It was quite enjoyable, writing posts in Malay. I nearly forgot the joy of expressing thoughts in my mothertongue.

You see, I have some happy thoughts I never wanted to forget, so let me express them in writing so that I could always come back and read them again and again.

If you read my blog, you’ll notice I went down to SRI with Hakim yesterday.

Two of my favourite person interacted. I managed to snap a picture before he could run and hide his ‘handsome’ face.

I showed it to Hakim.

"Hakim, ni sape?"

"Ni Hakim."

"Bukan. Yang duduk tepi Hakim tu."

"Yang baju dia blue?"

"Ha’ah."

"Tu kawan Hazim."

"Kawan Angah la."

"Kawan Hazim la. Angah tak sekolah situ."

"Okay la. Sape tu?"

"Budak nangis."

So he remembered. I laughed.

"Kenapa dia nangis?"

"Sebab Hakim tak bagi mainan dekat dia."

—–

"Handsome nya Raimi hari ni."

He chuckled. Ikbal looked sick.

"Mesti lagi handsome kalau pakai tie."

Again, he chuckled. Ikbal laughed.

"Mana tie Raimi?"

"Kita malas nak gosok."

He stole my line!

—–

This one was on 7th April 08.

"Relaks la beb!"

The whole class silenced as I flinched.

This one was on 30th April 08.

"Relaks la bro!"

The whole class laughed as I chuckled defeatedly.

"Kenapa teacher tak pakai sandals?"

"Raimi ni kan, bila teacher pakai sandals, kata selipar. Bila teacher pakai kasut, tanya pakai sandals. Haish."

Laughter.

—–

4th May. Came by to visit.

"Teacher pakai selipar askar!" It was Hazim’s voice.

I chuckled.

—–

That’s it for today. I’ll cash in others as they come by.

I love my life and am heavenly grateful of it. Alhamdulillah.

Minggu ini, aku antara guru bertugas mingguan. Aku tak ingat aku bertugas hari apa tapi.

Aku berada di dalam barisan pelajar. Terpaksa menyenyapkan mereka. Kanak-kanak amat bising.

Syabil tidak mahu beratur, jadi aku benarkan dia duduk di atas konkrit.

Ada persembahan nyanyian kanak-kanak sempena Bulan Math dan Sains Sosial. Aku kelucuan, mereka menyanyi lagu ikan gigit jari kecil dan 10 Little Indians.

Syabil menyanyikan sambil berjoget depan aku lagu ikan gigit jari kecil dan Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Abang-abang ketawa.

Aku tegur mereka.

Aku ajar Syabil nyanyi lagu 10 Little Indians.

Abang-abang ketawa.

Aku jeling mereka.

Ikbal asyik bercakap dengan aku.

Raimi pula asyik memandang aku dari jauh. Bila aku berpaling, dia sengih.

Dia suka dekat aku rasanya.

Mesti pembaca ketawa terburai perut.

Perhimpunan tamat. Aku marahkan Naim sebab tak berperangai macam pengawas.

Lain kali, aku gigit kepala dia.

Dia berjalan ke arah aku. Menghulurkan bakul menyimpan piala kebersihan.

Simpankan, ujarnya tersenyum.

Sendiri la, balasku tersenyum.

Apa la teacher, dia ketawa dan berjalan ke pejabat.

Aku tertawa. Dan berhenti. Oh tidak.

Aku kejar dia.

Raimi, tunggu dulu. Aku mendekati dia yang baru tiba di muka pintu.

Dia memandang penuh tanda tanya.

Biar teacher simpankan. Lantai pejabat basah, nanti stokin Raimi basah.

Kenapa basah?

Air hujan masuk.

Dan aku pun masuk. Stokin aku sudah pun basah sebab masuk pejabat pagi tadi.

Aku memang baik.

Aku naik ke bilik guru. Menuju ke tempat aku.

Ada orang lain duduk.

Hmm?

Oh, Atiqah. Ni guru baru yang ganti Atiqah.

Eh?

Dan begitulah aku mengetahui bahawa hari ini adalah hari terakhir aku.

Aku nak mengajar lagi! Satu kelas pun jadilah!

line

line

Waktu kelas.

