Sleeping to Dream
–

I can’t help but mention that I’d really appreciate lesser insecure, indecisive, overemotional and whiny people in my life. Or maybe I have just been too overwhelmed by a couple of them, I need a break. People need to learn how to find that balance between being idealistic and realistic and be brave to face the harsh truth. People need to learn how to make decisions, wise ones I meant. People need to learn how to control their emotions, or at least be determined to. People need to learn how not to just blabber every single word they feel, but consider many other factors before doing so. I suppose, when I mention the word ‘people’, I feel less guilty rather than using the word ‘friends’. Before I lose any friends after this post or someone feels that it reminds them of themselves, it’s just a matter of time and time will take me and my thoughts to a better place in time to come. I guess a part of me also wishes for these traits of them to diminish, just in case they are obstructed by these barriers in life, for I wish for smooth success in their lives, truly from the bottom of my heart.

I was reminded of Lady J’s Musings latest post of:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Since young, I’ve been inculcated the habit to ask/inform before I do. So right from the top, I ask if I could go out, I inform that I’m leaving home, I inform of my location. Maybe in the midst of all these for let’s say around 10 years, I got tired of it at some point in time. I longed for how friends could go out as they wish, but sometimes they go out too much I wish someone controlled them. That first step I take (to ask) instills a little fear and lack of confidence in me. But when I muster the courage (to ask), the answer might be positive or negative. Let’s be frank, when the answer is negative, I wondered why I asked because if I didn’t ask, I could have done things on my own. On the other hand, I know I wouldn’t have the courage to do so because there is most probably a reason behind why I cannot go ahead with matters. But when it’s positive, I’m just glad that I asked to assure myself further that I am not doing things behind backs.

Finding accommodation in Shanghai has been really not fuss-free. Thoughts came to my mind – Why is it that there is this issue of trust? Why is it that property agents do not provide apartments the way they look like on photos? Why is it that we do not trust others? If all these did not happen, people are not greedy, evil and crafty, things would be much simpler.

I was inspired by Priscilla’s post on Talking to Strangers:

One thing good about talking to strangers than talking to friends is that strangers don’t judge and we don’t really have a wall that is built in between us. And after you bid farewell to the stranger you never know when you will see him/her again. Unknown stuffs that are known to strangers may be kept with them forever. Strike conversations with strangers and it may brighten your day somehow. Sometimes you don’t really need close friends or even families to tell you something. Sometimes even taxi-uncles make an impact too.

**

So when I’m lying in my bed; Thoughts running through my head; And I feel the love is dead; I’m loving angels instead

I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we’re grey and old
‘cos I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I’m lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel the love is dead
I’m loving angels instead

As the title of this post states… The story of me meeting this boy who sat next to me on the flight from Zurich to Singapore begins..

“Good afternoon! Just straight ahead.” Exactly what the chief steward monotonously said to me after I picked up a set of ‘The Straits Times’ paper before stepping foot into and onto the A380 that had a whiff of ‘Singapore’ in it.

So the boarding pass read ‘35E’ – as I found myself looking up down left right for the ‘35E’… “Ah I found it!” I said to myself. “Huhhh… in the middle…” I grumbled to myself again because I didn’t check in personally, instead it was done by a friend who attempted to do so because a group of us friends wanted to sit together but the plane seemed pretty full in the end for this possibility. So I saw a young boy, possibly aged 10-12 years old looking at the giant me, donned in a leather jacket and neat white pants and amazingly something that caught my eye first was that shiny pilot watch on his left wrist. Carrying my laptop in its envelope case, the Russian dolls hoodie and a box of Luxemburgerlis in my hands, in addition to that, a backpack on my back. So now where do I place all the belongings in my hands… the known-to-be-filthy pillow and blanket are staring hard at me on my seat. Based on my intelligence, I suppose my belongings will not be able to balance on the two items taking up my seat. Turned around and saw at least ten pairs of eyes staring at me hard, as if I could read their minds filled with thoughts possibly being “Where’s my seat?” or “Can this lady speed up and move”. More of the latter I strongly believe but ‘whatever’, I threw the belongings onto the seat and my intelligence indeed proved me right, the box of Luxemburgerli did a somersault and landed on the floor upside down. The air stewardess saw the queue behind me and came strutting down the aisle and said “I’ll help you with your backpack up the cabin, you can go ahead and take your seat.” With a tinge of embarrassment, I whispered an ‘excuse me’ to the boy and squeezed my way through to get myself seated.

Uncomfortably seating on the seatbelt, in between the pillow and blanket, attempting to pick up the box of Luxemburgerlis which have found its way to the carpeted flooring – felt so much like a klutz right from the start of this flight. But again, it led me to thinking of the following: “Why did the boy not be initiative and grab the pillow/blanket so that I could sit” (well he is not obliged to, but it would be nice), “Why did the boy only stare at the somersaulted box of Luxemburgerlis and did it not occur to him that he could kindly pick it for me too?” (once again, he is not obliged to but it would be nice of him to do so). My inner thoughts gave themselves a break and I got myself organised. Putting the laptop case into the large pocket in front of me, the wet tissue packet on the third smallest pocket, buckled my seatbelt and discreetly loosened the belt on my waist and unbuttoned the button of my pair of jeans.

