Journal entry of Not-Me

Journal entry #259:

I saw mother cry today. It was by far the happiest moment of my life.

Mom had never been the type who cried. I mean, those months of being stranded in a deserted island never got a single tear drop out of her.

Seeing her cry now, I imagine she must be really proud of me.


So far, my stay in Norway had been amazing. It was hard trying to communicate with the locals though.

Francis had brought along this English-Norwegian translation dictionary, but it was hilarious, the way he struggled to make himself understood by the locals.

I still think it's weird, for him and Maria to be spending their honeymoon here. But I'm more than thankful that my family is here to share this milestone with me.

Too bad Fritz and Roberta couldn't be here. Still, with father here in Norway, who else could take over as governor of the island?

"Ernst," dad would always say. "You should come work for me back at the island. With you around, things would be so much easier."

But that wouldn't be the life for me. Many decades ago, despite the rest of my family wanting to stay, I had made a firm decision to leave the island, . After changes upon changes, I remained more or less the same.


Tonight was... ah, this is where words fail me. It was more than amazing. It was like a vague dream during childhood, that grew into a remote yearning of a young adult, that finally blossomed into a dream-like reality.

The clapping was as loud as thunder.

With every step I took as I walked on stage, I saw the mental pictures of the journey I'd taken to finally reach here. They came on vivid and intense, solidifying the reality that I am indeed right where I am.

First step... my family fleeing to New Guinea in that state of despair.

Second step... the rough winds, the huge waves that rolled themselves into the ship.

Next step... the tree house we built at the island for mother.

Fourth step... the pirates that attacked our fort, the defence we put up against them.

Another step... Roberta's grandfather offering me a place in university.

A half-skip... the pirates agreeing to step away from piracy, to work alongside my organization, to finally put in effort for the good of the people.


As I reached the podium, there was an inexplicable bursting sensation in my chest. It must've been the huge sense of self-fulfilment, and the swelling pride of one who has achieved what he'd dreamt of, and the happiness of the sudden realization that this is it - I've finally made it!


Akmal and Hussein gave me the biggest hug at the end of the night.

I'm so proud of them.

Decades ago, they were pirates, kidnapping and demanding ransom, stealing and thieving for a living.

Now they're leaders, revered and admired by many for the work they've done.

Never have I doubted that they would be the best people to guide my organization. It had been their gargantuan effort and amazing dedication that made the organization such a success.

I guess their passion is being kept alive by the fuel of their past. They make it their responsibility to see to it that robbers at sea are given a chance to repent, to settle down and to make better use of themselves.


Being stranded at a desert island had been a blessing in disguise.

Who knows, if it were safe sailing during our trip across the sea, I might never be a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize!


* * * * *



Heh. Dr. Santha made us watch 'The Swiss Family Robinson' as practice for the creative writing segment of our course, and we're supposed to pick a character and fast forward 10 years.

Our group chose Roberta, in a rocky relationship with Fritz.

I just thought I'd have a bit of fun bluffing up a story of my own.

Yeeeeeessssssss I want the Nobel Priiiiiiiize!