Waltz - by Anson Ong

(Here's another story I wrote quite some time ago. It's been a while since I wrote short stories. But here's one from a few of my works. Hope you like it too. :))

"What do you want in life?"

"I don't know.."'

That was always my reply whenever my friends, teachers or relatives asked me that. In fact, I didn't really know what I wanted out of life. The usual path would be to study hard, get a degree, get a decent job, have a family and have kids. Yes, that seems to be an ideal path anyone should have taken. For me, I thought that is a rather stereotypical measure of success. Mundane life. That's not what I wanted. We always think that way when we were young, brainwashed by our teachers or parents that a successful life should be that way. But when you grow up, your thinking matures along with you. You start to think differently. "I'm no longer a kid", I would always say whenever my parents want to decide something on my behalf.

And so, I'm on my own now. Life after college is not as carefree as I thought. In school, I always thought that schoolwork and examinations were everything and my maths teacher an asshole. I hated school, just like the other guys in class, and could't wait to get out of this living hell, to work, and to earn my own living. And then, it was finally over. I am all by myself. My studies were screwed. So much about getting a degree. I worked part-time at the cafeteria down the street. Slogged my ass out for puny salary that wasn't enough to buy me a wife. In the end, I had to take on another job at the music store where I worked overtime. And that was when I got to know her - Mavis. She's everything a guy could ever want. She has this long flowy hair, sparkling eyes that spoke a thousand words and sexy lips that was just so kissable. She was simply amazing and perfect. I was 21 then, and I met her, the person whom I want to make my wife. Well, at least, I paid a price to get my prize.

She must be the first person I ever set eyes on. I had girls back in college but wasn't really serious with them. Not that I didn't really love them. But I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with them. But Mavis was just so special, like an angel sent from heaven. She influenced me into music. Not pop or metal rock, but classical music. Instrumental music. Everyday she would play Beethoven's or Mozart's in the store, but her favourite were still Chopin's waltzes. Unconsciously she would dance to the melody and I would stare at her every chance I had. I just couldn't get my eyes off her. Of course, girls like her, being highly sensitive with their feelings knew very well that I was very interested, yet tried to feign nonchalance. That was when I had to do what a guy does - woo her. I dropped hints, asking her out for dinner, buying tickets and inviting her to movies. At first, she always seemed to be busy. But I would never give up. I planned surprises after surprises, giving her 99 roses on her birthday, and so on. She was touched. I won.

Years passed. We got married and bought an apartment by the beach. My mornings would not be complete without seeing her lying beside me each day I woke up. The smell of her hair reminds me of the fragrance of lavender, soothes me and tempts me to caress her, kiss her, and tell her how much I loved her. Days went on. I got a proper job at a big company and got a decent position. She, on the other hand, stayed at home on weekdays, did what a wife would do - tidy the house, did the laundry, cooked for me.

One fateful day, I returned home and I did not get to see her. I called her on her cell phone but the phone was shut off. She did not return by midnight and I called her every friend. Not a single person had news of her whereabouts. I got worried. I couldn't sleep with my mind thinking about her. And then, the phone rang in the middle of the night.

"Hello, Mr. Walkins?"

"Yes, speaking?"

"I'm the nurse calling from Central Hospital. Your wife.. she's met with an accident and is in the Emergency room. Can you come down now?"

My heart froze. My lips trembled. I grabbed my coat and rushed out of my house, drove the car at high speed and headed towards the hospital.

I waited outside the Emergency room and was pacing up and down restlessly. My mind was in a complete blank of state. And then the light from the Emergency room signal went off. 2 surgeons emerged from the doors. I ran over, gripping them by their hands in a frantic, couldn't wait to hear the results. They merely shook their heads and apologized. I dropped to my knees and my heart throbbed with pain as tears flowed continuously down my cheeks.

For weeks and months I cried each night while thinking of her. Flashbacks and memories came drifting across my mind like painful monochrome photographs.

Years passed. I remained a widower at the age of 58. My life went on as usual and I had made acquaintances around the estate. Yet, whenever I hear the waltzes of Chopin playing on the CD player, I would see her dancing in front of me. That graceful poise and beautiful sways never fail to captivate my heart.

Well, this is my life. Though this is not what I want in life, I am glad I once had what I wanted in life. Very soon, I shall dream of her. Very soon, I shall be with her again, for she was my wife. She became my life.

Believe - by Anson Ong

(Do you know what's my favourite word? It's in the title of this story which I have written quite some time ago. Since Christmas is just around the corner, I thought it is rather apt for me to share this with you guys. Hope you like it. :) )

It was Christmas season in a small town in England. It was a season of joy and celebration. The town itself was filled with merry making and the festive mood was getting strong. The grounds of the town were already covered with heaps and layers of thick white snow while the roofs of the cottages were shimmering with milky white snow.

