“Mummy… where is U-um ?” Asked my daughter one day. Both of us were upstairs reading and we haven’t seen Umar in a while. I suppose the room was too quiet for us…. He he..
“I don’t know… bawah kot….” I answered, trying to concentrate on my book, the very entertaining A Place Called Here by Cecilia Ahern.
“What is he doing ? Tak dengar apa-apa pun…” She said again.
I sighed.
“Maybe….he is eating ice-cream….” I was trying to get her to look for Umar. I want to read !!!
“Did you see him do it ?” She asked, eyes questioning.
O-oh….
“Errmmm….no… I used my imagination…” Said I, trying to put the blame back to her.
“Ha ha… Like me !!!” She announced happily.
Why did I feel that the table turned on me ?
Hmmm.......
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Very funny Elsa
Weeks ago… we were rushing to change to go to Secret Recipe for some impromptu cheese cake. The children curious at the sight of their parents rushing upstairs followed suit.
“Where are we going, Mum ?” Asked Umar.
“Pergi makan cake, nak ?”
Now Babah was only wearing kain pelikat at that time (he had taken off his t-shirt) and Mum in ¾ length pj bottom and a camisole. Now Mummy likes to tease so before Babah puts on a new t-shirt, Mummy quickly grabbed Babah’s hand and gave a cheery “Let’s goo…..”
This is how my children are different.
Umar didn’t bat an eyelid at our state of undress. In his head was only one thing, food. “Makan kat mana Mummy ?”
I didn’t answer as was busy pretending to leave the room. I looked at Elsa’s surprised face. Ha… so there is my source of entertainment. Her mouth was opened in a shock ‘O’, her finger wagged in her attempt to say something. I looked at her expectantly. Babah too.
“But you are naked…” She finally said. “You cannot go out like that…” Surprise turned into dismay.
Babah and Mummy broke into laughter. “You are funny, Mummy….” Said Elsa, not amused.
“Very funny…..” She said. Did I hear a hint of sarcasm there ?
Hmmmm………………
“Where are we going, Mum ?” Asked Umar.
“Pergi makan cake, nak ?”
Now Babah was only wearing kain pelikat at that time (he had taken off his t-shirt) and Mum in ¾ length pj bottom and a camisole. Now Mummy likes to tease so before Babah puts on a new t-shirt, Mummy quickly grabbed Babah’s hand and gave a cheery “Let’s goo…..”
This is how my children are different.
Umar didn’t bat an eyelid at our state of undress. In his head was only one thing, food. “Makan kat mana Mummy ?”
I didn’t answer as was busy pretending to leave the room. I looked at Elsa’s surprised face. Ha… so there is my source of entertainment. Her mouth was opened in a shock ‘O’, her finger wagged in her attempt to say something. I looked at her expectantly. Babah too.
“But you are naked…” She finally said. “You cannot go out like that…” Surprise turned into dismay.
Babah and Mummy broke into laughter. “You are funny, Mummy….” Said Elsa, not amused.
“Very funny…..” She said. Did I hear a hint of sarcasm there ?
Hmmmm………………
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Umar ada audition ?
I came home to a sick child yesterday.
In the morning Umar complained of dizziness but he seemed okay and was not making a fuss, therefore attended school.
But when I got home he complained of dizziness again and his face was flushed. He had a fever. So Mummy placed a cold towel on his forehead, when down to give him the last ubat demam and made him comfortable on her bed.
Enter Titi.
“Ti… I am sick, Ti…” Said the abang.
She glanced at him, then concentrated on the last Ferrero Rocher that I found for her.
“I know….” She said.
“Ti… abang demam… Tak kesian ke ?” I gently tell her.
“He was already sick just now…. I know already…” Eyes rolled.
Hmmm….. ada aje.
Then, “Umar tak mengaji ke ?” She asked.
He he… “So Umar tak pegi sekolah ?”
“Tak lah….” Said I.
“Alah….” Surprise, surprise that came from Umar. “I will miss music week… I have an audition tomorrow !!”
Eh ? For what lah ? “We are singing lagu Michael Jackson….”
Which one ?
“We Are The World…And I so want to sing…..”
Your teacher is lucky you are sick, said the mother of the boy who sings nasally. Very lah sengau nya…. He he…
In the morning Umar complained of dizziness but he seemed okay and was not making a fuss, therefore attended school.
But when I got home he complained of dizziness again and his face was flushed. He had a fever. So Mummy placed a cold towel on his forehead, when down to give him the last ubat demam and made him comfortable on her bed.
Enter Titi.
“Ti… I am sick, Ti…” Said the abang.
She glanced at him, then concentrated on the last Ferrero Rocher that I found for her.
“I know….” She said.
“Ti… abang demam… Tak kesian ke ?” I gently tell her.
