She Writes

Saturday, December 1, 1990

My first school

There were not much good memories here. Infact, I had two painful experiences that even today, the scars still exists...

There used to be a long big drain at the school front porch. There were a stretch of cars parking along the drain everyday, the same goes for my school bus waiting for students to board it. The problem is that this bus driver is impatient. If you are late for 10 mins, it leaves without you. Hasn't he considered student being delayed by teachers?

This was what happened. I ran out of the gate to catch my bus. Because of the heavy traffic on the road, it was safer to walk between the drain and the stationary cars than between the ongoing vehicles and the stationary cars. So I ran in that narrow path, then my water bottle strap caught hold of the side mirror of a car. I was pulled back by the strap and swinged on the left, and with a thud, I was right inside the drain.

The pain and blood came but all I could think of is to get onto the bus. There was no way I could climb out as it was a big drain with steep curve, and my fingers merely touched the edge of the ground. Minutes later, I was carried up by a man. Once on the ground, I rushed towards my school bus without saying thank you.

Few months later, the same accident happened to me again. Yes, I forgot to say thank you again to another man who rescued me. Since then I was no longer walking on the "safer" path.

Many years later, when I passed by this school, I saw railings were built where my accidents were. It is always like this, people do something about it after something happened. Perhaps I was not the only victim. That area was so hazardous. I am fortunate that I didn't land on my head, broke my bones or cut my face at that time. All I have is some knee scars.

More years later, I saw cars having foldable side mirrors. Sighs... If only the railings and foldable side mirror come earlier...
posted by Samantha at 11:56 PM