Seperti biasa, mereka banyak cakap. Aku kejar Ikbal dengan marker merah sebab banyak mulut sangat.

Dia ketawa dan menyorokkan muka dia belakang Raja.

Si dia memanggil aku.

Teacher, betul la kita buat huruf besar.

Huruf kecil patutnya di situ.

Besar.

Kecil.

Buku teks tulis besar.

Buku teks tulis kecil.

Besar la, teacher.

Kalau buku tulis kecil, Raimi belanja teacher dekat kantin.

Okay.

Aku buka buku. Buku tulis kecil.

Kan kecil tu. Belanja teacher lepas ni.

Dia ketawa.

Aku menggeleng kepala. Tersenyum. Aku kembali mengejar Ikbal yang bising itu.

Hussain datang dengan not biru. Teacher, Raimi bagi.

Singgit je? Aku ketawa. Aku mengambilnya dan meletakkannya di atas mejanya.

Aku lalu di hadapan mejanya. Hussain menghulurkan tiga not biru. Teacher, Raimi bagi.

Aku ketawa. Teacher suruh belanja, bukannya bagi duit.

Dia tersengih dan terus menulis.

line

line

Waktu rehat.

Aku mengambil segelas air dan sebelah sandwich. Aku memotong barisan pelajar [aku guru, bukan pelajar] dan terus berdiri di sebelah pak cik kaunter.

Dia sedang membayar. Aku sengih padanya.

Belanja teacher.

Okay.

Gurau je. Aku membayar seringgit kepada pak cik bermisai itu.

Tadi kita nak belanja, teacher tak nak. Bila kita tak belanja, teacher nak.

Muncung.

Aku ketawa. Dia merepek macam orang tua. Lawak.

Baru sahaja aku nak duduk, Muallimah Faeizon minta aku tolong buka koperasi.

Aku pelajar yang baik. Dengar cakap guru.

Pelajar sudah pun beratur untuk membeli. Selepas membuka, aku membantu menjaga kaunter banin.

Aku nampak dia tengok aku dari jauh. Bila aku pandang, dia sengih.

Ikbal datang. Raimi kata teacher tak pandai jual.

Aku ketawa. Raimi selalu suruh orang bagitahu ke teacher kalau dia kutuk teacher.

Ramai budak datang, tetapi Ikbal terus berdiri di depan aku.

Mengacau sungguh. Mulut banyak. Tak kering gusi aku dibuatnya.

Raimi datang.

Dia mengacau.

Kami berbual kosong. Dia tidak membeli langsung.

Teacher, berapa harga ais?

Mana ada orang jual ais, dik oi!

Muallimah Rohaiza penjaga kaunter banat nampak kami bertiga ketawa. Nasib baik Atiqah tolong muallimah hari ni.

Biasa je.

Ya, nasib baik ada Atiqah, ujarnya.

Aku melihatnya. Dia tersenyum kecil. Aku menggeleng kelucuan.

Mereka terus mengacau. Merepek bukan-bukan.

Kita tahu teacher buat apa dekat sini, dia kata.

Apa dia? Aku sibuk melayan pelanggan.

Teacher ngorat Ikbal.

Ikbal protes keanakan. Aku dan dia ketawa.

Teacher dah ada orang lain, tak perlu ngorat Ikbal.

Raimi, kan? Ikbal sengih pada budak bertuah itu.

Ha’ah.

Dia ketawa sementara Raimi menyorokkan mukanya.

Tipu sahaja budak itu malu. Dia sendiri ketawa.

Budak-budak ni, perlu ke membincangkan soal peribadi aku depan khalayak ramai? Pelajar-pelajar lain memandang kami ibarat tumbuh dua kepala di leher Ikbal.

Seumur hidup aku mengajar, tak pernah aku nampak pengawas dua orang tu datang koperasi.

line

line

Waktu balik.

Aku sibuk menyusun kertas ujian. Penuh teliti. Penuh kasih.

Aku harap mereka dapat jawab dengan terbaik esok.

3.15 petang, aku berlari keluar pejabat. Adik-adik aku marah sebab mereka terpaksa balik lambat.

Aku tersengih.

line

line

Hari ni hari last.

Aku rasa sedih. Sedikit. Tidak mengapa. Akan bertemu lagi, insyaAllah.

