Author's Notes:- This is going to haunt Don for quite a while.

Someone Shoot Me Down- A parody of You're Beautiful by James Blunt

My life is over,
I'm feeling sore.
I was an idiot,
oh, that I'm sure.
I had to be annoying,
I had to be a prick.
"Find inner peace,"
oh, that I said
to another dick.

Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down, right now.
I had to tell you to find your peace,
and now you're fucking pissed,
but you didn't know you'll miss.

Yeah, his shirt was off
T'was ready to fight.
It was at that point that he knocked
fucking light
Weiwen off his feet as he charged once more.
This time, he almost hit the class door.

Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down, right now.
Another person took a video of us.
Now I don't know what to do,
I'm an idiot just like you.

Lalalalalala.
Lalalalalala.
Lalalalala-laaaa.

Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down.
Someone shoot me down, right now.
There must be people with a smile on their face
When they see topless adolescents' fat.
So now many else will see,
We're on the internet.
__________________________________

And all Don said was "Find your inner peace" when he saw HB threatening to beat Cheng2 up.
HB refused, threatening to beat me Don himself.
"Okay lor, whatever you say."
This agitated HB to no end that he wanted to fight it out with Don after school. He took off his shirt and lunged at Don, sending a kick at Don. Don returned that gesture with his kick, and their feet connected. Unfortunately Don was thrown back by the connection, and he spun back. The other guys tried to stop the senseless brawl when HB tried to kick Don again, this time failing to and falling back.

And that's how you make guys take off their shirts and throw themselves at you, girls. Tell them to find their 'inner peace'. Try it, they may even fall for you. Literally.

"We got caught the other day in LAN, and it was only 5 p.m!"

"How could it be? Don't tell me, they took your particulars right?"

"Uhh, yeah."

"Without THEIR verification?"

"Well, they are frightening! Anyway, you better be careful! Those patrolmen are really upholding that 'curfew'-"

"Curfew? So our curfew is 5pm, eh?"

"Don't know la... Just be careful!"

"Yeah, I will. (I) don't think I'll get caught, lah! Where got so suay one!" Don laughed the warning off.

* * * * *

Don got caught the next day.

Nabeh.

* * * * *

Leaves rustled as a slight breeze stirred. Clammy air filled the atmosphere, bringing about a waft of nightly dew. The hour hand positioned itself at one, second hand ticking in dalliance.

Don was of such sinning too- He was dawdling along the canal behind Sengkang park. Golden beside him, Don was enjoying the tranquility of the ambience. Chronological impediment seemed existant, and Don was loving it.

If only life could be so relaxing...

A clobber of boots- no, it was something strong. Leather shoes? Don turned around, only to meet two men in uniform. It was like Bonnie and Clyde.

(Oh, did Don wish those two were just overgrown school retainees.)

Police uniform.
Don tilted his head down, facing them. *snigger*

"Excuse me, are you supposed to be out here so late at night?" The bulkier of the two asked.

"Golden, heel. Sit, stay. We have company," Don instructed, a slight waiver in his voice.

Thoughts scampered around in Don's mind- People warned him about this already, but he did not heed their advice. Great, now this has to happen. What would happen if they throw him into jail for breaking this curfew? Or what if they called his pare- Wait, settle settle. His parents would probably praise him for bringing the dog for more walks, no matter what time since Don was, well, able to protect himself. Why not protect himself now?
So what did he fear? The big men? They were not big. Their batons? They could not use it unless Don did something horribly wrong. Or was it the fact that they could send a letter to Don's house stating that Don was out at 1am...walking his dog.

Well well, that certainly clear things up.

"I hope so, yes."

"Are you aware that if you're under a curfew, and that ended at 11pm?"

"No." Don answered shrewdly, as he nudged Golden who was eyeing a certain moving creature in the grass.

"Well then, what are you doing so late out at night?"

... You got to be kidding me. How bloody obvious!

Oh, we were about to vandalise some buildings, then rob a bank. This dog's the mastermind.

"I am walking my dog... Sir." Don suppressed the need to roll his eyes.

"Do your parents know about your activities?"

Hello, it's 1! What do you think most parents do at 1am?

"Maybe."

"We will need your particulars, please."

The barbarian used 'please'?

"My name is Donovan. I apologise, but I cannot show you my particulars without your verifications."

"And it is... What?"

"Your verifications for identity. You two are policemen, right? I don't think that my parents would allow me to give out my particulars to strangers."

"But..."

The lankier one suddenly spoke to the bulky. Both were huddled in busy conversation for what seemed eternity, before they both turned back to Don.

"It's alright. Carry on. Just don't commit this mistake anymore."

Mistake?! You're a mistake, you bloody-

"Yes, thank you."