“He was already sick just now…. I know already…” Eyes rolled.
Hmmm….. ada aje.
Then, “Umar tak mengaji ke ?” She asked.
He he… “So Umar tak pegi sekolah ?”
“Tak lah….” Said I.
“Alah….” Surprise, surprise that came from Umar. “I will miss music week… I have an audition tomorrow !!”
Eh ? For what lah ? “We are singing lagu Michael Jackson….”
Which one ?
“We Are The World…And I so want to sing…..”
Your teacher is lucky you are sick, said the mother of the boy who sings nasally. Very lah sengau nya…. He he…
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Umar and Nyang
Last Sunday I took my children, my mom and my grandma to Pasar Tani. It is a treat for my children since they could only go if there is a cancellation of their tennis class.
I didn’t particularly have anything to buy at Pasar Tani. Was just thinking of a leisurely walk with my kids, Umar testing his new Sponge Bob Squarepants brolly, eating copious amount of keropok lekor and ais krim potong.
But then… of course nothing went to plan.
My grandma… Wan to me.. Nyang to my kids…
How can I explain this ?
The moment she stepped foot on the market, she wandered off on her own, not caring where we were or what we were doing. To be fair, she did follow me whenever I directed her, but once we turned our back, she would start walking. We couldn’t stop at any stalls in fear that she would wander off. She didn’t have her mobile phone with her, so we were scared of losing her from our sight.
We were waiting for her to buy ikan masin, and while doing that we were playing with Umar and Elsa’s brollies, looking at other stalls, safe in the thought that she was just behind us. I looked over once and she was still there but when I looked the second time, she was gone. Umar and I panicked and started running like headless chickens when we spotted her buying fruit.
I took the fruit from her and off she went again and boy she was fast (at that point my mom had abandoned us in search for nasi kerabu. “you are not buying anything right ?” My mom asked and whoosh ! off she went, leaving me with her mother and my 2 kids. Aduih….), she wove around the human traffic and we lost sight of her again. Umar caught sight of her ahead and started running. “Nyang ! Nyang !” he cried. His face full a mixture of determination and anxiety. He never looked so mature..
He he….
Things calmed down when she got what she wanted. Then my mom came. Umar was complaining how hot the weather was and about his great-grandma. I tried to soothe him as best as I could, considering he had been a good soldier, looking out for his nyang.
“If you don’t want me to cry, Mum you have to buy something Ben 10…” Huh !
Handed my grandma to my mum and Umar took me to the designated stall. “I know where it is, Mum….” Oh pandai. Punya banyak gerai but you can remember where the Ben 10 stall is… cuba kalau aku suruh…. Ha… mula dah…. He he…
Anyway while both of my kids were looking at the toys (so glad they were cheap. RM 7 for an omnitrix… or something like that ), my mum called to say she is walking to the car already. Okay.
As we walked to the car, I being my usual self couldn’t resist a good prank.
“Um !! Where is Nyang ?”
“Aaaahh….not again…” He wailed and started looking around.
“I think we have lost her for good this time…” Said I.
“Never mind lah… let’s go….” I added and walked on. He looked at me strangely, cocking his head to the side. He was quiet.
“Do you want to leave Nyang here ?” I asked. Sometimes this a dangerous game, what if he said yeah, sure… ?
But luckily he said, “No…” and shook his head vigorously.
“Okay I tell you what… why don’t we go home first. The pasar habis pukul 1, we come back at that time when everybody is gone so it is easier to see her… She would be the first person we see….”
“That sounds like a plan….” He said slowly, unconvinced.
“I don’t think anybody wants to kidnap her. People usually kidnap children….” I reasoned.
“Well… yes….. but…. What about the kidnappers who have nothing to do ? They might want to kidnap nyang….”
Kah ! Kah ! Kah ! Kidnappers who have nothing to do….. he he…
Luckily at that time we were already at the stairs leading up to our car and there sat Nyang and Tok Mi.
“There she is ! That’s Nyang !!” He pointed with excitement and relief.
Nyang gelak sakan when I told her the story. Thank you Umar for caring.
I didn’t particularly have anything to buy at Pasar Tani. Was just thinking of a leisurely walk with my kids, Umar testing his new Sponge Bob Squarepants brolly, eating copious amount of keropok lekor and ais krim potong.
But then… of course nothing went to plan.
My grandma… Wan to me.. Nyang to my kids…
How can I explain this ?
The moment she stepped foot on the market, she wandered off on her own, not caring where we were or what we were doing. To be fair, she did follow me whenever I directed her, but once we turned our back, she would start walking. We couldn’t stop at any stalls in fear that she would wander off. She didn’t have her mobile phone with her, so we were scared of losing her from our sight.