Nanti aku hantar kad raya.

Dan kad hari jadi.

p/s:

Boleh lagi ke aku nak ikut tamrin mereka? Aku nak ikut.

Updated 060508: Tak boleh rasanya.

Ikbal pergi. Raimi tak boleh pergi sebab dia nak hantar kakak dia masuk universiti.

Kakak dapat U apa, Raimi?

Entah. Kita tak tahu.

Course apa?

Tak tahu jugak.

Apa la budak ni.

Dia ketawa. Aku ketawa walaupun terasa nak sekeh kepala dia.

UM rasanya, sebab tarikh pendaftaran untuk budak baru UM 25 Mei.

Teacher, macam mana nak eja kerana?

K-E-R-A-N-A.

Elok-elok la teacher!

laughs Macam mana eja ke?

Kaf.

Raa?

Ro-Alif.

Ne?

Nun-Alif.

Nun saje. Tak de alif.

Betul ke teacher?

Betul la. Teacher belajar dulu tak de alif last sekali.

Betul ke, teacher?

Betul la. Isk budak ni. flips out handphone, scrolls down, walks towards the door Hello, assalamualaikum Muallimah Dayang. Sorry kacau, ada emergency sikit.

laughs Ada apa Atiqah?

Macam mana nak eja kerana dalam Jawi? Last dia ada alif ke?

Ejaan baru ada. Ejaan lama tak de.

Ye ke? Ejaan baru tu start zaman bila?

Lama la jugak.

Oh ye? glances around and scoffs at laughing boys Terima kasih muallimah.

walks towards them Sorry, silap teacher. Ejaan baru ada alif, so buat la alif last dia.

Fifteen minutes later…

Teacher, dalam petikan ni dia eja kerana tak de alif!

Eh? Ye? Eja lah macam yang petikan tu eja.

Teacher ni.

Mana la teacher baca petikan tu.

Ape la teacher ni. ***** *** **** ****, ******** *** ****.

eyes droops defeatedly and stares at him Teacher minta maaf. walks towards my seat and sits solemnly.

glances out of the corner of eyes …

walks up towards a gesturing student Yes?

Moments later…

Teacher, sini!

Yes, ada apa?

speaks softly as I passess him Teacher, nape teacher minta maaf tadi?

Hmm? Oh. Kan teacher tersilap eja kerana tadi. smiles assuringly. Turns towards the impatient boy Ye, ada apa nak tanya tadi?

Syabil is a chubby boy of 1 Ihsan. He is pudgy-built and I like to put my hand on his shoulder.

He has an innocent round face, an army-cut hair and a somewhat squinted small eyes.

He is like one walking teddy bear. Minus the bow.

I asked my eight-year-old sister. "Yaya kenal Syabil?"

"Kenal."

"Macam mana Yaya kenal dia?"

"Semua orang macam kenal dia, jadi Yaya pun kenal la."

You can imagine just how famous Syabil is. Even as I sat on my chair minding my own business in the teacher’s lounge, I could hear the teachers retelling their encounter with the one and only Syabil.

Being a seven-year-old kid, Syabil is quite pampered, difficult and had issues in managing himself.

Muallimah Syazirin [her name is so complicated!] once told us on how Syabil whined of him wanting to pee, but he managed to run around the class twice whilst doing so.

Muallimah Maznah, teacher of Mathematics, told us on how Syabil refused to study and she had to give him pictures to colour while the whole class counted away.

My first conversing with Syabil was during the Sports Day. The boy was in my team. He was present during the eventful day, yet he failed to do so during the rehearsal.

As expected, his name was none-existent in the list of participants. And as expected, the tantrum master wanted to play.

"Syabil tunggu la dulu. Nanti lepas ni giliran Syabil. Syabil tunggu dalam khemah, ye?"

"Baiklah Syabil tunggu. Tapi jangan lama sangat. Nanti Syabil penat."

"Teacher faham. Syabil tunggu sini, ye."

I patted his shoulder and addressed the seniors of Khandak. "Abang-abang, tolong tengokkan Syabil, ye. Terima kasih."

Minutes later, Syabil ran amuck. "Tak nak! Syabil nak balik! Syabil dah penat!"

