Hit hard!

Jiya Nagpal, AGS Gurgaon, X

Dear Diary,
Date:  Lost count after the 1500th swing.

Hi! I’m George, a golf ball. Yes, round, dimpled, and constantly smacked around. Basically, I live the life of every golf ball, i.e. chaotic with a side of discomfort. But it wasn’t always like this. The bumps and curves of my life are fairly new. To give you a better picture about the ‘course’ of my life, mind the pun, let me take you on a golf-cart ride about my journey so far… 

From the Jedi Order…
Back at the factory, my friends called me Obi-Wan Kenoball. When I was pulled out of my packet for the first time, my golfer, whom I call Mr Slicer, held me up like Simba from The Lion King. I had dreams. Big dreams. I pictured myself on a trophy shelf or being gently hit by professionals. I was supposed to be perfect ‘fore-ever’. But alas, fate had other plans. My real journey, or professional life as you humans call it, began in a smelly, cramped golf bag filled with stale socks, a broken tee, half-eaten energy bars, and sweaty gloves still bragging about Tiger Woods. Believe it or not, Diary, I sometimes wish to be forgotten.

The swing of doom
It wasn’t long before I was yanked out of that smelly prison. “Freedom!” I thought. Little did I know my doom was being plotted. Mr Slicer placed me on a tee, muttered something about a birdie (still not sure what birds have to do with golf) and whack! I soared through the air like a tiny, dimpled superhero. From up there, I saw the entire course and even a couple arguing. Then, bam! I slammed into a tree (my left dimple still hurts). A squirrel chased me, nibbled me, and tried to crack me open like a nut. Ugh. If I had a mouth, I’d have screamed. Instead, I just rolled as Mr Slicer smacked me twenty more times. No hole-in-one. No perfect landing. Just endless whacks!

The desert of despair
Golfers call it a sand trap. I call it the Desert of Despair. One wrong shot and I tumbled straight in, sinking slowly and finally getting some me-time. “Perfect for a quick nap!” I sighed, before a caddy angrily began digging with what looked like a giant garden tool. I’m atom-sized compared to that thing, yet he was determined to unearth me like buried treasure. Second shot, and déjà vu, I was swung again. This time I took half the beach with me, feeling like I’d built a children’s sandbox.

Deadly water hazard
My other nemesis: the water hazard, aka The Pond. I sank in - glug, glug - that’s the sound of my dreams sinking with me. At least I wasn’t alone. I found my long-lost siblings, the same broken, dimpled balls from my packet. Before I could say hi, a slimy duck swam around, inspected me, and sat on me, assuming I was a peculiar egg. And then, as always, the caddy arrived with his ridiculous tool.

Final thoughts
I’m not dying… well, maybe figuratively, which means I have lost my original round shape. Right now, I am lost near the pond, reflecting on my unpredictable life. That’s been my life... One moment I’m shining bright, the next I’m stuck in a puddle. But life is about bouncing back, even if you’re hit a little too hard. So, if you are able to find me, remember I know ball. For I am George. Survivor. Legend.

PS: Rescue me! Bring a surgeon with you too. My left dimple needs fixing! I am desperate to be my majestic self once again.

Movie Review

Wizardry, war, and wonder

Movie: Howl’s Moving Castle
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Released on: November 20, 2004
Starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashuin, Akihiro Miwa

Synopsis: Howl’s Moving Castle takes you on a magical journey with Sophie, a young hat maker, who crosses paths with the wizard Howl and gets pulled into a turbulent, magical adventure that upends her quiet life. The most life-changing of them all is her encounter with the witch, who turns young Sophie into an elderly woman. Her apparent age fluctuates throughout the film, showing her young when she feels brave, confident, or passionate, and old when she feels insecure or depressed. One can say that her age acts as an optical cue for her self-worth. Unable to set herself free from the curse, she seeks the help of several significant characters - a scarecrow called Turnip Head, Howl’s apprentice, Markl, and the fan-favourite, fire demon Calcifer. The plot line is weaved around the backdrop of a senseless and nameless war that Howl resists being forced to fight in. Sophie and Howl share a mutually transformative bond, greatly helping each other through the same.
Why is it worth watching: The whimsical details of the hand-drawn animation turn art into deep human emotions. From animation to soundtracks, this movie is a perfect comfort film that emphasises on the importance of personal growth.
Iconic quote: “They say the best blaze burns brightest, when circumstances are at their worst.”
Rating:
Review by: Ishita Chandra
AIS VKC Lucknow, VIII A