Molder

Every single person has their own distinctive character traits. In the army, there is an abundance to such examples that you can find. Trust me, you just cant imagine where to categorize some of these unique individuals. Im merely 4 weeks old in the army, and having running around from a Recruit, an OOT personnel to now a Scabbard Mess Boy, ive seen quite a few different bunch of working style and attitude towards their new employment, attachment or vocation. As for me now, im temporarily attached to the Scabbard Mess, which is like an annex place for the Officers in Ladang, Tekong. Im not sure whether im allowed to blog about this piece of information though. I just did, shit.

Anyways, enough of army. Lets talk about the interesting people ive met so far throughout my nomadic life in Tekong. Firstly, when i entered into the army, i have foreseen that my life would be cursed with a horrible buddy. To my surprise, i really am cursed! The first day i got in, i was alone, together with 2 other enlistees who came alone. A solitary loner, i withdrew myself from the crowd. They were busy breaking into small chatters. Thus, i sat aside from the rest. I was joined later by the other 2 enlistees which i mentioned earlier. From the mannerism and the subjects they converse about, i drew a conclusion in my mind that it'll be tough finding someone decent to commune with in the army. Despite the relentless prayers, i was further cursed with outrageous bunk mates. However, these misconception was short lived because i grew to appreciate the diversity of human profile.

My buddy and i will never talk unless the need to arrives. I remembered the first time he asked me for my name was just to remind me to wake him up the next morning. And the next was during the fire drill, which i had to remind him of the standard operation procedures, which he proceeded to run downstairs with his items, leaving me and a few of my bunk mates alone. We were still struggling with the necessary items. This left me with a very bad impression and moreover a sigh of disappointment with my days ahead in my training. With a buddy like that, you'll either have to suffer in silence or die in silence. I chose neither! I chose to disclose my relationship with others. Everybody has a finger, but none can point me to the light.

Day by day, i found new comfort in my bunk mates. Of which, only 3 other bunk mates seem to offer much of a listening ear and probably a few thoughts in common. Amongst the things we share, not of emotional and physical stuff, but of gossips, we had some disagreements and nevertheless some hidden opinions. Im constantly disgusted by my buddy's behavior. Amidst the smoking group, he found his own sort of buddy. He sleeps 2 beds across, and im stuck in the middle of the bonfire of curses and degrading jokes. This new found buddy of my buddy has nothing else in his mind other than sex. Cardinal and degrading as it may sound, he may seem like the typical kind in the army. Listening to his jokes and his self proclaimed sexual prowess turns my insides inside out and my outsides in. What to do, both of them are dropouts. I think probably the birds of the same feather flops best in the same nest.

When i became an OOT personnel after 10 days of intense physical training, i got to know the ugly side of people. Together, inclusive of me, there were 13 who were unfit for the training phase. Therefore, our new roles in the company is to just do whateva we are told to; mostly to help with the area cleaning and paper works issued by the Clerk or Company Quartermaster. Sounds easy? Wait till you get to work with this bunch of other 12 who has the same status as i have. I havent realised that working with myself can be that painful.

These people will find the chance slack wheneva possible. Slouching at the corner, they prance at their unwitting prey like a stalking predator. These chances have no opportunity to slip by unnoticed because their enemies are on their toes, alert and sharp. Lets say when we're told to do unimaginably stupid chores such as picking up leaves, some would hold just a bunch of leaves and pretend to walk around. Or some would initiate to get brooms when they would spend most of their time walking back and forth. There is a solution to this leave problem; cut the damn tree down. But then again, must well rid of mankind to stop all other problems.

As for me, i like to slack at the sofa; while listening to my Walkman or reading my book, i'll occasionally fall asleep. This is not sightly in the eyes of the beholder or jealousy and avarice. Its common to have idiots snatching for the sofa seat, while there are only 5 available, which has to cater to all of us, excluding the Sergeants and Leftanents. They have the main priority of course. There is this pig, or dog bred, which is ultimately distasteful to look at. He is hideously ugly, with uncountable craters in his face which lures ur enraging fist into punching it. His leg will shake like a wagging tail of a bitch wheneva he's talking to a Sergeant. He commands us, who suffer the same status as he, like the Officer in Commanding. He is a horrible piece of crap which i despise with all the disgust gathered. Hateful or not, you'll have to see him in person. Together with him, there are a few other fat pigs who read comics everyday and sleep like i do, only less elegant. One of which, resembles the fictional pig character from "Journey to the West". So alike in character and appearance, for a moment i was in awe when i first saw him. I thought that im trap in some fairytale or something. How is it possible that the pig deity is right before my eyes! Not surprising that he is as lazy and stupid as its fictional counterpart. This is his interpersonal trait; he'll look for the easiest task of all, or command others to do the other tedious job which may range from sweeping the floor or wiping the windows. In order to avoid filling ice in the icebox, he told me that he'll go to his bunk to get changed. That took quite some time, because i purposely waited for him. In the end, when i went ahead to get the ice, i found him wearing the same attire. I guessed that he probably went up to his bunk and got trapped into some bed demon's lethargic spell.

