Over the next few months, the sounds of The Serenade could be heard in parties, school concerts, dance halls and talentime contests. Daniel displayed his guitar playing mastery, complemented by his melodious singing voice and teasing the audience with his infectious smile. He is the most popular member of the four-piece Serenade band. He has quite a following by now, especially among teenage girls.
"Daniel. Here, give it a try. This is a good joint from Jamaica. It would give you fantastic psychedylic trip. Have a go", Mike Fernandez offered him a rolled up joint. "Nay", says Daniel "I dont like that stuff. Have'nt you read this month's Band Wave (which is a pop magazine) It wrote about how drugs killed Jimmi Hendrix. He looked pretty messed up; even in his grave!". "What are you? A saint or something? Don't make me laugh, la",replied Fernandez sarcastically. "Nay..that does'nt make me a saint. I prefer beers than cigarettes". Suddenly, someone shouted "Fire!". Daniel turned to look and he saw Jimmy, the Serenade's drummer, running towards the door and pulling his girlfriend with him. He noticed that the carpet at the corner of the room has caught fire. The boys and their friends have been smoking and drinking. One of them has carelessly thrown his still lighted cigarette bud onto the floor which caused the carpet to catch fire. Worse still, the fire spread to the wooden wall. Everyone ran helter skelter. Everyone is to each his own. "Call the fire brigate!", shouted Daniel. But one one heard him, no one bothered. They were too frightend. He went upstairs and called 999. Soon, he heard the sounds of fire engines. The fire was put off in quick time; much to everyone's relief. Fortunately, the fire was put out in time. Otherwise, the whole student lounge could have been burnt down.
Monday morning. The boys and girls were summoned by Mr. Wong, the headmaster to his office. "I came to know that you all have behaved badly and irresponsibly on Saturday night after the party. You have been smoking and drinking in the student lounge and one of you caused the fire by throwing burning cigarette onto the carpet". "I want you to tell me who among you caused the fire?", demanded Mr. Wong.
Silence. "Now. If you do not tell me, I will have to ask your parents to come in tommorow". They all froze. The last thing they want is for their parents to know.
"Eh..It is not us Sir. It is Soon Hong. He had a misunderstanding with us, he was jealous of us. He threw the cigarette Sir". "Is it true?", Mr. Wong wanted confirmation. Silence. "Let me ask you for the last time. Is it true that it is Soon Heng who caused the fire?". Sheepishly, they nodded their heads. Except Daniel. Goh Soon Hong is an average boy at school who is known to be mischevious and in the past has suffered the wrath of Mr. Wong because of playing truant. "Ok. Let me call Soon Hong now". cried Mr. Wong. Daniel knows that they all want to pin the blame on Soon Hong. They want to make him the scapegoat. The boys are jealous of him hecause he never wanted to mix with the band boys and in From 6, he is driving a car to school. Daniel whispered to Lenny who is the leader of the pack. "I am not sure it is a good idea Len. You know it is Jimmmy". Lenny whispered with a stern voice "Just shut up and toe the line ok?"
As Mr. Wong began to walk out of the room, presumably trying to summon Soon Hong, "Wait, Sir", cried Daniel. "It's not Soon Hong, Sir. It is all of us here".
Everyone was stunned. They all looked at Daniel with disbelief. They received their punishment. The boys received a public canning in school and the girls have to kneel on their knees by pulling their ears for an hour.
Daniel says goodbye to playing in the band.
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