between time and friendship
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8/6/2019 Between Time and Friendship
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MelvinBonnie@IPGKTIJB
2PPISMP TESL 3
JUN 2010 Intake
1
Between Time and Friendship
RRINNGG...!!! The school bell rang. Time to go to the class. Sarah and
Felicia locked their lockers and walked to their class. As soon as they entered the
class, Felix and Mark were smiling and waving at them. Sarah, Felicia, Felix, and
Mark were best friends since childhood. They sat together in class. Five minuteslater, their English teacher, Mrs. Sharma entered and greeted her students, Good
morning class. Okay now, have you ever read Lifes Brief Candle a poem written by
William Shakespeare? Her students nodded slowly. So tell me what you think
about life? she asked. Mark put up his hand. Go ahead, Mark, she said. Mark
started, Life is wonderful. Life is all about love, friendship and dreams. But maybe
some people dont realise that. We always th ink that we have more time to enjoy this
life and take it for granted. We always delay what we are supposed to do today to
another day. Thats because we always think that there is tomorrow to do all that.
But the truth is, tomorrow may never come. Silence... Mrs. Sharma clapped her
hands. She was touched. She can feel that Mark was telling that entire straight from
the bottom of his heart. The other students clapped their hands too. Very good,
Mark. Very good! Mrs. Sharma praised him. The last bell of t he day rang.
RRINNGG...!!! All the students were rushing home.
Two weeks gone by. It was that time for a long holiday. The four best friends
spent some time in the park near their neighbourhood. They sat on the soft and
green grass and relaxed. The air was refreshing, the sky was blue and the scenery
was an eye-catcher. Life is wonderful, isnt it? Mark broke the silence. Ive never
realised it before. I was very busy and I didnt give myself a chance to enjoy it. Im
very happy to be given the chance to see and feel it. Especially to have you three as
my best friends, he continued as he looked at the sky, then facing his best friends.You know what, Mark? For the last four months, you really enjoyed yourself. Ive
never seen you are so happy before. You enjoy life to the fullest. It seems as if
theres no tomorrow for you, Felicia said honestly. Shes right, Mark. Your thoughts
about what life means to you puzzled me of whom you are right now, Sarah
supported. Yeah, Mark. You werent like this befo re. Tell us, what made you
changed? Felix asked. Mark smiled and said, Nothing. Nothing?? Felix, Sarah
and Felicia said at the same time. Listen guys. Live, be happy, smile. Who knows?
Tomorrow may not be... Mark answered calmly. Felicia and Sarah cheered. Sarah
said, Mark, Id say that you have the talent to be a poet. Hehehe... Felicia
continued, But dont worry Mark, theres always a tomorrow for you. Mark looked at
the sky and whispered to himself, I wish you are right, Felicia. I wish... I t was
getting dark, so they decided to go home.
That night, Mark was in his bedroom. He was lying on his bed, thinking about
his life, his dreams but mostly his best friends. Tears of hope fell without his
willingness. Suddenly someone knocked on his door . Mark, honey. Are you in
there? his mums voice was heard. Immediately, he wiped away his tears and
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MelvinBonnie@IPGKTIJB
2PPISMP TESL 3
JUN 2010 Intake
2
pretended to read, Yes, mum . Come in. His mum, Mrs. Varma entered. Mark
smiled to her and put the book beside him. Hi, mum! he greeted . Mrs. Varma sat on
his bed and asked, How are you feeling, son? Great! Mark answered shortly and
convincingly. Arent you afraid? Mrs. Varma asked again, this time with tears in her
eyes. Her voice was soft and motherly. Seeing this, Mark held her hand and
answered, Im not afraid, mum. Im not... But I am! Mrs. Varma said and lookeddeep into Marks blue eyes. Mark hugged her and said, Trust me, mum.
Everythings going to be okay.
The following night, the four best friends gathered around a campfire in the
park. They were all wearing long-sleeved shirt with thick fur sweater and shawls
wrapping around their necks. Burr... its cold out here, Sarah complained. Relax,
Sarah. I think its refreshing. Just feel the wind blowing, Mark told her. Sarah, Felicia
and Felix changed looks. Mark, are you okay? Normally, it was you who was always
complaining about this kind of weather. Felix reminded him. Thats because Ive
never bothered to appreciate it. But now, I do, Mark answered him. Hearing this,
Felicia put her hand on Marks forehead and asked, Mark, are you okay? Did you
just knock your head on something or what? Im okay. And stop looking at me like
that! Mark demanded when he realised they were giving him the YOU -ARE-
TOTALLY-WEIRD looks. The three of them stopped. Suddenly, something white and
fluffy fell from the sky. Hey, its snowing! They shouted together and cheered
happily. Lets get inside. I think its going to snow heavily tonight, Mark suggested.
