Short sketch: Violin

Lights up. KAYLIE is playing the piano while her father MATTHEW is standing at a further corner of the room. She accidentally punches a wrong key on the piano and MATTHEW shakes his head in disappointment. Furious, KAYLIE stops playing and stands up. Her mother DESIREE is sitting on a sofa. She put a book she is reading down on her lap.

KAYLIE: I hate it! I don’t want to play the piano ever again!

DESIREE: Kaylie, what’s the matter? You love to play the piano.

KAYLIE: I don’t! It’s too difficult!

MATTHEW: Kaylie, you better get your butt back here and finish playing the piece! It’s not that                        hard to play it unless you put your heart to it!

KAYLIE: How many times I’ve told you I don’t want to play that instrument?

MATTHEW: And why do you hate it? (beat)

KAYLIE: Because piano is not the right instrument for me! I want to play something else, but                      you say no! It’s always a no! You want me to play the stupid piano and that’s it! And now that I think about it, maybe I hate music! (pause)

DESIREE: Kaylie, how could you say that?

KAYLIE: I quit! Do you hear me? I quit the piano and music!

KAYLIE storms out of the room and slams the front door shut with a bang. She goes out of the house. She walks down the street and saw a music store called Symphony. She peeks through the opened door and sees a 40-years-old man playing a violin. She is fascinated by the melody he is playing and enters in.

KAYLIE: What a beautiful melody!

The man stops playing and put down his bow and violin.

SIMON: (smiles) Thank you, young lady!

KAYLIE looks at the violin SIMON is holding with a fascinated look on her face.

SIMON: Do you play violin?

KAYLIE: No, sir, but I wish I can play it.

SIMON: Do you play any musical instruments?

KAYLIE: Only piano, but I don’t like playing it.

SIMON: (surprised) Why is that?

KAYLIE: My dad forces me to play piano. He expects me to be a professional pianist in the                       future. To me, piano is like shit. You just sit at the piano and stretch your fingers to reach for those damn keys. I’ve watched people playing string instruments like the violin, and it looks even more fun to play with.  Lindsey Stirling is my favourite violinist. Have you heard of her?

SIMON: Of course! She’s an incredible Youtube sensation!

KAYLIE: I dream of holding a violin and play well, just like her.

SIMON: Then would you like to make it real?

KAYLIE: What do you mean?

SIMON: Do you want to learn to play violin? I can teach you all the basics. (beat)

KAYLIE: (eyes widened) You really mean it?

SIMON: I see determination, enthusiasm, and passion in your eyes. You remind me back when I                 was your age, young lady.

KAYLIE: Oh! Thank you so much, sir! I’m Kaylie!  (puts out her hand for a hand shake)

SIMON: Nice to meet you, Kaylie. I’m Simon. (shakes her hand)

SIMON reaches out a common brown-coloured violin that hung on the wall behind the counter. He then hands it to KAYLIE.

SIMON: This violin is for you.

KAYLIE: (surprised and happy)Are you serious? Do I have to pay for it?

SIMON: It’s a gift, my dear. You can play it whenever you want. Now let’s get started, shall we?

SIMON takes his own violin from a case and introduces KAYLIE to a note. From a window of the store, DESIREE passes by and sees through the window. She gasps in shock and drops the bag of fruits she is holding.

DESIREE: Kaylie? What is she doing in there? And why is she holding a violin? Oh no!                                 Matthew will not be happy when he sees this. Oh! What am I going to do?

DESIREE picks up the fruits that are scattered on the floor and puts them back into the bag. She then makes her way back home. She places the bag on a table and collapses on the sofa next to it. Back in the sore, KAYLIE finished her first violin lesson. She places her violin carefully into a violin case and closed it tight.

SIMON: You’re a fast learner! That’s good! I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?

KAYLIE: Okay, Simon! Bye!

KAYLIE went out of the store and walks back home with a smile on her face. When she arrives at the house, she immediately saw her mother.

DESIREE: Where have you been, Kaylie?

KAYLIE: Um..I was hanging out with my friends.

DESIREE: Then tell me what that thing you’re holding is?