He walked away from the tent. I jogged after him. "Syabil, jangan pergi lagi. Tunggu la habis bagi hadiah dulu."

"Tak nak!"

I pulled him towards the tent. He pulled me towards the gate.

"Tak larat. Naim, tolong teacher!"

Naim came running. We both huffed and puffed and struggled tooth and nail to bring the boy to sit on the grass. Syabil pushed me.

I fell on a poor Year 6 student.

"Sorry, Syafiq!" I yelped. "Syabil, sabar la dulu."

Seeing the catastrophe, Muallimah Mariah came and saved the day.

That was weeks ago. Today was another tale.

I walked towards 2 Amanah right after recess, ready for my class. As I passed through the badminton court, I saw one boy toddled around with the big black dustbin lid on his head as a makeshift hat.

Seeing no available teachers around, I immediately put my books down and ran at him.

"Syabil, kenapa main dengan tudung tong sampah?" I gently pried the lid of him. He obliged and I held the quite clean lid in my right hand.

"Kenapa Syabil tak masuk kelas? Sekejap lagi periksa start."

"Syabil nak jogging."

"Pulak dah…" I muttered and glanced around for any students. There were quite a crowd, seeing how famous Syabil is.

"Danish, tolong teacher." I addressed Danish of 3 Ihsan and asked him to put the lid where it belong.

"Syabil, jom kita jogging dalam kelas." Hand on his shoulder, navigating him back to 1 Ihsan.

"Tak nak. Syabil nak jogging dekat sini."

And with that, he took off, into the garden and jogged.

Imagine a teddy bear jogging.

I walked right at him and noticed the prefects of Year 3 coming. "Syabil, jom jogging dalam kelas. Ada kipas. Sini panas." I fanned myself.

"Syabil nak jogging sini." He walked off ahead, accidently stomping on my meticulously shone shoes.

I sighed. "Nape la budak-budak ni suka pijak kasut orang."

"Raimi, kasut teacher kena pijak lagi!" Ikbal called out towards the smiling Raimi. Both chuckled.

The two prefects took over. I walked back towards my book, shooed some prancing 2 Sabar students back inside and entered 2 Amanah.

Afternoon came and I walked out of 3 Amanah. Carrying my heavy books, I saw from afar Syabil under the trees, shaking the poor trees while yelling at some Year 3 pranksters.

"Ada apa ni?" I asked of the pupils there. 

Haikal continued slapping Syabil’s shoulder. Syabil went, "Argh!"

"Isk, kenapa abang-abang ni suke buli adik darjah 1? Syabil, Syabil dah ambil wudhu’?"

"Syabil tak nak."

He continued playing among the trees. Pupils stopped by to watch. I shooed them in vain.

"Teacher dahaga la. Syabil dahaga? Jom kita minum dekat kantin."

"Okay." He let me walk him to the canteen, hand on his shoulder persuasively. Atiq carried my books and bag.

"Syabil kene ambil wudhu’ dulu. Muka comot. Basuh muka macam teacher ajar semalam, ye?"

"Syabil nak minum dulu."

"Ambil wudhu’ dulu. Nanti kita beli air di kantin."

As Syabil took his wudhu’ at the area for Year 3, most of them kept slapping his shoulder. Even Ikbal was taunting him.

"Abang-abang darjah 3, kenapa asyik usik Syabil? Biar la dia nak ambil wudhu’."

"Apa la Syabil ni. Ambil la wudhu’ elok-elok." Raimi came and complained.

"Abang Raimi, ajar la Adik Syabil elok-elok." I told him gently. Raimi chuckled.

"Syabil, baca niat." Ikbal taught him.

"Ha’ah, Syabil. Baca niat ikut Abang Ikbal."

"Okay."

Once he was done, I escorted him towards the praying area for Year 1. He whined and demanded his drink, but I told him to solat first.

Fortunately, he obliged.

"Teacher, teacher kata Syabil tu adik kita?" Raimi grinned as he lined up for their prayers.

"Abang darjah 3 mestilah jaga adik-adik darjah 2 dan 1." I smiled. "Teacher nak pergi beli air. Jumpa lepas ni."

"Teacher beli ke kita sekali."

"Tak nak." I grinned.