We were waiting for her to buy ikan masin, and while doing that we were playing with Umar and Elsa’s brollies, looking at other stalls, safe in the thought that she was just behind us. I looked over once and she was still there but when I looked the second time, she was gone. Umar and I panicked and started running like headless chickens when we spotted her buying fruit.
I took the fruit from her and off she went again and boy she was fast (at that point my mom had abandoned us in search for nasi kerabu. “you are not buying anything right ?” My mom asked and whoosh ! off she went, leaving me with her mother and my 2 kids. Aduih….), she wove around the human traffic and we lost sight of her again. Umar caught sight of her ahead and started running. “Nyang ! Nyang !” he cried. His face full a mixture of determination and anxiety. He never looked so mature..
He he….
Things calmed down when she got what she wanted. Then my mom came. Umar was complaining how hot the weather was and about his great-grandma. I tried to soothe him as best as I could, considering he had been a good soldier, looking out for his nyang.
“If you don’t want me to cry, Mum you have to buy something Ben 10…” Huh !
Handed my grandma to my mum and Umar took me to the designated stall. “I know where it is, Mum….” Oh pandai. Punya banyak gerai but you can remember where the Ben 10 stall is… cuba kalau aku suruh…. Ha… mula dah…. He he…
Anyway while both of my kids were looking at the toys (so glad they were cheap. RM 7 for an omnitrix… or something like that ), my mum called to say she is walking to the car already. Okay.
As we walked to the car, I being my usual self couldn’t resist a good prank.
“Um !! Where is Nyang ?”
“Aaaahh….not again…” He wailed and started looking around.
“I think we have lost her for good this time…” Said I.
“Never mind lah… let’s go….” I added and walked on. He looked at me strangely, cocking his head to the side. He was quiet.
“Do you want to leave Nyang here ?” I asked. Sometimes this a dangerous game, what if he said yeah, sure… ?
But luckily he said, “No…” and shook his head vigorously.
“Okay I tell you what… why don’t we go home first. The pasar habis pukul 1, we come back at that time when everybody is gone so it is easier to see her… She would be the first person we see….”
“That sounds like a plan….” He said slowly, unconvinced.
“I don’t think anybody wants to kidnap her. People usually kidnap children….” I reasoned.
“Well… yes….. but…. What about the kidnappers who have nothing to do ? They might want to kidnap nyang….”
Kah ! Kah ! Kah ! Kidnappers who have nothing to do….. he he…
Luckily at that time we were already at the stairs leading up to our car and there sat Nyang and Tok Mi.
“There she is ! That’s Nyang !!” He pointed with excitement and relief.
Nyang gelak sakan when I told her the story. Thank you Umar for caring.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Eeeiiii.... !!
Okay, herein lays the problem.
Dan and I plus Anu met up with Nicholas and his girlfriend Ann 2 weekends ago. We of course had to drag our kids to the meeting since it being a weekend. Nicholas and Ann got there first and then we turned up and were properly introduced to Ann whom we met for the first time.
When we sat down, Ann commented on how friendly and sociable my kids are. I winced. Usually children are shy but your kids actually said hi to me ( I don’t remember if those 2 introduced themselves), she marveled. I winced again. And I told her that it isn’t so nice having kids who are not shy at all. If they start get comfortable with you, I cautioned, they will talk non-stop. Luckily that didn’t happen.
It happened last Saturday though when my friendly and sociable kids nipped next door for a birthday party.
On Sunday the afore-mentioned neighbour called me.
Neighbour : Assalammualaikum. (Laughed nervously) I dengar you ada some problem dengan kucing I ye ?
Me : Ha ?
N : Alahai… mintak maaf lah ye… Apa benda yang dia rosakkan kat rumah you ?
M: Eh tak de apa-apa lah….
N : Jangan macam tu… cakap ngan I….
M : Eh… tak de mende lah… Kucing Cik Rosmi, macamana you nak control…. Tak de apa-apa lah…
N : Jangan macam tu…. Apa yang dia orang buat. I kene ajar dia orang sikit… Yang mana satu ?
M : Err…. Yang ada loceng..
N : Dua-dua ada loceng… (lah… ada dua ke ?) Apa yang dia rosak ? I bayar kat you… sorry lah…
M : Tak pe lah Cik Rosmi… kita ni bercakap pasal kucing, you nak control kucing you macam mana…. Tak de benda pun….
N : Betul ni ? Jangan pasal kucing kita tak bertegur sapa pulak…
M : Eh… takde lah…. Don’t worry. We are talking about cats, En. Rosmi… Please don’t worry.
He finally was satisfied that I was really okay with it and we parted still good neighbours.
Aku of course cari anak-anak aku.
“Okay who complained about the cats to our neighbour ?”
“Titi !!”
