Fiiiiinal DRAFT

The moment Tom got off the plane, everything changed. It was so different from London. Eight years ago, when he was only four, he had left for London together with his parents and now he was back. His memories of Singapore faded as time passed and the only thing that he could recall was the face of his grandparent.

Outside the airport, the tropical heat was scorching him. Tom was already begginning to dislike Singapore. The streets were chaotic and disorganized, run down shop-houses could also be seen along the streets. A disgusted look appeared on Tom’s face.

Tom complained to his mother, “Mummy, this place is not suitable for us to stay. Its so hot and dirty!” Mrs Tan widened her eyes and gave an angry stare at her son. Tom knew what was going to happen if he complained more, thus for the rest of the journey, he did not speak a single word. The taxi stopped in front of a shophouse. Tom did not expect the place that he was going supposed to stay in for the next two weeks was a dilapidated shophouse. He cursed silently as he followed his parents into it.

An old woman was seating on a little wooden stool in the corridor. She looked really skinny, just like a match stick. Her skin was so dry to the extent that her veins could be seen from far. Holding a fan, she seemed to be waiting for someone. When she saw Tom and his parent, she exclaimed in a weird language that Tom had never heard before. His parents broke into tears and rushed up to the old woman. It was then Tom realised that the old woman was his grandmother, his only surviving grandparent. Amazingly, Tom did not feel anything.

“ Tom, come and hug your Ah-Ma ( grandmother in Hokkien).” Tom could not help but to go foward and give a hug. The old lady gave a pat on his head and said, “ Guai, Guai (good boy, good boy)!” Tom was showed around the shophouse. It was much smaller than the apartment he lived in London. He kept speculating as to when the ordeal would be over and when he could go back to England.

The few days of the stay at his grandmother’s house really seemed like years to him. Finally one week had passed and Tom was left with only another week. All day long, Tom felt bored and his grandmother was always seating in the corridor chatting with the other elderly residents, boasting about how clever and handsome her grandson was. The tropical heat dissappeared and it started raining and Tom wanted to have some fun. That was when he thought of playing in the rain. He dashed out of the shophouse, past his grandmother. It took a few seconds for the old lady to realise what Tom was doing. Tom shut his ears and did not bother what she said. Tom felt great when the rain drops hit on his back. It was the first time since he returned to Singapore he felt happy and refreshed. He did not notice that there was a pebble beside him and he tripped and fell. Blood dripped from the the wound. He groaned in pain, lying on the hard ground. It was then he saw a hand. It was the hand from her grandmother. The old lady had followed his grandson all the way. Her whole body was drenched by the heavy downpour. It was the first time Tom felt his grandmother’s love.

For the rest of the week, Tom’s grandmother took care of him. She told him about Singapore and the stories about her younger days. The old lady told her grandson about the Japanese Occupation, the riots, the racial tensions, the independence.

“During the Japanese Occupation, life was really tough. Your Ah Kong and I were anti-Japanese. We participated in a few dangerous sabotage missions. However, in one of the missions, your Ah-Kong was betrayed by a traitors and was recognised and killed by the Japanese, it was really a devastating blow to me. It was also then I know that I was pregnant with your mother. 1945, the war was finally over and your Ma was born. It was new start for me. There were riots and strike everywhere as people were unhappy with the government. The people wanted their freedom. I still remembered participating in a workers’ strike. Finally, it was the end of colonialism and Singapore was to join Malaya. At that time I could often see my Malay neighbours quarrelling with my Chinese neigbours, sometimes they would even have fights with each other. In the end Singapore was on its own.” From her eyes, Tom could see a sense of belonging towards the country. Being influenced by his grandmother, Tom felt the same way.

Tom looked around himself, the people, the food, it looked so familliar to him. He started thinking about where his true home was. Is it London, where he spent almost more than half of his life in or Singapore? However, good days would surely end, Tom needed to return to London. The old lady was really dissappointed as she hoped that her grandson could stay beside her for the last few years of her life. Tom went back to London with this question in his mind.

Three years later, Tom stood by the side of her grandma’s grave. He said solemnly, “I love you Ah-Ma and I also love your Singapore.”

setting

Behind the lush greenery was the ancient building.The fading yellow tiles on its rooftop represented the rain and shine it had been through for the four-hundred years. The carvings of the building were so delicate, showcasing the excellent craftsmanship. The mountain stood behind the building like a bodyguard, guarding it from the dangers of the outside world. It was no wonder why the emperors chose to be buried here.

Short Story

The moment Tom got off the plane, everything changed. It was so different from London. Eight years ago, when he was only four, he left for London together with his parents and now he was back. His memories of Singapore faded as time passed and the only thing that he could remember was the faces of his grandparents.

Outside the airport, the tropical heat was scorching him. Tom was already beginning to dislike Singapore. The streets were chaotic and disorganized, run down shop-houses could also be seen along the streets. A disgusted look appeared on Tom’s face.

Tom complained to his mother, “Mummy, this place is not suitable for us to stay. Its so hot and dirty!” Mrs Tan widened her eyes and gave an angry stare at his son. Tom knew what was going to happen if he complained more, thus for the rest of the journey, he did not speak a single word. The taxi stopped in front of a shop-house. Tom did not expected the place that he was going to stay forthe next two weeks was a dilapidated shophouse. He cursed silently as he followed his parents into it.

An old woman was seating on a little wooden stool in the corridor. She looked really skinny, just like a match stick. Her skin was so dry to the extent that her veins could be seen from far. Holding a fan, she seemed to be waiting for someone. When she saw Tom and his parent, she exclaimed in a weird language that Tom had never heard before. His parents broke into tears and rushed up to the old woman. It was then Tom realized that the old woman was her grandmother, his only surviving grandparent. Amazingly, Tom did not feel anything.