Aku mengambil gambar mereka. Aku tinggalkan kamera di atas meja. Dia mengambil kameraku.

Aku beredar ke kereta mengambil buku.

Dia memadamkan gambar yang aku ambil. Aku menjeling.

Tidak amanah, kataku.

Dia membisu.

Tidak bertanggungjawab, sambungku.

Dia menunduk.

Aku beredar membeli air.

Dan keropok. Aku tidak makan lagi hari ini.

Aku sudah siap menanda buku adik-adik muridku.

Aku tinggalkan di atas meja guru kelas mereka.

Tolong agihkan.

Terima kasih

22/4, 3.35 pm

Dia mendekatiku. Teacher buat apa, soalnya.

Teacher sudah siap tanda buku, ujarku.

Agih maksudnya apa, soalnya ingin tahu.

Agih itu edar. Aku tersenyum.

Aku menulis blogku. Aku membacanya. Hanya nama yang sama timbul berulang kali.

Aku mengeluh kecil.

Aku bosan. Aku membaca blog orang. Amat menarik.

Mungkin akan kembali satu hari nanti. Jika aku teringat.

Bersembang siber bersama guruku. Amat sedikit berkata. Tidak mengapa.

Ditanya mengapa beliau berdiam apabila menghadapi satu persoalan, Imam Syafie berkata: Hinggalah saya mengetahui apakah lebih baik saya diam atau menjawabnya.

Ada murid kesayangan, soalnya.

Tidak, jawabku. Sekadar mengisahkan kerenah pendiam.

Aku terlupa menanyakan dia satu soalan. Tidak mengapa.

Minggu depan mereka ada ujian. Aku akan buat kuiz esok.

Aku akan menabung. Esok pasti akan dipujuk membelikan mereka ais krim.

Aku sudah semakin kurus.

Aku sudah jemu membeli ais krim. Aku akan memikirkan makanan yang lebih sedap lagi. 

Mungkin aku akan memintanya membakar biskut untukku. Dia kawanku. Aku pasti dia akan bersetuju.

Ummiku sayang, adikku menyanyi.

Aku berpaling menghadapnya. Dia tersenyum.

Aku ternampak timbunan buku rekod kesihatan pelajar.

Aku tersenyum kecil. Aku perlu kembali bertugas.

Idle talk with Ikbal as Raimi watched intently. Came Muallimah Fauziah and I shooed them into class.

Chatted.

"They’re still in there."

"I’m aware."

"Go say hi."

"Maybe not."

Muallimah walked away. Saw them exiting. I turned towards the two evesdropping toms.

Raimi inquired. I laughed. "Gotta go now. Someone’s looking for me."

"Your boyfriend?" He chuckled.

"I’ve just met him." I smirked.

"When?" He feigned shocked.

"Now."

We laughed.

Exited 5 Amanah. Lectured the kids on the proper way to behave.

I live up to the first part of my Friendster nickname.

Glanced to my left. Saw Naim behind Muallimah Noraini. From afar, I can see his unmistakable grin and his double peace.

I gave him one.

Muallimah Noraini stared weirdly at me.

Ilham passed. Snided. Would have ran after him, but the books I were carrying were heavy.

He got lucky. And he knew.

I kept a watchful eye on him, predicting his tricks. He smirked.

Chatted with Naim as he played tag with his friends. I chortled.

Entered 3 Amanah. Can’t start the class with only half of them in, now, can I?

Exited and saw Raimi talking to Raja. Changed my mind and called Ikbal instead. "Ikbal, help me out, please?"

"Don’t want to!" Young prefect playfully ran away.

"Ikbal!" Ran after him but halted shortly. "Go find Mursyid for me!"   

"What is it, teacher?" Syafiq came and stared at the still running and grinning Ikbal.

"Oh, Syafiq." I turned towards the tall boy. "Can you find Mursyid of 3 Amanah for me? He’s supposed to be in now."

Syafiq went south; I went north towards class.

Class was hectic. "Teacher, someone got lost here!"

"Who?" I peeped at the person behind the door. "Naim, what are you doing in here?"

Three younger boy grabbed hold of the struggling boy. I held my red pen, ready to mark him.

He struggled, grin still adhered to his tanned skin. I laughed manignly.

