Put my hand on your shoulder...

Umar is very talkative. VERY. Sometimes I dread driving with him because as soon as the door is closed, he will start.

“Mummy, don’t you know… Sponge Bob kan…..”

“Mummy… semalam kelakar sangat…. Dalam cerita Naruto kan……”

“What is the meaning of senior ? Because tadi …..”

You get the gist of it.

The problem is up until now he still hasn’t properly mastered the art … or more appropriate develop the restrain to not interrupt Mummy and Babah’s conversations. Sometimes when he interrupts we would stop talking to hear his piece. But every so often we realised what a rude thing he was doing and would start a lecture.

So one day in the car, Mummy and Babah were discussing something important when he interrupted. Mummy got upset and told him off because my train of thoughts was broken. Babah too got mad at him.

When we were quiet, our anger expended he slinked back behind me. Nobody made a sound for about 5 minutes when Elsa broke the silence.

“Um… Um nak cerita apa, Um ? “

“Takde apa lah....” He answered, sulking.

“Tell me lah, Um. You can tell me….”

“Nothing lah….” He answered. Elsa left it at that.

I don’t know what Babah felt, but Mummy was a might contrite. However he was rather rude, butting in like that. Nasib baik ada Elsa, eh ?

Not so because Elsa sometimes couldn’t take all the jabberings too.

Both of them were colouring and drawing in the kitchen just now. Elsa was doing hers quietly but Umar of course couldn’t stop talking. His mouth worked in parallel with his hand. He went on and on and on when suddenly,

“Can you please shut up, Um ?”

I quickly looked at them and saw Umar looking in shock at his sister. Elsa bravely met his eyes. He gave a slow “Okay….” looked down and slowly resumed his drawing. Elsa was remorseful in an instant. You can see it in her face.

“Tak de lah, Um. I was joking….” Said she, closing the distance between them.

‘Sorry, Um… Sorry, kay ? Main-main saja….” Said she hugging her brother from the side.

Umar looked at her and smiled.

“Sorry kay, Um ? Sorry…” She said again with a laugh. Umar nodded and said okay.

Elsa had her left hand on her brother’s shoulder when she recommenced her colouring as she talked gaily and laughing and trying to cajole Umar into his good mood again. Her hand remained on her brother’s shoulder for a long time.

Hmmmm……………..

Green poison

Remember my story about Umar accusing his aunty Wawa of giving his sister poison ? Well apparently my son is obsessed about his sister being at least 10 feet away with things that he suspected to be poisonous.

For people who know me well enough won’t be surprised that I carry soaps with me. Since I have plenty of hand bags, I have a variety of soaps in each of my ‘active’ bags.

Now in my pink one, I carry leaf soaps, a container with thin sheets of soaps, like paper. Elsa loves to play with it because the container looks like a flip phone. He he…. She would pretend to conclude business deals and yell at people (for some reason) or regale stories to imaginary friends. However if her brother sees her doing it, playtime is over.

“Ti ! That is racun !! Poison !! Don’t play with that !!” He would say (loudly…).

If she refuses to listen he would start an angry tirade that depending on Elsa’s mood, she would either concede defeat with a sigh or ignores him.

Sometimes I noticed him confiscating things that he deems too dangerous for his sister to hold. I have to say I have only noticed his vigilance recently.

We were at Shazmi’s wedding last Friday and since Umar and Dan had a role to play, we were at the hotel very early. After a while of just lounging around at the reception area, Dan asked me to go and sit at our table. We were rather thirsty when we finally sat and Elsa eagerly reached for the beverage offered. Her hand stopped halfway though.

“Mum… the air is green….” She said. Green was the theme of the wedding so naturally the beverage was green too.

“It’s okay. It is just sirap only they coloured it green…” Said I.

She looked skeptical as she took the glass and sniffed it. “It’s not poison ?” She asked with a crinkly nose. So cute.

“Nope….”

“Are you sure, Mummy ?” She asked as she brought the glass to her lips. “Nanti Um marah…..”

He he….. Itu yang dia risau…. Takut abang dia marah……

She took a tentative sip and blinked a few times… waiting for whatever.

“Okay… it’s not poison….!” She said happily then … “Yuck !! Tak sedap !!”

Ha ha….

Rambut Elsa

Elsa’s hair had always been messy. Her face had always been hidden by hair. Sometimes you can see a bit of a nose, or her eyes would be visible beneath the curtain of hair. It is more messy when she wakes up from sleep. It will be so tousled, it will take some time to put it to right again. Up until now, when Mummy and Babah wants to see her exquisite face properly we have to sweep away all the hair aside, unveiling a grinning, happy face when all that is done.

When she was little, all attempts to tie her hair or pull back her hair with Alice bands were futile. She would just yank it out until I saw her obsession with princesses, I started calling the cekaks crowns instead. So she was okay with that.

Then I cut her hair short so she was free of any crowns or getahs. But her hair had grown now and the fringes are in the way as we could hardly ever see her face. It will always be covered with hair.

I bought a new crown for her last month and was happy to see her full face for the first time in months, all hair pulled back neatly. She was not happy though.

“Mummy… I am girl… not a boy lah !!” She said, hands already trying to free some of her fringe.

“Apa hal lak, Ti ?”

“Only boys show this….” She said, pointing at her forehead. “I am a girl, lah…. Girls buat macam ni….” She announced hotly, pulling more hair to cover her forehead.

Oh… patutlah dia suka benar biar fringe terjurai sampai tutup mata. Tak girly rupanya without a fringe. I didn’t know that….

Hmmm……

Cerita Hantu Dalam Baby Monitor

Yesterday we sat down to watch Afterlife, a British drama on BBC Entertainment. It is something like Ghost Whisperer but better and more realistic. Not the ghost part obviously but the normal looking actress wearing normal looking clothes with realistic accommodation and transportation packet. To me a lot of American shows promote too beautiful people with too thin bodies and a lifestyle that doesn’t match their occupation.

Anyway… yesterday’s episode was about a couple with a baby who was haunted by a presence of a man who killed himself because his son drowned on his watch. The e-ek (hantu) of course wanted the couple’s son Tom for himself, to replace his dead son and was attaching himself to the baby. His presence was mainly through the baby monitor where you can hear him singing the lullaby to the baby.

The ending was sad. When the heroine Alison was talking to the wife outside the house (they were moving house that very night because the initially non-believer wife finally had an encounter with the e-ek), the husband left the son in the very bathtub the previous baby drowned in (I don’t know why they just can’t leg it asap), the door closed and the audience was subtly told that the baby had gone with the hantu.

It was really sad. I sighed and looked at my open-mouthed children.

“Mum…. When I was little, I slept with you, kan ? You did not let me sleep alone kan ?” asked my son, all anxious.

“Kenapa pulak ?”

“Well you did not let me sleep alone kan because it is very dangerous for babies to be left alone….”. He answered.

I sighed.

“Umar….. you are already 8. Nothing happened to you so it doesn’t matter whether you slept alone when you were small kan ?”

“Yes… but it still dangerous, Mummy…” He persisted.

“Um… this is just a story, Um. This is not real. Very much like Pokemon and Digimon and Superman are not real. Sebelum tidur baca 3 Qul, kan ? So you have nothing to be worried about….” This is actually an excerpt of my long winded explanation.

We went straight to bed afterwards. The kids and I were talking on my bed before Babah joins us and switches off the light when suddenly Elsa sat on me.

“Mum….” Her face was in earnest. “The hantu took baby Thomas away ke, Mum ?”

“Tak delah… that is just a story….”

“Really ? But the hantu tutup pintu sebab nak ambik baby Thomas kan ?”

“Takde lah…. Bila cerita tu dah habis, the director yelled “CUT!” and the baby Mummy dia ambik lah balik…..”

“Oh… okay….” Relief was all over her face.

Then Babah came in and after a fight with Babah because she wanted to continue with her book ( Mummy…. Lottie sekarang dah nak mandi dah….. he he….. Cerita pasal Lottie anak gajah yang tak nak mandi.. Oh yes… my daughter can already read. I am so proud of her and very grateful to Al-Ikhlas. They promised in 8 months time my daughter could read, but they did it in 6. Thank you, Al- Ikhlas ! ) but Babah wanted to switch off the light. Of course Babah won that argument.

As soon as Babah landed on the bed, I heard a louder than usual “Qul hu wallah hu ahad !!” He he….

When December comes....

Yesterday was not a good day for me. It was filled with innuendos and sarcasm from my itty bitty ones.

It is December and my friends know what December means to us, Umar and Elsa’s birthday party. Being born in December is agony for them. People had birthdays through out the year and their turn seemed a long way ahead. They would start to ask about their birthdays in February because Ana’s birthday is in that month. It doesn’t matter that they just had their party two months before because since it is new year, they start counting anew.

After Ana, then Esya in May. Then Mummy’s and Babah’s and a hoard of Mamus and Ciks through out June and July. But that doesn’t really count because we don’t exactly have a huge party. Jealousy surfaced again in August for Harith’s birthday then in rapid succession as every month after August there will definitely be a party of a cousin or friend.

So come December, they were already giddy with anticipation. Starting 1st December, Umar had been yapping about his birthday and yesterday was the 10th day they had been cleverly dropping hints and inserting birthday stories in our conversations.

Yesterday took Elsa and Babah to DEMC. Babah down with flu and Elsa because she was covered with scabs. It turned out she got it from gardening with me. Doctor prescribed her oral antibiotics and therefore Babah and Mummy (well more Mummy because Babah was unwell and was resenting the fact that Babah picked out a good time to be sick) were dreading the days ahead.

Anyway, when we got home, the sight of the white liquid made Elsa wince and shudder. Surprise, surprise this time she did not make a fuss. Nada ! Not a tear or even a whine ! She made faces sure, but there were no fuss, no tantrum. Both Mummy and Babah were flabbergasted as we were geared up for a fight. You couldn’t imagine the confusion and the relief that quickly followed. Mummy and Babah were praising her like mad, patting her and hugging her. I happily thought the pep talk I gave her before we entered the house what made her all agreeable and obedient. However as usual, when it came to my children I was wrong.

After we cleared the table of all the medicines, I opened the backdoor to hang the clothes to dry. Elsa joined me and since she is always following me around, I did not suspect anything. I was standing on a stool, reaching for the umbrella line, when she started praising herself, “Mummy… I am a good girl. I tak nak nangis pun kan.. ?” I smiled at her and agreed that she is indeed a wonderful girl.

“Saya tak muntah pun, Mummy…I just went ‘Wek, wek’ a bit but no muntah !!” She said triumphantly.

I looked down and smiled at her. Then,

“I am a good girl kan ? So…. Saya nak PSP !!”

I almost fell.

“Eh ? What ?” Asked I.

She grinned sheepishly. “PSP..” She said quickly, in a breath.

I had my hands on my hips when I yelled for her father. No wonder she did not create a fuss while taking her medication. She was hoping for a reward !!