I looked at her. She as usual said, “Tak….” I waited for Babah to come home. Babah was duly embarrassed.
“Titi cakap apa ?” Asked Babah and as the norm Umar volunteered to tell the story.
“She said that the cats selalu knocked mummy’s pasu down..”
Ha….. aduih lah…
“Dia cakap dengan siapa ?”
“With Syabil’s mum !”
Waaa !!!! Cik Rosmi is Syabil’s uncle who actually lives in the house.
“Ti…. You cannot say that to people lah Ti… complain about their cats like that… Semalam Syabil’s uncle called me…..” I started my lecture Etiquette 101.. no lah 401… dah banyak level dah aku go through dengan budak-budak ni.
“But I only said it once… Sekali tu je saya cakap….” She said in a small voice.
“Ti… you don’t need to say it 3 times lah Ti…..”
Why lah you go and start a conversation with an adult ? Why that topic ? If you were trying to be a polite and gracious guest or even just wanted to fill an uncomfortable lull in the conversation, you can always talk about the weather… not complain about their cats !!
I have to teach my children to make small talks about the weather.
Ann… you definitely do not want a friendly and sociable child (or 2 !) as they could get you into trouble. I will definitely think twice about releasing them to the public next time.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Lawak Umar and Elsa
A few days ago Dan and I were talking about how much we miss England. We were reminiscing, talking about our lives there when Umar said that he would like to go back.
“A-ah, Mummy…. Saya pun dah lama tak pegi….” Said Elsa.
Both Babah and Mummy looked at her. My daughter is really clever, sensitive to the looks thrown at her because she said, “I know…. I was in your tummy at that time, right ? But I can still feel the cold in your tummy, Mummy …I want to go back….”
Alah anak ku Elsa……..
Itu Elsa. Si Umar punya lawak bodoh pulak happened last Saturday night. We were circling the basement parking of CineLeisure, wanting to buy tickets for Pink Panther 2. We don’t normally park indoors, preferring instead to park at the outdoor parking in front of the cinema. However the parking is no more. They have cordoned off the area to……surprise, surprise build another building… making the place more congested… why lah MPPJ not clever ?
Anyway, we circled and circled when Dan decided to try the first floor. We saw a couple of empty lots and Dan quickly drove to it but when we got there Dan didn’t park and drove ahead.
“Alah… tak boleh kan parking kat situ kan, Bah ? Itu untuk orang duduk saja…..” my son said, very much disappointed.
Dan and I exchanged puzzled looks and when it dawned to us what he meant, we burst out laughing.
“Umar …. That is not for orang duduk… that is for handicapped drivers… Itu gambar orang on a wheelchair….!!”
Wa ha ha ha ha !! Sakit perut !!
“A-ah, Mummy…. Saya pun dah lama tak pegi….” Said Elsa.
Both Babah and Mummy looked at her. My daughter is really clever, sensitive to the looks thrown at her because she said, “I know…. I was in your tummy at that time, right ? But I can still feel the cold in your tummy, Mummy …I want to go back….”
Alah anak ku Elsa……..
Itu Elsa. Si Umar punya lawak bodoh pulak happened last Saturday night. We were circling the basement parking of CineLeisure, wanting to buy tickets for Pink Panther 2. We don’t normally park indoors, preferring instead to park at the outdoor parking in front of the cinema. However the parking is no more. They have cordoned off the area to……surprise, surprise build another building… making the place more congested… why lah MPPJ not clever ?
Anyway, we circled and circled when Dan decided to try the first floor. We saw a couple of empty lots and Dan quickly drove to it but when we got there Dan didn’t park and drove ahead.
“Alah… tak boleh kan parking kat situ kan, Bah ? Itu untuk orang duduk saja…..” my son said, very much disappointed.
Dan and I exchanged puzzled looks and when it dawned to us what he meant, we burst out laughing.
“Umar …. That is not for orang duduk… that is for handicapped drivers… Itu gambar orang on a wheelchair….!!”
Wa ha ha ha ha !! Sakit perut !!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Great Race
On Monday we celebrated Arif’s birthday and since Arif loves cheese cake, Ita bought Cheeze Cake from Secret Recipe for his birthday cake.
It was a lovely cake. Babah took two slices.
Last night while waiting for the kids to finish mengaji, Babah asked, “Awak ingat saya teringin apa sekarang ?”
“Cheese cake Arif tu ?”
And he nodded gratefully.
Ustaz balik aje, we rushed off to Secret Recipe at Seksyen 9. While eating, we discussed tomorrow’s menu (I know…. Terrible isn’t it ?) and agreed on fish and chips for tomorrow’s dinner.
