1st of the Four February Birthdays...

I have been back in Bintulu for about one week now, since the beginning of the month that is. There are four February birthdays in the family starting with the 7 years old Dedek's birthday falling on the 2nd. He wanted dinner at a new restaurant, the all you can eat chicken buffet restaurant, that was recently established in Bintulu. Shaffik was away in KL and Mini has had enough of chicken she said. So it was me with the three kids for dinner at the restaurant.

It was a gloomy evening on Monday the 2nd. It had been raining the whole afternoon and continued to be wet and drizzling through to the night. I brought the three kids to the 'all you can eat' chicken restaurant. There were only a couple of tables occupied when we arrived. Two other families with grown up children came in while we were there. So, it was rather quiet in the restaurant except for the noise of my grandchildren.

Haadieya was the liveliest of the siblings. She wanted to eat whatever we, the others, ate but she would only take one or two spoons of the soup, one or two bites of the chicken and anything else. She wanted to taste all and I had to finish up after her. I just cannot leave the unfinished food on the plate. Similarly the birthday boy went into the restaurant full of enthusiasm but all he had was a small portion of the potato soup, one drumstick and a couple of sliced fruits. He tried a second drumstick but could only manage less than half of it. Babang, his elder brother on the other hand ate better than his siblings. He had two and a half pieces of chicken, the half from Dedek, finished a bowl of soup with a bun, a plate full of cut fruits and some mashed potatoes. Not much if you look at what they ate, but if you see our table at the end of it all it looked as though there was a big feast there, with all the dirty plates and bowls and bits of food strewn on the table!! Looks like what I paid for the dinner was more for the cleaning up of the table than for the food consumed, heh heh!!

All the while the kids were playful, making fun and noisy. I could see the other patrons, the other grown up children, eyeing the kids with their antics. Out of nowhere Dedek asked if he could have five ringgit cash from me. I asked what for, and he said, "nothing, I just want five ringgit...... " with hands gesturing palms upside. I said I would give him five ringgit if he would take off his pants and dance on top of the table, heh heh! challenging him. He said noooo! amidst laughter from his siblings and smiles from the neighbouring table. I told him no dance without pants on the table no five ringgit..... He appeared serious then, stood up and pretended to unbuckle his belt as though attempting to take off his pants, cheered by his siblings, but he shyly chickened out. The sister just cannot help tormenting him after that... Dedek cannot dance, Dedek cannot dance, she said.

Babang and Dedek are one year apart while Haadieya is three years younger than Dedek. The two boys get along well with each other but not Dedek and the sister. They are at each other always and usually for no apparent reasons. On our way home in the car I just commented, "somone phoot" that's letting off gas from the back!! Guess how they responded.... Babang and Dedek both responded, "not me not me...." but Haadieya said, "Dedek, Dedek.... pheeyewww so smelly" I just made it up mind you and there can't be any smell of tummy gas, and she nonchalantly responded and blaming Dedek. That's just one example of how the two of them get on each others nerves. Definitely there was a short spurt of the two getting on each others throat for her comments and I just had to shout amidst the din for them to stop it. Heh heh.. there you go... no dull moments with the kids....




The Birthday Boy and The Tormentor



MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Bintulu