This post is mostly about my childhood & teens life.
I was born in a big family; not that rich nor that poor. Just moderate can do. In chinese we called a small and simple family; 小康之家 but I would rather categorized myself in ‘ 中 ‘ 康之家; with some cloths on and enough to fill my stomach, simple yet tranquil except in the school. I stayed with my parents, an aunty, ah ma & ah kong, 2 sisters all over the years and you know, I suffer less. My brother was in Singapore that time for work. Which means I gotta play ciccy games with my 2 sisters. lol. I still remember I had 2 neighbours (girls as well) and we played friend or not friend. HAHA! In chinese is 不要跟你好! 没有朋友做! It was quite tedious because 2 years back I saw them, both grown up and we never had a conversation at all. Instead, I was quite friendly with their mom. Hmm..
Family businesses surrounded me when I’m young. My childhood sucks to be honest. How? Why? It ponders! I was not really encourage to spend a lot when I am young. I still remember I asked for RM1 (1 Ringgit) from my father every morning for some snacks / food in the school. I was quite shy to ask more from him and I don’t know why. The hands raise up for a ringgit and wondered if he’d give me RM5 or RM10! But as usual, 1 Ringgit. I am neither dissapointed nor demanding for more. I am just jealous of some rich kids in the primary school who can buy 2 big bowls of laksa (RM1) + 1 keropok (RM0.30) + 1 chill tube (RM0.20) + Choco Stick (RM0.30) + 1 can of soft drink (RM0.70) and yet, he still have some more left reserved for tomorrow or after school / tuition. At that time (1990), RM1 is a lot.
That’s not all. The real reason behind the word ‘SUCK’ is…. I was rated as the most ‘ham sap low’ guy in the class room (primary school). Or in chinese, ‘七嗰北’ or to be exact – lewd. Or either being called ciccy (in secondary school)… What on earth? Or probably I am weak when I’m still young. Bullies surrounded me. Not really bullies, I give you a scenario. When I was in the Kindergarden (St. Jude), I was bullied by an Indian. His name was DAVE. I kept this name clear in my mind still and yet, his childhood look is still clear in my mind, about 6-7 years old (Dangerous eh? hehe). He kept on pulling my hair during the class; any event would do, dancing, rest time. I don’t know what had got up to this big bully. I informed my teacher but she ignored or said, "DAVE, YOU BEHAVE & YOU (refering me) GO BACK TO YOUR DANCE." We were dancing on that time. And so my childhood was shadowed by this rediculous hair removal experience. i merely got BOTAK. I didn’t managed to explain it to my parents because I like my friends around except that DAVE.
2nd scenario was a thin guy (his name is 嘉伦) in the primary school use a board pin, rubbed a number of times on the floor until it’s hot and place it on my arms. "OUCH!" I toned & paused. He laughed and turned away. I reported this incident to my teacher 张老师 (Mrs Chang who is a reasonable person) and the teacher "slapped" him on his action on me. He appologized to me but that’s not all, he kept on defaming me without any reasons at all. I hardly talked to anyone in the classroom except some trusted ones only. And one of them who really acted a bit ciccy but friendly; considered one of my ‘buddies’ on that time. Does this have to do with my friends around? This world is so cold and dark.
These incident had brought me apart and into the second half of my life — the teenage life — secondary school. I don’t really make friends around. I was meant to be in Green Road at first place but due to delay of some "DATUK" that my uncle knew, I was transfered to SMK Sungai Maong. The classroom was differentiate through colours instead. So, I was listed into GREEN CLASS by Mr. Cikgu (teacher) Ahmad – The Shortie. At that time, the Green class is the second best in the school.
Unfamiliar faces looked at me once I stepped into the class, LATE. Everyone looked at me as it was the first day of school. Nothing happened on the first day as you introduce me and I do the same thing back. The second day was a bit fustrated as I started to get insulted of being so quiet. Some strangers came to comfort me and wanted to know what happened to me. Exactly, the first day to school is a bit nervous because you’ve got no clue what’s next coming your way. Malays, Ibans and Chinese mixed in the class.
The first thing that made me started to talk was the interaction in the class. Something like a brief intro about yourself in the chinese class which I took for the first year. Preety hard! I was glad that I knew this bunch of friends who named themselves as ‘Heng Tai’ or in chinese 兄弟. It’s a GANG or BROTHERS. They were crazy enough to brighten your day. I was fortunate to met a friend named MIKE. He’s cool and consolidate as one of my best buddy in the sec. The gang looks after one another. In other words, it’s to prevent one of the members from being bullied. That’s good. I thought. If one of the members was bullied by someone, others will stand up for you. No fear is the case.
Then I realized life in the secondary is getting more and more excited…
To be continued…
Here is some archive if you’re interested to flip back.
A Brief Intro About Life. Part 3 , A Brief Intro About Life. Part 2 , A Brief Intro About Life. Part 1