little one.

Mother sent Niece to school. In front of the school, Niece refused to leave the car.

Niece: Hari ni cuti sekolah.
Mother: Tu, budak ramai. Kenapa pula cuti sekolah?
Niece: Kawan kite cakap cuti.
Mother: Jangan nak mengada-ngada. Kalau kawan makan tahi, nak ikut makan tahi?
Niece: Tak mahu.
Mother: Sekarang, turun. Pergi sekolah.
Niece: Tak mahu.
Mother: Kenapa tak mahu?
Niece: Tak mahu.
Mother: Tak ada anak-anak MakTok yang tak suka pergi sekolah tahu! Perangai apa ni? Ikut perangai keluarga Mama ya!
Niece: (Menangis)

Niece was really testing Mother's patience. As a result, Niece received two slaps on both of her cheeks. This is really a record. Mother hadn't slapped anybody for almost 15 years. I remember Mother slapped me when I was her age too. But I only got one slap, not two. And that was the only time.

Mother: Cuba nasihatkan Niece. Her behaviours are like yours (degil dan suka melawan).
Me: Mana ada. Orang masa kecil, suka pergi sekolah, tak pernah ponteng.
Mother: Itulah, Mother bagitau dia, anak-anak Mother tak ada yang tak suka pergi sekolah. Bangun pagi pun susah sekarang. Mother tak tahu dia ikut perangai siapa. Mother rasa, family Mama dia kot. Bila Mother cakap macam tu, mula dia buat muka sedih.
Me: Mother bagitahulah parents dia.
Mother: In front of the parents, dia takut. Tapi dengan Mother, degil semacam.
Me: Ustazah sekolah tu garang kot. Kalau tak hafal, kena rotan.
Mother: Ustazah dia threaten dia, kalau markah teruk, kena turun darjah. Habis, malam, tanak pulak dia belajar.
Me: Apa dia buat dekat rumah kalau tak pergi sekolah? Bukan ada kawan pun (there are no children her age in the neighbourhood).
Mother: Asyik-asyik drawing. Drawing and watching TV. Kalau bab kahwin, tak tidur malam pun takpe! (Niece's auntie on her mother's side just got married last week)
Me: Lepas you slapped her, dia pergi sekolah?
Mother: No. And I had to lie to your Father, sekolah cuti hari ni.

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Me: What happened today?
Niece: Takde apa-apa.
Me: MakTok buat apa?
Niece: Sembahyang.
Me: Tak pergi sekolah tadi?
Niece: Bila Auntie balik? (Pandai tukar topik)
Me: Soon.
Niece: Boringlah Auntie takde. Baliklah...I miss you.
Me: I want to balik too. Tapi banyak kerja.
Niece: MakTok sakit.
Me: Sakit apa?
Niece: Gatal-gatal. Dah jumpa doktor, dah makan ubat, tapi ubat habis.
Me: Nanti Auntie tengok.

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Why is she acting up?
Is my child going to be like her, refusing to go to school? How will I handle it?

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Mother: Her Bahasa Melayu teruk sangat.
Me: Kenapa?
Mother:
Kari ini rasanya pahit (pedas).
Rambutnya comot momot (kusut masai).
Bintang-bintang bersinar (berkerlipan).
Dia pergi ke sana untuk makan hati (makan angin).

Banyak lagi dia silap. Semua yang senang-senang!

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When I come home soon, she is going to get a Bahasa Melayu crash-course from me!