Anyway, I sent my children to their class yesterday afternoon. And since the class is in Sek 9, we passed the new party favours shop again and of course it prompted yet another conversation regarding their birthdays. Umar asked me what am I giving him for his birthday and my answer is the same as the years previously, “A party, sweetheart. A party…” He he….

2 hours after that on the way home, we were discussing their new favourite song by Secondhand Serenade. Biasalah, the love theme, the professing of undying love encouraged a lecture from me. “When you are all grown, please choose a nice girl to marry, okay..” Advised Mummy. “Find somebody that can take care of you, yang rajin sembahyang, yang tak garang…. Somebody with a sweet disposition…. And you yourself, must take responsibility of taking care of your family… Be nice, jangan garang-garang…..”

“Oh…. Don’t worry Mummy…” assured my son. “Nanti bila saya ada anak… I will be extra nice to them, Mummy. When it’s their birthday, I will give them a party AND a present !!”

Waduh !! How sarcastic can you be, my son ? I looked at him, expecting him to smile victoriously but I only saw a very serious face. Hmm… maybe he was just being honest, I thought. But when he thought I wasn’t looking, the smile that I so expected was very much there.

Aaarggghhh !!

A tall wedgie loving girl

“Mummy… hari tu kan ada budak kan …. Bagi saya wedgie, Mummy….”

“Eh ?”

“Iya !! Botol…(betul)… dia buat saya ada wedgie…”

I couldn’t imagine a tudung clad or a ketayap wearer giving my daughter a wedgie so I stared at her in disbelief.

“Takde lah…” Said I again.

“Iya…! Ada !!” She insisted.

“Okay, sapa nama dia ??” Asked I, closing my book because I had the insight that the conversation I’m having will be more fun than my book.

“Emm… Saya tak tahulah. She is a new girl. She is 6 years old, but she is new….”

Hmm…. Very shifty, I thought. Last week she told me of a friend who had a pet snake. She informed me that since she only wants a rabbit, not a snake, she doesn’t see the reason why I should refuse her a hoppy bunny. “Mummy nak rabbit ke snake ?” She asked. “Errmm… rabbit ?” I answered even though I already know what her closing argument would be. And as expected she answered triumphantly, “See ? I did not ask for a snake… you don’t want a snake kan, Mummy ? You want a rabbit kan ?”

I am her mother, so I do know how to handle the little one. “So… sapa nak basuh taik dia ?” Her eyes were round and humongous. “Mummy lah….” She answered bravely, finger pointed at me. “No…..” Said I. But then, she is my daughter therefore she also knew how to handle me. ‘Why do you always say no, huh Mummy ?”

Hmmmm…….

Anyway back to my original story.

Her answer when I asked for the girl’s name ? “I don’t know because she is sooo tall… She is this size …(she gestured a point way above her head) and I am only this size..” two palms above one another, showing the size of a pixie. He he…

Hmmm… “So what happened ?” I persisted.

“Dia baru kan… lepas tu saya kata, “Hey… let’s talk …” And lepas tu she gave me a wedgie, Mummy !!”

I burst out laughing. Kalau ikutkan hati nak tergolek atas lantai… but I didn’t. Let’s talk indeed… Ha ha….

Betul ke cerita ko ni Elsa….

Entahlah…

Anak-anak ku lagi

Elsa had had enough after 2 days of scratching her body

“Nyamuk ni suka gigit saya lah, Mummy. He thinks I am food… selalu gigit-gigit saya…” Said Elsa one day. “Wow !! They think you are McDonald’s ?” I teased. She solemnly nodded her head, lips in a pout and replied, “Ha… dia ingat saya burger macam Babah yang ada sayur tu….” He he…. Big Mac….

I was telling them a story before bedtime when she made the complaint. Umar had his head on my shoulder while he listened (and interrupted with his questions and his own versions…weii… susah betul nak bercerita…) and Elsa was busy scratching here and there. Now Umar’s head is huge. So huge in fact that his songkok is bigger than his Babah’s. No kidding. Therefore my shoulder was rightly sore when he drifted to sleep.

I climbed back to my bed and while waiting for sleep to claim me I had to hear Elsa thrashing on her bed until Dan called her.

“What, Bah ? What do you want ?”

“Eleh… buat tanya pulak… mari jelah sini….”

She ran with the speed of light to us and jumped on the bed.

“What do you want me to do, Bah ?” She asked innocently. Apa ke hal nya budak ni ? Pura-pura tak tahu pulak. I grabbed her tiny waist and deposited her next to me, her head neatly landed on my shoulder.

Not a good idea as my shoulder was still burning from Umar’s weight.

‘Ei… kecik… Why are you using my shoulder lah ? Babah invited you here, so you use his shoulder lah…” Said I, trying to be tactful… he he.

“But I want you , Mummy…” She snuggled closer.

Wah… My shoulder doesn’t want anybody.

“But Ti, Babah has strong shoulders. It is very nice and firm…. Very strong…” Said I.

She immediately changed shoulders. “Yes lah Bah… your shoulder is nicer….” She said and Babah gave me a swift kick under the covers….

He he…. Siapa yang tak dapat tidur malam tu sebab kena tidur dengan Elsa yang lasak ? Not me !! Ha ha…..

The next morning as usual after my toilette, I started the process of waking up my children. Even though it is the school holidays, I do not allow my babies to wake up late. I hold dear my parents’ “Early bird gets the worm” adage.

Again as usual, I started with Umat first. Punya lah malas, he rolled to the floor, his back on the tiles as he backstroked out of my room, using his legs and him arms in back-stroking action to propel him, eyes tightly shut all the while. I looked at him in wonder, because I have seen my siblings did that (and I am sure I have done that before) and thinking Dan couldn’t see this because he will blame my keturunan again.

I wasn’t even near my daughter (because I was busy looking at Umar with a feeling of deja-vu) when I heard she said, “Mummy… don’t disturb me okay. I am still sleepy okay because semalam saya tidur lambat… Okay ? So don’t disturb me and try to wake me up….”

And then terus sengap. Aku tak tahu mana nak tengok. Nak cover up Umar sebelum Babah dia nampak and start tut-tuting again ke or check on my daughter if she really was the one who spoke.

Hmmm……..

Elsa tak sayang abang ke ?

Few weeks ago, my sister Ita called me while I was working. It was Tuesday, a Mandarin class day and boy she had a story to tell me.

“Kau tahu aku pegi ambik budak-budak kan… bila aku sampai Umar kat luar rumah tengah nangis and Elsa kat pintu marah-marah….” Said Ita.

“Elsa halau Umar keluar rumah !!” She added.

I don’t know why the phrase terperanjat beruk was coined, but what Ita said was so unexpected I am sure terperanjat beruk was what I felt when I heard that.

Ita said she stumbled upon U-um storming out of the house, crying. When Ita asked him, he said Elsa asked him to leave so he is leaving.

“Emotional gila U-um, La. Dia terus nak keluar rumah. Yang dia pergi dengar cakap Elsa kenapa ?”

Although I laughed, Ita didn’t. She was thinking more in the line of if she didn’t come when she did, where would Umar be ?

When I got home, I rounded my children.

“What happened ?”

Nobody said anything. When I asked Umar why he attempted to leave, he said because Elsa asked him to.

“Elsa… where do you expect Umar to go ? This is his house too. Umar nak pergi mana ? Kalau Umar hilang macam Sharlinie karang macamana ?”

Both of them were quiet. When I tried to prod the reason of the fight, they were incommunicado.

“Please don’t do that ever again Elsa. And Umar pun, stay put. Where did you think you were going to go ?”

I left it at that because there is nothing much that I can say, right ?

Wrong.

A few days after that, abang and adik were having a hushed fight. You know, bickering with furious whispers. I couldn't make out what they were fighting about of course, but then as I was surreptiously watching them, I saw Elsa hand on her hips, nudging her head to the door. Was that another eviction order ?

I had plenty to say after that !!

ELsa bila demam

Elsa bila demam equals fights and cryings. Why ? Because she hates taking her medicines. “Sikit saja, Mummy !! Wa ! Wa !” Or “I do want that colour !! I want yang pink tuh !!” Well.. you get the picture.

Elsa tergolong dalam golongan yang kena marah bila demam. People especially children who are unwell usually get sympathy and extra tender loving care, but Elsa actually got more anger thrown at her while she is sick.

During her recent sickness, she was plagued with high fever. It was worrying. We bathed her constantly and kept her on skimpy, airy and light clothes. We also had to keep cajoling her to take her medication. After awhile cajoling turned to threats. Haii….

The thing was she pretended not to be sick. I suspected she was sick a day before she got any fever. Her voice was screechy and she was listless. “Are you sick, Elsa ?” Asked I. She laughed. “No !! I am not sick !!” She said and ran away.

The next morning I greeted her with a “Panas tak badan ?” and she replied with an angry “Don’t ask me that question !”

By the second day after a night of fighting to get the medicine to her throat, I instinctively reached for her forehead as soon as I opened my eyes. However the little minx caught my hand before I could touch her.

“Don’t touch me there !!” And quickly scrambled up. I was too shocked for words because I thought she was asleep.

“Okay Mummy ? You cannot touch me at all okay Mummy ? You don’t touch me here, here, here… okay Mummy ?” She instructed after successfully putting herself at a safe distance from me.

Tak payah pegang dahi, Elsa… your hands pun cukup panas. Malas to cause her more distress, I shrugged my shoulders and prepared for Subuh, knowing fully well that she will take her medicines no matter what.

When I got out from the bathroom, I saw her lying on my bed and my son who was buttoning his school uniform was by her side, talking urgently to her.

“Ti !! You must makan ubat, okay Ti !!”

“Tak nak…. Tak sedap… I am not sick…..”

“Ti … you have to makan ubat. Kalau tak nanti Titi mati… Titi nak mati ke ?” Asked my son.

“No, Um… I am not sick !!” She insisted.

Umar started to get desperate and when he next spoke, his voice was laced with desperation and tears.

“Ti…. I don’t want you to die… Please makan ubat…… Please, Ti !!” The abang pleaded.

Kesian aku nengok abang si Elsa ni. However Elsa was not moved at all and was still adamant that she was healthy. Umar gave up and went down for his breakfast weeping silently.

I remember Dan’s sister recounted me a story of Elsa who had some ailment while she was around at her mom’s house. She managed to persuade Elsa to drink her medicine however when she swallowed, it triggered a coughing fit.

Umar was at his sister’s side in an instant.

“Aunty Wawa … did you give my sister racun ?” Asked he in a scandalous tone while helping his sister up and took her away from Aunty Wawa…

He he… …

My nieces

I miss my nieces. Since Umar and Elsa go home after school, I hardly ever see my 2 girls. So 2 nights ago I ajak Babah to bawak Esya and Ana keluar dinner. Ana is always game, she is very rajin that one, but Esya is a different matter. She loves to stay home and usually malas nak keluar. Nak tengok tv lah, nak tidur lah, nanti ayah cari lah…. Ada aje alasan dia. Mummy vows that she will do something to get Esya out of her laziness.

