A Close Shave by Hwee Hean (unedited)

The sun cast a rosy hue across the sky. “It is a perfect morning for a hiking expedition”. Gene thought to himself. As it was the June school holidays, his usually strict mother had given him a free rein. Eugene decided to make good use of the opportunity by arranging a hiking expedition and invited some of his friends to go with him.

Gene set off towards his destination with his destination with his friends, Guan and Piggy, who was nicknamed as a pig as he was very fat. Piggy staggered after his friends as he was carrying a huge wicker basket containing their lunch.

The friends arrived at the forest and the air in the forest was crisp and cool. The dew on the leaves glittered in the sun like polished crystals of all shapes and sizes.

Swelling cumulonimbus clouds hung heavily in the skies and thunder rumbled heavily in the distance, portending a heavy downpour. Gene sat down on a patch of green moss, allowing himself to catch his breath before deftly scaling the mountain called K2. Piggy arrived shortly after, face red and panting heavily; trying to catch his breath before setting off with the large wicker basket he was entrusted to by Gene. The friends deftly scaled up the mountain but halfway, Piggy accidentally dropped the wicker basket he was carrying. A loud moan issued from the team but Gene told the team encouragingly that he had some food in his backpack.

After what seemed like eternity, a sudden shout from Gene was heard. They had reached the summit.

Shouts of joy erupted from the group. The friends rushed towards the summit and a beautiful scene awaited them. A magnificent sight of evergreen trees and lush green fields greeted them as they searched for a place to sit. When they finished unpacking the sandwiches from Gene’s bag, saliva drooled from their mouths and without waiting for Gene to say tuck in, the friends pounced on the sandwiches like a pack of wolves. Piggy complained that the food was too little. Gene severely scolded Piggy, as it was he who had dropped the food.

Before the two could argue any further, delicate raindrops from the sky fell. The rain soon grew into a downpour. The boys decided to seek shelter under an old oak tree nearby. They abandoned their sandwiches and ran towards the tree. Thunder played fitfully in the sky as they sat under the tree, huddled close to one another for comfort.

A sudden deafening crash of thunder tore across the sky, which blinded the boys with flashes of lightning. As the boys watched both in awe and fear at the threatening sky, a pulsing channel of lightning entered their bodies, throwing them off the ground. They lay on the ground, writhing like horse racers being trampled by their horses. Their muscles contracted violently and the electric current sent their blood vessels into spasms. The electric shock cut off the blood flow to their extremities. Their hair stood on their legs, searing their nerves and muscles tissues. An acrid smell emerged from them and it was like worst nightmare reverted in pure terror for Gene.

The paralyzing assault stopped and the group collapsed to the ground. An almost undectable cry of help issued from Guan Min’s lips. The others were out cold and to Guan Min’s relief, his friends were still alive but he knew they would not be if they did not get medical help immediately. The only action he could do was to crawl and inch on his stomach. He dragged his lifeless legs across great obstacles downhill, where he remembered there was a hospital where he could get help from.

His stomach muscles quivered painfully as he had to push on forward. His face was ashen. His body convulsed severely from his exertions and halfway, incredibly, his blood circulation resumed and he regained movement and sensation. He staggered and walked as fast as he could go towards the hospital. Helicopters were sent up to the mountain to transport the boys down and miraculously, they survived and lived to tell the tale.

The next day, the incident made the headlines and the news stirred great excitement. Guan Min, as usual, glowed with delight as he was basked with phrases. Since then, Guan Min has become an “idol” for children but the adults said that it is best not to try being struck by lightning as Guan Min could not guarantee if they were to be sizzled to a crisp or to survive the incident.