And as what Mark had predicted, it did snow heavily that night.
The next morning, the four best friends played in the snow. They built
snowmen, Snow Angels and a big Snow Castle. They had a wonderful time together.
Happiness was in the air. Was sadness following not far behind? No one everwondered. Time flew so fast and now it was December. The four best friends went to
the mall to do some Christmas shopping. They spent hours and hours trying new
fashions and trends of the season. They bought some for themselves. They also
bought Christmas gifts for each other.
One morning in the third week of February, Felix, Sarah and Felicia went to
Marks house. They wanted to take him to see a movie. They had already bought the
tickets. DING DONG!!! Felix pushed the doorbell switch. Mrs. Varma opened the
door. Oh, its you kids. Come in, she invited them. Let me get you drinks, Mrs.
Varma said. Dont bother, auntie. We had our breakfast ten minutes ago. We are
here to see Mark. Where is he? Felix asked. Oh, Mark went to the hos.. I mean the
mall. I asked him to buy something for me. Hell be back at 10 a.m. Why dont you
kids wait for him in his bedroom? Mrs. Varma suggested. They agreed and thanked
her.
In the next five minutes, they were upstairs, in the Marks bedroom. Sarah
was sitting in front of the computer table while Felicia was looking through the books
in the shelf. Felix was lying on Marks bed when he saw a big, white envelope on
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MelvinBonnie@IPGKTIJB
2PPISMP TESL 3
JUN 2010 Intake
3
Marks study table. He went there and his eyes caught the three words typed neatly
in bold on the envelope: PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL. Hey, guys! Check this out,
he called the girls. Private & Confidential? Felix, dont ever think about it! Felicia
started to feel uneasy. Why not? Whats the big deal? Im sure Mark wont get
angry, Felix defended himself. Whatever you say, Mr. Clever Boy! Sarah teased
him. Felix opened the envelope and took out a white paper from it. As they readthrough, the looks on their faces changed. Sarah took out another paper, which is an
x-ray paper. They studied the picture on it carefully. Everything that Mark had said
and done before flashed back and played in their minds. No one talked for several
minutes. They were shocked and clueless. At last, Sarah managed to say something
and broke the silence, So this is what its all abo ut.
A few minutes later, Mark opened his bedrooms door and greeted his best
friends cheerfully, Hi, guys! My mum said you were looking for me. So, whats up?
Instead of answering his question, Felix asked him, How are you feeling, Mark?
Mark was startled but he managed to answer, Mines fantastic! I see...
Unfortunately, ours bad, very bad... Sarah said slowly. Why? Is there anything
wrong? Mark asked suspiciously. This time, it was Felicias turn to answer, Hey,
Felix. Why dont you tell him what was wrong? Felix stepped forward and began his
story, You see, Mark. We have a friend. A very, very, very good friend and we love
him. We promised each other not to keep secrets from one another. But he broke the
promise he made. He keeps a secret from us... a very dark secret. Felixs eyes
turned red and watery. He struggled hard to continue, He... hes suffering from a
brain tumour, and that he wont survive... because it is at the critical level. Hes
dying, Mark! Hes dying... But until now, he didnt even tell us. His happiness, the
quote and the poem, they are coming clear enough now. He knows hes going to
die... anytime. Sarah and Felicia hugged him. The envelope fell from Felixs hand.Mark saw it and knew at once that they found his medical check-up results. Tears
filled his eyes, he said, I... Im sorry, guys. Its just that... I... I dont want to bother
my best friends in the whole wide world of my little problem. Felix, Sarah and Felicia
hugged him. Sarah said, Little you called it? Dont ever do that again, Mark,
Felicia reminded him and gave him a soft punch on his stomach. They laughed.
Why are you being so nice to us? Youre the best pal! Remember that, Felix told
him. I know, Mark said. Youre a genius! Felix said. Since birth! Mark joked. A
good actor! Felix added. Hello? Who doesnt know that? Mark pretended to be
angry and made a serious face. Now stop that! Felix said. Marks bedroom was
filled with laughter.
From that day onwards they spent a lot of time with Mark. They wanted him to
be happy on his last weeks with them. In the third week of March, he was admitted to
the hospital. All the people he loved were there with him. At the last minute of his life,
he smiled and said, Im going... take care. They w ished him goodnight. Mrs. Varma
whispered something to him, Go to the light, son. And Mark did.
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