So imagine my surprise when Babah honked the car, both of them came running out of the house.

“Esya ikut ke ? Esya ikut Mummy ke ?” Asked the very excited Mummy.

“Mummy ! Mummy !” Cried Ana happily. Tapi Esya went,

“Is that Abang U-um ?? Abang U-um ! Abang U-um !!” She yelled while frantically looking for her shoes.

“Esya ikut Mummy ke ?” Asked me, still could not quite believe it.

“Abang U-um ! Abang U-um ! I saw abang U-um tadi !! Is that abang U-um ?” She ignored my questions and kept on with her abang U-um.

“Sapa Abang U-um tu, Sya ? Umar ke ?” Asked me in a frown. Abang U-um ? I know Umar liked to use his title whenever it suited him but I never heard anybody calls him that on a permanent basis.

“Ha ! Abang U-um !! Abang U-um !! There he is ! I saw him kat sekolah tadi, Mummy !! Abang U-um ambik hadiah. Is that really Abang U-um !!” She was all-euphoric, yelling and jumping at the same time.

I looked at her questioningly then Kak Idah, my mom’s maid came out.

“Dia rindu tu, Jang ! Kan dah lama tak datang…” Lepas tu Kak Idah pulak menjerit-jerit, “Umar !! Titi !!” and ran to the car, arms waving and trying to get hugs and kisses from my children. Kelakar gilo eeii dia orang ni. Rindu bebenor.

In the car I asked Esya why she called Umar abang U-um. Marlin helpfully answered, “Haii…. Umar kan paksa dia orang panggil dia abang Umar… Dia kan boss….” Umar grinned sheepishly at his parents who just shook their heads. Gila kuasa budak ni.

“Tadi at school saya nampak abang Umar ambik hadiah, Mummy !” Said Esya excitedly.

“Really, baby ?” Said Mummy, stroking her face fondly. “You did not point your finger and say, “Hey !! That’s my cousin !!” out loud ke ?” He he… cheekily planting havoc-inducing ideas to my progeny.

“No !! I did not but I did jumpa dia when dia jalan..” Said Esya.

“A-ah, Mummy. She called me when she was beratur tu pergi class….” Said Umar and then I couldn’t say anything anymore because Esya was busy talking and laughing with Umar. Rindu sangat gamaknya tu.

We had a lovely dinner where Ana refused the orange juice we ordered for her but instead wanted Babah’s ‘ayer gash….’.

When we got to my mom’s house after dinner, Ana looked stricken and worried. She refused to get out of the car.

“Titi sayang Ana…” Said Ana, face unhappy, stabbing her cute finger to her chest repeatedly.

O-oh..

Ana memang sayang Titi. When my kids were with my mom, every late afternoon when I came to pick my children Ana would be distressed because I came to take Titi away. Her trick is usually, “Ana nak tidur, Titi tidur Ana…” and off Ana would go to her room, tugging Titi along and they will baring and Ana would pat her bum as a signal for Titi to do that to her. So Titi pun pok-pok lah Ana’s tooshie, sambil nyanyi-nyanyi. Of course since it was 7 pm, who in the right mind could fall asleep ?

If I tried to tell her that Titi has to go home, Mummy is tired, Mummy nak sembahyang blah, blah, blah.. she would start wailing. Worse if she crossed her arms, lips in a pout and announced importantly “Ana ajuk ni…”

“Titi sayang Ana !!” Said Ana again, face so sad.

“Titi kiss Ana okay ? Titi sayang Ana…” Said kakak Titi pulak.

“Nanti Titi datang rumah Tok, okay ?” Pandai Titi pujuk.


“Titi sayang Ana….” She said again. Sedih hati Mummy tengok tapi Umar dah nak lelap (boys and their 9.30 pm bed time theory). But I cannot see Ana like that. I was about to say, “Okaylah,jom masuk sekejap…” Ana climbed down the car, waved at Titi and run shrieking happily into the house. Cepat betul berubah mood budak ni. Belum ada PMS lagi tuh… he he….

Umar and his mouth

On Sunday we went to Elsa’s concert at Dewan Jubli Perak. It was really, really long from 8 am to 1 pm. The concert could have been good I suppose if it had been better organized. Seriously I had more fun at Umar’s CEC’s concert.

Anyway we were late and went there without breakfast. They did supply one doughnut and 1 karipap per family (please concentrate on the per family part… well actually that is quite good because CEC never thought about the condition of our bellies…. ) but being parents, GOOD parents, we let Umar ate it all, our healthily sized (read fat) boy.

Anyway all the waiting was a revelation. Why ? Because I found out that Umar has a very sassy mouth.

At 9 am Umar had started complaining about his hunger and the failure of the organisers to start the concert made him more anxious. Predictably the concert started late and it started with speeches. The speech given by Adun Bandar Anggerik, a Yaacob Saperi was good though as his was the one I listened to from start to finish.

Then the emcee (there were two, funny enough. One was speaking in English and the other did Arabic translations. Dan and I looked around in vain, trying to locate any Arabs among the guests but we couldn’t find any. There were a few mat sallehs, but no Arabs… so that part was a bit intriguing) announced that they will be closing the drapes because they are going to assemble all the students for the hafazan.

Umar of course was not concentrating but when they closed the drapes he was on alert. “Apa payah tutup curtain tu. Beratur, jalan duduk…” said the all-knowing me.. he heh…

“I think maybe somebody is going naked….” Was Umar’s reply…. Orang keliling was clearly not paying attention either and a few looked at him. Mummy and Babah punya segan tok sah cerita lah and Mummy pun marah lah Umar… he he…

Anyway while waiting for the children to be organized, the emcee and his nasyid friends sang a few songs for us. Hmmmm…. not that I want to be critical but practice, practice and practice okay ?

The concert was seriously very boring and I blame the teachers. They lack imagination and the drive to produce something nice and entertaining. Maybe I am being over critical, I don’t know but as I mentioned earlier, I attended CEC’s concerts for 3 years and theirs were good. Luckily the show was performed by children and their antics was what that saved us from boredom. The kids were cheeky, energetic and funny and oh so adorable. There were a few shy ones too which I found really endearing. Some forgot the routine, which made us laugh, and one boy was really cute. He had forgotten his lines and his teacher had to give him the script. He then recited it beautifully, tapi malu-malu of course.

Apa anak aku kata ? “Luckily he can read kan Mummy ?”

Udah… apa ke halnya Umar ? Mummy gave him the severest of jelings that he went quiet.

There were a few other stuffs he said that wasn’t nice but the most severe one was when they again closed the drapes to arrange the stage for the graduation ceremony. And again the nasyid boys went on stage. The emcee said, “Please allow us to entertain you again..” or something in that manner and my son… waaahh !! My boy said, “Not in a million years …” Masa tu aku dah tak tau nak buat apa dah and just hid behind the papers.

As I mentioned earlier we woke up late. What with nak sembahyang Subuhnya, then preparing the kids, then doing our own toilette plus having to go buy local fruits because the school asked for local fruits donations. To make matters worse, Dan is a punctual being and therefore had this unnecessary need to be there by 8 because the programme stated parents' arrival was to be at that time. So who had time for breakfast ? Defensive ni.... he he

When they closed the drapes again which was around 12, we thought we could get Elsa since she was not graduating.The task fell on Dan and Umar who went backstage to get her. However apparently all students will be getting something so we were asked to wait. So we waited and waited and waited when I noticed my son was missing. I looked around but couldn’t find him. I located Dan who sat at the furthest back, and was informed that Umar was backstage again, trying to get his sister.

Aisehman… My face flamed with embarrassment because I have seen him being insistent. They are not pretty for the mother’s eyes. 2 minutes later, he emerged triumphant from backstage with his sister in hand. “What did you say to the teacher, Umar ?” Asked me as we raced to Kelana Jaya for a much needed nasi padang.

“That I’m hungry and my sister is hungry because we did not have breakfast…” Ceh… cannot jaga your mother’s air muka ka ?

Anak ku Elsa …

Last Friday Dan and I went to Subang Parade to get new tennis shoes from Al-Ikhsan for me. Umar deicided not to come so we went a-trois. Kebetulan it was Halloween and therefore some places were suitably decorated.

“Look, Mummy !! Pumpkin tu ada mata…. Macam Halloween…” Exclaimed my daughter.

“It is Halloween, little girl….” I confirmed.

“Really ?” She said with a skeptical look on her face.

We walked some more and saw a few more Halloween decorations.

“Is it really Halloween, Mum ?” She asked, brows furrowed.

“Iye…..” Yelah… apa lagi nak jawab kan ? However her face still looked disturbed.

I wasn’t that hungry and Dan couldn’t find anything appetizing in Subang Parade, so we went to Khalifah Sek 3 for tosai.

Dan and I were chatting when suddenly Elsa interrupted. “Is it really Halloween today, Mummy ?”

Aiseh… awatnya budaknya ni ?

“Yes it is….” Said I and before I could ask why she added darkly, “Then why isn’t everybody wearing a costume ?”

Mummy and Babah burst out laughing. While I’m writing this, my mind keeps going to her face when she said it, disbelieving with a hint of anger…. He he….

Permintaan Ana

All of us went to my cousin Nasha’s wedding. Umar, Elsa, Esya and Anna included, of course. It was a lovely wedding (hot, but still lovely) at Tasik Titiwangsa and the kiddies were having a blast playing and eating free ice-cream, which Mak Unggai thoughtfully hired the whole truck for the occasion. Yumm…

The children were having fun, running about and looking at the lake when suddenly Esya screamed in delight. “Look ! Look everybody ! Horses !!” Sure enough, when we looked there were two horses walking about, mounted by DBKL officials. The kids were excited, Anna especially who kept begging us to get her nearer to the magnificent creatures.

Anna rode with us on the way home, and as usual sat on my lap. We were chatting happily, talking about this and that. There was a lull on the conversation and we were just content looking at the scenery (I remember this so well. We were at the traffic light, underneath the NPE bridge, wanting to turn right to Pantai Dalam) when Anna broke the silence.

“Abah…. Anna nak osh….” Said she. She was not looking at Abah though when she said that.

“Aaa ? Osh ? Apa tu ?” Asked the Abah pulak.

Mummy was already laughing.

“Dia nak horse !! He he…. Anna nak horse ke ?” I asked.

She looked at me with that beautiful face and those lovely eyes that melted me. “Ha… Anna nak osh…” She confirmed, face all serious. My kids were noisy with excitement.

“Anna nak horse ke ?” Asked Umar who loves Anna dearly.

“Yey ! Anna nak horse !! Bah, I want one, too !!” Announced Titi bouncing happily.

Kesian Tok Mi pening kepala kat belakang… but she was laughing, too.

