Looking for an old friend

          

          I knew I had to think of something. They have already chosen their way but not me. The exam is going to be over soon and they already knew their targets and destinations....unlike me! This worried me so much but I did not know what to think or where to go! I was raised in a big family and we have to do things on our own to satisfy ourselves..... my style...come what may!!!

          During my time, the Form Five pupil had to sit for this exam called the Malaysian Certificate of Education or in short MCE. We had to do well because the results will take us to our better future....well that was what people think! Did I achieve? Well....just enough. My headmaster laughed at me because I scored a distinction in English and only credit in my Bahasa Melayu! I was not surprised because I have my own reasons. Whatever my results were, it did not take me abroad....simply local! No regret!

          I grew up in many places but the most that I liked was a palm oil plantation deep in the jungle. A place called Padang Kubu in Kemaman, Terengganu. Nothing special about that place but nature really educates me. So, when I read stories about Mowgli, I got excited. The only difference is he was raised by wolves and friends with the animals..... not me! the resemblance is only the jungle. 

          The plantation was managed by TDMB. It was a massive project of planting palm trees and doing all the infrastructures plus the building of the mill and so on.  Arwah Abah joined the company and became a Surveyor Officer. He was a very young and handsome guy with 9 children and a wife to feed! Both my Mak and Abah were very hardworking and always think positive about anything. Besides working in the field or in his office, he helped Mak with baking and cooking. He would ride on his motorcycle before dusk to the one and only coffee shop belonged to Uncle Teck Lee.

          Among the managers in that plantation was Mr Wilsher, an Englishman.  Aunty Ani, his wife is a Malaysian. They have five children. The three big ones are Karen, Mark and Eddie.  Kevin and Karina were still toddlers. The first three went to the same school as my siblings and I. They cannot converse in Bahasa Melayu and so we, whom we regarded ourselves as the lucky ones because Abah speaks English at home. So we brushed our second language with the Wilshers. We became close friends. Now, that was one of the reasons why my English is better than my Bahasa Melayu!

          Eddie was in the same class as I was and he was a kind of a loud person. It was funny because he is a Wilsher but he looked very Asian! If you lined up Eddie and Mark, you will never guess that they are brothers! Hahahahha.... last I heard about him was he taught English in Indonesia but he is back in the UK now. And so is Mark. I managed to contact Eddie once and glad to know that he still remembered the place where we grew up together. Alhamdulillah. Karen is our senior. She was in the secondary while we were in our primary. 

         I am still looking for my friend, Karen. Heard that she is now in Australia. I am scrolling through the net to find her. I miss her very much. Wherever you are my dear Karen, I hope you are well and I wish you the best in health and pray to Allah that we will meet again someday. InSyaAllah. 

         I heard Mr Wilsher has passed away. May he rest in peace. I wish Aunty Ani and all the Wilshers the best.

          

The Wilshers.