The remnants of horror remained in Szpilman as he played a haunting melody while the credits rolled across the screen. His face was wrought with emotion as a band of musicians harmonized with his instrument.
He had seen evil. The war-torn bodies lay motionless, burnt by the German forces. Conniving men out to cheat others in times of war. Yet good was abound.
Hosenfeld.
The shaven face and well-groomed hair bore no evidence that Szpilman was a desperate man living in a Warsaw ghetto, almost dying from hunger and malnutrition.
His gift of music saved his life.

Roman Polanski has really outdone himself.

- - - - -
Author's Notes: One question though- There was this one scene where this german used a bayonet to open the sack of beans. It just doesn't look right.
Edit: An internet check showed that it was a 1890 Turkish model! Hahaha!
Also, the woman who died face-down after being shot on the streets moved quite a distance between the scenes- She died in front of the stairs, but in the next scene she was in front of the stairs, her body blocking Szpilman's way!

Oh, and here's some trivia. Szpilman sounds like the German word Spielmann, which means minstrel or bandsman, hence Hosenfeld's comment of Szpilman being a good name for a pianist. Talk about coincidence. This IS based on a true story.
- - - - -

Have anyone of us ever thought of the fragility of life? Just a snap and we'll be grovelling in dirt. The lot of us could just drop dead anytime from haemorrhages. That is, if we don't perish from conflicts already.

Ever had that headache? It may be a tumour.

That ringing sensation in your ear after you experienced a loud sound? Your eardrums may be on the verge of bursting, causing your deafness, which may increase your chances of accidents, most of them leading to death.

Stiff neck? How about a quick twist?

Lack of breath? Liquid in lungs be any problem?

How about that back pain? Spinal weakness, which may cause your death via spine dislocation during your next fall.

Pain in the abdomen could spell liver failure, or even stomach ulcers.

Discomfort in the nether regions is never good either.

Cramps or numbness in legs could mean a lack of circulation. This could lead to amputation, which may also mean you'll be depressed from that and lose your will to live, which is considered a suicide.

Indeed, how fragile life can be. Now stop complaining about it and live it as it should.

(Author's Notes: This was supposed to be a serious piece, until boredom had the author in its grasp. Do note that the second part of the text is NOT to be taken seriously. One could turn maniacal over health. Cheers.)

Dawn shed light upon the dew-laden flora of MacRitchie Resevoir as Don arrived minutes before seven. Already there were plenty of Andersonians roaming the area, with alot of them in the nearby washrooms. Were they perking themselves up with a face-wash, or were they dolling up for the run?

Either way, they're going to sweat.

Don turned around as he heard a familiar voice, "Hey, did you see anyone else? Don't tell me 4/1 all late!"

"Don't worry la, Mei Gui. Why you so early? Am I the second?"

"Noo... I think I saw Arthur. He's on duty, ma."

"Orhh..." Don trailed off as he checked his watch again. Quarter past seven.

"Ehh, they're quite late le leh... Wonder where they are?" Don asked before he spotted Chun Ying and the rest.

"Lai le, la."

* * * * *

After a series of stretches and long speeches from our 'guest-of-honour', Mrs Koh Fui Chen, standard by standard trudged to the starting point of their 4.8km run. It was not until the rays of the morning sun hit their faces did the Secondary 4s start to actually warm up for the would-be run.

The girls would have to tackle a 3.6km run, taking a detour while the boys run further into the man-made 'forest' surrounding the resevoir before meeting up with the girls.

A burst of sound emaniated from the horn, sending a student hoarde into the forest.

Like town invasion, sia.

"Chiong arh!" Don heard Cheng yell.

And so, everyone 'chiong-ed'.

A splendid sight, spoilt with a certain young Don trailing behind all of them with a brisk walk.

He'll overtake them later.

* * * * *

The run proceeded as followed- Everyone who could run was running. The fastest had probably finished the race before Don even reached the midpoint.

After around forty-five minutes and dozens of people later, Don finally walked past the finishing line and straight to First Aid tent with the intention of nursing nature's gift to him- a laceration from a thorned plant.

The following conversation was the gist of it:-

"How did you end up with this?"

"Beats me. I was just running... and something just grabbed me."

* * * * *

Alas, all pain from these minor wounds subsided as Don got the opportunity to take pictures with a third of the pink lady trio of the day- Miss Heng.

(Coincidence has it that Mdm Heah, Miss Heng and Mrs Koh all wore pink- what should one call it...sweatshirts (?) on that fine day. The reason why, we dare not ask.)

A last picture with Miss Thoo struck off the last item on the to-do list of Cross Country 2006.

Thoughts of a well-deserved bath were quickly brought at bay by a single thought:-

4/1 still rocks 5/1 anyday.

Woot.