A THOUSAND CROSSINGS X

Dear Diary...
Brilliance.
lundi 9 février 2009

I think I just written a brilliant essay. Seriously. At least it is brilliant to me. :) haha.

I was wracking my head for and idea. How was I supposed to write an essay on The Mother? Then Taylor Swift's The Best Day started playing on Windows Media Player, and I had this brilliant shockwave. I had an idea. After all, Taylor Swift's The Best Day was dedicated to her mum...

Here it is :)

“Good Evening!” I said into the microphone, with my usual American country accent.

The reply came as a loud applause from the audience although I was just a guest artiste. A bright camera flash from the audience blinded me suddenly, and my entire life flashed across my eyes, and I indulged in the beautiful memories.

I suddenly remembered the days when I was a five-year old. It was getting cold and I’ve got my big brown coat and my bright blue wellingtons on. I jumped into a small puddle and giggled when my reflection disappeared from the surface of the puddle. I heard her laugh, so I turned around and smiled before running away laughing loudly. I stopped when I looked up and saw the sky stained gold by the sunset. I got into her yellow pickup and fell asleep on her lap.

Then I remembered the days when I was thirteen. A boy of small build, I was often bullied by the school atheletes. I ran home crying and she held me tight with her right arm, her left hand still grasping the keys. We drove and drove through the town, talked, and window-shopped, till my tears were gone.

In middle school, I didn’t know why all the trees change in the fall. The teacher said I was too young to understand. But now I know. Because she told me.

I recalled High School next. I remembered moving into a new town and that beautiful girl I met. She always waited for me at home as I spent the evenings out with the girl. She never slept until I arrived home safe and sound. The next spring, the girl left for Seattle, I never met the girl again. But I still have her.

Then I remembered Dad. His boisterous laughter and untidy beard. And the tractor rides with him on the barn on spring evenings. I recalled the tree house he built for my seventh birthday. But what I loved remembering the most, was him loving her so much.

Suddenly, the flashback stopped. I looked down into the crowd, scanning for familiar faces. I paid no attention to the colourful placards which had Jason Mraz written all over them. Then I saw her, and Dad and my little brother, who was still in seventh grade.

I looked down at the piece of paper taped to the floor of the stage. The thoughtful producer typed the song I was supposed to sing with Love and Theft, the band on tour. The Best Day.

I begun strumming my acoustic as the Love and Theft guys did their work. Melodious country music from the thousand megawatt speakers started to fill the hall.

“I'm five years old and it's getting cold
I've got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you
I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides
Look now the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home”

I felt terribly indebted to her when I finished that stanza, my chest felt heavy but i continued strumming.

“I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today

I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop till I forget their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel ok
But I know I had the best day with you today

Tears started to well up uncontrollably in my eyes. There was a sour feeling down in my throat and my voice started to sound hoarse, but I went on singing, for her.

I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out he's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine and I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today.”

I wiped away some tears as I stopped strumming.

“Thank you everybody!”

I took a look at the beautiful lady who sat next to my dad and spoke in the microphone, “Thanks for everything. I wouldn’t be here if not for you, Mum. And Dad, and you little Stephen.”

I saw my little brother squirm and giggle in his seat as I walked backstage to thank the guys from Love and Theft, to allow me to play a short video next. A video of mum and dad painting the house and I making funny faces at the camera,having lots of fun, a video I had found in my mother’s closet when I was three.

Afterword

The author obtained inspiration for writing this story, entitled The Mother from The Best Day, a song written by double-platinum singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift. This story was supposed to illustrate a beautiful and caring mother, who has made a large impact on the protagonist’s life and career, by simply being there for him in whatever situation.

nice or not :) haha

yongliang

Postscript: has anyone seen a Chemistry Matters O levels Express/Special textbook? I lost mine. Think i misplaced it... :(

he closed his diary at {18:12}