The Invitation

By De Ming

The lights went on, its rays hit us like arrows, and the angel walked back and forth staring at the two boys who were busy doing their work. The devil walked in and began to attack the angel with knives in the form of words. The angel braced herself, trying her best to avoid those knives. After a while the angel’s and the devil’s conversation ended, granting a temporary silence. The light that was shining at them went off, but brightened on the two boys.

“Hey Mel, I don’t think this is the right way to do it. You can’t get the answer if you calculate it like this.” I looked at Steven’s imaginary book, frowned then smiled. “Man, this is the EASIEST way to do it. Besides didn’t Mrs. Lim teach us that if your accounts do not balance, you can open an ‘Akaun Tergantung’ until you solve it in next month’s ledger entry? I’m right.” I grinned. “Yeah, she did but I don’t think it’s meant for every…” I cut Steven’s words. “It doesn’t matter; we’ll show her that we have comprehensive understanding of accounting concepts. You know I’m right.” I raised my eyebrows in a rather proud, matter of fact way. “Yeah, you’re always right.” “Eh, what do you mean by that? You mean I’m wrong?” “No…” “Then I’m RIGHT!” That was the beginning and yet it was also the end. It was the end of something more.

The real beginning was on the 19^th of May. I was online when the phone rang. Expecting it to be Zhen Wei asking for yesterday’s homework, I picked the phone up. But it was not Zhen Wei; it was Jon. “De Ming arh, Jon here. Eh you know that our church is having the Youth Outreach right? Well I was hoping that you would like to be one of the main characters in a play? You were our first choice.” I paused, my mind was lagging. “Erh, I’m not sure. Who am I suppose to be? What’s the play about?” “It’s about two college guys who are best friends, you will be one of them. De Ming, trust me, it will be really good.” I remembered this evening we were just discussing about service to God. I believed in fate and patterns, I trusted God. I agreed.

Then training began; Ooi Keong, a student from University Tenaga Nasional was to be my best friend. He was a great guy, apparently Pn. Chong, Pn. Wang and Pn. Ung all knew him really well. He used to help them to fix and format their computers. At first Ooi Keong was uncertain that he could do it, but for me, there was no one better to fit in that role. The casts were Shanice as the angel, Nian Ci as the devil, Ooi Keong as Steven and me, Melvin. The angel was simply angelic and the devil was, well devilish. Steven is a Christian and wanted to share the good news to Melvin. But Melvin being a none-Christian was sick and tired of this Christian stuff. Mel and Steve were the best of friends.

First we had to understand the characters and read our lines from the paper. Then there was a preview for the church members, to get them excited and involved. It moved on to getting off books: everything was to be memorized, then to full dress rehearsal. But behind all these, I felt all four of us were getting closer to each other, especially Ooi Keong and I. It was a wonderful experience. I learned much, from the obvious like the need to memorize the script early, to the simple turning of the steering wheel. I learned about EPF: Energy. Projection. Focus. Energy, there must be an excitement and power in the play. Projection, our voices must come out loud and clear all the way to the end of the theatre hall. Focus, do not laugh when you are dead, be in the character. I realized things like the importance of the little glow in the dark stars on the stage to guide the actors and to help in placing the props. The little things like the right way to turn on stage, ‘pivoting’. As Jon and Geri would say, “It may seem unnatural, but you can never turn your back to the audience.” Lastly, in acting, do not show how you feel, but feel. Each and everyday I could see obvious improvement.

There are five plays for the Outreach: The Invitation, No Surprises, The Heart Drama, Father and The Reprise. So we had to work with other people too. It was seriously SYOK! The last Thursday there was a live audience, the purpose of having them was to listen and to learn from their feedbacks. We altered and improved many of the things based of the feedbacks.

Finally, it was the day. We had our last practice. It seems like only yesterday when I was first offered the role. Now I was standing in Segi’s theatre hall. I was worried. On every part of the walls, there was this red cushion thing, making this room sound proof and acting as a sound absorber. We have to practically scream at each other to get the sound across.

