The crowd gasped, whistled and cheered at the marvellous rediscovery of fire in the sky, through the chaotic stench of alcohol, and the fog of cigarette and gunpowder smoke. I was unfolding and refolding my arms in awkward indecision. (I originally raised my hands to bite my nails in excitement but Mum slapped it out of my mouth without so much as a glance)

..

My bid as a Stage Manager is shaping up; I’m supposed to be some sort of “RSM” to these fellas as they fumble around giving each other directions. Like the blind. Leading the blind. Leading the blind. Half the things they mentioned today were mind blowing in technical depth and cemented my interest in Theatre (along with the term, Theatre Nerd, Ping and An warned me of)

Conversation was difficult, and being the only junior in the lot didn’t make it much easier. I sensed some of them reaching out to me, but my responses were as firm as a wild garden hose. I swear, if I’d cringed any more at myself, I’d soon have no neck left.

..

You know when someone mentions a flaw of something that you’ve never noticed before, and you end up seeing it all the time?

Well, I’ve finally gotten my Surface Pro 4. A heavy iPad or a light laptop that you’re too lazy to retrieve from your bag of choice.

Too clumsy to be a good tablet, too weak to be a worthy laptop and too crash-prone to be a good device.

—

“… Why are you even being sad? Don’t be sad lah.”

“Yeah, I used to think of that back in Secondary school when I was bullied really badly.”

“不要傻，想这种事没有用的。孩子，妈妈担心你啊。”

“Omg sorry was at dinner
Do you want to talk
Like on the phone
Shao are you okay”

“… I don’t know how to help. “