Erased Saviours

Melvin Fernandez sat on the plush sofa in his room at the Doubletree Hotel, revelling in the Victorian ambiance that surrounded him. The exposed red bricks on the walls gave the space an old-world feel that he found charming. As he moved around the room, he had to resist the urge to pinch himself to ensure that he wasn't dreaming. For Melvin, this moment represented the culmination of a long journey in the literary world.

He had struggled for years to achieve success as an author, with his first three novels falling flat. But he had persevered, pouring his heart and soul into his writing, determined to make a name for himself. And finally, with his fourth novel, The Climb, he had done it. The book had shot to the top of bestseller lists in multiple countries, including his current location, England.  

As he approached the window, he couldn't help but pause and marvel at the stunning sight before him. Spread out below him was a vast expanse of green fields, meticulously trimmed and perfectly manicured. In the centre of it all stood a small, bubbling fountain, surrounded by a riot of red flowers that seemed to dance in the gentle breeze.

For a moment, he forgot all about the interview that he was supposed to be preparing for. He could have stayed there, lost in the beauty of the scene, for hours. But he knew he couldn't. He had a job to do, a responsibility to uphold.

This interview was special, he knew. The reporter had travelled all the way from his home country of Malaysia to speak with him, and that meant something. Even though he enjoyed the glitz and glamour of international events and book tours, he always held his home country close to his heart. And this interview was his chance to give something back to the place that had given him so much.

As he dressed and gathered his thoughts, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within him. He knew that he had the power to inspire young Malaysians, especially aspiring writers. He wanted to show them that anything was possible, that if he could make it as a writer, so could they. And he was determined to use this interview to do just that.

***

The teachers at SK St. Luke Primary School are a busy bunch, each one fully absorbed in the daily tasks that make up their workday. From preparing lessons to grading students' work and inputting attendance, they are constantly on the go, rarely taking a moment to pause and catch their breath.

But for Cikgu Rajinah, a Malay language teacher, and Cikgu Betty, an English language teacher, there is always time for a good laugh. The two women have been best friends for the past thirty years, and their desks have been placed side by side for nearly as long.

"Have you finished your lesson plans?" Cikgu Rajinah asks, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"You mean 'finished' or actually finished?" Cikgu Betty replies with a grin.

Cikgu Rajinah laughs, knowing exactly what her friend means. "I mean finished, as in with all the TS-25 jargon included."

"Of course," Cikgu Betty says, nodding her head. "I know the Nazirs are coming today. We better be prepared."

"And don't forget," Cikgu Rajinah adds, her tone turning more serious. "If you're 'lucky' enough to be observed by them during your lesson, make sure to include all those 21st century strategies and whatnot."

The two women chuckle, finding it amusing that the job of teaching has changed so much since they were young. Back in the day, they focused more on teaching, but now they have to do all kinds of non-teaching documentations and filings.

The sound of the recess bell rings out, signalling a brief respite for the teachers of SK St. Luke. As the minutes tick by, more and more teachers file into the staff room, exchanging pleasantries and catching up on the latest info about the Nazirs’ visitation.

Cikgu Rajinah and Cikgu Betty sit side by side, watching as the younger teachers make their way past their desks. They can't help but remark on how different things are these days, with so many of their former colleagues having retired or transferred to other schools.

As if in response to their conversation, Cikgu Akim, who has been teaching alongside them at SK St. Luke for thirty years, enters the staff room with an air of excitement and anticipation. Sensing something is up, Cikgu Rajinah asks, "What's going on, Akim?"

Cikgu Betty shoots him a similarly curious expression.

"Check your WhatsApp," Cikgu Akim urges, thrusting his phone towards them. "I've sent you the link."

The two women do as they are told, quickly pulling up the URL that Cikgu Akim has sent. As they read the news article that he has shared, their eyes widen in surprise.

"Melvin Fernandez?" Cikgu Rajinah asks.

"Sounds familiar," Cikgu Betty chimes in.

"Come on," Cikgu Akim says, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face. "Try harder. I know you know this boy."

"Hmm...could he be one of our former students?" Cikgu Rajinah wonders aloud, studying Melvin Fernandez's picture.

"Yes, yes! He most definitely is," Cikgu Akim exclaims with eagerness.

Cikgu Betty lets out a chuckle as she looks at the photo. "Goodness gracious, are we really that old?" she asks, finding it hard to believe that the little primary school kid they once knew has grown into a bearded man.

Cikgu Rajinah joins in on the laughter. "Well, of course we are. Lots of our former students are older than some of the young teachers here now."

But Cikgu Akim isn't content to reminisce. "You two should remember Melvin," he insists. "He was one of our special kids, one of my remedial students."

As soon as he says the words, Cikgu Rajinah and Cikgu Betty's eyes widen with recognition.

"Oh my, yes. I remember him now," Cikgu Rajinah grins.

Cikgu Betty is equally excited. "How could we forget him? He was our problematic student back in...was it '94? '95?"

"'93!" both Cikgu Rajinah and Cikgu Akim say in unison, their shared memory bringing them closer together.

A nostalgic smile graces Cikgu Betty's face as she journeys down memory lane. "I remember him well. He was still in Year 3 when I taught his class. He used to sleep through my English lessons, never paying attention to anything except PE."

All three of them laugh, recalling the troublesome student that Melvin Fernandez had been.