I stole a few glances at the boy numerous times. He’s pretty independent so far. He knows how to use the technology at his seat. He is watching movies before I start doing so. He is still a kid, he is watching ‘Spongebob Squarepants’, ‘Ice Age’ and ‘Chipmunks.’ He knows where the toilet on the plane is. I finally have time to think about why he’s alone. He has yet to speak to anyone except the air stewardess for ‘orange juice’ and ‘coke’. In the 5 hours, he has gone to the toilet for at least three times, which means out of that, I’ve gone twice too, yay for someone who frequents the toilet on this long-haul flight.

Did I mention that I think his name is Julian? That’s what the air stewardess addressed him every now and then. I think that’s how you spell it, yes the possibility of it being ‘Julien’ ‘Julienne’ ‘Jullian’ the list can go on but let’s just call him Julian.

When the court shoes start knocking on the carpet and I feel it even while seated, then the rattling of trays, bottles and plastic cups is heard – time to eat! Prior to that, we were given the menu and he has been flipping the pages, pointing his fingers up and down the page and until he pointed at the ‘Thai pork curry with steamed rice’ when asked for his choice. I chose the same, instead of the boring chicken. It smelt fragrant but we know that scent can be deceiving (not looks can be deceiving) so I tasted it and “Alamak, spicy la!” was the only thought that popped up in the Shinn-who-does-not-know-how-to-eat-spicy-food’s mind. I turned instantly to the boy next to me and wondered “Is he fine with the spiciness? Can he handle it?”, Well, he answered my question through actions – he’s three-quarter done with this dish already, okay, question answered and I’m satisfied with it, though still a little doubtful and embarrassed at the thought that he can eat spicy food better than I do, oops!

Time to eat and busy watching “Almost Famous” directed by Michelle Chong, with the other male lead as Alien Huang, no time to think about him. But at this moment when I was laughing at the adorable Malaysian accent imitated so well by Michelle Chong, he lifted up his dish platter and I saw a folded tray, this boy was struggling, so I stretched out my hand to flip open the folded tray (did he say ‘thank you’?) but he smiled and placed the platter on it.

He went to the toilet this time round, I had to take this chance after drinking already two cups of Apple Spritzer to do likewise and clear my bladder as well. Queuing just behind him, I told him “Isn’t that toilet empty?” because the huge words of ‘vacant’ with the green background label was on the door. He gave it a slight push and pinched his nose a little, stepped in carefully (I suppose there’s the wet… don’t remind me whether is it colored water or not on the ground) and proceeded. I found myself an vacant toilet to use in the end, quickly using it before he returns to his seat. “Ugh! He won” and I had to say “excuse me” again. This silly boy just did not want to stand up, well he clearly knows he’s small sized and he had his legs hanging on the arm rest and I gave it a try, squeezing my way through again.

Right now, he looks at me as I am typing this post on my laptop. But most of the time, he is watching the chipmunks singing and dashing across on the screen. I have my in-flight entertainment screen switched off at the moment because I dozed off while watching a Korean movie.

Now the lights on the plane are dimmed, dark to be exact and I am the only one with a glowing face so perhaps I should switch this off now and continue watching a movie.

At this moment I’m still curious why he is alone on this long-haul flight, I never had the courage to ask him because I had all types of thoughts racing through in my mind.

Almost nearing the arrival in Singapore, I just realisd my ears were playing tricks because the air stewardess has not been addressing the boy as ‘Julian’ but I think it should be along the lines of ‘Chin Lee’. Nevertheless, I’m not forgetting that smile he gave me when I told him to stay in his seat and wait for everyone on the plane to alight, till the air stewardess come to him again. We bade goodbye with me saying ‘take care’.

\\

On a random note, not that I think I wrote this post really well but I never knew I could be so descriptive. The inspiration to pen this down came in the air after around 5 hours out of the lengthy 12 hours flight. So that lightbulb appears even in the mid-air at god-knows-which-country-I-am-above.

It then leads me to a silly but possibly yet wise thought that… how did primary and secondary school teachers actually expected us students with the lack of experience to write compositions? Are we only expected to read model essays, stuff ourselves with thick novels and trying to memorise every ‘colourful phrase’ and apply them whenever possible in situations and scenarios we paint in our compositions? Perhaps it’s just me, but life back then was not that colourful for me to write such fantastic essays that deserved good grades or perhaps my mind wasn’t that well developed and reflective to write what I just did as seen above.

Sometimes I’m really thankful (and secretly have got no idea) how I end up being such a ‘reflective’ person. Putting aside whether is it a good or bad thing, it just amazes me how life, people, animals and its details amaze me daily, leaving me with ‘food for thought’ to end the day off with.