Not Broken
Planned to have an earlySunday breakfast with my mother and a haircut. Unexpectedly, I was recalled back to Tekong by 9.30 am to do an emergency guard duty. :( The company sergeant called me at 9 am and expected me to be ready in 1/2 hour. He tried to sound apologetic. Naturally I had to rush down in a taxi.
Bureacracy sucks. Apparently, 20 other people were there. The sergeant there had no idea what to do while we waited there in vain for the ferry to come. Wasted time there when I could have been doing other stuffs. If not for that screwup, I could have been having lunch with my family.
Boarded the speedboat (the small one) to Tekong. Wasted more time there (emphasis on wasted). The fresh rations provided lifted my spirits a little, though on reflection, I realised that the heaty food (for e.g fried chicken wing and chilli) provided compounded my problem. The first shift only started at noon. -.-'
Was given the job of a prowler. This meant that I have to patrol around the whole BMTC complex for ONE whole frickin day. My shift was 2 hours long, with a 4 hours rest in between. In that 2 hours, I was supposed to go round the complex twice.
Under the blazing sun, at a record high of 35 degrees, I trudged through the complex painstakingly. The jockey cap provided little relief from the radiation. Armed with only a shield and a baton that is only useful for chasing dogs (in my opinion), I was cursing away as my section mates were supposed to book in at 9 pm.
In one of the shifts, I met a gigantic wild boar at the parade square. It was chasing away some birds. Probably thinking that I was an intruder, it charged at me at fantastic speed, all 2 tonnes of it. Had to duck behind a tree to prevent being gored. No point carrying that useless stick of a baton and a rattan shield.
By 2 am to 4 am, I experienced a throbbing headache while doing my rounds. Wanted to faint but had to perservere. The next day, I reported sick with a fever of 39.3. Had 2 days off from army until Wednesday.
Initially, I was broken. This week was very important to me, as I had many major tests, (for guys, its SOC, IPPT, SIT test) including a hand grenade live throw. Shed bitter tears in desperation. If only I was not called for guard duty, nothing would have happened.
My mother and my sister took time to encourage me. Despite what I see as overwhelming obstacles, Abba will find a way around it and will turn the bitter waters of Marah sweet. (Exodus 16: 22-26) Really appreciate my mother; in spite of my broken spirit, she was ever patient by saying that there will always be a way.
As I am writing this now, I am feeling much better. :). Even if I had to be confined to make up for training, so be it. For I know my parents always care for me, and I promise that I will recipocrate them many times over one day.