Here's a short story I wrote about the "Voyage to a new life - a coconut's tale".
Do
you know who I am? Let me give you a clue. I am the common fruit you see on
trees flourishing by the coast with a brown husk. Yes, you have it right. I am
no other than a smooth skin coconut! Let me tell you about my life. I have
always had a laid-back life, spending my time relaxing and gazing the
surroundings around me. The other day I caught a glimpse of a boy who had
looked exactly like a barrel. However, my peaceful and comfortable life soon
changed forever on that fateful Friday afternoon …
The
sea glittered invitingly under the rays of sunshine, beckoning people to swim
in its cold but nonetheless refreshing waters. As usual, I was doing my
business of gazing around, marveling the beautiful scenery. I was daydreaming
that I had barely noticed a monkey reaching out and snatching me from my dear
mother!
“Put
me down!” I yelled at the top of my voice, trying to shake myself out of its
grip.
“Ha!
You silly coconut. You think I was born yesterday?” The monkey chuckled as he
said so. He grinned smugly at me and was absolutely so amused by my ranting
that he failed to notice his hands had lost a grip on me.
A
few seconds later and the monkey dropped me into the ocean. Into the seawaters
I went. “Ha! Now who has the last laugh?” I burst out into gales of laughter.
The monkey’s disappointed countenance was really extremely funny!
At
that juncture, the coast seemed miles and miles away from me. As if mocking me,
the coast continued to diminish unrelentingly into the distance from me. Huh?
What was happening? Then it hit me like a delayed action time-bomb.
I
was actually being swept out to sea!
Trying
to get back to shore, I summoned every once of my strength to get myself back
to dry land. Despite my continuous attempts, I still could not move an inch! As
hapless as a baby, I could only bob up and down the playful seawaters, and
watch myself being swept out to the unknown waters. The choppy waters were
indeed not my cup of tea. Definitely not where I had wanted to spend my next
few days in. Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine. What if I have
to spend the rest of my life in the ocean, forlorn and miserable? What if I
never step foot on dry land ever again? I quivered at these stark
possibilities.
Deeply
musing in the deepest recesses of my mind, I failed to notice that day had
turned into night. The skies were now blank and filled with twinkling stars. As
night engulfed the area, I began to yawn loudly, signaling my bedtime. Too
soon, I drifted into Dreamland.
“Wake
up.”
I
was immediately jolted out of my much needed slumber. Huh? Where was I? And
whose voice was that? As I sat myself up, memories came flooding to me. The
waves … the ocean. Then, I found myself looking into the curious eyes of a
crab.
“Good
morning. This is Singapore, the garden city as its citizens here call it,” the
crab said immediately. After exchanging a polite greeting, the crab told me how
he had found me last night bobbing near the shoreline and had scurried out to
tug me back to shore. “You should be thanking the Heavens that I, your savior
has come to save you. By the way, do you know that you were snoring the whole
night? Your snoring was really as loud as a operational chainsaw!” The crab
grumbled, his eyes fixated on me. My face turned as red as a tomato.
Fortunately,
the crab was a kind friend. He helped me find the perfect sport for me to
settle and grow. “Thank you for being so kind,” I blurted out appreciatively.
The crab really deserved his name. “The kindest crab on Singapore!”
Time
really passed by like the wind, so swift. Pretty soon, I matured. I thought
about my mother, leading a good life along the coast of Malaysia. Well, she
will definitely enjoy herself without having to take care of me!
“Hey
Dominic, look!” A voice jolted me from my train of thoughts. “A sprouting
coconut tree! When do you think it started to germinating?” the voice belonged
to a little girl. She wore a flock and breeches like a boy. “Jane, Jane. You
are indeed so inquisitive!” Dominic said, his belly shaking. On hearing their
hilarious conversation, I flashed a broad smile.
A
new life has just begun for me in a foreign land with new people, new
challenges, new weather conditions. Once again, I grinned from ear to ear and
this time in sheer delight.
A new chapter in my life has definitely just
begun.
Do you like coconuts? I love the drink - very refreshing!
Till the next time,
Elijah Wee, Singapore
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