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Showing posts from April, 2014

Last Moments (MH370)

by Lisa Kwan I’ll probably die. We’ll all probably die, never to get out of this alive. The sounds on the aircraft are deafening. I can hear screams, wailing, babies crying, prayers muttered in languages I don’t know, to deities and gods I have never known. A man is yelling at a distraught flight stewardess, arguing about something completely meaningless at this point. The plane is tilted somewhat downwards now; I make an effort to keep my back against the upright seat. I tighten my seatbelt, and then unintentionally allow a chuckle to escape my lips from the absurdity of it all. The plane is about to go down, and I tighten my seatbelt? How helpful. I turn to her, sitting beside me, sobbing hysterically; squeezing my hand so tight it is practically white. I turn to her, but I can only stare helplessly. What do you say, in such circumstances? What do you say, when you know there’s not going to be a tomorrow? I stroke her hand, and she hiccups, tired out. I follow the outlines

Pee's Ostrich

by Lisa Kwan Written for: The Writer's Tower Theme: Ostrich Pee (April) Deadline: 2nd May 2014 The phone rang while I was on the toilet, and I cursed under my breath. “Can’t a man take a dump in peace?” I muttered, as I hurriedly sprayed some water on my buttocks with the bidet and pulled my shorts up. I considered for a second whether I should wash my hands or get the phone first, but when the phone rang again, I decided on the latter. “Hello?” I answered, breathless from my short sprint from the toilet to the living room. “Pee, my boy! How’s my favourite nephew doing?” my uncle’s booming voice reverberated even through the phone. And I hated that nickname (Pee for P). Of course, my actual name—Purushothaman—wasn’t that much better, but... “You there, Pee? Can you hear me? Pee? PEE?” I blame my parents. “Yeah, I’m here,” I sighed. “Damn this place, lousy reception, can’t even get a decent signal.” I wondered where my uncle was at that moment. He was a w