“Pandai Anna ye… Benda mahal-mahal mintak kat Abah, ye…..” Said me, teasing her. “Okay…. Anna kalau nak horse, kena mintak kat Abah betul-betul. Come on… look at Abah and say ‘Anna nak horse Abah… please…..’…..”

She turned around, looked at Dan, grinning away, head tilting to the side. Pandai sungguh….Sadly though shyness took over and she abandoned the act. She leaned on me and hugged me from the side.

“Anna nak osh…..” She whispered.

And aku being aku dok memikir macam mana aku nak bagi Anna kuda….. Macam mana yek ?

Macam - macam hal....

My eldest brother approached me last week with the best opening statement ever, “Umar tak reti basuh o-ok sendiri ye ?” Udah…. My heart sank and sank deeper.

“Memang lah tak reti !!” I replied, rather shrilly I might add. Due to fear I think as my head was already mentally ticking where I need to mop with extra vigor with superfluous amount of soap. “Ijat ngan Mail sampai darjah 3 aku masih basuh pungkok dia orang !!”. I jat and Mail… take note, do not be rude to me. You owe the state of your bums to me and Ita.

“Habis kalau tak de orang kat rumah, siapa yang basuh ?” He asked again. “He is never in a situation where there are no adults to wash him, Pek….” I answered. “Kenapa ni ?” I asked, getting hysterical.

He shook his head, his face grim. Abang aku memang suka buat macam tu. Cakap tak nak habis, buat orang panic. “Pernah tak Titi yang basuh dia ?” I am sure my eyes grew round and round and round at that.

“HA ????” Was all I could muster. The idea was too monstrous, too preposterous my mind couldn’t even conjure up the image.

I collected my kids without much delay. As soon as I locked the car door, I pounced on them.

“Who washed your bum today, Um ?” I asked.

“Bibik lah…” He answered lazily.

“Pernah tak Titi basuh o-ok U-um ?” With that he sat up straight. Elsa who was sitting at the back moved to the center of the car. I stole a look at Umar and his face was….. well… I don’t know how to describe it but I just don’t like how he looked at Elsa.

“Tak ! Mana ada !”

“Betul ke ni, Um ? Titi ?” I pressed.

“Betul lah. Mana ada Titi basuh o-ok Umar !!” Answered Titi.

“Tapi Mamu Pek cakap …” Said I and both of them snorted. My mom reported that day both of them bergaduh satu hari dengan Mamu Peknya. Abang aku kuat mengusik… dia memang suka buat orang nangis. Dia memang rajin main dengan anak-anak and games with him will be full of laughter but usually it will end up with somebody (or everybody) in tears.

“Mamu Pek naughty hari ni !!” Said my son with some anger. “Dia main baling-baling rambutan… kena kat muka !!” Umar memang geli dengan rambutan. When I brought Umar and Dan to my first overseas assignment in Bangkok, we stayed at a luxurious hotel along Sukhumvit Road. Umar was forever attacking the room phone (he was 2) and therefore to stop him, we positioned a few complimentary rambutans on the phone.

“A-ah kan Um !!” Elsa agreed.

So… are they saying my brother saja je nak kenakan dia orang ? But why the funny look he gave Elsa when I first brought up the subject ?

“Are you telling me the truth ????” I asked again.

“Mum… smell my hand Mummy..” Said Elsa extending her hand to me. “It smells nice… it doesn’t smell bad…”

Kelakar sungguh si Elsa.

“Yelah… I don’t mean just now. Yesterday maybe… two days ago ? Three days ?”

“Mana ada lah, Mummy !!” Said now the clearly frustrated Umar. “Okay, okay… like this. Ti, do you know how to wash your own o-ok ?” Said he, looking at his sister expectantly.

“No… I don’t know….” She answered, shaking her head.

“See Mum ? If she doesn’t know how to wash her own o-ok… how can she wash mine ?”

He really got me at that. So I shut my trap.

PS : After that he kept on complaining about my brother. To calm him down I said, “Mamu kan main-main saja….”.

“But it’s rambutan ! I hate rambutan !! Anyway he is so rough…”

“Umar… what kinds of uncles do you like ? An uncle that ignores you or an uncle that actually took time to play with you ?”

He became quiet.

“When you are all grown up nanti, you are able to tell your children about your very playful uncle. Nanti Umar cakap pasal Mamu Pek who once threw rambutan at you !!”

He then laughed.

“So nanti when I grow up I have my own BUDAK…., I will tell them about my past ?” He said, grinning inanely at me.

Budak ? Merepeknya ko anak ku…

Light colours

I do laundry like my mom. Well… I do not know any other way because I was trained by her kan ? I do however make improvements. My mom only has one basket and everyday she would sort out the pile; light, dark and white.

Me though, I have 3 baskets lined up, one for each category so that everyday after work either me or Dan can just hitch the whichever basket that was full to our waists and start the washing process. Usually Dan and I have to make judgment calls between light and dark but I never thought that my children would have to do the same too. Well… because I never trained them to do so just yet. Must be their Babah.

Anyway, I was preparing for Maghrib when I heard this conversation;

Umar : What do you think, Ti ? Is this dark or soft ?

Elsa : Hmmmm… I don’t know lah, Um. It’s pink….

Umar : But it is very bright kan, Um. Maybe dark….

Elsa : Okay lah, Um.

I looked and saw my kids, gloriously naked, both looking back and forth between the 3 baskets and the bright pink trousers. Finally after much deliberation and discussion between them, Umar tossed the offending garment in the dark coloured basket.

He he…

PS : Aku pun dalam dilemma pile mana bright pink track bottom tu belongs to.

Hmm… actually their conversation answered my questions on Elsa’s usage of the word light.

We were in Perak for Raya and since my grandma was with us during Ramadhan we couldn’t stay in her house because it was locked up for the whole month. So we stayed at my Uncle Mat’s house instead.

Uncle Mat and Aunty Aisyah lives in a lovely 2 storey bungalow near the Ipoh Airport. I love the area because it is very cold and windy, especially in the morning. His house was huge with loads of rooms and were each given rooms for our use. Uncle Mat assigned his daughter Syakira’s room to us.

Elsa gasped in delight when I opened the door to Syakira’s room. The room was really cosy, I have to admit with white carpeting, white bed, pink floral curtains and the icing on the cake, bright pink walls.

“I want my room just like this, Bah !!” She announced. Since she kept commenting on how lovely the room was, Babah had to ask, “Do you really want me to make your room just like this ?” Her answer ? “Yes, please …” He he… comel.

Anyway, tired of hearing her praises and pleadings to do her room just like it, I said to her, “Ti, your room pun pink, kan ?” And she shot back, “But it’s too light !! I can’t really see it !!”

Terkejut giler Mummy dengar penggunaan too light tuh… I was thinking mana lah dia belajaq rupa-rupanya from her experience sorting out her laundry… he he.

Actually her room is extremely light purple because I thought pink would be too tacky… but Uncle Mat pulled it off…. Hmm…..

My little Elsa

Last Saturday I had the privilege of having Esya with me. The 3 of them played and rowed and played some more and of course rowed again.

I was in my room folding the clothes and the kiddies were outside, busy with the Play Station. Suddenly…

Umar : Tak boleh Esya. Itu abang Umar punya toy….. (Umar ni memang… kalau nak tunjuk authority mula lah flashing title).

Esya : Mumble Mumble Whine Whine

Umar : Cannot. Esya banyak ambik toy abang Umar. You can play it here but you cannot take it home…

Esya : Alah…. Mumble Mumble

Elsa : Kenapa ni ? What’s wrong ?

Umar : Esya nak ambik toy abang Umar nak bawak balik ! (In a condescending tone. Aku ni duduk kat situ dengor aje anak aku berlagak …)

Elsa : Esya… that is Umar’s toy. Dia nak main. Esya selalu ambik toy Umar bawak balik…

Esya : Whine Whine Whine

Elsa : Umar !! Share lah !! Why cannot you share ?

He he….. pulak….

Selepas itu….

As usual before bed Mummy and Babah would talk while drifting to sleep. We had a long day and everybody was tired. My eyes were closed while I listened to Dan. Suddenly…

Elsa : Mummy, Babah. Please do not talk after midnight okay ? I am tired, I want to sleep.

Babah : Eh budak ni. Tidurlah….

Elsa : You be quiet, Bah. You are too noisy. I want to sleep.

Mummy : Okaylah, okaylah. Dah tidur !

Elsa : (under her breath) I cannot sleep like this…. Bebel Bebel Bebel….

Lepas tu..

Elsa : Um ! Talk Talk Talk Talk

Umar : Elsa ! Umar nak tidur lah. Can you please be quiet ?

Elsa : I cannot sleep, Um !! Talk Talk Talk

Kurang asam punya budak kecik…


Selepas itu…

Elsa loves to follow Mummy around. Mummy mandi, ada orang teman kan. Mummy on the john pun, ada je budak perempuan yang tercegat depan pintu dok membebel pasal Dina lah (she doesn’t like this one), Soleha (she sits next to her), Sophia (Dina had been trying to make Elsa sit next to Sophia. For some reason Dina wants Soleha to sit alone… Hmm….) and the one that she mentions all the time….Hakim (loves to usik her, kacau dia and it seems that they spent most of their school time talking to each other. Again, hmmm……).

She especially loves it when I garden. If I water the plant, she would totter behind. If I complain, she would agree and tolong bebel sekali. Her acara favourite ? Digging.

“Are we digging today, Mummy ? Are we ?”

Kalau jawapannya yes, melompat lah dia and terus cari spade.

Satu hari as I was digging, I stumbled upon a worm. Apalagi menjerit lah aku. I was sitting on the patio and Elsa was on a stone tile that we use to make a pathway, in front of me. I jumped and screamed for my husband. Elsa joined in the hoopla.

Dan took his sweet time to inspect the screaming because I think he expected as much. When Dan scooped up the poor thing, Elsa was still standing on the tile. She looked so cute screaming with her eyes squeezed shut. Dan had to scoop her up and put her at a safe place where she and Mummy took time to collect themselves.

Then we resumed our gardening activities. She as usual talked happily while Mummy half listened when suddenly I heard,

Elsa : You don’t be scared okay. If the worm comes, you don’t worry okay. I am here. I will take care of you.

I looked at her and she was in profile, looking at me, nodding her head while her hands busy digging for whatever.

Elsa : Okay, Mummy ? Okay ? You don’t be scared, okay ?

Mummy : Okay.

Babah who was sitting near us, snorted.

Babah : Ti ! Worm !!

And melompat lah protector aku tadi, menjerit macam orang gila.

Hmm……

Very funny, Titi...

Last week we had our buka puasa at TGI in Subang Parade. We were totally at lost of what to eat, ho-hummed the whole day when Mummy suggested TGI, for lack of a better choice… well Babah did suggest Sushi King but Mummy was unsure of how well it will go with an empty stomach.

