I’m not the inmate, but more of a guest there. I was there for a research, staying and living in a place similar to Alcatraz for 3 weeks. What I heard from the inmates surprises me. I found more injustices than what it supposes to be the house of justice. Hundreds of the inmates have passed through their jail period, but they are not released… as the community outside pledging the judge not to release them. Once a sinner, always a sinner. The judge and police seem to agree with the view. What is the point of releasing them out, if it just means additional effort in arresting and getting them in again? Might as well making them stay there forever.
I’m stunned. I disagree with the view and raise the concern to the guard over there. They explained few weak reasons of why they are staying later than they should be – inappropriate behavior, out of their mind, no family, etc – but it fails to convince me. I said that I’m going to raise this to the authority… and guess what. I was put in jail. So I’m no longer a guest.
Being one of them is not as bad as what it sounds. They are smart. More of them are a victim of financial crisis. The fact that they were caught once, taught them lots about plan’s flaws. Together as a team with the hundred other inmates, they prepared the escape plan – an ultimate plan endorsed by hundreds of the inmate. Me being there without a real criminal record seems to be a burden for them.
But in the end, they manage to make use of me as bait. I become the trigger of their plan. I call the guards telling them I want to discuss about my view, while they prepared for their escape plan.
Then it all happens.
At the cold raining night, hundred of inmates break out from the jails, running through stairs and jumping through walls. All the guards were shocked and came to alert quickly, but they still remember to keep an eye on me. My hands were handcuffs with two big guards as they are moving around trying to stop the inmates from front. As expected, I got into a lot of pushes from the freedom-seeking inmates… at my stomach, my leg, and even my head… It was raining hard and I’m hardly conscious by the time I suddenly realized that the handcuff is broken, and I joined the other inmates in running for freedom.
As I run out from the prison, I was greeted with unfamiliar surrounding. So many things have changed within three weeks… but not for good. Everything seems so soaky and dirty and.. old. Subconsciously, I walked all the way to a place where used to be my home. I knocked… my brother came out and shocked to see me. He asked where I have been throughout these three years. Three years??
…. And then I suddenly woke up =.=’ I want to continue with the dream, but time was already 12.40 and I got 5 miscalls from my parents… So I have to roll myself out from bed and brush my teeth and call home (Note: You can skip shower but never teeth brushing! It’s the most effective way to remove the sleepy voice!)
Turn out that my dad is going to Penang and my mum is going out for a lunch hence calling me earlier to let me know. Haha.. After a nice chat and wishing all the best for dad, I closed the call and went for a shower.
And finally, the cake smell went totally off from my hair :D it sticked since last Friday night when my awesome friends decided to put some chocolates cake make up on me.
Talk about cake, yes last week was my birthday :) I was so engrossed with my work these days that I hardly counted down to the day. That special day comes and goes with me staying in office more than 12 hours. I had a KFC for lunch and Mc Donald for dinner on that day… what a turf =__=’’ How can I be planning so much of other stuffs but forgot to plan for my own birthday.
Yearly Birthday Card from NTU :) Always prompt in reminding you how old you are. Thanks NTU!
Anyway! I still managed to do few “First time” things on my birthday. I ‘tweet’ for the first time. I ate ‘spicy shaker fries’ for the first time. and yeah, I experienced how is it to have cake on your face for the first time too. Haha..
So… I’m 23 now! When I was 7, I thought of how awesome it is to be 23 like my eldest sister… travelling between hometown and Medan, earning on her own, having boyfriend and getting ready to be married. It gave me such an independent and perfect picture, which is so far from someone like me who was still in primary school fighting for exam, crying whenever someone took my candies.
So now I’m 23. I think I have achieved those things that I dreamt of 16 years ago, to certain extends. However, dreams just change as you grow… and now.. you realized that you want something more… and worried about some other things even more. No more worry of exam, but you now have to worry about reports and presentations and achievements. No more worry about someone taking your candy, but now you have to even be more alarmed of who is your enemy and who is your friend… even worse, you can’t tell someone directly when you don’t like them as it’s not acceptable anymore in your current age.
Challenges changed as you move on. I might be 23 now and looking at how lucky it is to be 40 years old and married and settling down and getting ready to retire and taking care of kids… but I will never know the true picture until I’m 40 myself… (OK I’m not saying I want to be 40 straight away)
Back to my curly hair! Feel like one of the characters in Cougar Town series =.=’
In conclusion, I learnt that the best way is to treasure every moment right now… :) don’t look back too often, don’t plan too much in advance, don’t push too hard, just follow the flow and live for the moment… which is what I’m doing.
Going to watch My name is Khan. Better be a good 3 hours spent!
ED
