Caught red-handed stealing in school | Essay for 10 year olds | Elijah Wee | Singapore

Here is an essay on "Caught red-handed stealing in school" - crime certainly never pays off ...

            “Mummy, may I have that mobile phone, please?” Mike pleaded pitifully to his mother. He tugged at her skirt insistently, so much so that it was most annoying. He gestured emphatically to the mobile phone of his desire. The mobile phone was displayed prominently up front in the shop’s showcase. Refusing to give in to her son’s persistent demands, Mike’s mother dismissed his request with a wave of her right hand, and a glare of annoyance. Still not wanting to give up, Mike pleaded yet again. This time round, Mike’s mother reprimanded him. Embarrassed, he walked away, head hung low.

The next day, before class could start, Mike’s coal-black eyes stared at the mobile phone that one of his classmates had. She was seated in front of him. It was the mobile phone that he had so badly wanted to buy the previous day. Looking stealthily at the mobile phone in one of the girls’ hands, he longed to own it. Mike turned green with envy and became jealous as a Spaniard. A string of ‘evil’ thoughts raced through his mind. Finally, he decided that he wanted the item so badly that he would steal it.

The school bell rang shrilly, signaling the much anticipated recess time. Pupils streamed out of their classrooms and headed briskly towards the canteen in a beeline to satisfy their ravenous appetites. Unlike the other day, Mike decided to stay behind with the intention of executing his plan.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Mike sprang into action. He rummaged through his classmate’s Adidas school bag. It was not difficult as he fished out her mobile phone a minute later. There was happiness written all over his face. His eyes twinkled in delight. His plump face beamed with happiness. Mike took a deep breath before pocketing the mobile phone. Mike then took off like a bullet being fired from a revolver. In a flash, he had vanished from the ‘crime’ scene.

“Stop right there!” a voice boomed out aloud. Mike stood frozen in his tracks and felt a flutter in his chest. Beads of perspiration dotted his forehead instantly. Mike realized that the disciplinary master, Mr Teo was the man behind the booming voice. Mike knew he was doomed. He had been caught red-handed. He regretted his impulsiveness and his inability to control his desires. Like an angry bull in the arena, Mr Teo began berating Mike loudly. When Mr Teo had finished, Mike felt a tinge of embarrassment when he realized that the commotion had inevitably caused some pupils to look at him. He apologized incessantly to Mr Teo. Although Mr Teo had accepted his apologies, he was still infuriated. To prevent a repeat of the incident, Mike was counseled for almost three hours that day. Mike’s parents were taken aback by Mike’s dishonesty. Not only did Mike receive a tongue-lashing when he got back, he also was grounded from playing on the computer for two months.

When Mike thought of his parents breaking their necks to earn enough money to put him through school and also to put food on the table, tears welled in his eyes. Like a faulty faucet, he wept bitterly at his irresponsible act. Mike turned over a new leaf and had learnt that one cannot have one’s way constantly and would need to adapt accordingly. Fortunately, he had learnt this lesson young for if he had not been caught, he may have gone on to do ‘bigger’ crimes, which could land him behind bars in the not so distant future!

Indeed a bitter lesson for Mike this time round ... he was really lucky he was spared though!

Later, Elijah Wee