"Let poor Abang Naim go." I dropped my pen and my hunchmen ceased hold. Naim scurried towards the back of the class.

"Naim, I can’t start my class with you in it!"

"I got to pay back at this kid!" He gestured at Irfan. I sighed and took the commander’s pose.

"Naim, out. Now. Revenge after school."

"Okay, teacher!"

He scurried away happily. That Naim. He never walk.

Mursyid entered shortly. I haven’t thanked Syafiq yet.

We started Arts ten minutes late.

School ended. I walked to 3 Sabar with books piled up.

Saw Hazim and Hussain exiting. "Get in class, young man."

"I don’t want to stay."

"Hussain, come on." Hazim pulled the boy inside. I smiled my thanks.

Smiling Raimi was arranging the Qurans. "Raimi, you stay, too."

"Don’t want to."

"At least, give me your book."

"I had."

"Really? Haven’t seen it, though. Hussain, sit here." I pulled the nearest chair out. "You’ve got corrections to do."

Hussain and Hazim sat. "I don’t want to."

"Hussain, come on. Raimi and Hazim, you guys listen, too."

The three boys objected with goofy laughter. I sighed. Raimi ran out.

I called out his full name and the lucky boy came back inside.

"Okay, I’ll stay. Poor teacher left alone."

I laughed despite the need to wipe that smug grin off.

Aqil came to see how we were doing. Hussain and Hazim played kicking-the-wall game at the back.

Raimi sipped on Aqil’s yogurt drinks. He reminded I was thirsty.

"Aqil, can you buy one for me?" I pulled out a blue bill.

"Sure. Two?" He eyed me and Raimi.

"Owh, teacher! What about us?" Hussain and Hazim piped out.

"Four." I grinned as I pulled out another. "But promise me, you guys’ll stay." Raimi quickly intervene.

"Three. Teacher, I’ll go home now." He flashed his grin, picked his bag up and ran off.

"Raimi! Get back here!"

He laughed. Hussain and Hazim joined him.

I rubbed my temple. Sat and counted.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Now.

As if on cue, three grinning boys entered the class. I smiled.

Now to get them to stay long enough for my points to get across.

p/s:

"Teacher, why budu as your car’s plate?"

"I’m not sure myself, Raimi."

I am the chairperson for Student Leadership Program which will be held on Saturday, 19th April 2008, focusing on class monitors, assistant class monitors, heads and vice heads of prefect and librarian ranging from standard 3 to standard 6 of SRI Aman.

Exactly on the same time and date, another program will be held specially formulated for students of standard 3 to 5 with academic and behaviour problems.

Those two programs will need 7 facilitators and they are Zulaikha, Ayuni, Sharifah and Syuhada. I still need to confirm on Kak Maryam, Kak Fatimah and Kak Khaulah.

As the faci coordinator for both programs, I’m trying to make out the appropriate LDK [latihan dalam kumpulan] for usage in these programs.

Unfortunately, I can’t really dwell upon the mind of a nine-year-old and nearly fail in determining which module to be used. All the modules I could find had me commenting on how lame they were.

Truthfully, they were boring. Boring for an eighteen-year-old. May be amusing for a nine, perhaps.

Still. The modules are to be presented during the faci briefing, which date is yet to be announced.

Comments, helpful tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I thank all in advance.

On 19th March, I treated the kids of 3 Amanah to yogurt drinks because they managed to answer the quizzes I had for them.

Smart kid they are.

Problem was, they came barging on me right in the middle of English class with 3 Sabar, demanding yogurt drinks.

I hurriedly passed the boys of 3 Amanah a green bill.

Of course, it fueled 3 Sabar’s jealousy, especially those of Ikbal, Hazim and Raja.

At the end of the class, I had to surrender my defeat to one whining Ikbal. I passed Raimi a green bill and asked him to buy ten yogurt drinks for the class.

I dismissed the class and stayed back to pack my stuff. And to answer Nikochan’s call. Soon, I walked towards the 3 Sabar gang in front of the stall.

Raimi bought nine because Aqil didn’t fancy strawberry-flavored yogurt drink and there was a 50 cent change. Ikbal saw me and yelled, "Teacher, can I keep the change? Can I? Can I? Can I?"

