Woman By Scorpions

Here are my sweet and bitter memories of childhood memories back when I was in kindergarten. I attended An-Nur Kindergarten when I was 5 years and was there for 2 years. An-Nur Kindergarten was in An-Nur Mosque. It was a different kind of kindergarten because it was not government aided and lessons were infused with knowledge of Islam. I can’t remember if we were thought to pray but we were thought the basics Arabic alphabets and some prayers such as before eating.

I remember that as we queued up to go back home, somebody shit in his pants and it was very smelly.

I remember having a girlfriend back then and we would crawl on the floor together when the class was throwing things at each other. Her name is Shafiqah and she entered Si Ling Primary School which will later be the primary school I enter when I was 8 years old. We were together in primary school though. When I was in secondary school, I saw her at a restaurant called Al-Ameen and I was surprised because she was a WOMAN with dangerous curves. Last year, I saw her walking under my block with her gorgeous friend. We exchanged a few words and I regretted not asking for her number or at least her Facebook, not to be together, but to simply chat.

I remember leaving my slippers behind when I wanted to board the private bus home. The bus did not wait for me because i was searching for my slippers at an area where they couldn’t see me. I could not find it because I forgotten that I did not leave it at my usual spot. I found my slippers finally and in desperation, I went to a nearby tunnel which would bring me to the next stop the private bus would stop. Cool, calm & collected, I flagged down the bus and got home safely. The bus assistant told me that next time I should have waited at the mosque because it would go there again later to pick up the next batch of students. As I’m writing now, I’m smiling to myself because I am proud of taking that risk.

I remember that when a boy in the private bus wants to pee badly, the bus has to stop and the bus assistant would bring the boy to a tree and he would pee there. I think this is also the same for girls.’

I remember playing truant in school. When the assembly bell rang, I would wait in the toilet until all of them have gone to their classes. Some adults in the toilet would stare at me, but I would just ignore him. I can’t remember what I did with the free time I had. When classes ended, I would sneak back to the bus. I was surprised that all the students kept their mouth shut. My truancy ended when my brother told the teacher of me. It was fun while it lasted.

I remember the teacher/s giving a boy some chili padi because he could not answer a very simple question. It’s a bitter memory because the teacher brought the kid to our class and we were forced to watch and also because they punished him for his stupidity too much.

I remember there was a very small playground at the back of the mosque and now it’s gone. Sadly, I think we weren’t allowed to play there because it was only for the pre-kindergarten students.

I remember being the first group to complete a puzzle. I remember it because I found out that an easy way to solve puzzles was to do the corners, sides & then the rest.

I remember the teacher praising me to my mother for doing a Mathematics problem sum with ease. I swear it was as easy as 1+1=2.

I remember painting my nails black and embarrassingly, it was on picture taking day for graduation. I still have that embarrassing picture. From there, I see that it was since that age that I love the colour black.

I remember there was this toilet where a female lady would assist you in your peeing mission. I did not go there because I do not need assistance, shy of getting assistance and the door was open, so anybody passing by, could see the alliance. I think I was one of the few that urinated in the adult toilet and I did not urinate in the cubicle because I like my privacy and until now, I still do. If there’s nobody in the toilet, the rooms are full, I’m lazy or I need to urinate badly, only then do I use the cubicle.

The canteen was cute because there were this small tables and small chairs. I always prayed that cereal with milk was given because that was the most delicious on the menu.

I remember some of my classmates. This includes Istighfar, Fadil, Ashraff & one of Faris’ friends. I remember Istighfar because my neighbor& good friend, Solihin introduced me to him and I did not know that Istighfar was my neighbor. I remember Fadil because my mother made friends with his mother and then I realized that we were from the same kindergarten. The relationship later ended when I said “pepek” which is Malay for vagina in his house. He taught me this word but sadly, his sister told their mother. My mother and his mother then fought and they are not on shaking hands till today. Whenever we would pass each other, we would exchange impassive faces. I remember because we went to the same primary school and secondary school. I remember one of Faris’ friends because his face never changes. Faris and his friend doesn’t know this and Muhaimin, if you’re reading this, please remind me of this. I also remember one of my classmates because his face never changes and we went to the same religious school, Madrasah An-Nur but I never talked to him before.