The Class Of '98

The setting was surreal. I am sitting at my usual desk right behind of the class. I had the pleasure of feeling the passing winds in my hair, observing the cars that zoom up and down the narrow street outside my school, and I even had the best view of the city.

It was inevitable that 16 year old me didn't pay much attention to my Math teacher for it was the last day of school. I was already welcoming the June holidays before it began. I was worrying about the subtle things that awaited me such as the fishing trips and the night outs and the beach. Though I was sitting right behind looking at my teacher profusely writing on the blackboard...in my mind, I was supinely thinking of the month of June.

Before my math teacher ended the class, she constantly reminded us of the tonne of homework we had to do for the holidays. Formality sake, I did however jotted it down at the back of my book. And it was to stay there unscathed....throughout the month of June for in my mind, I was going to copy my homework on the first morning when school commences again.

And so the holidays came and went in a jiffy and for once, I was the first to reach school that morning. I placed my school bag on my desk and proceeded to have breakfast at a coffeeshop nearby.

My friends and I decided to skip assembly that morning. Something we did at random days most of the time. We sneaked through the back gate and up the stairs and went on to our respective classes.

My class was as empty as when I first came in that morning. "Where are all my classmates?", I asked myself. Then I remembered that we had classes at another venue for Monday. I grabbed my bag and tried to rush to my class in a futile manner.

When I arrived, I could have merged with the rest of the class for they were still scampering around in a holiday daze, trying to find a seat. The righteous me however made a bee line for the teacher to confess my late coming.

My teacher must have read my mind or somehow had enough psychic powers to deduce what I was going to confess for she glared at me with her huge eyes as though they were like saucers. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disturbed.

"I'm sorry Mrs Foo, but I am late this morning", I managed to squeeze out that line while looking at the floor. I could still feel the heat of her huge saucer-like eyes on me. "Why are you late huh? First day of school also late!", she silenced me off. It was then also that I realised that I hadn't touched the homework she had given us earlier. I was doomed and I just prayed that she didn't ask to see my exercise book.

At that precise moment, I opened my eyes to the darkness of my room. My head still on my soft lush pillows but I was asking myself whether or not I had done my homework. What time is it? Was I late for school? The vision of an appalling Mrs Foo with arms akimbo was still in my head. I was trapped between reality and dream.

The time showed 6.58am. If I was still in school, I would be so very late. But thank god I wasn't. Thank god all these was just a dream. As I lay in bed tossing and turning, I managed to smile. Smile to the fact that although I was a lazy, disobedient, and mischievous student...I still have the fear for Mrs Foo. I, the writer.....am 24 years old now.

Mrs Foo was a teacher that invented grit through her sheer abilities. I didn't realise it back then but in one way or another, she has contributed to the shaping of our lives. She thought us about punctuality, righteousness and other virtues of that moulds a successful individual.

To Mrs Foo who if in any case happens to chance upon this page (but I know she wouldn't for she's probably busy marking Math homework of those brats), I wanna shout out a huge 'Thank You' for you deserved it. Though it's a long time coming..nevertheless you still deserved it.

To my class & the batch of '98......Those were the best days of my life.

For now, I wish you guys all the best in your future endeavours and I shall sign off as

Yours Always,
The Boy Who Sits Right Behind In Class