“ Tom, come and hug your Ah-Ma ( grandmother in Hokkien).” Tom could not help but to go forward and give a hug. The old lady gave a pat on his head and said, “ Guai, Guai (good boy, good boy)!” Tom was showed around the shophouse. It was much smaller than the apartment he lived in London. What was in his mind the thoughts that when the “ordeal” was going to finish and when he could go back to England.

The few days of the stay at his grandmother’s house really seemed like years to him. Finally one week had passed and Tom was left with only another week. All day long, Tom felt bored and his grandmother was always seating in the corridor chatting with the other elderly residents, boasting about how clever and handsome his grandson was. The tropical heat disappeared and it started raining and Tom wanted to have some fun. That was when he thought of playing in the rain. He dashed out of the shop-house, past his grandmother. It took a few seconds for the old lady to realize what Tom was doing. Tom shut his ears and did not bother what she said. Tom felt great when the rain drops hit on his back. It was the first time since he returned to Singapore he felt happy and refreshed. He did not notice that there was a pebble beside him and he tripped and fell. Blood dripped from the the wound. He groaned in pain, lying on the hard ground. It was then he saw a hand. It was the hand from her grandmother. The old lady followed his grandson all the way. Her whole body was drenched by the heavy downpour. It was the first time Tom felt the love of her grandmother towards him.

For the rest of the week, Tom’s grandmother took care of him. She told him about Singapore and the stories of her when she was in her younger days. The old lady told his grandson about the Japanese Occupation, Bukit Ho Swee fire, the independence movement. From her eyes, Tom could see a sense of belonging towards the country. Perhaps, being influenced by his grandmother, Tom had the same feelings too.

Tom looked around himself, the people, the food, it looked so familliar to him. He started thinking about where was his true home. Is it London, where he spent almost more than half of his life in or Singapore? However, good days would surely end, Tom needed to return to London. The old lady was really dissappointed as she hoped that her grandson could stay beside her for the last few years of her life. Tom went back to London leaving this question in his mind.

Three years later, Tom stood by the side of her grandma’s grave. He said solemnly, “I love you Ah-Ma and I love Singapore.”

Telephone Conversation

Q1. This poem is full of colours not just that of skin, what do you think these colours signify?
Each of the colours signify different things. The gold colour represents the fact that the landlady was rich. The red colour mentioned in the poem represents the anger that the speaker had toward s the landlady because some of things in the world have different colours, but they are still equal, however the speaker was being insulted because of his skin colour.

Q2. What does the dialogue in this poem reveal about these two characters?
The dialogue in the poem reveal the fact that the landlady disciminated the blacks and showed racism towards them. It also showed that the speaker was angered by the racism that was showed towards him.

Q3. The poet dramatises a battle, who wins and finally why?
At the end of the “battle”, the speaker wins. The lady kept asking what color was the different parts of his body. At last, the speaker insulted back the racist landlady asking her to see his bottom.

Setting of the StOrIeS

The QUESTIONS

1) Where has each of the above stories been set?
2) What time period has each of these stories been set in?
3) What clues do you get from the setting about the kind of story it is going to turn out to be?

The Real Durwan by Jhumpa Lahiri

1) The story has been set in Calcutta.

2) The story has been set in probably the 1950s during the time when India just gained independence and when Pakistan and Bangladesh were being separated from India.

3) The setting tells me that the story would be a very sad story as it shows the fact that Boori Ma was stuck in poverty at the same time separated from her husband and her children, being very lonely in Calcutta.

The Adventure of the Specked Band

1) The story has been set in Baker Street, a rich area in London.

2) The

story has been set i

n Victorian times.

3) The setting tells

me that the story is going to be full of suspense as the excerpt already mentioned the fact that Sherlock Holmes is a very good detective at the same time, when an educated finds Sherlock Holmes, the suspense is already being presented.

Pride and Prejudice

1) The story has been set in a town in England.

2) The story has been set in 18th Century.

3) The setting tells me that the story is going to be about the marriages of women and also the title suggests the fact that how women at that time were not allowed to have "pride"and also "prejudice" that she is being married off to.

Q4. Now look at Chapter 1 of ' To kill a mockingbird'. Identify the setting of the novel in this chapter. Do you get clues about the story that follows from the setting?

The story was set in Maycomb, Alabama, USA, in the early 20th Century. Maycomb was an old fashioned town in Alabama, a southern state in the USA. The setting gives us a rough idea that the book was probably about prejudice that was taking place in the town. One of the examples was that Boo Radley that was being described as the town freak.

All in all the setting tells us that the story would be about prejudice and also the fact that how the children learn about it.

After You My Dear Alphonse

Would you have treated Boyd or someone who is not of the same race as you differently? Why or why not? This question is in reference to a short story written by Shirley Jackson, After you, my dear Alphonse.

I would surely not treat someone based on their race. In my point of view, humans are all equal and we should see someone from their inner heart and and not based on their race and their skin color. We should instead judge someone based on their inner beauty. For the past few centuries, the dark-skinned races are the ones that are being discriminated the most. Most people think that they are smelly, stupid, slaves. However I do not agree with this type of thinking as this is not the way we should judge someone. There are a few examples that are really contradicting to the prejudice towards dark-skinned races. President Obama is dark-skinned but he became the president of the United States, Gandhi was also a great person as he started the non- violence movement.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO END THIS POST BY SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE JUDGING AND TREATING SOMEONE DIFFERENTLY JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE!