CHOICES

'So, it is up to you. Do you want me to accompany you to the game or would you like to bring a friend instead?', tanya aku kepada Abang. Ibu pon memandang Abang menunggu jawapan bermakna.

Abang tanpa berfikir panjang ( seolah dia dah 'rehearse' dialog ) terus menjawab, ' It doesn't matter Ayah. I can go with you or anyone. You decide', kata Abang.

' Well, I am not sure myself. But, you have to give your decision because the game in on Wednesday', jawab aku.

Abang mengulang lagi jawapan sebelum, 'It doesn't matter'.

Di saat ini aku ingin menguji Abang sedikit la. 'Well, let me think. Actually the two tickets are given by my friend for me to experience the game once , to see whether I can enjoy it. It might not be polite if I accept the tickets but didn't go. So, maybe I should go with you'. Aku bercakap sambil memerhati wajah Abang dengan teliti. Tiada perubahan walau sedikit pon. Dia hanya merenung kepada aku menunggu sahaja apa yang akan aku katakan.

Aku tambah lagi. ' However, I don't really fancy this ice hockey game. They are a bit too fast and too violent for me. Give me soccer or American football, and I definitely could see myself cheering at the stadium with you'. Aku lihat wajah Abang sekali lagi. Ternampak sedikit senyuman. Jadi aku pon menambah, ' Maybe you can find out from one of your friends if anyone is interested to go with you. I can tell my friend that I have some programme that night. And err.. don't invite a friend who can't stomach bloody noses etc', kata aku.

'Oh I won't invite her. She doesn't like hockey', Abang cepat menjawab sebelum cuba menarik balik kata-kata.

Aku pura-pura tidak mendengar, ' What did you say?'.
'Nothing.. I go ask my friend now', jawab Abang spontan dan terus keluar.

Dari gaya dan gerak geri Abang, aku boleh menilai dia akan lebih menikmati menonton sukan tersebut sekiranya dia bersama-sama kawan dia daripada menonton dengan Ayah yang kurang sedikit memahami sukan ini. Aku pon tak berapa minat.

Aku pandang ke Ibu. Ibu hanya tersenyum.

WALKING TALL

Ibu cerita dengan aku.

'Today Faim walked to school by himself', kata Ibu.
'Eh.. I thought you sent him to school this morning?', aku tanya Ibu kehairanan sebab aku nampak Ibu dengan Faim menuju ke kereta pagi tadi.
'Ya la, tapi once we arrived at school, Faim said he wanted to walk to class by himself. "Ibu can drive the car home" ', Ibu menjawab dan meniru cara Faim bercakap.
'Oh', aku jawab dan mengganguk memahami maksud Ibu.

Terfikir aku. Dah besar Baby Faim. Pada hal pagi tadi waktu aku nak solat subuh, dia masuk ke bilik minta tumpang tidor di katil kami. Cepat betul anak-anak aku membesar.

Segera, aku menjawab kepada Ibu,' Tommorow, I will send Faim to school'.