Yesterday the original 2 morning classes were postponed to the afternoon owing to the heavy snow. When I came to the classroom, some students challenged me to a snowball fight with them. “What a good idea! I’d like to, but…” said I. “Come on! It’s still early for the lesson, and we cannot miss such a rare chance! Let’s go.” With these words, they grabbed my hand and with a loud cheer, I was “pulled” to the outside. To be honest, it was what I wished to do the moment I saw the thick snow on the ground early that morning.

Without any preparations or declaration of war, we began a battle at once, throwing snowballs at one another. We had ammunition everywhere. Before I knew it, somehow I had become the only target, being attacked by everyone, every boy and every girl! I struggled on but their firepower was far too powerful. I was bombarded from all directions! And even my head was shot several times. Facing such a severe situation, I shouted, “Stop! Stop it! Cease fire! It’s unfair you guys jointly attacked me, only one as the other side. What about me and all the girls against you boys?” “Ok!” It was immediately agreed on, so the battle continued. I called in a loud voice, “Ladies, time to give the boys a lesson! Have you ever been bullied by them? Open fire! Fight hard! Charge them!” In a flash, all the boys and girls were running dodging and throwing, and snowballs were flying everywhere in the air. It was a real donnybrook!

I was almost exhausted when we came back to the classroom. It took a while for them to settle down. However, when I said, “Let’s begin and learn something new for today”, the whole classroom became quiet instantly. “Can you describe what we just did in English?” “We just had a snowball fight…”

In retrospect, I seemed a little crazy being involved in such a fight. But do we each have a childlike heart hidden deep inside? Being an adult, we have to wear different “masks” or rather, different roles, on different occasions. At home we have to be parents; at school we become teachers; on the road we should be responsible citizens; in a store we are customers. With so many obligations and responsibilities, we seem to have lost something precious, something we should never lose---- a childish heart. How carefree we were, how simple and pure we once were! Isn’t it something we lack in this material desire dominated world? We do need to listen to our inner voices occasionally and be kind to our true self!