Cikgu Rajinah nods in agreement. "He could hardly read at the time, and Akim had to work really hard to help him. It wasn't easy. Melvin was very stubborn, with an attention span that lasted no longer than a lightning bolt."

Just then, their fellow veteran teacher and school counsellor, Cikgu Jim, joins them in the staff room.

"Hey, have you guys heard about Melvin?" he asks, curiosity etched on his face.

Cikgu Akim nods. "Yes, we were just talking about how he used to be a problematic student."

Cikgu Jim's expression turns contemplative. "I don't know if you guys remember, but Melvin came from a broken family. His parents divorced when he was just five years old, and his mother really struggled to take care of him and his siblings as a single parent."

Cikgu Rajinah nods, her heart going out to Melvin and his family. "I wonder how his mother is now."

Cikgu Jim continues, "I spent a lot of time with him, and during one of our sessions, I noticed that he loved making up stories. I knew right there and then that one day, he would be in the storytelling business. But I never expected that he would be this successful."

"I suppose we really did do our job well," Cikgu Betty ponders, her eyes sparkling with pride.

Her colleagues concur, all of them taking in her words with a sense of accomplishment.

"I'm so glad we didn't give up on that boy," Cikgu Akim adds. "Can you imagine what might have happened if we had neglected him?"

The four veteran teachers are so engrossed in their conversation that they don't even notice the young teachers gathering around them, eavesdropping on their conversation. When one of them, Cikgu Roger, speaks up in amazement, they’re all caught off guard.

"Melvin Fernandez was your student?!" Cikgu Roger exclaims.

Proudly, Cikgu Betty announces, "Yes, Melvin Fernandez, the best-selling author, used to be a student in this very school!"

As the news spreads, the other teachers begin whispering and chattering with each other, marvelling at the revelation that one of their own had once taught a now-famous author.

Suddenly, the headmistress, Puan Rasidah, bursts into the staff room looking panicked. "The Nazirs are here," she announces, sending the previously cheerful environment into an abrupt shift toward seriousness and quiet.

Cikgu Rajinah and Cikgu Betty can't help but find it amusing how the presence of the Nazirs seems to have such an effect on everyone. But, they are grateful for the happy news about Melvin. It lifts their spirits and makes them feel less stressed. They plan to talk more about him later, but for now, they know they have to prepare for the Nazirs' inspection.

Unfortunately, the Nazir officers don't care about the fact that the teachers have produced successful individuals like Melvin over the course of their careers. In their minds, if the teachers don't follow the TS-25 guidelines to the letter, they are deemed unproductive.

Such is the case for Malaysian teachers in today's world, where their effectiveness is heavily dependent on their ability to prepare the correct documentation.

"I wish Melvin all the success in the world," Cikgu Betty declares with pride, her heart brimming with satisfaction.

Just then, the bell rings, signalling that it’s time for them to return to their classrooms and get back to business.

The news of Melvin's success has breathed new life into the entire school, giving them all a renewed sense of purpose. They know that every single student in their classrooms has the potential to achieve greatness, even the ones they have previously deemed as "problematic."

As they each walk into their classrooms, the Nazirs and their strict guidelines are the furthest things from their minds. They know that their main focus has to be on their students, and they deal with them on a daily basis, understanding exactly what kind of approach would work best for each individual child.

If the TS-25 guidelines don't prove to be effective for their students' learning, they have no qualms abandoning them. And if the Nazirs need justification, they’re more than willing to provide it. For the teachers, their students' success is the most important thing, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure that each and every one of them has the chance to thrive.

***

Lim Chong Sea, the news reporter from Kota Kinabalu Express, smiled appreciatively as he wrapped up his interview with Melvin Fernandez. He felt incredibly honoured to have been given the chance to interview a fellow Malaysian who had made such a big name for himself in the world of literature.

"I wish you all the success in your writing career," Lim Chong Sea said, his admiration for Melvin evident in his voice. "May you continue to produce best-selling novels for many years to come."

"Thank you so much," Melvin replied humbly. "I'll certainly try my best."

"So, what's your next project?" Lim Chong Sea asked, intrigued.

"I'm still working on it," Melvin answered. "But it might be a thriller set in a dystopian world. You'll just have to wait and see."

As the interview drew to a close, Lim Chong Sea posed one final question. "Before we end this interview, would you like to say a few last words?"

Melvin paused, his mind racing as he carefully considered his answer. "Yes," he said finally, "to all the young aspiring Malaysian writers out there, I urge you not to give up on your dreams. Believe in yourself, and don't ever be afraid to fail. I was once illiterate as a child, but thanks to my determination and willpower, I was able to persevere and achieve my dreams."

Melvin wanted to make sure he didn't forget to thank the people who had helped him along the way. "And I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my publisher, Raymond House, my editor Catherine Edward, and, of course, my former lecturers at Leeds University, who helped to hone my skills in creative writing. Without these individuals, I wouldn't be where I am today. And let's not forget my amazing family, my mother, and my siblings, who have always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Thanks, guys, you're the best!"

Melvin felt a sense of pride as he shook hands with Lim and departed. He was glad to have been able to express his gratitude to the people who had played such an important role in his success as an author. As he walked away, he knew that he hadn't left a single name unmentioned, and that made him feel truly grateful.