DESIREE points one finger at the violin case KAYLIE is carrying. KAYLIE gulped.

KAYLIE: Umm…(pause)

DESIREE: Is that a violin?

KAYLIE: How do you know?

DESIREE: I saw you in Symphony. You were with the owner of that music store, weren’t you?

KAYLIE nodded slowly. Her head hung low, feeling guilty.

DESIREE: (walks to KAYLIE and gently put both hands onto her shoulders)Kaylie, sweetheart, I                    actually don’t mind that you want to play the violin.

KAYLIE: (eyes widened) Really?

DESIREE: I notice that you’re struggling with every piano practice, and I’m relieved that you’ve                             found what you want to play. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that your father will be pissed.

MATTHEW walks by. He freezes for 5 seconds when he sees the violin case.

MATTHEW: Kaylie, what is that?

KAYLIE keeps quiet. Her fingers gripped tightly on the handle of the case.

 MATTHEW: Kaylie, I demand for an answer! Now!

DESIREE: Matthew, it’s just a violin. She wants to play it.

MATTHEW snatches the case away from KAYLIE’s grip. He then slaps hard on her right cheek. KAYLIE’s face turns left, afraid to look at her father’s face. 

DESIREE: (shocked) Matthew!

MATTHEW: Do you know anything about this, Desiree?

DESIREE: S..she went for violin lessons at the Symphony music store. I saw her an hour ago.

MATTHEW: Then I’m going to return this and to have a word with the owner. Kaylie, when I                            come back, I must see you practicing. 

DESIREE brings KAYLIE to the sofa and takes care of the injury left by MATTTHEW’s slap. MATTHEW goes out of the house and straight to the music store. As he enters in the store, SIMON is fiddling an electric guitar behind the counter.  

MATTHEW: I would like to return this violin please.

SIMON stops playing the guitar and puts it down. MATTHEW carefully places the heavy case onto the counter table. SIMON opens the case and shows a surprised look on his face.

SIMON: This is Kaylie’s violin. Wait a minute, you must be her father.

MATTHEW: (clears his throat) Yes I am, and how do you know this is Kaylie’s violin?

SIMON: I help her to engrave her name on the violin. See?

SIMON lifted up the violin from the case and shows MATTHEW the name KAYLIE engraved on the violin’s front surface.

MATTHEW: Listen, sir. I’m not satisfied by what you’ve done for her. She’s expected to stick                           to piano.

SIMON: Well, you see, Kaylie told me about you forcing her to play the piano. That’s not how a                 parent should treat children.

MATTHEW: (surprised) Excuse me?

SIMON: Kaylie has a dream, sir. She wants to play the violin instead of the piano. She wishes that she can become a famous violinist like Lindsey Stirling.

MATTHEW: (raises his eyebrows in puzzlement) Who the heck is Lindsey Stirling?

SIMON: (chuckle) Lindsey is an idol your daughter looks up to. She performs original songs and a few covers that wow the Youtube viewers. This person is who Kaylie wants to become. But thanks to you, her dream has shattered. Every single day you order Kaylie to practice the piano with no sympathy and attention to her deep feelings.

MATTHEW stares at SIMON. He then looks at the violin in the case. Long pause.

SIMON: Look, I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m just saying what is right. You have to hear what Kaylie wants to do.

MATTHEW: I thought that she will follow my footsteps. I guess I didn’t really understand her.

SIMON: Tell you what, why don’t you let Kaylie come here for violin lessons? When she is                        ready, she will be performing in a concert. You will see how confident she is to make her dream as a violinist to come true.

MATTHEW: (sigh) Very well.

‘SIMON closes the case and hands it to MATTHEW. MATTHEW carries it home. Lights off. The lights come back on shortly. MATTHEW is sitting at the piano, playing a tune. KAYLIE approaches and stood still.

MATTHEW: (smiles) Good morning, Kaylie!

KAYLIE: (feeling suspicious) Err..good morning, Dad. What’s going on?

MATTHEW: Oh, nothing much. It’s just that..I believe this belongs to you.

MATTHEW gets up from the chair and pulls out the violin case from the back of the piano.

