Answers?
Oh yes, she does have answers for every question you ask. Just ask, she’d say. She is equipped. She is loaded. All you have to do is shoot! Yeah, you shoot. She doesn’t do the shooting. Because when she does, she would expect you to be loaded with answers. And her definition of answers is those sentences that don’t end with another question mark. Yes, she is very particular that way. So if you answer her question with another question, she takes it that you are not willing to answer. She might as well just look at herself in the mirror and ask the question to herself. Or better yet, just talk to herself. Or the best yet… not to ask or talk in the first place. You pick, then, if you’re going to answer her question with another.
Angry? No, she is not angry. She is simply telling you what you don’t seem to know about her. Or perhaps she is correcting what you seem to have misperceived about the person you claim to know so well for so long. She can see that being assertive always sounds ‘angry’ to you. She’s changed, you reckoned? Of course she has. Who hasn’t? Look who’s talking now. One year has done a lot to her. Shall she say more about ten years? You remember her one-size-fits-all statement of “It’s one that eventually makes a million.” Don’t you? If you can’t remember that, I don’t think you can remember much of what she has said. And she doesn’t say hacks-a-candy of a lot.
Yes, she has pretty much been tucking herself at her own corner lately – which she hasn’t done since late 2002 or somewhere there. Seven years, four countries, six houses and another kid later, she thought it would be good to re-upholster Mom’s 60 year old chair for her corner and let Mom mum her there. And for the next twelve days, Mom will be there for her.
Questa è Enida 
Enida, ibu mertuamu ada disana? Alangkah bahagianya rasa dihati, bukan begitu Enida? Berapa purnama akan dia berada disana? Ibu mertuaku masih belum datang menjengah kami disini. Sedikit gumbira dihati ini, namum gusar tidak tertahan lagi jika tiba-tiba dia datang menerjah. Terjahnya ibu mertuaku, jatuhla hati di kala kepingin ku melihat hari yang indah.
Apa jugalah kata2 ku di petang yang dingin ini, alah biarkan saja wiz dan labunya. Pengat labu sedap juga di waktu-waktu begini dicicah lagi bersama biskut lutut dari kedai kak kiah. Tak gitu Enida?
Muahahahahaha Wiz! You obviously had too much of that Biskut Lutut lah! Or was it the proverbial Pengat Labu that finally made you confess about your Ibu Mertua? Ahak ahak. Easy girl, easy! I do have a Labu Sayong nan sebijik di ruang tamuku ini buat menyimpan si air mati. And when pucukku semua mati, ia boleh juga dijadikan bekas menyimpan si air mata ala-ala tudung peghoyok, gitu.
Ibu mertuaku menjengah cuma barang 10 hari sahaja. Cukuplah mengubat rindu dan menyapu si air mata. Isyyy, air mata lagi! Banyak bebenor pulak teghoyok nye. She is returning to Canada this Friday. It’s been really great to have someone to bergebang with sambil melipat kain di petang hari mahupun mencuci pinggan selepas makan malam. I don’t know if I would start talking to the sinks or the tap soon bila Makbonda dah balik kelak.
Anyway, I think I would take you on the offer nak post kan Biskut Lutut ke Moscow. Would you like me to send you a box beralamat sendiri? Or should I send you a 20ft container berlamatkan Kedai Kak Pokrovskiah supaya Biskut Lutut tersebut dapat diniagakan di kedai beliau?
Need a close up of that chair. It looks super comfy and cozy, even from a distance.
Would love to have some proper news at some point although understandably you are busy entertaining ma-in-law.
Enjoy sweetheart.
Love. Nina x