Hence the walk to Shah Alam Mall for ingredients. We entered the compounds of the Mall via the bus/taxi stand. Mummy was holding Umar’s hand and Babah was holding Elsa. Mummy started to walk down, to enter the mall via the side entrance near Pelita but Babah was heading towards the back entrance next to the Thai restaurant. Both Mummy and Babah stopped on their tracks when they realized their journey were not in accord.
“Sini lah !’ They both said unison.
“Sini lagi cepat lah…..” Mummy said.
“No !! Sini !!” Babah said, his head pointing towards his way of choice.
So what do we usually do in this situation ? A race, of course.
“I race you then…” said Babah, saying just what Mummy was thinking.
Umar who was used to this kind of thing (and I know he was hoping for it) started whooping and off he went. Babah went off and Mummy started legging it.
However she didn’t take into account the slope. She had forgotten that from that point to the side entrance the road was in gradient and she started regretting it as she lurched forward.
“Umar ! Brake ! Brake !”
Umar who hates losing turned around without stopping his pace. “Hurry up, Mummy ! We have to win !!” Alamak anak ku …
“Umar ! Be careful ! Brake ! Slowly !” She advised.
Umar slowed down for awhile and Mummy managed to grab his hand but then Umar let the wind took him again and before long he was out of Mummy’s sight. Mummy panicked. She hardly ever let her son out of her sight and kicked into gear. When she rounded the corner at the new photo shop she saw a glimpsed of her son in front of the supermarket. However her relief was much sweeter when she realized her husband and daughter was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly she heard Umar shouted, “Ha ! I win ! I win !” jumping up and down ecstatically long before Babah came into view.
“Eleh…. Korang lari…. We didn’t…” Said he who didn’t want to concede defeat.
Who told you not to do that ? Poodah !!
Ha ha !
PS : We usually raced to go to Yamaha Music School every Saturday. From the escalator, Babah said his way via Memory Lane was faster. Mummy said her way via the children clothes shop is. Mummy won the race every time. But to tell you the truth only because she always got Umar and Babah had to drag (or most of the time dukung) Elsa with him.
PS : We don’t do it anymore as Babah hardly ever had Saturday off. Too bad….
It was a lovely cake. Babah took two slices.
Last night while waiting for the kids to finish mengaji, Babah asked, “Awak ingat saya teringin apa sekarang ?”
“Cheese cake Arif tu ?”
And he nodded gratefully.
Ustaz balik aje, we rushed off to Secret Recipe at Seksyen 9. While eating, we discussed tomorrow’s menu (I know…. Terrible isn’t it ?) and agreed on fish and chips for tomorrow’s dinner.
Hence the walk to Shah Alam Mall for ingredients. We entered the compounds of the Mall via the bus/taxi stand. Mummy was holding Umar’s hand and Babah was holding Elsa. Mummy started to walk down, to enter the mall via the side entrance near Pelita but Babah was heading towards the back entrance next to the Thai restaurant. Both Mummy and Babah stopped on their tracks when they realized their journey were not in accord.
“Sini lah !’ They both said unison.
“Sini lagi cepat lah…..” Mummy said.
“No !! Sini !!” Babah said, his head pointing towards his way of choice.
So what do we usually do in this situation ? A race, of course.
“I race you then…” said Babah, saying just what Mummy was thinking.
Umar who was used to this kind of thing (and I know he was hoping for it) started whooping and off he went. Babah went off and Mummy started legging it.
However she didn’t take into account the slope. She had forgotten that from that point to the side entrance the road was in gradient and she started regretting it as she lurched forward.
“Umar ! Brake ! Brake !”
Umar who hates losing turned around without stopping his pace. “Hurry up, Mummy ! We have to win !!” Alamak anak ku …
“Umar ! Be careful ! Brake ! Slowly !” She advised.
Umar slowed down for awhile and Mummy managed to grab his hand but then Umar let the wind took him again and before long he was out of Mummy’s sight. Mummy panicked. She hardly ever let her son out of her sight and kicked into gear. When she rounded the corner at the new photo shop she saw a glimpsed of her son in front of the supermarket. However her relief was much sweeter when she realized her husband and daughter was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly she heard Umar shouted, “Ha ! I win ! I win !” jumping up and down ecstatically long before Babah came into view.
“Eleh…. Korang lari…. We didn’t…” Said he who didn’t want to concede defeat.
Who told you not to do that ? Poodah !!
Ha ha !
PS : We usually raced to go to Yamaha Music School every Saturday. From the escalator, Babah said his way via Memory Lane was faster. Mummy said her way via the children clothes shop is. Mummy won the race every time. But to tell you the truth only because she always got Umar and Babah had to drag (or most of the time dukung) Elsa with him.
PS : We don’t do it anymore as Babah hardly ever had Saturday off. Too bad….