KAYLIE: (gasp) You didn’t return it?

MATTHEW: (shrugs) I realize that I have to give you a chance to do something you want to do.

KAYLIE runs towards MATTHEW to give him a hug.

KAYLIE: Oh! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!

A comforting smile creeps on MATTHEW’s face. KAYLIE grabs the case and dashes out of the door. She arrives at Symphony, just in time for her next lesson. SIMON sits by the counter. KAYLIE sits next to him and lifts her violin from the case. SIMON teaches KAYLIE some new chords. Lights off again. The sound of an audience clapping echoes. The lights are switched on. KAYLIE is standing at the center of an empty stage. She is wearing a formal dress and is holding her violin in one hand and her bow in another. She plays a song with her violin. When she finishes, there is a loud sound of cheering and clapping. DESIREE and MATTHEW approach from the left and give KAYLIE a big hug.

DESIREE: You did it, Kaylie! You give a great performance!

MATTHEW: I’ve never been prouder, my dear.

KAYLIE: (big joyful smile) Thank you, Mom and Dad!

MATTHEW: And..Kaylie, I’m sorry for the way I treated you in all those years. I should have                            listen to you, and I should have support your dream. You have definitely played good music after all.

KAYLIE: Let’s just call it even, Dad. 

birthday letter to Ivy

Happy birthday, Ivy! I wish I can go back to celebrate this special day but I'm stuck in school. Anyway, I hope you're doing okay. I know that you're frustrated in taking another year of foundation. You're doing this for your future. I wish you all the best in your studies and pray that you will get the result you aim at the end of the year. I also get frustrated when I fail Biology last semester, and I'm afraid that I have to retake that crappy course. But hey, there's always another chance for us to achieve our goals. =)

Surprisingly, I take your advice in listening to the lectures in History class. And you're right. It's actually interesting, especially the Meiji Revolution. The Mexican Revolution which is taught this afternoon is very complicated, but at least I understand what the lesson is about. Every day I come back from school with a tired and sulking expression, but when I think about you, I remind myself to stay positive. You're still, as always, my biggest inspiration. I hope I can go back to k.k. to see you again, but I'm don't know when is the time. I've predicted the number of courses left that need to be taken in these two years, and I'm afraid I have to stay back next summer for school in order to gain all 60 credits and transfer to UBC. It's the only way. I couldn't possibly take 5 courses at once and I plan to apply for driving school this summer (which means I have to take 3 courses instead next semester, and then 4 courses in each term of my second year). I'm sorry, I know you want to see me so bad. I feel the same way, but what can I do? I'm so far away I can't even reach you. I realize that the longer we're separated, the less times to keep in touch happens. I've been hanging with my new friend Louise recently, and she reminds me of you! She's so vibrant, full of energy, and likes to talk (yet she has boyfriend). I don't know whether I'm dreaming or not, but I see a few strangers' faces that look like yours, and I fear that I've been hallucinating or something. Haha. But anyway, yeah, I have to stay strong no matter what.

Time flies, and now we've been friends for 6 years (I'm sure of it). And yes, you're turning 20. I have a friend in church who turned 20 last year, and believe me, she's not happy about it. XD But she's certain that turning 20 will give her higher confidence to face anything and being a more mature follower to be with the Lord. And so, I would like to say this to you, don't forget that God is always there for you. Receive his presence every day, and he will enlighten your days. I would like to end this letter now, but it's not the end for me to have you by my side. =) Once again, happy birthday to you, the greatest friend in the world.

Should I say, slightly good and bad day?