Anyway, while we ate, Aunty Wawa called to say that she has some bananas from her own trees for us. We swung by her house on the way home. While Dan put the bananas in our trunk, aunty Wawa asked Titi where she had her buka but my daughter just grinned. Not wanting to appear rude, Mummy helpfully answered, “TGI…”. To her surprised, Titi was aghast at her answer.

“Tak ! Kita tak makan TGI !!” She said, face in a frown.

Mummy’s frown matches hers, very much puzzled.

“Eh ? Tadi kita kan makan TGI ?”

“Taaakk ! Kita tak makan TGI !” She insisted. It was mind boggling. So much so Mummy searched her brain trying to remember where she actually had her dinner an hour ago. Was her Parmesan Chicken a dream ? She remembered complaining to Babah the food was room temperature.

“Habis tu kita pegi makan mana tadi ?” Asked Mummy.

Without missing a beat, she answered in all earnestness, “Kedai mamak !!” Mummy’s frown deepened as she had never been so perplexed in her whole entire life.

“Kedai mamak ? Hang gila apa, Ti !! Tadi kan kita pegi makan TGI ?” Man, Titi had Mummy so confused she was wondering if she had imagined sending her baju for alteration at Subang Parade just now.

Luckily, Babah entered the car and off we go.

“Ti, what’s wrong ? Kenapa Titi cakap kat Aunty Wawa kita pegi makan kedai mamak ?”

“Takde apa-apalah…” Said she, shrugging her delicate shoulders and sat down. I heard Umar gave a little laugh.

What is going on ? Are they secretly trying to make Mummy crazy ?

Hmmm……

Perangai puasa Umar and Elsa

Today is the 22nd day of puasa and I am proud to say that my darling son belum sehari pun ponteng puasa. Hopefully he won’t start after this entry is published he he….

Anyway, I never thought that it would be so easy to teach him to puasa considering how much he likes to eat. “Mum…. I can’t help it. I have a big appetite…” is his reason every time I try to discuss his weight.

So… good boy. Keep it up.

Elsa considering that she doesn’t eat that much takes a lot of effort to puasa. Everyday when I get home she would announce that she is starting to puasa and by the time buka, she would be panting and pleading hunger. Itu baru sejam.

So Elsa… next year you start pukul 5 ptg pulak, kay….. and by darjah satu puasa penuh macam abang.

Ana nih...

Yesterday Dan and I arrived home before Umar did. While I was changing my bed sheets, Umar came back and I heard Yana downstairs. Tak sempat turun Bibik came up with Yana in tow. I looked outside and Cik Ta was just backing out of the driveway.

Seram gak sebab Yana ni bukannya nak ngan orang sangat. Yang dia sayang Cik Ta je. Orang lain sekejap okay, sekejap tak nak kawan. Like when we took her and her sister out shopping for shoes. Dengar je I was to take them to buy shoes, nampak aku je terus terkam. She slept in the car on the way home and when she woke up, Dan lalu depan pun dia marah. Itu lah Yana. Kacang lupakan kulit kata Dan yang keluarkan duit beli baju and kasut raya… he he…

Aku tengok dia tersengih-sengih kat aku, I thought .. “Hmmm okay kot…..”. I love having her and her sister around because I really do love them….

Anyway, fed her, played with her took pictures, posing sana posing sini and baru nak buka suddenly, “Cik Ta ane ?” Sudah. Dan and I looked at each other.

“Cik Ta o-ok lah Ana…” Said me.

“Cik Ta ANE ?” She said. Muka comel sungguh.

“O-ok lahh… “ Said me. Dan had started rummaging the cabinet looking for something that would interest her.

“Tak… Cik Ta tak o-okkk !!” She answered, going round and round the kitchen.

“Lah… Ana kata nak pegi Teko (Tesco) kan ?” She stopped and looked interested.

“Ha…. Tapi Cik Ta ane ?”

“Ana nak beli apa ?” Said me trying to distract her and mentally strangling Cik Ta.

“Bubbles ! Yeay !!” She said, jumping up and down. Just before buka, Bibik successfully found something that she likes, and plopped her in front of the telly with Elsa.

Took her upstairs after that and while Dan and I prayed, she jumped up and down the bed with Elsa, pretending to be bunnies. Yang tensionnya when she is in a bedroom, the door must be closed. Instructions of “Tutup intu (pintu) Bah/Mummy/Umar/Titi” were given out frequently. Raja sungguh !!

Went to Tesco and in the car she listed out her needs, “Ana nak bubbles and ebit…” Dan looked at me. “Ape kebendanya pulak tu ?” Aku pun tak tahu.

Then she sang “Ana nak ebit. Ana nak beli ebit..” over and over again.

Finally it hit me. “Ohh… rabbit kot Dan….” Their rabbits died 2 weeks after it became Ana’s and Esya’s, which is quite a good record really when you compared to two small turtles that died after two days belonging to Umar and Elsa.

Suddenly she whipped out a book and showed it to us. “Ni !! Ebit ni ! Ebit ni ! Okay Bah ?” She said, fat finger pointing at picture of a rabbit. Babah and Mummy sengih aje, picturing the trouble brewing ahead. But Ana is a good girl, really.… senang pujuk….

Sampai-sampai Teko I showed her a book with a picture of a rabbit in front of it. She grabbed it and declared “Ini Ana punya, okay ?” Yelah, Na. Suka hati. Elsa also took a book but Umar couldn’t find anything that he likes. However he was insistent that he should buy something also as adik-adik dapat barang. Baru nak nasihat, he said “Mummy how would you feel if other people have something and you don’t ?” I chose to ignore him especially since he found some toy cars that took his fancy. You have so many of those Umar, tak payahlah…

Anyway, in the car I gave Ana the jelly cups she requested. Elsa asked for one. “Tak leh. Ni Ana nya…” Which is normal for Ana. She will give in eventually but you have to work hard for it.

“Give me some lah…. Kan banyak tuh…. ?” I am very proud of Elsa the way she treats Yana. Although she is the baby of the house and Dan’s parents’ youngest grandchild, she is very patient with Yana. Untuk a little girl yang tak ada adik, dia memang pandai mengalah.

“Ana nangis kang, Titi …” Warned Ana. Tergelak Babah and Mummy kat depan.

After that Yana wanted to sit on my lap. She then took our gate remote and said “Ana nak umah Mummy….” Dan and I looked at each other. Baru sat dah menggagau cari Cik Ta, whole night ?

“Ana nak ukak gate. Umar bukak Umar tutup aje. Ana ulak…” She said, her face in a frown.

“Ana tak nak ayah ke ?” I asked, trying to dissuade her. I would love for her to stay with me, in fact tinggal terus pun tak pe, but I know she would be looking for her father and my mother nanti.

“Ayah ? Oohh….. ayah…” Her face lit up, thinking about her father.

Dan and I sengih lega but…. “Ayah esok…” She added, giving us a lovely smile.

Aduih !!

When we got to my mom’s house, we saw her father and sister outside. Esya was holding Ana’s pampers and pyjamas. Apparently they were about to fetch her. My brother wagged his finger at her.

“Naughty girl…. Pegi tak cakap ayah !!”

“Ana nak ido umah Mummy !!” She announced. Ayah held his daughter tight.

“Nanti okay ? Weekend ni kita tidur rumah Mummy, kay ?”

“Ana nak umah Mummy !!” she said as we drove off.

Sayang Ana… tonight we try okay ? Bawak Kakak sekali.

Yana yang sangat naughty...

Yana ni memang tau. Two days ago we sent my mom to the clinic. Demam, biasalah kan. Anyway, when we got to the house Mum had some cucur udang batter for me and therefore went inside to get it. My nieces heard my arrival and Esya came down to greet me.

“Give Mummy a hug Esya…” requested me and she happily obliged. I hugged her and hugged her and commented on her nice smell. “Esya dah mandi dah !!” Said she triumphantly. Trust me it is no mean feat to get that girl to mandi before 9 pm. “Cik Ta mandikan and letak bedak… Wangikan, Mummy ?” She said. My eyes followed her upstairs when I saw Yana at the top of the stairs.

“Marilah bawah. Give Mummy a kiss, Na !” She ignored me but her eyes never left me. I waved goodbye and was about to get to the door when she said, “Mummy apa ?” Went back to the stairs and with Umar hot on my heels, hoping for a chance to go upstairs.

“Come down and give Mummy a kiss, boleh ?” She nodded and puckered her lips nicely. She even made the kissing-puckering sound. I raced up the stairs and was halfway when I noticed she had run away.

“Ko ni memanglah, Na ! Dahlah Mummy nak balik. Bye !!” I dragged Umar to the door when again I heard a “Mummy apa ?” Still hoping for a good smacker, I went back to the stairs and again requested for a kiss. She again nodded and puckered and I fell hook, line and sinker for it again. Halfway up the stairs, my Mum said, “Dia dah lari lagi, La !” And sure enough, she wasn’t there waiting for me.

“Dah lah, Na !! Mummy nak balik…” Said I and I could hear her laughing. Memang le Ana ni… Nanti Mummy ajuk kang….Umar got into the car laughingly, commenting how so cute and naughty Ana is. When I entered the car, he was already telling his Babah and adik the story of how Ana had cleverly duped his mother.

Hmmm……

Anak-anak ku yang kuat merepek…

Thursday was our 9th wedding anniversary. Babah took us all out for buka puasa at the Royale Bintang at The Curve. The food was rather good and at RM 60 is okay compared to other places.

Don’t know why but Elsa dok asyik nak termuntah while we were enjoying our food and had to take her to the ladies 3 times. When she came back to our table after her last visit, all tired from the trips, she muttered in her ice-cream bowl, “What the heck is going on here ?”

Aii ? Apa ini ? Babah and Mummy looked sternly at her.

“What ?” She asked, eyes huge, so much like her abang.

“That is not a nice thing to say, Ti. Where do you learn all these stuffs, eh ?”

“Mostly from tv, Mum…” Answered the brother before I sempat nak membebel lagi. I looked at him, stuck out my tongue and continued eating. Ada saja jawapannya, walaupun he is not the recipient of the bebelans.

Then after sahur, Umar asked me to go back to the bedroom with him. Biasalah selepas hari Khamis je Umar yang super penakut tambah penakut sebab tengok cerita ‘Kekasih Ku Seru’ (which he says as ‘Kekasih Kan Seru’).

Mummy pun naik le atas teman anak yang I am sure lagi 2 tahun will be taller than Mummy. Sekarang pun kasut dah sama saiz. I have lost some precious stuffs during the move and instead of lying on the bed next to him, I was going about the room, trying to figure out if I had secreted it and forgot about it or worse if someone had stolen it.

“What are you doing, Mum ?” Asked my son as I raba-ing my closet.

“Nothing…. Just going crazy…” I decided I had enough and plopped beside him. I tossed and turned.

“Why can’t you sleep, Mum ?” Asked my son, hugging his precious Emot and Floppy Head.

“I don’t know. I just can’t.”

