I was at the kitchen counter when Ka Cher came in with the IKEA stool in one hand reporting, “I found your son climbing on this stool, shoes on and all, trying to get out of the house through the window!” I didn’t know whether to laugh at Edrick’s desperation to get out, to applaud at his ala MacGuyver’s smartness, or to cry at the thought that he was trying to run away from home!
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Of course he was upset with Aunty Mas for failing his attempt to jump out the window. When I went to console my upset son, I somehow felt a rush of strange connection to the past. My past. And Ka Cher was there to share and connect them all: me, my son, my past and running away from home. I did, nonetheless, had a good laugh. Both at my son and myself, my past included.
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I couldn’t blame Edrick for wanting to get out of the house in dire straits (probably not so much for running away – I did advise him to at least bring some change of clothes, food and umbrella if he were to run away! Or at least get fed beforehand, like I was by Ka Cher who fed me Bubur Kacang that one fateful evening back in 1979!)
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It had been raining all morning. And we were all donned up in Raya clothes ready to cheer the world up. Anybody would have felt stranded given the situation, wouldn’t they? Well, we ended up not going anywhere anyway. I, for one, didn’t need to. All (except one) that I want, and all that fill my heart are right under my roof.
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I’ll keep the stool out my son’s sight for now… and for the next 18 years.
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Questa è Enida 
Hi Enida, My first visit to your blog – found it in Naza’s blog. Hope u remember who i am???
Edrick, please runaway to Aunty Lisa and Uncle Danil’s house, ok.. WE HAVE COOKIES!
Oh Enida, I so wanted to run away…to your house just now. But I would make a lousy company if I had gone. I was in my seluar taichi all day, all curled up on my sofa. The pain was unbearable till 7pm just now. I was feeling better after maghrib and when I told my other half I was ready to go to your place, he said forget about it, Enida sure dah basuh pinggan basuh periuk dah. Uuwaaaaa! Sorry dear. We’ll meet before you leave for Moscow k.