An informal letter that bends

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Yesterday almost passed like the usual days, but I'm glad it didn’t.

I was so tired the moment I reached home from work, I wished to skip my tuition class but Khalid came to me with a wide smile, “Can you help me with something, Kakngah?” I tried my best to dismiss the aching ague of a tired body and instead promised to help with his essay.

I rushed to shower and hoped to call the day off very soon. Once done, I sat with Khalid at his favourite table, noticed he has already begun. “Your friend wants some tips on how to prepare for his coming examination. Write him a letter advising him at least three things he needs to do in order to do well. Write your answer between 50 to 80 words.”

I carefully read the address, date, sentence structure, spelling, grammar just to identify if there was any mistake on that piece of paper. I identified some and asked him to immediately correct them. Khalid didn't protest like yesternights and nebulously did what I asked. Khalid was different. He kept his mouth shut most of the time. The pencil was hardly held and there were sometimes weary sighs in between. “Ikhlas.” I said. “Belajar kena ikhlas.” He just nodded. But the grey sad face was very distracting. I couldn't stand it anymore. “What is it? What is the problem?”

He pointed at the recipient name of the letter.

“Dear Umar..”

“Umar?”
“My friend.”
“Anything wrong with him?”
“Umar dah tak datang sekolah dua bulan. He has problems.”
“Buli?”
“Tak. Family problem. The parents divorced and Umar lives with his mom. Mom dia…”
“Sakit?”
“Tak. Mom dia alchoholic. Malam-malam mom dia tak balik. Umar penat tunggu mom dia balik. Bila mom dia balik, dia kena cuci rumah sebab mom dia muntah. Umar kena jaga adik-adik dia. Umar tak boleh datang sekolah dah.”
“How do you know about this?”
“Khalid called him…”
“Khalid rindu Umar?”
“Khalid harap jumpa Umar masa UPSR nanti. Khalid nak masuk boarding school dengan Umar.”
“So you are literally writing this letter to him…”

Khalid tried to finish his essay with struggles. His thoughts and remembrance broke open the sadness and missing he has been keeping for more than two months. I told Khalid several times before - a story must have a character that bends. Khalid did it excellently, even though he was only writing an informal letter. "Umar bends your heart, Khalid?"

This is an essay of someone’s life, on the problem: the weariness of a kid with single-handedly mother. This kid no longer creates his wild imagination with his friend, no longer spends his playful time with football, ninja-goh and Pokemon cards, no longer thinks like what a 12 year-old should think and proves exceptional maturity beyond dreams.

What I told Khalid earlier that, “Belajar kena ikhlas”, I should have reminded me myself too, “Mengajar kena ikhlas”. Umar and Khalid both taught me priceless lessons.



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