"Sure, Ikbal." I sighed at the child’s enthusiasm while continuing my answering the phone.

"Don’t be too stressed, Nik." I nodded and accepted my yogurt drink from Amni. "Just get your facts straight."

"Who are you talking to, teacher?"

"They really should grant you that leave, it’s all on the paper."

"Your boyfriend, teacher?"

"Ikbal, I’ve no boyfriend." I scowled at the boy’s happy face. "Nik, just tell them firmly yet gently. Don’t be too hard on yourself."

"Don’t be too hard on yourself." He drawled.

"Ikbal, don’t mimic me." Nikochan laughed over the phone.

Ikbal laughed and sat next to me.

"Hard to be a teacher, eh?" Nikochan remarked.

"You bet."

All in all, I treated them RM10 that day. I am so kind I could cry.

Today, I craved for ice cream during recess. Since I was already in the class 3 Sabar, I asked Sadiq to buy one for me.

Sadiq kindly obliged. He ran back to the canteen. Haikal came in class and asked me, "Teacher, did you ask Sadiq to buy ice cream for you?"

"Yeah. Why, Haikal?"

"They’re sold out, I think."

The color drained from my face.

Minutes later, Sadiq returned with no ice cream in sight. "Sold out, teacher."

"Told ya."

I groaned and rested my head on Anis’s table. Pupils came streaming inside and saw me.

"What’s wrong with teacher?"

"She wanted ice cream."

"Buy her one, then."

"Sold out already."

I stood up and stared at the clock. 10.15. Time for class.

During class, Ikbal kept reminding me of my ice cream craving. "Teacher, go to Pak Mud’s stall and buy one for yourself."

"Too lazy to walk, Ikbal."

"Buy one for us while you’re at it." His eyes glisten with mischiefs.

I scoffed at him.

Class was dismissed. I walked to Pak Mud’s stall and bought 26 ice creams. Total in RM5.20.

Class resumed after solat. We had ours in the library, with me retelling stories after stories to pupils while Ikbal kept mimicking me and Raimi chuckling softly in the background.

I was a prefect when I was 9, but never did I behaved like those two chipmunks.

I think. Oh well.

Three minutes to the end of class. "Raimi and Ikbal, look after the class for a while, please?"

"Where’re you going?"

"Pak Mud’s." I smiled. "I’ve bought ice cream for all of us."

"Alright!~"

p/s: Later that evening, I treated myself, Ilham, Naim, Haqim and one of Ustaz Azmi’s son drinks of lychee, with Naim requesting for a corn-flavored.

All in all, RM2.50.

"Can’t do this always, Ilham. My pocket will die."

"What’s wrong with that?" He smirked.

I laughed despite the need to strangle him on the spot. As we waited for our drinks, I saw Ikbal paying at the counter.

"Oh my God." I said to Naim. "Don’t let Ikbal know I’m treating you guys; he’ll ask me to buy him drinks, too."

"Aw," Naim smirked. "What’s wrong with that?" And he sauntered towards Ikbal, arm over the petite boy’s shoulder while eying my scowling face.

"Teacher, can I ride in your budu?" Little Ikbal asked enthusiastically.

"It’s parked in the field." I gestured towards the said car. "Go settle yourself in it."

"Okay!" The young boy ran.

"Budu?" Ilham piqued out in perplexity.

"The car’s plate is BDU. Kids read it as BUDU."

We laughed.

Dedicated to my one and only Friendster blog. Yes, I miss you, too.

4 Ikhlas

Ilham Shah:

Our meeting in class started like this, "My name is Muhammad Naim bin Mohd Bashir."

"Come again?" I drooped my eyes. I’ve known his name since I knew his sisters, and I’m pretty sure it’s nowhere near Naim.

"Teacher, he’s lying!" Came from all directions in the class. The real Naim was chuckling on his seat.

Ilham smirked.

Ilham is brilliant, no doubt, and the obvious problem with brilliant kids are them being pure show-offs.

Me included. Ah.

If he’s not writing or talking or playing Baby Crystal, Ilham Shah could be caught singing. Heck, he even sang while doing anything!

I didn’t really mind the throaty voice as long as he gets the work done.

Abruptly, he stopped mid-singing and addressed me sitting across him, marking Naim’s writing. "Teacher, do you know the meaning of inconsolable?"

