SPM 2012 Continuous Writing (d)

d) Write a story beginning with “The teacher walked into the classroom. It was the first period.”

The teacher walked into the classroom. It was the first period. My classmates grudgingly removed
our books from our bags and got ready for our math lesson. I have never been particularly good at
math, so I can safely say it is not my favourite subject. Still, it was better than my English, which has
earned the dubious honour of being the last in class. I stretch to alleviate a crick in my neck and gaze
down onto my books.

Just then, the earth begins to shake. Being used to living in an earthquake prone region, I coolly duck
under my desk, as often instructed by teachers. However, as I gaze across the class, I notice that this
earthquake was no ordinary one. The ground did not stop shaking for almost a minute. Finally, the
earth quieted down. Most of us were out from under our desks within seconds, stooping low to pick
up our scattered belongings. My eyes met my classmate’s, a pretty girl with a sweet demeanour and
enchanting smile. Grinning, she walks over and hands me my water flask, which has somehow
managed to roll over the debris and end up at her feet.

Without warning, an announcement that the earthquake had occurred under the sea floor was
given. I could barely hear the word “tsunami” over my classmates chatter, but there was no
mistaking when the air raid sirens begin to wail.

The teacher ordered us to line up into an orderly fashion and proceed to the tsunami safety zone,
some 10 minutes hike up a hill behind our school. I had done this hike before, and am not pleased to
be ordered to repeat it. Still , better safe than swimming. We exit the school, which overlooks the
town below us, when I notice something wrong. Far out into the horizon, a thin black line has
appeared on the water. Then the realization hits me, the tsunami is coming, and coming fast.

Without even pausing, I run downhill towards my house. My classmates yell after me but I ignore
any and all warning. My grandmother and my cousin lives near the sea. What chance does a 65 year
old lady and a 2 year old child have against Mother Nature herself? I, 16 and somewhat fit, can make
better time than them. Pattering feet indicates another person is running beside me. My blood turns
cold as I looked into Junishiro Rei’s eyes, the same eys I looked into minutes earlier. She lives just a
few houses away from me. Like me, her parents are working in Tokyo, leaving her here to take care
of her younger siblings.

Without even thinking, without even asking, we encourage each other to run faster. Cars whiz by as
panicked drivers sought to escape the impending doom. I do not even bother to try to flag one down
because I know they will not stop, and I do not want another person risking their life for my family.

Despite being out of breath when I reach my house, I yelled “OBASAN!!”. My grandmother comes
running out of the house, carrying my cousin and some important documents. I grab my cousin and
hold my grandmother’s hand. Together, we race back uphill. Glancing to my side, I’m relieved to see
Rei and her two young brothers running for it.

Running uphill is a challenge even for someone with my physical condition. Within minutes my
grandmother is winded. I am in hardly better shape. I reach out to grab my grandmother’s arm,
coaxing, nay, forcing her to move. A rumbling sound floats sinisterly through the air, and I realise our
two story high sea wall is all but demolished.

Rei is in an even more difficult position than me. Her brothers are younger and not capable of
running far. Still, she doesn’t let them go. She continues to pull them further and further uphill.
There are no passing cars left to get a lift, we’re on our own.

The waters start seeping around our shoes. Sensing this, my grandmother looks at me long and hard
in the eyes, and tells me a two words that will haunt me to my dying day. “Katsu, run”

“But obasan, I cant leave you!!”

“Take good care of your cousin” then she pats me on the head and pushes me. i run for the hills.
Looking back one last time, I see she is already waist deep in water. She continues to hold her gaze
at me until she is swept off her feet and sinks beneath the raging waters.

A yell, loud enough to draw my attention over the sloshing sound of water shifts my gaze far right.
Rei’s brothers are climbing a service ladder on the side of a six storey building. Rei makes up the
rear. Her shoes and socks are wet, but otherwise okay. She is ordering her brothers to continue
climbing, but they are tired after their uphill race. The waters are rising rapidly beneath her, and I am
in no position to be a hero myself, barely keeping in front of the wave as it.

I continuously check over my shoulder. The wave appeared to be slowing down and Rei is almost out
of harm’s way. Just as I stoop over to catch my breath, Rei’s legs are hit by a floating van and
crushed against the side of the building. She screams, but holds on. Then incredibly, continues to
climb with mangled, blood spattered legs. Using the strength of arms and will alone, she pulls herself
another three storeys to safety.

The waves finally recede after a few hours. My parents ahd contacted me during the time, and I had
sobbed uncontrollably, explaining to them why I had to let grandmother go. They appeared to be
understanding, but I wont even forgive myself. When the water finally clears, I rush up the stairs of
the building with my cousin in my arms. Rei is under a pile of clothing to keep her warm. Her
brothers have obviously been crying, but she had probably coaxed them to put on a brave face.

Kneeling beside her, I grab her blood caked hand. In the distance I hear the buzz of an approaching
helicopter. It’s a medical one, coming for her. But when I look down again, there is just a faint smile
on her lips. Her youngest brother passes me a stray roof tile written with blood. “Katsu, it was nice
to see you again”