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.