~the countdown begins I~

my favourite boy hero since he was in primary three, will be graduating this year and being a foreign student (from Vietnam) he is 3 years older than his peers. Michael, has brought pride to his name for he has grown to be a very sensible boy. Even when other teachers claim he had been very rude, naughty and misbehaved many times since last year, I am glad to say, he still gives me that utmost respect. He still texts me at odd times. Calls me from end of the corridor just to raise his hand as a gesture of acknowledging me and greeting me with his cheeky smile and a short nod like bow.

Today, during recess, as I was doing my field duty, Michael saw me from one end of the field and walked as cool as he could...haha! teenagers!

"Cher...y cher?"

"y wat darling?" (yes, i call ALL pupils and some close colleagues 'darling'. that has been Ms Shikin's trademark :p)

"y u also wanna quit? cannot tahan ah cher?"

"no lah. it's not that. i wanna prove the world i can do more besides teach! haha!"

"hahaha! cher...actually hor, u should leh. u still so young and pretty must do other things mah. like miss liang rite?"

"really ahh? u find me pretty?"

"aiyahh..ok mah (boy blushes)"

"actually you're right darling. i'm still young. i must do other things."

"lucky u married leh. if not u teach until no one wants u. haha! eh cher, later next year, i come back, all faces i dunno liao.."

"i'm sure ur favourite teachers will still be here."

"but see, within 2 years, so many good teachers left liao. now you..aiyahh. cher dun forget me ok."

"i won't! and u must not forget me either ok."

"of course won't lah."

(at that point, tears were already welling and both teacher and student still maintaining their cool..hehe)

"btw, how did u know about my plans?"

"mr ho lor. he said i must try to make u stay cos he believes u're a good teacher and it's a waste. but hor, i think u are doing the right thing. so i came to wish you good luck."

(seriously, if Michael is not a 15 year old and hormones-raging, i would have brought him close to my chest and give him that tight tight hug.)

"i'll need ur wish again cos i'll still be here for a few more weeks."

"can. for sure one."

"and don't tell the others first ok."

"war lau cher if the others hear then they sure will spread one u know."

"haha! i'm counting on you ok."

"no problem cher."

(by then 2 of my p4 boys overheard our conversation and came running to me.)

"ms shikin, u're quitting?"

"no. says who?"

"but just now u said..."(bell rang....)

"let's go boys."

(ms shikin left the field with a big smile, teary eyes and an open heart.)





above, my P3s in 2005...all graduating this year.

:)