“I can’t sleep, too….” Said he. He looked just like when he was a baby at that exact moment.

“Why ?”

“Well… I have so many things in my head. Fear, thoughts, emotions… and happiness…” He closed his eyes and opened them again, showing me his huge innocent eyes.

I stared at him.

“Ngko le orang yang paling merepek dalam dunia ni, Umar…” I told him with a laugh.

“Who ?”

“You !!”

And he laughed.

“Takde lah, Mummy…” and snuggled closer to me. Soon he was asleep. My baby.

Ana Ayang Kakak !!

As a rule when I drive the car with my kids at the back, there will be fights. Now when I have 2 extra girls, fights are a sure thing.

“Ana ayang Kakak !!” Ana announced kelmarin. Elsa who loves being a kakak was in despair. But she soldiered on, knowing that Yana is still a baby and likes to bestow and withdraw favours at a whim. By the way Kakak means Esya. She is basically saying that she only loves her sister.

Elsa took her Kitty and offered it to Yana, to fish for her love of course. “Ana nak Kitty tak ?”

“Ana ayang Kakak !!” Said Ana defiantly, arms crossed.

“Yelah, tapi Ana nak tak Kitty ?”

“Ana ayang Kakak !!”

“Okay, tapi Ana nak Kitty tak ?”

Suddenly, “Ti, jangan masuk campur Ti. Every time you say that she will say the same thing. It is better if you just be quiet…” Kata abangnya Elsa pulak.

“I just want to give her the Kitty !!” Protested Elsa.

“Ana ayang Kakak !!” That girl has that on record, I tell you.

“See ? See ? I told you….” Said Umar.

“Nobody wants to be my friend…” Complained Elsa, already in merajuk mode (bibir terjuih, crossed arms).

Umar hugged his sister’s shoulders. “It’s okay Ti. I told you kan that I will be your friend. Best friends forever, okay Ti ?” Said he, smiling indulgently at his sister. Aduih lah merepeknya budak ni... what a girl.

Elsa grinned at her brother. As I was laughing, I heard another adamant “Ana ayang Kakak !!”

Okay lah, Ana……..

(Tapi 5 minutes after that she suddenly said “Ana ayang Titi, kay ?” They were hugging cheek to cheek and Ana said again “Ana aaaa…yang Titi…” And Titi pun was very much contented… Budak – budak…)

No wonder Umar marah

Some mornings Umar would wake up complaining about Elsa “ She talked and talked and talked, Mummy. Kacau saja orang tidur… I cannot sleep !! ” Elsa would wear her guilty look and Mummy and Babah would laugh about it, thinking how cute of Elsa malam-malam ajak abang borak.

But things ceased to be cute on Saturday. We moved house and since we are still unsure of the security of that area, we had the kids sleeping with us.

Lights out and Elsa and started talking. “Ti !! Can you please be quiet ? I want to sleep …” Mummy and Babah smiled delightedly in the dark, thinking how privileged we were to finally live the experience.

Elsa ignored him and kept on talking. About Hakim who is her classmate and what she did with Esya that day and what nots. “ Ti !! Umar nak tidurlah !! ” Pleaded Umar again.

“But I cannot sleep !! I cannot sleep, Um !” Came the reply and the chatter went on.

Ntah apa-apa benda yang dia cerita but she talked and talked and talked until finally, “Ti ! Diam Ti ! Abah nak tidur …”

The room was silent. 5 minutes after that we heard her thrashing about on her mattress. Pulak.

Finally Dan invited her to sleep on the bed with us. She still can’t sleep and was thrashing about. Sekejap ke kiri sekejap ke kanan. Endless sighs and moans escaped her lips. We didn’t sleep either.

Teruk sungguh. Patut le kadang-kadang Umar susah bangun pagi.

Time Machine

“Mummy….” Said Umar 2 weeks ago. I was already on the sejadah, and was about to say my Bismillah. Umar though had done his Maghrib duty, had asked for forgiveness and good results in his exam from Allah SWT ( to save his behind, of course ) and was still on the mat. He was looking at the telly when he called me.

“If we have a time machine, we can go back to the day Cik Shera died…” My heart almost stopped. “We can stop her before she gets to the bus stop Mummy and ask her to brake….” He said. “No… ! Better still if we ask her to wear seat belt, kan Mummy ?” He added.

“Well…. yeah…..” was all I could muster.

Of course I cried while I prayed.

When I was done, I found him reading the Muqaddam. “I miss Cik Shera !!” he suudenly announced and bawled his eyes out. And he howled and wailed and weeped. I was really baffled by his sudden grief but I joined him anyway. There was I with my little man, hugging each other, having a good cry.

“I wish I am a scientist … I can build the time machine now…. “ He sobbed. I didn’t say anything because I wish I had studied harder during my Engineering degree, become a super engineer and was building the damn machine right now !!

Ampun, Ya Allah.

Mami ! Ngok ! Ngok !

“Mami ! Mami ! Look ! Ngok ! Ngok !” Called my darling Yana. I was lying on my mom’s very comfy bed, watching the telly when Yana burst into the room, brandishing a purple Push Pop at my face.

“Ha ? Apa dia ?” Said I. Yana is so gorgeous (like I have always maintained, she looks like me – well I do look like my brother when we were babies, soo…... Anyway, only my Tok Cik, which is her Tok Nek, Yana and myself who like to put our hands behind our backs when we stand or walk, so she is just like me…. He he ) that whenever she calls me I will not miss the opportunity to look at her exquisite face.

“Okay… Mami ngok, kay…” Said she, preparing me for the wonders of the Push Pop. She took off the lid, and slowly pushes the candy out by pushing its retractable bottom.

“Haa… !!!!” She announced proudly, face beaming as she waved the now visible candy.

“Waa…. Pandainya Ana ni……” Ha ha……

She sucked the candy triumphantly then offered it to me.

“Mami nak ?”

“Nak…” Said I. I was leaning for a taste, tongue out when she yanked it away.

“Tak boleh !!” She announced and ran from the room.

Kureng punya budak…. He he…

Because Umar was born in England

“Mummm….. my friends at school said I am a Christian…” Said Umar on Saturday.

“Eii ? Why ?”

“They said because I was born in London… Saya dah kejar dia orang dah…” Said he sadly.

He he….

“Alah, Umar…. They are children and they do not know any better. You explain lah to them even though you were born in England you are still a Muslim. Umar sembahyang, mengaji, puasa… kan ?”

He nodded sadly.

“Takpelah Umar. Let them be…. Just ignore them. Don’t fight with them okay, just walk away….” Said I again.

“Mumm…. My friend Hazim kan cakap if people make me sad, don’t listen to them and to go to your happy place….”

Laa… ingat Umar je yang merepek…. But that was very good advice Hazim. I thank Hazim and his mother for their wisdom.

“That was a very nice thing to say, Umar. You have a good friend there, okay ?” Said I. “By the way… where is your happy place ??”

He smiled. “A very dangerous Hot Wheels track….” He perked up and was soon lost in his Hot Wheels tracks.

Thank you again Hazim and Mummy. Appreciate it.

Azizul ?

Last week Elsa came home with a straight scar, a gash, on her neck. It was quite long and when we saw it, the scar was still red.

“Who did this to you ? Sakit ke ?” Asked Mummy.

“Tak…. Tak sakit… Azizul kat sekolah buat…” Said she.

“Why did he do this to you ? Is it because he likes you ? He wants you to be his girlfriend ?” I teased.

She blushed and gave me a “Taaak… laah….”. He he…..

When we were getting ready for bed, I realised that I hadn’t heard anything from her brother. Impossible…

“Um !! Nampak tak apa jadi kat leher adik ?”

“Leher tu apa, Mummy ?”

“Aiyoo !! Neck lah. Neck. See ?” I pointed at the gash. He had a horrified look on his face when he saw it.

“Sapa buat tu, Ti ?” Asked the very concerned brother.

“Azizul….” Answered my daughter in a small voice, playing the victim although I know it doesn’t hurt.. well anymore that is.

“Azizul ? Why did he do that to you, Ti ?”

Titi just looked at him and I decided to test the fire a bit……

“What are you going to do about it, Um ? Somebody hurt your sister.”

“Slap his face !!” He announced. Pulak…

“No, lah. Don’t use violence lah…”

“Mummy… you tell Cik Ta to pick up me first from school tomorrow. You tell Cik Ta that, okay ?” Said he, face all serious.

I stifled my giggle. “Okay, Um..”

He looked at the gash again. “Sakit tak, Ti ?” He asked.

Titi sniffed imaginary tears (or maybe snot) and nodded. Umar’s anger was suitably refreshed.

“You tell Cik Ta to pick me up first, okay ?” Before I could agree, he added, “But what shall I do ? What shall I do to him, Mum ?”

Wa ha ha ha ha !! Adui le, Umar.

Hmm…. That question is actually quite crucial. My answer could potentially turn my son into a hooligan and became a brother just like mine. I don’t want another (actually me goading him is already quite bad…. but moving on…) Syafiq in terms of brotherly conduct.

“Okay… why don’t you just tell him that it was not nice of him to do that to your sister. Maybe you should ask him if tak sengaja ke or memang deliberately wanted to hurt your sister…..” Said I carefully.

Then I can’t resist adding, “If you mess with my sister, you mess with me !!” Mummy ni memanglah.

He then put his arms around his sister and steered her to their room. “Come, Ti. Let me look at it properly, okay ?”

The next day he complained that Cik Ta failed to pick him up first. 2 days after the incident though, Cik Ta did pick him up first and when they arrived at Titi’s school, he was sent to fetch Elsa.

Cik Ta waited and waited and waited. When Cik Ta finally went to search for her niece and nephew she found the so-called protective abang playing football with some kids.

“I couldn’t find Azizul !!” Was his defence when he saw Cik Ta standing with her hand on her waist.

“Kurang asam punya Umar ! Dia biar aku tunggu lama-lama. Dianya pergi main bola !! Aku ni tunggulah macam orang gila !!” Complained Cik Ta later.

Apalah Umar oiiiii….. Nak belasah Azizul konon…

Ants and laser beams

Many Saturdays ago found me driving my husband’s car. I had to send my car to the workshop (Courtesy of Elsa and the window screen episode). Amelia followed our car to the shop and then sent us home. Babah borrowed Atuk’s car to work.

We were in the car on the way home when we noticed there were quite a large number of ants running around the dashboard. I instructed Umar to open the glove compartment and lo-and-behold, there were loads of ants swarming a packet of sweets !!

Umar quickly slammed the compartment door shut. Some ants managed to escape and was running around the car.

“Ti ! Quick ! You kill all the ants that go this way and I will handle the ants around here !” He instructed. However Umar tried to kill the ants with the tip of his finger rather than slamming them with his palm. So bloody dainty.

“Umar, macam tu mana jadi. That is not going to work !’ Said I. “Buat macam ni !!” and I hit the ants with my palm and showed the amount of carnage on it.

