Back in my Nanyang Primary days, I used to have good, fantasy-like dreams. They accompanied me through those dark, lonely nights as I lay snuggled under my bed covers, my little bolster hugged tight and close to my chest. I have fond recollections of one particular dream till this day...it was so surreal, yet painfully beautiful. I was walking along the corridors of my primary school; they were long and winding, but never seemed to come to an end. I started running, fear and panic written across the lines of my face, my heart pounding, my hands cold with sweat. Eventually, I reached a wall. It was white, totally white, like it had just been repainted and polished to give it a shining gleam.

The surface of the wall emanated a dim glow of light. Inquisitiveness got the better of me as I reached out to touch the wall. Before anyone could say "hocus pocus", the most amazing thing happened. The wall SPLIT into two and like the glass panels of automatic sliding doors, it moved apart from the centre, revealing another much bigger room......well, it was more like a 19th-century hall, two-storeys high, fully-carpeted in satin, winding staicase, a large crystal light hanging from the ceiling like a kaleidoscope, big airy rooms.....I was stunned. I peeked into one of the rooms, a young teacher was teaching her students alphabets. When they realised my presence, they looked up with rosy cheeks, smiling faces and cheerful greetings.

I never got to the end of the dream. I woke up at this moment, firmly believing that Nanyang Primary had this "secret entrance" which led to a wonderful palace with wonderful people. Of course, I never found the entrance......but I'm still sceptical, you know. Who knows, maybe hundred years later when the building is pulled down, scientists finally discover a human existence that has been ignored for centuries and centuries!! (Remember the under-water land, Atlantis?)

I miss those dreams. There are many more which still linger in my imagination, with images more breathtaking than the Grand Canyon or the scenic Yangzte River. I hardly have dreams now. An occasional nightmare now and then...(before the dreaded 0's, I dreamt I failed my History exam..Ughs...) but nothing like before.
 Oh..dreams, dreams, dreams, when I need you...

Qiyun