Preface: Despite being in Singapore for nearly two years, before this Mid-Year Exam, I still thought that Distinction grade for English language was unapproachable to us. However, when I received my script of Section One of the Paper One, I was damned surprised that I scored 21 out of 30, an A2 grade. This is why I entitled this passage “the First Time”. It has nothing to do with the content, but just illustrates the milestone-like significance of this passage. Anyway, whether it deserves the mark or not, you may go and look up by yourself.

Question: Write about the time when you were faced with an extremely difficult situation which involved your sense of integrity, and how you overcame it.

It was an afternoon when we were in Primary School. John, my best friend, and I went t find Sean, our class monitor to do our homework together. Unexpectedly, we were told by his mother that he had not come back yet.

“It has been two hours after school, where else can he go?” John asked.

“Who knows? Let’s go and find him.” I answered without actually knowing where to go.

We walked down the street, wondering why the well-behaved boy did not go home after school. When we approached our school main gate, I accidentally saw a familiar figure in the Internet Bar next to our school. I called John to draw his attention to that person.

“Oh, my God! Is it Sean?” John shouted out in disbelief.

Sadly, it was. Our class monitor was playing in an Internet Bar, making a mistake seriously prohibited by our school rule, and sitting so close to the door that everybody outside could see him. We walked nearer, much to our surprise, Sean, who used to be so quiet and self-disciplined that made no body link him to computer games, seemed so much engaged by the screen in front of him. John ran into the bar without thinking twice, pulled Sean out and stared at him in anger. No doubt that we were both shocked.

“Please, don’t tell my parents that you have seen me here, or they’ll kill me.” Sean begged, his voice shaking.

“You should know that you have done something wrong.”

“Sorry, but please don’t say anything. How about this?” He quickly pushed a one dollar coin to each of us.

I was so bitterly disappointed by his act. However, seeing so much fear, if not horror, on Sean’s face, I pulled John and we ran away.

“What am I going to do about this?” I asked myself, still doubting whether what I had seen just now was true. I could not make a decision whether to tell his parents. Thinking of the expression on Sean’s face just now, I realized that his parents must treat such matters very seriously. However, his behavior had turn my impression of him upside down. If I were to confess to his parents where he had been, I must be pushing one of my best friends into a plight. If not, will he realize that he has done something wrong and stop making the mistake over and over again? At that moment, I had already made up my mind. Something must be done to rescue him.

I went to his house and told his parents what we saw, handing over that one dollar coin that Sean had given to me. That was also the moment when Sean came back home.

In a fit of apoplexy, Sean’s father slammed the table with his hands, shouting at him, “Out! You are not my son anymore!” To be honest, I started to regret after seeing his father’s reaction.

Sean was obviously trying his best to hold back his tears, but he failed. At least he managed to pluck up his courage to admit his mistakes.

Avoiding to see him being scolded, I left his home.

After so many years until today, I still cannot forget about this. If I were given a second choice, I think I would still do the same. I have conquered myself and helped my friend.

Epilogue: Are you surprised that this lousy piece of work can give you an A2? Unbelievable, isn’t it? Now it may be better explained if I cite the examiner’s comment for you. “ A good attempt! This recount is well-developed! Pay more attention to sentence construction and expression.” Just like what my teacher has told me, you don’t need bombastic vocabulary to give a good impression to the examiners, neither do you need to create a fantastic story line to astonish your readers, what really matters is the development and organization. Surprised again? English composition is just like this. After all, it is not difficult, as long as you keep the tips in mind.