Nice...class cancelled. It's both good and bad to me. The bad thing is, I've been waiting for two hours in the atrium of New West campus for the English class which usually starts at 2:30pm. Half an hour before class, my new friend, Louise came by and she asked me a few questions concerning her school account. It turned out that she was waiting for her boyfriend who was still in class (Wow, does she HAVE to wait for her boyfriend every day? I saw her impatiently trudging around the campus, waiting for her guy to come to her). Well, it is sweet of her to wait for her boyfriend though...Anyway, I accompanied her until a few minutes left till English class started. But...when I arrived at the classroom, the room was completely empty! No one was in it! Then, I spotted a yellow piece of paper glued on the door with words "Class cancellation, English 1115-001, Jon-Paul Henry,time 2:30." GEEZ! Last minute cancellation??? How come I didn't see an email of this in the website? D:

Sigh..anyway, the good thing about this sudden cancellation is that I could go back home early, and help prepare dinner for my cousin Titus' last night here in Canada. He'll be going back to California tomorrow. So tonight is our last night to spend time with Titus. And I've never done this before, but I invite Loiuse and her boyfriend for lunch at Sushi Zone this Friday after school. This is the first time I invite a friend for lunch in Canada..lol. I'm actually excited about this Friday. It will be a chance for me to get to know her better, and her boyfriend too.

You wouldn't believe this but Titus and his friend Tom (who lived with us as well) ate all the macarons we made. It was unfair! My sisters and I only ate one or two! But then I guess Titus did this in return by baking a new batch of macarons for us (picture above).

Macaron baking+family time =D

Guess what are we doing now? Instead of doing an assignment (which is due this Thursday, I still got time), I bake macarons for the first time with my family, including my cousin Titus and Uncle James' family. We followed a recipe online and boom, we bake successfully a few trays of fine maracon biscuits! Titus gives us orders to add ingredients and do the instructions, while we went here and there getting the steps done. Well I didn't exactly bake entirely, I grab my phone to take pictures XD. But here what I notice. First, beat egg white with sugar until it's solid and fluffy, then use another bowl to sift ground almonds, then mix it with icing sugar. Mix it up before adding in vanilla extract and the egg white mixture. While mixing it up in an appropriate certain kind of way, count the "folds" of the spatula each time it's mixed. After that, pour the batter into a large Ziploc bag. Cut a hole at an end of the bag and squeeze it on baking sheets on trays (little circles). Preheat the oven (I don't know how many Farenheit XD) before putting the trayed macaron batter in. After a few fixed minutes (one and a half or something), turned the trays to the other side and let it bake for another few minutes. In the end, you will see fine brown crusted biscuits. =D

As for the filling, there's a various choice of flavours you can make. Chocolate: melt the butter till liquid then pour it into a bowl of chocolate chips to melt them. If they still doesn't melt, put it in a microwave oven for 10 seconds. Keep doing this until all chocolate chips are melted. When it becomes a creamy paste, there you go! =D Chocolate filling for macarons. We also try to do lemon and jam filling, but I didn't pay attention to the ingredients. XD

Anyway, we have our first try in making macarons and we succeed! In fact, I think ours is better than the ones outside. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime family baking activity, I think, but maybe there will be other chances for us to bake something. We have Titus the chef master here, so we can learn some new recipes from him. =D Ah..family gatherings.

Revised poems

Before I delete the poems from my pen drive for spaces this semester, I would like to share the revised poems with you here on my blog. Hopefully one of these will be published in the Creative Writing anthology.

Church Camp (revised)

I saw

from a corner of the room

a dark black creature,

the size of a human palm

scurrying around.

At first

I thought I was imagining things

or perhaps all I saw

was a giant cockroach.

5 minutes passed by

and the creature sneaked towards my chair.

A dust-colored rodent

with dark eyes,

the size of peas,

and long white whiskers,

 camouflaged on the bright carpet floor.

The pest

hurried under the rows of chairs

and towards the podium

where the pastor was giving a testimony.

There was a silence

like as if the world seemed to freeze.

Shrill screams vibrated my eardrums

as everyone dashed into their dormitories

for safety.

The pastor hurriedly snatched an empty box

from one a side of the room

and trapped the little devil inside.

That rat

ruined the night.

I’m sorry to say this

But the rat

is an animal that I find

worthless and disgusting,

deserved to be killed.

Rapunzel (revised)

You live in a tower

far away hidden in the forest.

I wonder

how on earth do you get

70-foot-long

glossy golden hair.

I wonder

have you ever tripped over your locks?

How do you wash your hair?

Does it take hours to soak every strand of it?

And most of all,

How long does it take to brush its entire length?