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Orang kena simen
I always look for the opportunity to tell my children stories from the Malay folklores. You know, si Tanggang, Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup and so on. But this being a very advanced time, my children usually wants proof and therefore after watching Grey’s Anatomy last Tuesday, opportunity to re-tell the story about si Tanggang appeared and I grabbed it.
The said chance was given by the telly and mind you, who wouldn’t believe the telly, the most integral part of our lives, eh ?
Anyway, after a very satisfying Grey’s Anatomy (that McSteamy is sexier than McDreamy… but never fear I have McRashdan at home.. so okaylah….), the telly showed a preview of next week’s episode. There for all and sundry to see was a boy who was encased in what looked like cement, surrounded by baffled doctors/surgeons.
All three of us (Babah, U-um and myself) looked in shock, trying to decipher what we saw. “Is it cement ?” Was one question. “He fell in a hole of a rock ?” and so on.
“What happened, Mummy ?” Asked the very impatient Umar. “Is that cement ?”
“Yeah, probably….” I answered before I got an epiphany (can I say that ?) and changed my story.
“Ohhh…. I think I know what is going on here… That is batu, not cement. I think he is the American version of Si Tanggang….” At his puzzled look, I explained, “Si Tanggang is the story of this poor boy who went across the sea to find work. He wanted to help his poor parents but after he got rich and married a princess he felt ashamed of his poor parents. He started making up stories about how his parents were actually rich but conveniently dead.
One day though the ship that he and his wife were on stopped at his old village. His parents got to know that their Si Tanggang was on it and decided to row a boat to the ship to meet him. They were very excited. The son that they love and miss so much has returned. The mom made lepat pisang which was Tanggang’s favorite food. The old father rowed the boat but when he got there, Si Tanggang pretended that he didn’t know them. He was so embarrassed because their clothes were torn and dirty.
They called him, “Tanggang. Ni mak dan ayah ni. Mari lah…”. He said, “Siapa kau ? Aku tak kenal kau…” His parents were shocked but then they thought maybe because they haven’t seen each other in a long time Tanggang had forgotten how his parents looked like.
So his mother said, “Ini mak, Tanggang… turun lah… Mak nak peluk Tanggang…..” Tanggang got very angry because his wife had heard what his parents said. So he angrily told them, “Tipu ! Mak bapak aku dah mati….” His parents cried when he said that, especially his mom. They were so broken hearted but it was their son, they have to make an attempt again.
His mom tried to climb the ladder to get on the ship. “Tanggang, ni mak bawak lepat pisang kegemaran kau ni… ambik lah…..” She said, one hand holding the ladder the other hand proffering the goodies to him. But Tanggang had other ideas. He quickly said, ‘Aku mana makan lepat pisang… Aku makan Happy Meal saja !!’ and he kicked his mom before she got onboard. The mom fell back in the boat and his father started rowing back to shore.
Tanggang’s mother got up, crying all the while. She was humiliated, angry and sad. She then said, “Anak derhaka ! Tak mengenang budi !!” At this point she got very pissed off she said what all mothers try not to do. She cursed her son. “Aku sumpah kau jadi batu !!” As soon as she said that, the sky clouded, darkened and began to rumble. Suddenly lightning struck and hit Tanggang.
When the smoke was gone everybody gasped. Tanggang had turned into stone. Allah had heard his mother’s cries and granted her wish.
I stopped for dramatic effect.
“I think that boy was rude to his mother….” I suggested.
“Mom….” Umar quivered. “You told me that story already…..” He looked thoughtful. “But… kenapa kepala dia tak jadi batu ? Si Tanggang tu kan his whole body turned into stone….”
Aiseh.
“Well… that is because Allah wants him to tell the story… as a warning to all other children…. So now he can talk and tell naughty children to listen to their mothers if they don’t want to turn into stone like him……”
He heh…
The said chance was given by the telly and mind you, who wouldn’t believe the telly, the most integral part of our lives, eh ?
Anyway, after a very satisfying Grey’s Anatomy (that McSteamy is sexier than McDreamy… but never fear I have McRashdan at home.. so okaylah….), the telly showed a preview of next week’s episode. There for all and sundry to see was a boy who was encased in what looked like cement, surrounded by baffled doctors/surgeons.
All three of us (Babah, U-um and myself) looked in shock, trying to decipher what we saw. “Is it cement ?” Was one question. “He fell in a hole of a rock ?” and so on.
“What happened, Mummy ?” Asked the very impatient Umar. “Is that cement ?”
“Yeah, probably….” I answered before I got an epiphany (can I say that ?) and changed my story.
“Ohhh…. I think I know what is going on here… That is batu, not cement. I think he is the American version of Si Tanggang….” At his puzzled look, I explained, “Si Tanggang is the story of this poor boy who went across the sea to find work. He wanted to help his poor parents but after he got rich and married a princess he felt ashamed of his poor parents. He started making up stories about how his parents were actually rich but conveniently dead.
