Picture writing by Belinda (unedited)

The void deck was utterly quiet. It was quiet, so quiet till you could hear a pin drop. It was four in the afternoon when most adults would be working and most students would be doing their homework or revising. However, the silence was broken when thundering footsteps could be heard. Three boys appeared, panting. The trio looked all around them, as if they were making sure that not a single soul was in sight.
The three boys, Bala, Alan and Wei Ming threw their bags on the concrete floor. Their hair was unkempt and their uniforms were tucked out. Next, they pulled out a stack of CDs from their bags they had stolen just now from a shop.
“We’re going to earn big bucks when we sell these CDs to our classmates!” Bala said with a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he sat down on the cool, concrete floor.
“Yeah,” Alan agreed. “Think of what we can buy with all those money!” Alan added, as a slow, silly smile started spreading on his face.
“Also, the shopkeeper was such a fool. I swear he didn’t even realise that we entered the shop. He really knows how to take care of his shop by talking on the phone all day!” Wei Ming sniggered.
Next, Wei Ming reached to his bag and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He laughed when he saw the looks of shock on Bala’s and Alan’s faces. Wei Ming lit up a cigarette and started smoking. Bala’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets while Alan stood rooted at the same spot, gaping with obvious disbelief.
“C’mon, don’t look so shocked. I stole this pack of cigarettes from my older brother. Want to try?” Wei Ming offered.
Bala was the first one to recover from his shock. Without thinking twice, he reached for a cigarette from the pack and copied how Wei Ming had lit up the cigarette and stuck it into his mouth. However, Alan remained hesitant.
“What… what if somebody saw us? Anyway, we… we’re underage!” Alan stammered nervously.
“Chill, there’s no one at all. Come on, don’t be a chicken! Just take one and try!” Wei Ming snapped, annoyed.
“But… but…” Alan started to say, but was silenced by Wei Ming’s icy glare. Shrugging, Alan reached for a cigarette. However, Alan’s face turned as pale as a sheet of paper, like he’d seen a ghost. Alan pointed a trembling finger behind Wei Ming and Bala. Puzzled, Wei Ming and Bala turned around and got the shock of their lives!
The cigarette in Wei Ming’s mouth dropped on the concrete floor. They were face-to-face with two burly policemen! Wei Ming drew in a sharp breath as Bala shifted uncomfortably. Alan’s lips quivered. “Smoking, eh? You three are underage!” Once of the policemen shook his head.
With that, the trio hung their heads in shame. Apparently, someone had caught sight of them smoking and reported it to the police. The two policemen questioned the trio. They had no choice but to surrender. Wei Ming handed the pack of cigarettes and lighter to the policemen while the other two, Alan and Bala gave the stack of CDs to the policemen and explained how they had stolen them.
The two policemen shook their heads again. “You three have to follow us to the station!” the other policeman boomed.
Hobson’s choice, the trio picked their bags up and followed the policemen. They knew they were in hot soup and they braced themselves to face the music.