The Ride of My Life liew zhi xin 11

I nearly screamed for joy when I heard from my mom that she and dad couldn’t purchase flight tickets in Jakarta to go home, so they could only come home on Tuesday! Even better, she tried to ring up Aunt Sally, her sister, to take me to school on Monday, but Aunt Sally wasn’t around! After instructing me to call Aunt Sally again, she dashed off to another meeting! I wanted to pick up the phone when I had a brain wave; what if I pretended to call her, and went by bus to school myself instead? Feeling guilty and exhilarated all at the same time, I put down the phone. “It will be a long time before I see Aunt Sally again…” I reminded myself to get over the guilt. I could nearly taste freedom!

Staring at me was a glittery heart-shaped frame holding a photo of Aunt Sally squeezing the life out of me. She always had a funny hairstyle, (this year’s was a huge, blonde beehive shaped with dangling bees clipped here and there) wore a pair of ugly, fake rhinestone studded, pink spectacles and always had heavy make-up that clashed with her outfit and red lipstick, funny fake jewels, a chunky necklace, several bracelets with funny charms, a pair of socks that didn’t match, a straw hat with a ridiculous flower, a dress with absurd designs, nail polish that never matched, ugly rings, whimsical earrings, and a large, gaudy handbag with all sorts of rubbish in it. If only I could go with Aunt Fiona? She was my favourite aunt. But she was on holiday in Christchurch, New Zealand. She was hip, cool, rich, and beautiful, and the exact opposite of Aunt Sally.

I remember last year when Aunt Sally drove me to school in her old Austin. My friends could not stop teasing me. When Aunt Fiona sent me to school in her Porsche, I became extremely popular and was the envy of all. Turning my eyes away from the photograph, I remembered my maid, Maria. I bet I could fool her within a minute. I crept towards her while she was ironing our clothes. “Maria! I don’t need to go to school tomorrow, so I am going to the mall!” I screamed over the hot iron while Maria nodded, trying to concentrate on not scorching my skirt. What a cinch! Getting past her was so easy.

I woke up bright and early on Monday. Sneaking out of my house clad in my uniform with my school bag, I was exhilarated for I was going to catch my first bus to school by myself! I dashed off to the bus stop in order to catch bus 632. Alas! Heaven was trying to punish me to deter me from defying my parents!

As I nearly reached the bus stop, the heavens started to pour! I was so angry with the sudden downpour that I forgot to look out for my bus! I panicked and had to wait for the next bus that would take me to another bus stop near my school. Boarding the bus, I was fascinated by the number of working adults and other students. I managed to grab a seat next to a pretty lady who gave off an aroma of lavender and rosehip. I sniffed the air happily. The scent seemed to be calling me to relax. I felt drowsy; my eyelids were drooping steadily …

With a sudden jolt, I woke up. I had a wonderful nap… I checked the map on the bus and realised that I had missed the bus stop! I got off the bus and ran for my life to school! To my misfortune, Mrs Li, the strictest teacher in school, caught me by my arm. “Late, are we? Well, I’ll set you lines and a call to your parents is in order!” She said sharply.

Next day, my hand was still aching and I was punished most harshly by my parents. Of course, I deserved the curfew and I wished I had never defied them at all.