Dan, a homeless boy was shivering as he slept in a cold dark corner of a tunnel. Occasionally he would sneeze and cough as he tried to wrap himself warm. Dressed in a tattered and torn shirt, Dan was cold, lonely and miserable. His family was poor. His dad used to work as a carpenter while his mom sewed clothes to make a living. They led a humble yet fulfilling life. He was the only child. Back then, every Christmas Day he would have gathered together with his parents at the small wooden table in their cottage. He remembered how his mom would cook a bowl of congee for him and also give him a small cupcake as a Christmas gift. He was satisfied and happy to be with his parents. However, he lost them in a war years ago and never got to see them again. He was left all alone.

As he was dirty and rugged, the town people advised their children not to go near him. Even the children themselves teased him whenever they saw him, making his life more miserable. He survived on leftovers and those that were dumped in the bins. It was a hard life. Yet, not all people in town were bad. There were a few good souls who would offer him food every now and then. He got to know an old man, Henry - a beggar who lived beside him in the tunnel, ang got acquainted to him when he first moved there. Henry looked after him like his own child and shared food with him. Dan depended on him and looked upon him as his own father.

"Son, wake up.." Henry called as he nudged him.

Dan slowly opened his eyes as puffs of vapour came out from his mouth and nose. He turned around and looked at Henry.

"It's Christmas son, you wouldn't want to miss this great day would ya?"

Dan smiled and slowly sat up as he stared into the sky which was already velvet dark and dotted with twinkling little stars.

"So sonny, what's your wish for Christmas?" Henry asked as he rubbed his hands to keep himself warm.

Dan looked up into the sky again. Staring into the myriads of stars, he thought he saw his dad and mom smiling and waving at him.

"I.. I would like my dad and mom back. I miss them.." Dan spoke slowly as tears began to fill his eyes.

"Oh, silly young man, do not cry. Boys don't cry. You are going to be a man soon." Henry said as he took him into his own arms and wrapped them around him to keep him warm. "Very soon sonny, you will grow up."

Back in his workplace, Mr. Santa Clause was reading through the wish list. Squinting through his glasses, he scanned through the wishes. Jan Hermione, 11 wants a barbie doll, Kathy Woodsman, 13 wants a new ipod, John Witherspoon, 14 wants a racing toy car... As he scanned through the list of wishes, he stopped at one particular wish. Dan Stewart, 12, wants his dad and mom back. He paused for a while, closed his eyes and flipped through his mind for the whereabouts of Dan Stewart's parents. Shortly, he opened his eyes and smiled.

Back in town, children were singing carols, holding candles on their hands as they walked through the snow. Christmas trees were erected in almost every household and families gathered to have their Christmas feasts. Dan took a walk around the town and was cheered to see the bright decorations on the cottages. As he walked, a little girl walked towards him and handed him a lollypop. Dan smiled and said "Thanks".

"Danny, wake up.." he heard a familiar voice.

Dan rubbed his eyes and his vision soon became clear. He could not believe his eyes. His mother was right before him, smiling at him. He turned his head to survey the place. It was his old cottage he had lived in.

"Mom!" He cried.

"Why boy, it's Christmas. You wouldn't want to miss this day would you?" His mother smiled at him again. "Come out, I have a surprise for you." She said as she walked out of the room to the living room.

Puzzled, he walked out of his room and was again shocked to see his dad sitting at the wooden table waiting for him. On the table were 3 bowls of congees. Right beside his bowl, he saw a cupcake.

"Merry Christmas son."

Tears flowed down Dan's cheeks. "Thank you Santa, thanks for making my wish come true."

A new agenda

A new agenda

Ok. So I have finally decided to start a blog to curb the cynic in me. When I say this, I mean I need an avenue to voice out my opinions. Since I'm much of a visual and auditorial person, the movie buff, reading geek and music lover in me urge me to start a blog to write all about all these. And of course, to satisfy my writing cravings. So, they will probably come in my own reviews which I will have my own take on them. You may not have the same likings as me, but if you are interested to find out what I'm digging, this is the place to start. It'll be cool to hear from you guys too. You know, discuss on what you have recently seen, read, heard, or what you want to see, read, hear. Also, this will be an avenue for me to post my poetry, sketches, and other miscellaneous stuff.

Oh, and by the way, the nick nightcharmer is my login name for an online writing website I have signed up quite some time ago. I'm duplicating the same nick for my blog cos it is apt in describing me, in some sense or other. First, I'm quite hardly predictable. So I would say I'm a mysterious person in some sense. Haha. And next, it is a nick to acknowledge myself as a horror fan, since young. I have people who gasped when they look at me or know who I am. So what can I say? Ha.

Anyway, hope you enjoy what I'll be posting. Feel free to share your views by commenting on any entries. I'll keep this blog template simple for now since I'm going back to the basics of blogging. That is, to write.

You're hearing from Anson. The man behind this blog. And I hope you do check back as I'll update regularly. Cheers. :)