Umar of course was hesitant. “Taknak lah, Mummy ….” But he was forced to do so by the sheer number of ants running out of their cave in the glove compartment. Maybe they were attracted to the light.

I managed to produce a face towel and my children wiped the ants away. Easy peezy lemon squeezy. Success !!

However after 5 minutes, a few more managed to get out and was running around the dashboard again. Umar screamed. “Mummy !! There’s more !! Oh my god !! So geli !!”

I then heard my daughter groaned. She rolled her eyes.

“Umar….” She sighed. “We are the giant, Umar. We are bigger. We don’t have to be scared of them… They are scared of us, Um….”

He he… she had this weary look on her face, so funny like she was thinking when will her brother grow up. Semut pun nak takut ke Um ni ?

Last Sunday we went to Ikea to furnish our new kitchen. As usual we trooped to The Curve and certainly browsed through the weekend bazaar. Naturally we stopped at a toy stall and even though Babah warned that we will only be looking at stuffs, my kids managed to come home with a toy each.

Anyway while we were there, Umar picked up this finger laser thingy, where you strap this small laser guns on each of your four fingers. Umar read the packet and instructions then looked up at the guy manning the booth.

“Is it real laser beams or just lights ?” He asked.

“Aa? Just normal lights lah…” Replied the guy.

“Oh… okay that is good. Because if it is real laser beams, it can seriously hurt people. Laser beams can slice people you know !!”

Waa ha ha ha ha… !!!

Your little sister

How do I find a word that means Umar and Elsa ?

Hmm…..

As usual on Saturday my kids will be with Ivy until 1 pm. When I arrived to pick them up, Ivy informed me that Umar used up the last of his art block and needs a new one. Elsa jumped in delight because she wanted a new one, too.

I sighed and waited for the tears and protests.

Ivy lives by a golden rule, do not spoil your children and gives in to all their demands. The sub-rule of that rule is, there is no reason to replace something that is not finished yet.

Therefore Ivy gently told Elsa that since she still has 2 pages left on her art block, she is not getting a new one today. She will only get a new one when hers is all used up. Elsa protested, “It’s not fair because Umar got a new one !” And then cried.

I agree with Ivy. What she said is true and I although I cannot stand the crying, my children needs to understand about a teacher’s authority. Kids nowadays lack that. No more respect for teachers.

And so I dragged my crying child to the car. She didn’t stop crying. Neither did she stop with the “It’s not fair !!” declarations.

Umar being Umar tried to console his sister.

“Ti… come and baring at me, Ti…” he offered. Elsa dutifully put her head on his lap, still sobbing. He stroked her hair and face lovingly. “Ti !” He exclaimed. “You are heavy, Ti ! I can feel you are heavy !! Look how you have grown !!”

Aku tergelak kat depan sorang – sorang. He played with his sister’s desire to grow big and tall. Suddenly Elsa sat down.

“Ummm…..” She sobbed. “Next time can you wait for your sister ?”

“Wait for what ?”

“Can you not finish your art block first ? Can you wait for your little (she stressed this bit) sister to finish together ?” She pleaded. Aku dah start sengih.

“Itulah, Ti. I don’t understand why we didn’t finish together… Oh… I think I know… yang hari tu Umar tak datang sebab demamm…..” Said my son, wiping the tears away from his little sister’s face with hand.

Aduhai anak ku.

Elsa

Elsa…. Elsa kena sayang abang because abang loves you very, very, very much.

Saturday night you guys were fooling around, wrestling and such when your ulcer bled. You showed it to your precious abang and he inspected your mouth. He then took you to the bathroom, opened the tap and instructed you to gargle some water. He scooped water to your mouth many, many times before he is satisfied that the blood is gone. He wiped your face dry with a towel before hugging you and telling you everything is okay. I can’t sleep that night as I keep thinking about it and I want you to think about that incident too if you ever decided that you hate your brother.

Or what about when you swapped your iced-tea for my sirap limau. Umar was aghast that I allowed you to drink something with ‘biji’ in it. During the course of the meal he kept reminding you to watch out for the ‘biji-biji’ and whenever you took a sip, his eyes watched the beverage like a hawk, making sure none of the offending ‘biji’ is swallowed by his little sister.

Remember that Elsa whenever you think what a jerk your big brother is.

Please also try to remember throughout the course of your life that you love your brother very much too.

We were on the way home from watching Get Smart and the 2 of you of course played rough at the back seat. Umar accidently socked you at the mouth and hit your ulcer. You must be in an excruciating pain but you hid it well so that Umar wouldn’t be in trouble. You kept saying, “I’m okay, Um… I’m okay… Tak sakit pun..” when Umar gave you his once over but I saw you winced in pain. That was really nice of you my darling and I know you did it because you love your abang.

But what I will always remember is how much you re your abah’s little girl. I am not ashamed to admit that I am jealous of the amount of love you bestow on your abah. You took out his picture from my purse and showed it around, saying how cute your father is. He he…

Well… last night, I was cooking when you approached me. “Mummy…. Abah is hurt …” Said you. I asked who had hurt your Abah and you with a disbelief look said, “You did, Mum !! It was you ! Abah sekarang dah sakit kepala !!”

I have to say that I was shocked that you decided to confront me. I tried denying it. You insisted, “Mum… Abah terantuk kepala when you slam dunk him !!” You shook your head when you said that, one hand on your forehead.

For the record I didn’t slam dunk him… I was just trying to wrestle the remote control from him and in that process he hit his head on the bed headboard. In all fairness it was all Rashdan’s fault because he stuck his tongue out to me when I requested for the remote nicely.

“Mana ada… I did no such thing !!” I protested in mock horror. Again you rested your forehead on your palm and shook your head. “Ada !! You did it Mum !! Now Abah is hurt …”. You stood there, looking at me accusingly and I felt so wretched for hurting your Abah eventhough he deserved it (and really all in good fun lah… no biggie…..).

But the thing that I will remember the most is the way you, Elsa at 5 years old, spelt teh-o-ais … T-O-S… a bit of English and at the T and Indonesian at the S but it was music to my ears… my funny, bunny….

Kelakarlah Titi ni...

My darling Elsa,

I spent the most wonderful weekend with you. You are 5 and so full of character, I am compelled to write this to you, in hope that you will not lose your funny side, your berangan side when real life hits you.

I was watching telly last weekend when from the corner of my eye, I saw you came out of your room, holding a tall, gold gift box with pretty gold ribbons on the lid. You put the box in front of the door and slammed the door shut. I was intrigued and decided to watch you instead of the telly. It was the best decision I made.

I saw you opened the door, and squealed in delight, “A present for me ? What a nice surprise !! ”. You bent down to pick up the gift and skipped happily back to your room. What did Mummy do ? I roared with laughter and mirth and disbelief. Apa hal ko, nak ?

After your art class, I took you and your brother Umar to the local shop and abang found the Pokemon chips that he is collecting. Of course you took one too and at home when you eagerly opened the packet, I picked one chip out and was amused when I saw you got Minun. You know how I like to tease and I let out a laugh and said, “Ha ha… tengok ni… Titi dapat Pokemon nama Minum !!!” Umar joined in the laughter but you didn’t. You were angry and started crying.

I was very much surprised at your tears and told you that it was a joke. I expected laughter. You informed me in between sobs that you didn’t think my joke was funny and cried even louder.

Darling… you know how much mummy hates crying and therefore I asked you to do your crying in your room. You came back to me after a few minutes, traces of your waterworks gone.

“Mum…. Why don’t you say Minum again, Mum !!” Said you.

I didn’t want to do it because I didn’t want to risk another crying fit but you insisted on it. With a sigh I said, “Titi dapat Minum ?” and you laughed. You laughed and laughed and laughed. “It’s so funny, Mummy !! Ha ha ha … Minum…..Ha ha ha.”

If you remember this episode and all you can think of was my look of horror, please forgive me because I didn’t get the joke this time around.

“See Mummy ?” Said you. “I tricked you…I knew it was funny but I tricked you. Saya pretend saja cry…..” You screwed up your face and went “Wa ! Wa ! Wa” before you laughed again and said, “ See ? I pretend saja to cry… I tricked you Mum ! Ha ha….. I tricked you…” and all I can think about it is either you are sick or you are trying to apologise and make amends by laughing to my jokes 10 minutes too late.

Whatever it is honey.. you will never be boring. Kalakarlah Titi ni.

Happy Father's Day !!

Semalam was a sad Father’s Day for Dan. Kesian dia.

Dan’s eldest sister accompanied her husband to Terengganu for a business trip so her kids were sent to Atuk and Wan for 1 night. The last time was saw our kids was Saturday afternoon and we only got them back almost Maghrib on Sunday.

We had sushi for dinner just the 2 of us on Saturday. Had breakfast very much just the two of us. And on the way home from lunch (sans our kids, of course) we saw Atuk’s car filled to the brim with children going the opposite way.

When we got home, Dan slowed his car at the house’s front door.

“Ada tak kasut budak2 tu ?” Asked him.

The shoes were on the owners’ feet somewhere…. Not near their parents.

“Takde….” Said he slowly and sadly.

That morning we were at a clinic. I went in for a check-up and when I came out Dan was playing peek-a-boo with a baby. When he saw me, he of course asked how things were and we talked. The baby threw a hissy-fit because Dan ignored him.

He he…

Then when my name was called for payment, Dan went with me to the counter and the baby started wailing. Dan had to go to him, explained that he had to go home and held the baby for a while… It was a tearful goodbye.

“Dan… bagitau Elsa ada orang nak ambik Babah dia…. Mesti dia tension…” Suggested me gleefully. However I didn’t take into account that Elsa was having the time of her life with her cousins and parents just don’t fit in the picture.

“Ti… tadi ada baby nak ambik Babah Titi !!” Said me when I managed to grab her when she wheezed past me.

“What ?” Said she distractedly.

“Ada baby tadi suruh Abah balik dengan dia… Ikut dia balik pegi rumah dia….”

She looked at me and said, “Are you sure ?” and wiggled herself free.

Babah and I exchanged looks.

When I managed to stop her next, Babah recounted the story. And the little madam said, “I know already !! You told me the story !!” Said she, angry that we disrupted her fun.

Nak cakap apa ?

When both of them finally returned to us, all flushed and sweaty from the very entertaining day, Dan and I instinctively wrapped each other in a tight coil.

“Baru sekarang nak cari Abah ?” Asked Dan.

Elsa was kissing his arm and Umar was about to hop into the bed.

“Bah…. “ Said Elsa.

“Abah sedih tau… Abah nak lari pergi batu belah batu bertangkup….” He threatened. That is of course the cue for Umar to cry. Elsa showered us with more kisses. Me ? I was rather smothered in the coil and was not in any position to talk.

“Waa…. Waaa….” Abahnya nangis. Umar ‘s bawling went an octave higher and Elsa laughed nervously.

