Page 25 - KCN 2020

PROSE (JR2&JR3) : FIRST PLACE

T RIGHT QUALITIES

H OF A
E L E A D E R hard on the roof of our tents, raindrops sliding down the mountain with ease.
Nervousness was creeping up my spine as I stared at the droplets of rain
through the thin layer of transparent material. We were forced to stay in
Chia Yu Jun, JR3C our small tents throughout the night as the grey clouds failed to disperse quickly.
I immediately knew why I felt hopeless and scared; the landmarks we
left were destroyed by the irresistible force of the rain.

Something happened the following morning, an experience
The sun was staring intensely at planet Earth. Everyone was uncomfort- I refuse to revisit, in spite of our great accomplishment. The other scouts
able under the sun’s gaze. Perspiration from the boys’ tanned skin started soaking looked at me with a puzzled expression. Obviously, they hadn’t seen me like
their clothes, their garments darkened slightly with their sweat. The sound of my this before. I told them about the missing landmarks and the look of com-
voice was loud and clear in the silence of the field. You could hear our heavy foot- prehension finally reached their faces. I felt like such a failure; it was hard to
steps stomping the damp ground in synchronization. Frustration filled me as the accept the truth that I was a clueless of how to escape this complicated realm.
few mischievous members of my boy scouts club refused to obey my strict orders. Checking the weather report was one of my responsibilities but I had for-
gotten completely to do so in the past few days. My life long confidant came
On that fateful day, the boys scouts organized a hiking trip in a forward to place a hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off. “You want me to
nearby rainforest. I was in a bad mood as I reluctantly accepted my teacher’s lead the group but I don’t think I have the right qualities,” I said miserably.
offer to be the leader. We boarded a big old bus and trotted off towards our
destination. I was extremely irritated by the endless chattering of the scouts. “Maybe it’s because the boys think you’re too bossy. You don’t respect
“This learning trip is surely going to be torturing for me,” I said to myself. them enough,” my friend replied softly. I finally realized that I was extremely
Anger was coursing uncontrollably through my veins when I couldn’t stand self-centered and rude towards everyone around me.
my definition of purgatory any longer. My voice was the most piercing sound
I heard when I screamed for them to keep quiet. They did the opposite of ` I apologized to all the members of the scouts club guiltily. I
what I wanted, and I sat back in my seat with a crimson colour on my face. flicked through possible solutions in my head, searching for efficient
ways to get us to safety. Suddenly, the fact that the teacher in charge
When we arrived in the middle of the tropical rainforest, I commanded would be sending rescue teams on our tails passed through my mind.
the group to queue up in a neat pattern. I told them their duties in a loud voice I ordered the scouts to follow me on my journey to search for drier
with a strict tone because I wanted them to fear me. I wanted them to never dare land, no hint of angriness hearable in my tone. After a long and arduous
to cross me ever again. Annoyance was written on their faces instead of fear, but search, we finally found a place where the rain hadn’t lain it’s fingers on.
they followed my orders anyway, so I thought this was leadership. They set up a We collected dry sticks and dry leaves to create a fire. The group was more
few tents and a warm campfire. I scolded them rudely for their every mistake. willing to follow my orders as I approached them with a friendlier attitude. I
We couldn’t risk making any mistakes when we were dealing with the wild. Every held a cloth on top of the burning flame and sent clouds of smoke into the air.
time I berated them for their mistakes, some of the boys would look down at their
boots with a guilty expression, however, some of them chose to ignore me instead. After a few impossibly long hours, the rescue team finally found us. My
heart exploded with relief as the group and I gratefully followed them out of the
Out of the blue, grey clouds started forming in the sky, producing forest. Assuagement was the expression on my teacher’s face when we
a barrier to prevent the scorching sunlight from reaching us. Everything came into his sights. He praised me for my leadership skills, something
around us darkened a shade. I commanded the group to speed up their I never thought anybody would do, and the other scouts nodded their
progress in an urgent and angry tone. Knowing the consequences of their dis- heads in approval. I finally learnt a valuable lesson in life: if you wanted
obedience towards me in that situation, they listened and executed my ever to be treated with respect, you must treat people with respect as well.
order. We were safe in our tents before the thunderstorm could shower us with
it’s deadly acid rain or strike us with it’s lightning. The heavy rain was hitting

21 22