You are a mistress of numerous talents,

I must admit.

Your paintings on the tower walls take my breath away.

Is there any more room for your future displays?

Your angelic voice takes my breath away.

Will you be performing in public?

Your freshly-baked pies force saliva to drool from my mouth.

Have you thought of owning a diner?

Your ability to climb and swing with your hair causes me to stare in awe.

Is there any chance for me to go on an adventure with you?

You’re locked up

for 18 years.

Aren’t you feeling restless?

Haven’t you inhaled fresh oxygen released by trees?

Do you know that there is a lot more things to discover out there?

How do you get so slender

while being grounded the whole time?

Haven’t you raced on green pastures for a while?

Rapunzel,

why are you being so stubborn?

All these years,

your mother is filling your brain

with lies!

Myths and fables that only little children believe.

I dare you to escape from the tower

because I can see through those

desperate, curious green eyes of yours.

And soon,

a real adventure is about to approach,

through the only window.

Secondary School Days (revised)

My fingers ran on the pages

of one of my high school yearbooks.

A flashback of the school appeared in my head

that brings nostalgia.

The classrooms and laboratories

where I was drawn to a wide galaxy of learning,

grasping the values of discipline and responsibility

and earning the power of hard work.

The field and courts

where I gained skills in sports

and cheered for my respective team in matches.

The hall

where I was indulged in the same announcements

every single Mondays,

bored and restless

till my head yelled, “Get me out of here!”

The stern principal

who carried a bamboo cane everywhere he went,

barking at mischievous boys who liked to break the rules.

The wonderful teachers

who burdened to help me to reach the goal

as well as treated me as a second child.

The unforgettable times I had with my dear friends,

each and every moment of fun and laughter

and the emboldening smiles

which gave me strength every day.

As I take one last glance

at my senior year class photograph

and the autographs of my friends

at the back of the yearbook,

the bittersweet times sweep me away

like a strong gust of wind.

Those days will remain

until the end.

 Malaysian Sunset (revised)

The golden sun sank down between the islands.

Hues of ruby, topaz, and amber

illuminated dimly in the sky.

Its mirror shone on the surface of the ocean.

Sapphire waves tumbled against each other

before diminished by the seashore.

Shortly the circle vanished,        

saying goodbye to the world.

I gazed at the scenery in wonder.

Warm wind blew gently against my face,

as I drew in fresh air.

This postcard view lays in my mind.

I wish I can return home

And watch it once again.

For You, Best Friend (revised)

Dear best friend,

I know it has been a while

since I write a postcard

or a birthday card

to you.

I would like to thank you

for the videos you’ve sent me,

telling me that you’re doing okay.

And now

here is what I have to say.

I’m doing fine,

stuck in the tremendous college pressure,

but I’m surviving.

Every day,

I think about you.

The memories

of you and me

are still in my mind.

Do you remember

the sleepovers we had

once or twice every year back then?

Can you still recall

the places we used to go

to hang out and chill?

Do you remember

the last words

you whispered to my ears

before I left my hometown?

That day,

when I watched you

left me behind,

I couldn’t hold back my tears

much longer.

Yet

I promised you

that I would stay strong

and I would never forget about you.

I miss your sarcasm and your jokes

that makes me laugh so hard.

I miss your emboldening smile

that encourages me to try my best.

I miss the embraces you give me

that cheers me up.

I miss you,

dear friend.

I wish you were here with me

right now.

my first monologue! title:A Best Friend

Monologue: A Best Friend

Lights up. MIKAYLA sits on a chair with a laptop on her lap. The 19-years-old college student is typing a story on her blog, willing to share her latest masterpiece with her friends on Facebook. Her dark black hair drapes over her shoulders and her Chinese countenance stands out. She is wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a neon jacket that covers her T-shirt, and a pair of brown leather boots.

I miss my home, Malaysia. I really do. It has been less than two years since I moved here in

Canada and I still feel homesick. I haven’t chat with my best friend in weeks. Speaking of my

best friend, she’s the person who influence me and change my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be

here today.

MIKAYLA puts down her laptop on the floor and stands up.