One day though the ship that he and his wife were on stopped at his old village. His parents got to know that their Si Tanggang was on it and decided to row a boat to the ship to meet him. They were very excited. The son that they love and miss so much has returned. The mom made lepat pisang which was Tanggang’s favorite food. The old father rowed the boat but when he got there, Si Tanggang pretended that he didn’t know them. He was so embarrassed because their clothes were torn and dirty.
They called him, “Tanggang. Ni mak dan ayah ni. Mari lah…”. He said, “Siapa kau ? Aku tak kenal kau…” His parents were shocked but then they thought maybe because they haven’t seen each other in a long time Tanggang had forgotten how his parents looked like.
So his mother said, “Ini mak, Tanggang… turun lah… Mak nak peluk Tanggang…..” Tanggang got very angry because his wife had heard what his parents said. So he angrily told them, “Tipu ! Mak bapak aku dah mati….” His parents cried when he said that, especially his mom. They were so broken hearted but it was their son, they have to make an attempt again.
His mom tried to climb the ladder to get on the ship. “Tanggang, ni mak bawak lepat pisang kegemaran kau ni… ambik lah…..” She said, one hand holding the ladder the other hand proffering the goodies to him. But Tanggang had other ideas. He quickly said, ‘Aku mana makan lepat pisang… Aku makan Happy Meal saja !!’ and he kicked his mom before she got onboard. The mom fell back in the boat and his father started rowing back to shore.
Tanggang’s mother got up, crying all the while. She was humiliated, angry and sad. She then said, “Anak derhaka ! Tak mengenang budi !!” At this point she got very pissed off she said what all mothers try not to do. She cursed her son. “Aku sumpah kau jadi batu !!” As soon as she said that, the sky clouded, darkened and began to rumble. Suddenly lightning struck and hit Tanggang.
When the smoke was gone everybody gasped. Tanggang had turned into stone. Allah had heard his mother’s cries and granted her wish.
I stopped for dramatic effect.
“I think that boy was rude to his mother….” I suggested.
“Mom….” Umar quivered. “You told me that story already…..” He looked thoughtful. “But… kenapa kepala dia tak jadi batu ? Si Tanggang tu kan his whole body turned into stone….”
Aiseh.
“Well… that is because Allah wants him to tell the story… as a warning to all other children…. So now he can talk and tell naughty children to listen to their mothers if they don’t want to turn into stone like him……”
He heh…
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Cerita Mummy yang meleret-leret
We were in the car last week, on the way to who knows where. I cannot remember our destination but I remember it was night time.
“Mummy… have you seen Emot ?” Asked Umar. Pulak….
“No….”
“I haven’t seen him for 2 days…..” He complained.
Hmmm………….
“Emot is your responsibility lah Umar. How would Mummy know where your toy is..” Babah dah start membebel.
“Tak…. Yesterday kan when I sleep with you malam-malam kan (uninvited, okay.. some nights we would find an extra, or 2 extra sleepers on our bed), I took him with me….”
“Well when I made up the bed this morning I didn’t see him…” I offered.
Babah started his lecture (I’ll spare you guys from the agony).
The next night as I was reading in my bedroom, Umar came and draped himself on the sofa next to me.
“Mummy… have you seen the little rascal, Emot ? I haven’t seen him….” He asked worriedly. Little rascal ? You are so cute lah, Um.
“I don’t know lah sayang….” Said I.
“Um… I have lost Kitty a long time… Tak de apa-apa pun….” Said Elsa importantly. Hang memang Elsa…tak sayang Kitty langsung.
“I still have Bathtub ….” She added.
Umar gave a little whine. He then moved to their mattress and shoved his arm under the pillow, gave a little cry, pulled his arms out and waved Emot up high happily.
“I found him !!” He then rubbed his nose on Emot’s nose (?), big smile on his face.
Umar…
“Mummy… have you seen Emot ?” Asked Umar. Pulak….
“No….”
“I haven’t seen him for 2 days…..” He complained.
Hmmm………….
“Emot is your responsibility lah Umar. How would Mummy know where your toy is..” Babah dah start membebel.
“Tak…. Yesterday kan when I sleep with you malam-malam kan (uninvited, okay.. some nights we would find an extra, or 2 extra sleepers on our bed), I took him with me….”
“Well when I made up the bed this morning I didn’t see him…” I offered.
Babah started his lecture (I’ll spare you guys from the agony).
The next night as I was reading in my bedroom, Umar came and draped himself on the sofa next to me.
“Mummy… have you seen the little rascal, Emot ? I haven’t seen him….” He asked worriedly. Little rascal ? You are so cute lah, Um.
