Sunny's Little Adventure

The shrill crows of his mother’s rooster awakened Sunny. There it was perched on top of the chicken shelter. Jack the rooster must have thought he was the king of the world.But really, all Jack will ever be was only a domestic pest, waiting to be slaughtered.No matter how early or loud Jack crowed, it was inevitable that he would be made into chicken curry one fine day.

Nevertheless, Sunny got up and put the kettle on. He took out his school uniform and hanged it on his door knob. He took the fresh loaf of bread at his front gate and spread some jam onto it. On normal days, this was his breakfast. On a good day, Sunny's dad would have bought Kellogs cornflakes and some fresh milk. Sunny always look forward to good days though they are few and far between.

Sunny put out the kettle and poured the steaming water into the large tub. The fierce wind that managed to seep its way through the gaps in the wooden walls made Sunny twinge. Sunny stirred the water in the tub and scooped it onto his body to humble out the cold. After the rejuvenating bath, Sunny got ready for school.

Sunny pecked his mother on the cheek while she is still sound asleep and left for school. He took his rusty old bicycle out from the garden shed. And in a flash, Sunny sped down the lane.

Sunny hated school. He hated being within close proximity with rich spoilt individuals. He despised and envied those kids that had fancy school bags, expensive shoes and Casio watches. Most of them were not kind and subtle. They are just minute reflections of their snobbish parents.

Sunny did not have anything worthy to show his classmates. His pencil case is simple plastic one while his classmates has those with extravagant magnetic flaps on either side. They have mechanical pencils in all sorts of colours but Sunny only has the blue standard Steadler 2B pencils. They have boxes and boxes of erasers depicting different country flags. Well, what Sunny has is just one measly white one.

Almost all of them teased Sunny for not having new stuff. But Sunny just kept it all in. When he reaches home to complain to his mother, she would just ask him to be thankful that he actually has those stuff. In comparison, there are other kids who are not even given the opportunity to attend school let alone own pieces of stationery.

Sunny walked out of his house in disgust but he made sure his mother did not notice his black face. Secretly though, she knew Sunny was rather feeling down. It was tough being socially estranged at a young age, But it is a cruel world out there and Sunny need to learn the ropes of life.

Sunny went out to the big drain to play with his friends. And soon he forgot about the minions in school. While walking back home, Sunny found a $1 bill and dashed to pick it up. He looked around frantically to see if anyone had dropped it. The area surrounding him was soulless. The money belongs to him!

Sunny raced his bicycle to the ‘Mama Shop’ nearby and his mouth watered as he gazed upon the decks of candies and chocolates. He walked toward the back of the shop to see what else he could buy. Then his eyes fell on a box of 36-coloured pencils. He only had the normal 12-coloured ones and how he longed for this. His classmates of course have the ones in 48 or even 64 colours! But to Sunny…24 would have been more than sufficient.

Sunny turned the box over. $10.90. Just as expected. Sunny can only dream for that kind of money. Oh well he thought. Like a cheeky little wanker, Sunny slid the box into his waist pouch. He went back out to the front and proceeded to purchase some candy.

Sunny’s little heart was beating frantically like the thump of a drum as he raced back toward his house. He kept looking back to see if the shop owner had actually found out. But the old man was busy reading his newspapers.

Sunny could not wait to use his new coloured pencils that night for his Art homework. While his parents are busy doing some chores, Sunny grabbed his Art materials and went to the front portion of the house where the light emitted from the street lamps somehow manages to find its way in just enough for Sunny to do his work.

Sunny stared at the box of un-opened coloured pencils and traces of his bad deeds flashed across his mind. Suddenly, Sunny felt as guilty as a serial rapist. He contemplated tearing up the wrapping, as he knew that his parents did not raise him to be a thief. They want him to work hard so that he can see the fruits of his labour. Stealing was a shortcut. Such behaviour does not command respect and would make him worse than any of the people in school. Sunny was not going to shame his family name and so there and then he decided to return the coloured pencils.

The next day after school, Sunny parked his bicycle outside the shop and sheepishly walked toward the shop owner. He placed the box on the counter and explained everything in one breath. Sunny dared not look up. He waited for the owner to land a barrage of vulgarities or perhaps a fist on the face. But nothing came.

The shop owner came out from behind the counter and stood beside Sunny. He was a father himself and he admired Sunny’s courage. He knew what kind of family Sunny comes from. A poor family definitely. But they are good people. Hardworking and kind. They have no enemies, as they bothered no one.

The shop owner then shoved the box back into Sunny’s hands. “Nah…You can have it.,” he exclaimed. “No No Uncle. My father will scold me later. I can’t take it uncle," Sunny replied like a meek mouse. “No. You tell your father that I am giving it to you. As a present. Now go”, the shop owner shooed Sunny away in a joking manner.

Sunny is so delighted with the events that happened that day that he gleamed all the way from the shop to his home. Not because he finally got something he wanted…but because he has learnt a very valuable lesson. A lesson that one would probably not learn in school. It was life’s little way of saying thank you.

So it doesn't really matter if at the end of the day we are not rewarded or our deeds does not get noticed. It is not wrong to dream big. Dreams do come true if only we dare to believe. Like Jack the Rooster, when you crow....you crow the loudest so that the whole world can hear your name. And should we get cooked one fine day, at least we know we have tried our best.