to at night. For those boys that are less than Lucky, they will be reprimanded by the Policemen on duty and sometimes referred to their school’s discipline master for punishment. HAPPY has been Lucky truly, he has been chased by the police no less than ten times, yet each time he escaped punishment and these episodes has become fond memories of his growing up years.
Yet, as HAPPY is growing up at St Gabriel Secondary, he observed that many of his friends started having dating relationships with the opposite gender, St Gabriel is an all-boy school so the boys started dating girls from schools in the area. Generally, public schools that are run by the government are mixed-gender schools (with both boys and girls studying together). Well, HAPPY is happy to be in an all-boy school, where you can have lots of friends coming together after school for badminton and soccer. AND yes the guys have to train up for their annual physical fitness tests which include 2.4km running, chin-up, shuttle run, standing broad jump, and sit-up. This is in preparation for their national service enlistment. HAPPY is also lucky that he is not part of the Trim-and-Fit club, where obese students are flagged out to go for morning exercise designed to help them reduce their weight.
THREE
HAPPY feels a bit different and funny that day while reporting to St Gabriel Secondary. He saw a car accident on the road and the people in the overturned car are injured badly, and the police arrived to stop and divert the traffic. He was praying in his heart that ALL will be FINE as he believes that the divine help will arrive if he prays.
Soon enough, the Ambulance came and that is not enough to stop onlookers from taking photographs on their mobile phones to ensure they get the car license plate. It was 6767 that day and many people will probably head to the nearby betting outlet to place a bet on that number, however HAPPY is wondering why people would want to profit from the misfortune of others.
Thankfully, the occupants of the car are probably fine as they helped themselves out of the car when it happened. It was a car accident that hit the lamp post and luckily the people at the nearby bus stop are safe and sound. Thanks God he thought!
Off he went for school, this time another incident that changed his life happened. A dog ran over the road and got hit by a bus. He was just alive a moment ago and now the dog is dead. HAPPY has a dog at home named MAGIC and he is sad that this thing happened to the dog while he is on his way to school.
He sent his prayers and hoped that all will be well for the rest of the day! Being positive is important as there are blessings around the corner. People may offer us support and encouragement just when we need it. Have Faith! Allow others to help us is a way to let others give freely which allows us to give to others who need our help and this way of giving it forward makes the world a much better place. We are always surprised when others lend us a helping hand! Sometimes, it boosts our spirits and makes the rest of the day wonderful!
Of course, everyone goes through a day with ups and downs and it is how we see the world from within our hearts that make all the difference. The same incident, someone may just say I will work harder and his luck and situation improves. Another person may just say oh no and simply give up!
The harder we try, the closer we are likely to see the desired successful outcomes! Haha.. Have a good laugh and start again if we are tired and down! A beauty sleep works best for HAPPY when he wants to recharge and forget the day that has passed as he realized that the next day is a new beginning. Even for exams, HAPPY would forget what has past in the day, forget about competing for better grades than his peers as well the stress is not going to be helpful for him to be HAPPY.
Paradoxically, he who is happy gets Lucky! Hahaha.. At home, MAGIC the dog will run to HAPPY and give him a big paw and hug and lick him full of saliva! In contrast, MAGIC the dog will forget about running to others as they are not Happy! Haha.. Ok, a positive cheerful person will still get the attention of MAGIC the Dog! Woof Woof! :D
FOUR
Well, time flies and it is time for HAPPY to graduate from secondary school. And this time, he has to decide to go to a junior college, polytechnic or Institute of Technical Education as these are the main choices for him. Of course, he can enlist to serve in the army, police or civil defense force for his National Service too.
At the same time, HAPPY has to decide if he wants to get a girlfriend! He doesn’t have any female friends in his social circle because he was in an All Boys’ School since young! However, he does envy the companionship, movie outings with a girlfriend!
So he was trying to ask around his friends on how to get a girlfriend. Hahaha.. Well all his friends say, just get one and try! Everything has a first time!
The first date was when he tried to ask the girl waiting at the bus stop from his house and she agreed to go out with him as HAPPY was trying to tell her that it is a bet with his secondary school friends and her job is just to have a meal with him and he will win $20. She agreed and he offered to pay her half the prize money.
It was uneventful, just a meal and lots of stuttering from Happy who was really uneasy. His friends noticing him at a corner were laughing non-stop. Well they say Happy provide the laughter and true enough, he is providing the laughter and smiles at this junction. Yes, his friends paid up and you wonder where they get their money from? Working at part-time jobs, pocket money from parents and hopefully not stealing from the shops or people around.
That closed a chapter in his life when he left St Gabriel School.. Happy yet single. Well, HAPPY was feeling that he was lacking something that caused him to be unable to attract the girl of his life to him yet. Maybe he was searching for someone high up in the stars and he wants the girl to be sweet, pretty, cheerful and desirable. Yet, he is fearful of making an approach. So what can he do?
HAPPY lost sleep over it and his parents have to check on him. But MAGIC has the last word, and the trick is simply bringing MAGIC out to the park and walk around. Perhaps, there is a chance for Happy to meet a fellow dog lover and his love life will change. Perhaps, he will be Lucky, well perhaps not as magical as his dog but lucky enough to meet his dream love!
FIVE
Time flies and HAPPY has not gotten a girlfriend yet, his mum is happy as she feels dating at a young age is a big distraction. Plus, you will have to spend lots of movies and meals. And he will be tempted to work part time, that these are influences that may affect his future studies. Well his mum wishes HAPPY can be a medical doctor, saving lives and most importantly it sounds prestigious, and can be counted on as a career to make lots of money! Also, the media and newspapers always say doctors earn lots because health care costs are rising; population is graying and thus the need for more medical doctors and their care.
Anyone can just use the visit of their own Family Doctor to learn about the rise in consultation cost with time. It was $12 when HAPPY is in primary school, $18 when he is in high school and even higher by the day. So staying healthy is paramount for one to be Happy. HAPPY is Happy because he plays soccer with his friends from St Gabriel Secondary weekly on Sunday.
With this experience, he hopes to be a soccer player for the local S league. He is a good striker who scores the most goals every match. However, HAPPY’s parents are unhappy as football players in Singapore don’t earn well. It is far more prestigious to be a medical doctor than a soccer player. Plus there are not many Chinese players around. That is also a reason why Singapore national team started importing foreign players of different nationality such as China, Egypt, Africa into the team to improve their odds of qualifying for the World Cup. As they say, Dream
