OMG

remember this post?

this was what happened - i’d just gotten out of the shower and my housekeeper told me someone called the landline asking for me. i was a bit puzzled cos no one i know calls me at my house, they always know to call my mobile. so i asked her if she knew who it was, and she said, “ini orang dari kedai buku” (it was someone from a bookstore).

i tried to recall if i recently ordered any books… but i’d already picked up the last one i ordered at How & Why. so what could this be?

the phone rang again, and it was the same orang dari kedai buku. she introduced herself as Sheila from MPH Bookstores, so i was like ohhhh MPH! Chi must have sent me another book, and MPH is probably calling cos they screwed up the delivery or something.

but nooooo. this is what she said -

“hi Lim Su Ann, i’m calling about your essay for the MPH Young Writers’ Competition.”

….. oh.

mai.

gawd.

“errrr yes?” i squeaked.

“the title of your story is ‘Tomorrow Will Be Here Before You Know It’, right?”

“yeah that’s right…” (come on, come on, gimme good news..!)

“i just need you to email me a copy of your story?” she says.

“why???” i demand.

“cos we need a soft copy of the essays,” she explains.

“EVERYBODY’s essays?” at this point i’m wondering, what the fuck is going on??? have i been shortlisted? … i mean, she never actually SAID i was!

“yes..”

“wait i’m very confused. everyone as in all three gazillion people who joined this competition?”

“umm yes..”

wah, my heart dropped! so they need a soft copy from *everyone* who sent in an entry, izzit? i started inwardly chastising myself for getting my hopes up.

“so i’m not shortlisted? aiyo why you get my hopes up like that!”

“huh? they will call you!” she sounds very puzzled.

“wait wait wait. WHO will call me? to tell me what??”

“*THEY* will call you lah! right now i just need your soft copy, so here is my email address, sadisticbookstoreslave@mph.com.my, so please send your essay to me asap, okay bye!”

………..

so a whole week went past and no one called me. i was like, ok fine, so i wasnt shortlisted, they just wanted a soft copy of all the entries. okaaaay alright life goes on.

but then two nights ago, i got an email from a guy who joined the competition as well but didnt win, congratulating me for being shortlisted. he said he saw my name in the shortlist on the website.

WHAT???

i jumped out of my chair and SCREAMED. frantically typed in MPH’s website into my browser bar to see for myself if it was true that i was shortlisted. i mean, how can it be true??? NO ONE from MPH called me to tell me anything!!!

but i checked the website and it’s true. i have been shortlisted!

:D :D :D :D :D :D

seriously, you guys have no idea how much this means to me. it’s not like i write all that well! man, i dont even ask to win this competition although the 1st prize is totally cool and i totally want it. i’m more than happy just being shortlisted!

hehe Kiasu Andrew has also been shortlisted. this will be the third time in 6 months that we’re up against each other - first time at the ESUM Public Speaking Competition and the second time at the IMPAC Young Writers Award. Andrew, you already won the IMPAC one. give the rest of us a chance!!!

whee. i’m totally over the moon :D i wanna just run around kissing people!

31 comments October 2nd, 2006