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……..