Stories for My Plumber - Stupor

My eyes droop. My head sags.

The lecturer drones on and on.

I struggle to maintain my concentration. This is an important lecture, they told me. She’s giving a talk that would define my career, they told me. Your entire future depends on you passing this exam, they told me.

The lecturer drones on and on.

Stars swim into my view. In retrospect late night television isn’t such a good idea. It doesn’t help that this is the driest subject on the planet. Or that the lecturer is a monotonous robot. I grip the sides of my chair. I must maintain focus.

The lecturer drones on and on.

Five minutes pass. A swirl of colours in my head.

The lecturer drones on and on.

My friend leans over and whispers in my ear. Something about the lecture, so I nod my head. My sight and hearing are blurring. A cute penguin caresses my head. He is singing a lullaby. I smile as my shoulders relax.

The lecturer drones on and on.

I try to suppress a yawn. I fail. Swirling cotton candy and peppermint spray. Through the sweet haze I notice the lecturer talking about the same thing over and over again. Why isn’t anyone else getting bored?

The lecturer drones on and on.

I lean my face on my right palm. Mr Penguin is joined by Mr Albatross. Their dance on the sugar cake makes me giggle. The class laughs at the lecturer’s joke.

I hear them call me.

The lecturer drones on and on.

I am standing alone on an iceberg, in the middle of a frigid sea. The sky is dark and a storm is coming. Mr Penguin reaches out. He smiles at me.

The lecturer pauses.

I take his wing and fly to a world of penguin dreams.

The lecturer drones on and on.

15/4 thursday schedule

sh - 8 3 0 14
sz - 5 2 0 17
cy - 10 3 0 16
ll - 5 3 0 12
sl - 8 2 0 14
cl - 9 1 0 16
ps - 3 3 1 15
le - 5 2 1 14
fh - 7 2 0 17
yt - 8 2 0 16

poly: sl, yt

1. lucy
2. szu hing
3. li ern
4. pei siah
5. cia yee
6. chris
7. for hae
8. siti