When I managed to surface for air, I said “Umar kan Bah semalam dia plan nak bawak you pegi club… Nak swimming and and bowling ngan Abah… Wants to do something fun dengan Abah for Father’s Day (although the fun looks more for him that Abahnya).. Tapi hari ni all is forgotten Bah ….”

Umar sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.

“Kalau Abah tahu… Abah ikut baby tu balik…. At least dia sayang Abah… nak main dengan Abah…”

And si Elsa cakap, “Mana boleh. You are my Father !! You cannot follow other people…! ” Eyes huge with anger.

Oohh…. tadi... are you sure lah… you told me the story already lah.. Cousins dah balik…. baru ingat mak bapak ye….

Happy Father’s Day, Babah !!

Ye ke Mummy ?

We were waiting for Dan at one of Cineleisure many entrances (or exits) last Friday after watching Kung Panda (Movie review : Toksah cakap banyak just pi tengok. The most amazing, witty and hilarious movie this year…. Cannot say ever because takut ada yesteryear movies yang lagi kelakar that slipped my mind ).

Elsa and Umar were sitting underneath this very weird looking thing when I decided .. hmm…. I’m bored. So I set out to create some mischief.

“Oiii… korang ! Be careful.. !! That is an alien space ship !!”

Both of my kids looked shocked and instinctively looked up at the thing whose raised platform (the thingy was placed on a raised platform… it doesn’t have any platforms at all. The thing actually looked like a metal baobab tree…. Maybe…) provided them with a place to rest.

In a second they moved their butts and stood next to me, looking at the thingy. Elsa in wonder but Umar doubtfully. Dah besar kan.

“That is not a space ship….” Said he very cautiously.

“Yes it is…” I insisted. “Can’t you see the little green men inside ?”

“Mana ada…..”

“Ada…. It is an alien space ship lah….”
Umar looked at me… He was smiling in disbelief, eyes crinkled, brows furrowed. Elsa was just staring at it.

“Mum !! Mana ada. That is Data Scan lah…” There was a label there, stuck on it’s round head.

“What is Data Scan, Um ? What does it do ?”

“I don’t know. But it says there Data Scan….”

“Okay lah… but what is Data Scan ?”

“Stop it Mum. You are embarrassing me …” Cess…Mana ada orang kat situ. We were there alone…. He he…

“Um… I think Data Scan is the brand of the spaceship. You know…like Proton and Mercedes are car brands, right ? Well Data Scan is the brand of this spaceship !!”

“Mumm……” Said Elsa laughing nervously.

“Iye….Tengok tu. What on earth would look funny like that ? I have never seen it before. It must be from outer space. Maybe Mars….”

Abahnya datang.

“Abah ! Mummy kata ini space ship, Bah !! Ada alien ….” Said Elsa. I like seeing Elsa holding out her hand for her Abah to hold every time she sees him.

“A-ah… Memanglah… Dah jom… Karang dia lift off karang….” And we trooped out of the complex. Me smilingly at Dan, Dan menggeleng kepala at me, Elsa content with holding her Abah’s hand and Umar who kept looking back at that Data Scan thingy.

He he…

Little girls and little boys

“Little girls are the best thing in the world kan ?” Said I to me little girl.

“Yes… Said my daughter happily.”

I stroked her hair, felt the smoothness of her cheeks and rubbed her bare back. She was happy being the best thing in the world.

Then suddenly, “Tapi kan.. what about little boys ?” She asked, cocking her head.

“Why ?” Asked I.

“U-um is also very, very good, Mum…” Said she, brows furrowed. She didn’t look at me, but more into space.

He he….

We have that conversation numerous times and she always is very adamant that I have to find little boys wonderful, too.

Yesterday I asked her brother. There were just the 2 of us watching telly and he had his head on my shoulder.

“This is soooo comfortable, Mum. Because I am resting on your shoulder…” Said he.

I pinched his very taut and ample cheeks (sebijik macam Kung Fu Panda).

“Little boys are the best thing in the world, kan Um ?”

“Yes !!” He said happily.

Then…” What about little girls, Mum ?”

“What about them ?”

“Little girls are special, too.”

“Which one ? Which one is special ?”

“Everyone of them is special, Mum !! Really…. Little girls are nice too…. “

He he…. He didn’t mention names but I am satisfied. My darling boy…..

Elsa and rambutnya

“ Mum masa I pegi sekolah baby dulu-dulu kan..( Eii ? Sekolah baby mana ? This is your first time going to school lah ) I farted in front of my teacher…” Said my little girl to me with a laugh.

“ Really ? What did you do after that ? ” Oh my…..

“ I farted and then I walked away, Mum….” Said she.

He he.. comelnya.

But when it comes to her hair, di situ ada kurang comel. For some reason, my daughter likes getting her hair cut. She also likes having it cut at the mamak shop. Whenever her father and brother sought the services of the barber, she would whine and whine for the same treatment.

This time though Babah is adamant that she gets her hair cut at a more feminine place. So yesterday I took her to a salon in Shah Alam Mall. She came out with a neat bob and short fringes. Babah hated it (“ I thought I told you to give her a layered cut ? ” Said Babah to Mummy and Mummy replied, “ Then next time you bawak le anak you pergi sendiri, okay ? ”) but she totally loves it, although it was the same haircut she got from the mamak fella.

On the way home, Babah rolled down the car screens because we bought some food ( Babah’s pet peeves is cars that smells of food… It was just corn in cup, people…). After about 2 minutes, I heard my daughter shouted, “ Bah.. what are you doing ? Close the window Bah. My hair is ruined !! ” Babah didn’t hear because of the noise outside. I turned to look at her and saw her clutching her hair, face very unhappy.

“ Dan, tutup tingkap. Rambut anak awak tu dah bersepah… Marah dia…” Dan quickly rolled up the window.

“Now look at what you have done !!” She wailed. “My hair dah tak cantik !!”

Hmm…….

The next morning when Babah was bathing them, I heard her screaming, “Not my hair !! Not my hair !!” at the same time I heard the sound of the water came out of the shower nozzle. Aduih …. Susah ni…

She stormed out of the bathroom with a murderous look and some of her hair wet. When she got to me, she sobbed, “My hair is ruined !! Babah buat !!” Babah stood at the doorway looking helpless and….. damp.

I took our purple hairbrush out, turned on the hair dryer and tried my darnest to style her hair with the fresh-out-of-the-hairdresser’s look.

“Haa…. Kan dah cantik…. See ? See ?” Said I, pushing her to the mirror.

“Cantik ke, Mummy ?” Her eyes glistened. She preened and preened at herself.
Waaaa……. !! Macamana nak handle ni ? Tak nak bagi perasan and tak nak bagi merendah diri…

How do I balance that ?

Why can't it be mine ?

Dan called me from home yesterday. The lucky sod is on holiday before joining his new employer next month.

“Tadi pegi makan kat Sari Ratu dengan mak and abah dengan budak-budak.”

“Kay..” I was mono-syllabic due to jealousy.

“Anak awak si Elsa ni rupa-rupanya suka makan pari. Seketul dia belasah…” Reported the father.

“Sekarang ni tengah belasah potato crisps yang awak sorok dalam almari…” Said he again.

“Laa….. ada hantu raya ke budak ni ?” Asked I.

Dan then passed the phone to Elsa.

“Mummy… tadi we went to buy… apa Bah ? What did we buy just now dengan atuk ? Aa…. Massage chair….” Said my little girl.

“Lepas tu I sit in it and then that chair tu angkat my bontot !!”

He he….

“What are you doing right now ?” Asked I.

“Makan crisps….”

“Elsa ambik kat dalam my almari ke ? That is mine you know….” Said I. Saja je nak cari gaduh.

She went quiet. Then she said, “Why is it yours, Mum ? Why cannot it be mine ?”

My turn to be quiet. I just hate saying “Because I said so…” for some reason so I remained quiet.

He he….

Umar on a diet

I think my son is on a diet.

When we went to watch Iron Man, Umar refused snacks. My children only get to eat junk food at the cinemas but my baby boy, he waived away this treat last Wednesday night.

“Nothing for me, Mum. Thanks.” Was the answer. Dan and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows but didn’t say anything. Elsa offered him some of her Roller Coaster but he shook his head.

I made sandwiches for Sunday dinner and I usually team it up with crisps or cold potato salad. Malas punya pasal, I opened a bag of crisps. A huge bag. When I offered the bowl of crisps to Umar, he shook his head.

“No thank you. They are fattening, you know….”

Dan and I raised our eyebrows and watched him eat. He is truly on a diet because he didn’t even take one. Well… he did actually, then he caught himself, hand with crisp hovered on the bowl for awhile when he finally broke it in two and took a half piece.

“Takpelah Umar. Makan sikit takpe. Janganlah jadi habit makan hari-hari banyak-banyak. I have to watch my weight too but I still eat it. In moderation lah…” Said I.

He shook his head and drank more water.

Kesian… but he does need to loose weight. But… he is a baby kan…. Tapi kaki dia karang dok terdengkot lagi….

Hmmmm…………….. susah mau cerita

Everybody makes mistakes, Ti !

Ha ha… after berhu-ha hu-ha at my brother’s house (birthday party Alisha), things were tensed in the car on the way home. Itule… Tok Mi selalu pesan, “Jangan dok gelak2 sangat….. Karang nangis.” (In fact Dan likes to say that to me and my siblings a lot. Bila kita org gelak2 lebih sikit je… mula le keluar suara dia bagi warning. Adik2 aku dulu selalu looked at each other and then then tambah gelak double kuat. Lepas tu mula lah “Apalah abang Dan… jealous ke ?” Dan kemudian bertekak le si Rashdan dengan sesiapa antara kami berlapan…).

It was a good party because my brother had to give Umar a towel to wipe himself off his peluh. We had to that to him 3 times. Gila…. So on the journey home, Dan rolled down all 4 windows.

Entah macamana as he rolled them up again, at the same time Elsa pressed the window control down and the window on Elsa’s side became stucked midway. Angin lah orang tua tu. We went in my car pulak tu and everybody knows how notoriously incompetent Proton’s windows are. Bok bek, bok bek, bok bek si Rashdan berleter. Elsa remained quiet, as usual. That Ice-Queen. Umar would have been bowled over with tears but she remained composed.

Luckily we were able to put it to right back when we got home. I entered the house first and went straight up the stairs. My children were behind me.

“Do you feel bad, Ti ?” I heard Umar asked. I turned around and saw him hugging his sister by the shoulders. I looked away. I wanted to give them some privacy… he he…

I suppose Elsa nodded her head because Umar said, “It’s okay, Ti. Everybody makes mistakes. You didn’t mean it, kan ? Everybody makes mistakes. Okay, Ti ?”

And baru tu lah aku dengar anak aku nangis. I switched in the lights in their room and tengok2 both are naked and ready for an 11pm bath… Abang pimpin tangan adik masuk bathroom.

Hmmm……………….