Lastly, this other monstrous looking person is now in the Scabbard Mess with me. His arms are slightly crooked. If he were to cast a shadow against the light, his arm would look like some old willow branch, only way as thick as an oak. This person, alike the rest, would prey upon chances to slack. Today, while cleaning the toilet, he took so many breaks. He'll walk out, pretending to message, check out the weather, adjust his music player, walk around probably to check for other more hideous looking monsters like him. He wanna be the most hideous in the world. He told the magic mirror that, i swear! I overheard him in the bunk, talking to the mirror in the wardrobe. So, he'll volunteer to clean the pingpong balls while i sweep the entire area outside. How considerate? No sense of judgement and no sense of guilt mostly. I told him to wipe the glass windows again and i let him clean the stair railings all by himself after which.

During my stay at RockyHill, which is an isolated camp a few kilometres away from Ladang. My bunk IC, some sort of leader, is always on the ball. He doesnt keep the ball rolling, or there wasnt any rolling to begin with. He is just on the ball, and always taking the lead while nobody is actually following. Some followers were deemed cult culprits over time and were eventually beheaded in some mental ritual. Together in the Scabbard Mess, there is this other guy who is similar to my bunk IC. Enthusiastic or puppy shit, i dunno which. I would not dare to deny that there are people that patriotic to the extent that they wanna serve the country like a puppy unknowingly licking shit off his owner's dirty boots. Not just once, but every single second. The taste of it, they'll savour it like edible gold. Today morning, i saw him marching to the Scabbard Mess. I was like just walking behind him, because i dun wish to march with him. Yes, march to ur death. Sorry i just cant accept the fact that such people do exist! I know im contradicting when i said that i cant deny there are people like that. But get it right, i cant deny but i cant accept either! Its just such a turn off. Worse, he has a permanent smile. Thats freaky. He is a music student of my friend, thats more unacceptable. Enough of such talk, im feeling a pinch of guilt already. Look, at least i have some conscience!

Right...

So im blogging now in the Scabbard Mess, while the other Officers are playing Dota. And so i met some people i do know in the army. These people have no respect for who you are, because in the army, ur talent or skill does no use for ur ranking. In here, its the ranking that you earn with ur sweat and blood. Thus, a macho pea-brain can earn respect here. A weak little IQ genius can instantly transform into the lowest of shit. I take things quite personally at times, and if it involves any dealings in the music circle, i'll dig my hands into his chest and pull out his heart. I swear! I mean, if anybody were to step into my way on purpose. And if that person plays Chinese music...

I dunno. Its not like i can do much. I can only do as much as i did to...

Nobody.

There are really nice people around though. While shredding paper in the administration office yesterday, i met this other Sergeant who was unlucky enough to be sent over to Tekong to do shit job. We talked, joked and laughed. When the flag lowering ceremony was commencing, we ran back to the office to avoid standing out there to stare at the, not stupid, flag. Shredding paper left a good impression. Later that night, i ran into him again. Despite his rank as a Sergeant, he treated me like a friend. And thats the kind of nice people you find in Tekong. Other than him, there is also my Platoon Sergeant. He may seem moody and times, but he's really nice. If i were to use the word cute on a girl, i think it may also be used on him. We love his lectures. He talks. Like really, talks. My Platoon Commander may have pushed me during my physical training, he also encouraged me to the Scabbard Mess. Now that im here, i would prefer working here than being an OOT personnel back in RockyHill. Imagine spending my days there staring at the hideous gargoyles. He visited us at the Scabbard Mess just yesterday. He told me that ive to try the chicken cutlet in the cafe. Can somebody be any nicer? This other 2 Sergeants were really nice too, back in RockyHill.

Yes! How can i forget my favourite Sergeant Major. He helped me with the checking of my vocation posting! I requested that he did, because ive waited for at least 2 weeks already. He headed to the headquarters and got them to push our Clerk to send my file over by the end of the day. Only my file was requested, out of all the other 12 OOT personnel. It is frustrating to get pass every single day with hatred and disgust. Therefore, i made the first move. Checkmate. Sergeant Major is a very cute adult. He has a bubbly character unlike the other serious acting Sergeants. He loves making jokes. People may find him useless, probably those patriotic rats who follows blinding the piper, but i think that he has earned his place and he deserves some respect. Some Officers think that they are so great! Like i said, macho pea-brains. And yes, with a tiny pecker.

Staying in the headquarters bunk is scary. Theres no lights out timing, nor a fixed time for reveille. I just have to wake up and open the Scabbard Mess before 8 in the morning and close it an hour before midnight. Today, i slept like a pig in the Scabbard Mess. It felt good. Eating and sleeping would definitely help me in my physical training. What am i talking about? Theres no more physical training! Im a free man. OOT means out of training.

Right... it'll get on back very soon. Now, the days ahead are oblique.

I must shape my future. Im its molder.