"Hmm?" I looked up. "How does the spelling goes?"

"I-N-C-O-S-O-B-L-E."

"Really?" I put on my thinking cap. "Sorry, never heard of it."

"You didn’t know?" He smirked. Imagine a devil’s smirk. Or just imagine me smirking. "It means tidak boleh dipujuk."

"Oh." I eyed the smirk carefully.

"Ha, ha." Came the cheerful sing-song tone. "Teacher didn’t know~"

I resumed marking.

A few days later, he sang the same song (Inconsolable by BSB) when I finally figured out what he asked me a few days back.

"Ilham!" I piped out. "You were asking me the meaning of inconsolable!"

"Yeah." He smirked.

"You misspelled it!"

"I did."

"On purpose!" I half-frowned in disbelief. "I can’t believe you did that!"

"I just wanted to know whether you know the meaning or not." And he smirked. And Naim laughed.

Man.

Ironically, that kid is the class monitor. Not that I’m doubting his credibility, no. I’m merely pointing out his mischievousness.

p/s: In our class, I once used my own name [Teacher Atiqah] for one of the examples during our grammar learning. Ilham here cleverly alter it into Sister Atiqah.

-____-”

Muhammad Naim:

In class, he’s as mischievous as Ilham. The two of them kept calling me kakak since the small gap in our age differences.

I never give them the green light. "In the school compound, call me teacher or muallimah. If you still keen with the sister nickname, do so if we meet at Pak Mud’s stall or something, okay?"

And Naim went, "Ka-!"

I glared.

"Eh," he grinned defensively. "I haven’t said the other k yet."

Kids.

Maybe I haven’t mention this before, but the first thing I notice about people is their smile.

And Naim has one sweet smile.

And he’s friendly, really. Not a meeting has passed that he didn’t greet me in way or another.

I met him when his father dropped him and his lil bro Marwan off. He smiled and started to run away when I made to pass him the heavy books I were carrying.

I walked by his class and he called out for me. Since I no longer teach his class [Muallimah Rahmah found a new English teacher to make way for me and my JPA affair], he kept asking the same thing, "Won’t you teach us anymore, teacher?"

This evening, I was six meters away when a young boy greeted me from behind the grills of the library door. His face was partially hidden but I recognize that smile anywhere.

"Teacher!" He called out, two fingers out from his knuckle. "Peace!"

I peaced him back.

What happened to the good old "Assalamualaikum"?

Fifteen minutes after school ended and I was sitting under the shade, sipping yogurt drink peacefully.

"Teacher!" Came the cheery call from my left.

I turned towards that direction. Five meters away, Naim was grinning while walking across the field.

I smiled, waving my hand in a short hello.

You’ll love him when you meet him.

I’m grinning like a lucky buffoon right now, so I might as well break the news.

I’ll be marrying him in two months! Oh man, aren’t you guys excited or not?

I’m currently designing the wedding invitation cards and he kindly allowed me to use Ninja Turtles as the design! Oh sweetie!

I’ll be sending out the cards within a few days. Make sure you have a valid email or home address, and I’ll send it over. But if you didn’t find it on your doorstep, bear in mind you were not invited.

Jesting only.

I love testing human reactions, they can be pretty amusing at times.

Back to business.

Dad bought me a Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club sling bag, an impressive one which is quite cool. That was a couple of weeks ago.

We got a discount for it but dad still paid a hefty amount. I was happy, yeah, but quite annoyed with me since I over-budgeted him.

And tomorrow mom’s gonna fly to KL, and she has been experimenting with my bag for the first time. She was too elated and seeing her face, I immediately said, "You can use it anytime you want. Just let me take the thrash out of it first."

That was a couple of hours ago. Just now she was slinging that bag happily on her shoulder, showing it off to dad. Dad commented she was a beau.

So mom and I made a splendid deal. I gave her the possession of the SBP&RC bag, and she’d take me shopping for a new sling bag this Sunday.

Specifically, a Camel sling bag I fell in love with right after I bought the SBP&RC bag.

Actually, the Camel was more expensive than the SBP&RC, but hey, she suggested it!

Two new branded bags in a month? I hit the jackpot! Good days to you guys!