Nian Ci turned the doorknob. Silence. Crap. She tries again. At last the sound of the door opening rang clear. She picked up the poster, shuts the door. Perfect. She opened the poster, scanned through it, and then sits down on the rocking chair. Nian Ci then turned on the light. It came in perfect timing. Great. After that, the phone rang, there came knockings on the door, the bell rang and lastly music from a concert or a party. Nian Ci stood up after ignoring all of those and said sadly. “They’re having a party, and no one bothered to invite me.” The lights went out.

I ran up stage, placed my chair in the right position and sat down. As always I did my imaginary homework. My heart was calm. I guess going for the story telling competition when I was standard 6, going for 5 taekwondo grading and going for Trinity’s guitar exam paid off, or maybe it is because we could not wear our spectacles up there. I had a solo part, yet I was dead calm. Cool. There was one part where Ooi Keong made a mistake, he skipped two lines. This two were crucial lines, it was supposed to build intensity. Die. In the end I did life’s simplest formula. 1+1=2. I added the intensity of the two lines and snapped at Ooi Keong with some words that just came to my mind. I hope it wasn’t obvious. The last part in the grave, I remembered trying my best to make it loud yet sad. I think there were some parts where it went too low, but I tried my best, I kept my pauses.

After that came The Heart Drama, Father and The Reprise. I think that everyone did great. The Heart, which was supposed to be a silent movie, turned out really good. This is because this time the emotions and body language came out clearly.

The father was great too; we can all see how upset the son is and how hopeful and how lovingly forgiving the father is.

Applause.

For Nian Ci and Shanice you guys were wonderful, I respect that you guys can remember the blocking at such short notice. Ooi Keong, * pats on the back *, “Nobody’s perfect, but you did excellent.”

That was the end. Full stop. There will be no more practices, no more … until maybe, just maybe there will be another time. I will really miss those times where we can just walk up stage and just do our lines, when we would sit down and listen to Jon's and Geri's feedbacks and when we could laugh at each others jokes during warm ups and voice projection. Where we would listen to each other's play and encourage each other. It was seriously a once in a life time experience. I really looked forward to all the practices. Thanks Jon, thanks Geri, thanks to all the crew: Kee Ken, Gabriel, PG. The cast: Arjund, Shanice, Nian Ci, John Lee, Justin, Ooi Keong, Kat, Christina and Geri (executive). Special thanks to Auntie Collene, Jon and Ooi Keong for sending me back and forth. You guys really made it all fun and meaningful. Thank you God... Thanks for being there with me, thanks for keeping me calm, thanks for blessing me with this opportunity and thank you for just being there.

As the Outreach ended, everyone came and they were like saying excellent, great, and brilliant. It felt nice. We all did great and gave our best. Auntie Cindy came and said, “De Ming, good job. Very De Ming!” The cover up for the intense part was noticed, but only by the cast, in fact they said it was more natural. Wow. Then many people who know and some I do not know came to congratulate me. Although it felt really good and all, but I was kind of sad. Because there was one group of people who did not come to shake hands with me, those who called themselves my close friends. For how can they say anything, when they are not even there? Sheng Ting has to attend a wedding, sad. Kam Wei couldn’t care less. Zhe Zeng would never go unless both of them went. Xia Shuen would feel uncomfortable and her parents forbid. Shing Queen tried to go, but her parents fought because of that. So sorry Shing Queen, thanks for putting the effort though. Ying Jia has to attend a prize giving ceremony for her brother. In the end no one came. Well, in the end, maybe they're just not supposed to come. Maybe that's just called fate. I felt kind of sad, but who am I to blame?

We went for dinner, supper (supdin) after that. I reach home at 1 a.m. Lights were off, door was locked. I climbed in, rang the bell. At last my brother came. Next day, 100% banned from going to church. No involvement at all. Well it was my fault for getting last in class. Guess it’s time to study. Ninety-nine days to go.