So, when we were little...

I don’t remember specifically HOW I grew up, but I knew I had many siblings and that my family was big. Therefore, my childhood revolved just around them? Their friends were my friends, and this kampong was a whole lot merrier than it is now. I wonder why? 

There used to be just few houses here in my kampong so what was left for us was either the messy bushes or still-in-building houses. Now, all the free tapaks had been replaced with real houses haha how time flies. Back then, the free tapaks were our playground, I remember. Imagine, we had even played hide-and-seek in this entire kampong. I remember hiding at my neighbour’s balcony and they didn’t care! Sometimes when we were tired, the pakcik and makcik would even make us drinks. That was how small my kampong was, we knew each other so well. I was only little at that time so alang and my sisters took care of me a lot.

And then comes my house. It was the center to all kids in this kampong (I believe still is, to my friends) It was because my parents didn’t care as much as other parents did- so all kids resorted here. We didn’t have a spacious field to play football but my house compound. Tuju kasut, football, teng teng, everything.. now let me count those I remember.. well there were perhaps more than 10 of us. My parents were honestly saints. 

When we had ps1, they even came into the house to play, making my home as theirs long before the phrase “buat mcm rumah sendiri” came out. Even worse when we had ps2 and my parents, they still didn’t care. All I remember about my childhood was that, I played outside a lot. Mingling with others too. Compared to now… well, even then we had a big thick-ass computer! Hello! I played Mario! But none of that could compare to playing with my siblings and their friends outside.

Funny moments? Let’s not get me started. Every time we settle ourselves in kak anih’s room we would always bring back those funny and childish childhood memories of ours. Back then it was serious but thinking back now, they were all so funny. Our fights, our plays, our hidden agendas we planned, our white lies, everything.

I never realized how tired my parents were, especially my Mom when she handled little us. All I knew was that we were never left to starve and that the food was glorious and delicious. I feel sorry for her and I can never imagine being in her shoes. Ever. (Tearing up a little bit as I am thankful for her, and my Dad)

Ah those times, were all happy times. Why do I feel like the years, when I was a child had gone like they were just a day? Too fast. I don’t think I have savored them enough. Well, I didn’t know I would grow up this fast, did I? But what I certainly know is that I can’t wait to tell my future kids, in details, how I grew up! (it’d be too long to write here tbh) telling them because in this era, most kids would never get to experience our kind of childhood anymore, will they?