It all started when I was in ninth grade back home. People described me as an antisocial girl. I

was always a quiet, shy girl who afraid to speak in front of other people, including strangers. I

tried really hard to fit in a normal conversation, but somehow my invisible shield of fear pulled

me back. And due to my silent self, I was bullied by mean boys and girls in the secondary

school. Actually, I was verbally abused from elementary school until ninth grade, so I had

experienced traumatizing days that haunted me for years. The discouragement given by

classmates and some teachers made me nearly give up on my dreams and plan to commit suicide.

But one day, this girl opened my eyes to a whole new world.

The girl’s name is Alex. She is a tomboy, yet she has a mature taste in fashion. That day, she

offered me an invitation to a seminar. I decided to go. She even saved a seat for me during the

seminar. To me, seminars are boring. The speakers would just go on and on about some sort of

uninteresting topics. So, in order to decrease my boredom, I brought a notebook along to write a

story. Alex was attracted by what I was doing and took a peek at my story. I then let her read the

rest of it, and to my surprise, she loved it.  She even looked forward to the rest of my stories! So

every morning, she borrowed a story from me to read. Days turned to weeks, and she allowed me

to sit with her in every class. She understood my weakness in socializing verbally, so she tried

her best to encourage me to speak. I was a tongue-tied person, so she advised me to speak slower

so that people can hear me clearly and understand what I was saying. She also introduced me to a

bunch of new friends. Thanks to her, I was no longer alone. I was happy to be in a group of

wonderful friends who treated me good and supported me for who I was. And you know what?

When I was with Alex and the gang, the bullied days were gone! Those heartless meanies didn’t

dare to come near me! Maybe it was because they thought that Alex was an athletic girl who

would punch them in the face with her bare fists and strong muscles.

In the next 2 years of secondary school, our friendship grew closer. Alex and I had sleepovers in

each other’s houses, and we had fun hanging out in shopping malls with the rest of our friends.

However, our friendship might not be as close as this forever. It was the end of senior year, and I

faced a dilemma that would change everything. I planned to come here in Canada for further

studies, but Alex begged me to stay in Malaysia and accompany her to study in a local college.

Study overseas is a big opportunity any student could dream of, and it also widens a person’s

knowledge to prepare for a career. But leaving my home is like leaving a big piece of me. I

will leave my best friend alone and we will no longer be together. I prayed to God many times to

show me the path I should take. In the end, I realized that I shouldn’t force myself to follow

other people’s wishes. Instead, I should follow my heart to go to the place I suppose to be in it. I

may be separated from Alex, but I have high hopes that we will see each other again. It was hard

to contain the thought of leaving her, but I knew that I had to stay strong and get ready for the

next chapter of my life.

MIKAYLA blinks, preventing tears from coming out. She sheds one tear on her right cheek with her finger.

Before my flight to Vancouver, we had one last sleepover at my place. I had a final series of fun

with her that very night, and I also had a farewell hangout with the rest of the gang. The most

unforgettable moment in my entire life was the last time I saw Alex. I watched with misery as

Alex placed her bags in the trunk of her car. When she was done, she walked to me with her

arms open to give me a hug. It was more like a teddy-bear-crushing hug. I couldn’t hold my

sadness much longer, so I cried. Alex hugged me tighter and whispered her last words that I’ll

never forget till now.  She doesn’t want to see me cry. She only wants to see me smile. She

promises me that she will keep in touch with me and our friendship will never end. But most of

all, she supports my dream in studying here. That moment seemed like forever.

We’ve been friends for 6 years now, and I miss her.  We still connect through Facebook,

Whataspp, and Skype, but the number of times we talk to each other seems to lower down.

Leaving Alex is like leaving my home country, and this makes me losing a big part of myself.

But thanks to the greatest friend in the world, I’ve learnt confidence and strength to face

anything. I may still be the silent, lonely girl today, but I’ll take courage to open my mouth. She

is my inspiration and my role model. She will always be my best friend and nothing can break

the everlasting bond of friendship between us.

MIKAYLA sits back on the chair and continues her work on her laptop. Lights dim slowly.