“I don’t know lah sayang….” Said I.
“Um… I have lost Kitty a long time… Tak de apa-apa pun….” Said Elsa importantly. Hang memang Elsa…tak sayang Kitty langsung.
“I still have Bathtub ….” She added.
Umar gave a little whine. He then moved to their mattress and shoved his arm under the pillow, gave a little cry, pulled his arms out and waved Emot up high happily.
“I found him !!” He then rubbed his nose on Emot’s nose (?), big smile on his face.
Umar…
PS : Actually the main thing I want to share is Umar's usage of 'little rascal' but I cannot just tell it without giving a trail why it came up... So in that process meleret-leretlah cerita ku. Sorry !
Monday, February 02, 2009
Your husband, Mummy !!
Babah had always worked Saturdays. This is his 4th job and the 4th job that requires Saturday attendance. Bummer. However by 1 pm he would be home and all is well again. Not last Saturday though. Most of his staffs were away for the CNY hols, so Babah worked extra hours to help his remaining staffs.
At 2, Mummy set the table and called her children for lunch.
“Mana Babah, Mummy ?” Asked Umar when he saw the 3 place settings.
“Babah work, kay ? Balik lambat sikit….”
“Mana Babah saya, Mummy ?” Asked Elsa.
Repeat above answer.
We ate. Less than 5 minutes at the table, Elsa asked me, “Do you miss Babah, Mummy ?” She was looking at her food mournfully.
“Yes….” Said I.
“Me, too…” She said, with a foot long pout.
He heh..
5 minutes after that she asked again, “Do you miss Babah, Mummy ?” I sighed my affirmation. “Me, too...” She repeated, playing with her food.
And as I was clearing the dishes, she asked me again and my answer remained the same. She threw herself on the couch and watched the telly, face not happy.
At about 3, she was playing with Umar outside when she ran inside excitedly. “Mummy, Babah is home ! I saw him ! I saw him !”
I smiled at her.
“Mummy ! Quick, your husband is home… Dia dah balik.”
What ? As I looked at her in wonder, she grabbed my hand and pulled me off the couch. “Quick, Mummy ! Follow me !!” She ordered and ran to the door, dragging me with her.
“There ! I told you. There’s your husband !!” She pointed happily at Babah who was still in the car. When Babah got out of his vehicle, Elsa threw herself on her Babah and gave him a fierce hug.
The same thing happened 2 weeks ago when Dan came home late because of a company dinner he had to attend.
“Mummy, mana Babah ?” She asked. My answer that Babah had to work late didn’t go well with her.
“I think…” She whispered, “Babah pegi makan hotel with his friends…”
Forehead furrowed I asked her how does she know this.
“Oh, I use my imagination. I imagine that he is eating at the hotel….”
I sighed and gave a lecture on imagination bordering to lies….
Hmmm…….
Bah, please don’t work extra hours. It is a trial for your daughter.
At 2, Mummy set the table and called her children for lunch.
“Mana Babah, Mummy ?” Asked Umar when he saw the 3 place settings.
“Babah work, kay ? Balik lambat sikit….”
“Mana Babah saya, Mummy ?” Asked Elsa.
Repeat above answer.
We ate. Less than 5 minutes at the table, Elsa asked me, “Do you miss Babah, Mummy ?” She was looking at her food mournfully.
“Yes….” Said I.
“Me, too…” She said, with a foot long pout.
He heh..
5 minutes after that she asked again, “Do you miss Babah, Mummy ?” I sighed my affirmation. “Me, too...” She repeated, playing with her food.
And as I was clearing the dishes, she asked me again and my answer remained the same. She threw herself on the couch and watched the telly, face not happy.
At about 3, she was playing with Umar outside when she ran inside excitedly. “Mummy, Babah is home ! I saw him ! I saw him !”
I smiled at her.
“Mummy ! Quick, your husband is home… Dia dah balik.”
What ? As I looked at her in wonder, she grabbed my hand and pulled me off the couch. “Quick, Mummy ! Follow me !!” She ordered and ran to the door, dragging me with her.
“There ! I told you. There’s your husband !!” She pointed happily at Babah who was still in the car. When Babah got out of his vehicle, Elsa threw herself on her Babah and gave him a fierce hug.
The same thing happened 2 weeks ago when Dan came home late because of a company dinner he had to attend.
“Mummy, mana Babah ?” She asked. My answer that Babah had to work late didn’t go well with her.
“I think…” She whispered, “Babah pegi makan hotel with his friends…”
Forehead furrowed I asked her how does she know this.
“Oh, I use my imagination. I imagine that he is eating at the hotel….”
I sighed and gave a lecture on imagination bordering to lies….
Hmmm…….
Bah, please don’t work extra hours. It is a trial for your daughter.
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