SummerDaisy

“Two little mice fell into the bucket of cream; the first mouse quickly gave up and drown. The second mouse wouldn’t quit. She struggled so hard, that eventually she churned that cream into butter.” As of this moment, I am that second mouse.

While a freshman was strolling leisurely, “Apply now - light up your passion”, the large black and gold poster, suddenly captured me. “MC of Chula was looking for new generation passionate in speaking,” that caption is the beginning of my long journey.

“I will apply for the formal division. I want to be MC of Chula,” I said confidently. 

“Are you sure you can do that?” one of my friends curiously asked me.

“Yeah, just try. If I didn’t give it a try, I would regret not trying it.” 

I had high confidence, but no speaking practice. When it came to the first round of competition, I explicitly had a nervous face showing my unreadiness. In a silent room with only the sound of air conditioner, my voice was so shaking that even the judges could feel it. Unsurprisingly, my first attempt was failed because my tone of voice is more like storytelling, not hosting events.

I kept in mind which points I needed to improve. After that day, I always practiced speaking in front of the mirror, when taking a shower or before going to bed. The more I practiced, the higher confidence I gained. I looked forward to my second chance and hope that it will come so soon.

One year passed. The season of competition returned to me again. This year, my second attempt brought me to the final round. Although I had well prepared myself, before the competition day, I had anxiously rolled on my bed and barely slept. On Thursday night, I presented on the stage among hundreds of audiences in a vast dark hall with the spotlight shining on me. My legs were trembling like a leaf. My sweat was beading my forehead. My mouth didn’t move as I wanted. I made many mistakes. Sadly, the name list of MC of Chula didn’t include me. I pretended to be fine in front of my friends, but on the way to my dorm, only the moon could see my bursting tears. 

Others would leave their dream behind, but not me. I had kept practicing day after day. I not only practiced in front of the mirror but also recorded my performance and gave myself feedback. My third attempt, everything had gone through easily since the first round to the final. I had planned for emergency situations that might happen on stage, drafted the script, and intensively prepared myself. 

I and another guy were the first MC couple performing on the stage. My voice, gesture and posture were perfectly consistent. Shinning with my inner radiance, I excellently delivered my performance. In the moment of announcing the winner, my heart was hammering against my chest waiting for the result. 

“MC of Chula 2019 is Thitiyaporn!” the announcer did his great job. “Congratulations on her success. She applied three times in a row and had never given up. All of her efforts eventually paid off...”

Nodding my head to thank the audiences, I, new MC of Chula, realized that not only the suitable chance but also my constant efforts put along my journey had brought me to the goal. Who will know that only the simple poster that day would encourage and inspire me to be that second mouse today.

I wake up in the morning

My eyesight is slightly clear

The bright sun is shining

But my family disappeared

The door keeps open

The windowpanes are broken

The blood-red sun strongly brightens

But there is just silence

No one on the road

No birds, no rats, not even a toad

No sounds, no noise, no moving

There is only wind blowing

 Suddenly, a screaming stranger quickly sprints

With her rash and red-burned skin

knock on my door and says, “help me

please open the door, I could barely see”

Terrifying, disgusting, and confusing

Her torn apart mouth is shaking

Those bleeding eyes are staring

I gape at her with mouth-opening

Bang! Bang! Repeatedly knock

UGGGHHH! Her voice sounds strange

I tightly shut my door, attempts to block

Wonder why she completely changes?

Loudly bang! Blood splash!

It is like a thunder flash

Two shots at her eyes

bloodshed like pouring red wine

“Get in a car!” shouts a two-meter robust man

He saves my life from the other side of the land

I’m glad and dash to see him without thinking

Poor me! I’m truly shocked. What the hell are they eating?

Smelly, tangy, and pouch-like things kick my eyes

Why does it look like intestine?

UGGGHHH! AARGH!  I’m in trouble.

Shriek, run away and bear in mind “I NEED TO SURVIVE!”

Zero the alive in the town

One hundred dead rising are bashing my door down

My brain and my eyes seem to blur

But why? why I do not suffer?

I wonder why I am only one who survives

EERRRRRRHH! This is because I’m not alive. I’m one of them. :)

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.freepik.com/vectors/car">Car vector created by vectorpocket - www.freepik.com</a> for the image.