Those Silly Boyhood Days ...

There are times when I wish I was a kid again. Those were such fun times with no cares in the world. And right now, I'd give anything to be a kid again.

The price of petrol just increased by a huge margin here today as of 12.01am and it's one of the biggest jumps in prices for as long as I can remember. Worse yet, the price will be reviewed monthly based on the current world petrol prices or something, which in simple English means we're going to have a few more fuel price increases ... siggghhhh ...

Anyway, when I heard the news on the radio on the way back from work yesterday, I knew that there would be a mad scramble to fill up before the 12.00am deadline at the petrol stations here and I wasn't wrong. Unfortunately my tank was almost full and it would be pointless for me to queue up just to top it off. So I went home and picked wifey and the boys up and went out for dinner.

While on the way, both wifey and me were discussing about the price increase and contemplating the domino effect this is going to bring on the cost of other goods out there, my younger boy butts his head in between and us says, what's all the big fuss and why are the petrol stations choked with cars (which was really causing a traffic snarl) and that he was hungry and could we drive faster.

Ahhhhh, the innocence of youth. No worries, no responsibilities or cares in the world. All he could think of was his food and that he was hungry. And that's when I wanted SO MUCH to be kid again and not have to shoulder the responsibilities that I have right now. Responsibilities such as worrying how to put food on the table. To make sure I can provide for the family on my miserable salary (boss, if you're reading this, that's a HUGE hint about me needing a pay rise!).

And speaking of being a kid again, I must admit I was a pretty daft and naive kid when I was growing up ... LOL! And if you ask my two best buddies, they would probably tell you that I'm still as daft and naive as I was in my youth! And don't you two going denying it. I know the two of you too well already ... hehehe ...

When I was really young, somewhere around the ages of 3-5 years old, I used to live in this seaside town called Port Dickson. Since my dad was working in the then National Electricity Board, we were assigned government quarters to stay in. There was about a block of eight of these quarters side by side in this quiet area surrounded by trees and jungle. There were no other houses nearby and to get in to the neighbourhood, one had to pass a narrow road which had four different cemeteries belonging to four different religions.

You have to pass the Christian one, then the Muslim one followed by the Hindu one (which was the scariest of the lot) and finally the Chinese one which was located right in front of the quarters just across the road. Remind me to tell you guys about some spooky happening about these cemeteries one day. Now, back then I wasn't all that afraid of spooky things and I used to play around in the Chinese cemetery with this boy who was about 5 years my senior named Appu. He was a nice Indian fellow who's father owned the fruit plantation not too far away.

We hung out and he became sort of a big brother to me. We'd play hide and seek, football and do all sorts of things in the cemetery. But me being a daft kid and all that also kinda listened to everything this Appu fellow told me. Hey, I was only 4 years old or so at that time, ok! Now, during the Chinese all souls day (I forgot what the actual name for it is), the place would be a hive of activity and they'd leave all kinds of offering such as cakes, food, drinks and stuff behind for the deceased.

One day, after one of these all souls day thingy, Appu came to me and offered me a drink. I asked him what it was. He said it was some tea that he made himself especially for me. I was thrilled. So I took it and drank it down. It tasted kinda bitter and cold and by the time I swallowed very drop, he was laughing his head off. I asked him what was so funny and he said, he took the bottle from one of the offerings at the grave just now. It was actually Chinese tea meant for the deceased! OHMYGOD!

You should have seen the look of fright I had on my face. I was almost in tears as I rushed in my house, ran into the kitchen screaming and grabbing the dish washing detergent from the sink and start washing my mouth off with it. My mom looked at me like as if I was crazy and I don't blame her. There I was, a 4 year old, washing my mouth with dish washing detergent, I'll bet I look like a loony bin to her. She grabbed the detergent away from me and ask me what in heavens name compelled me to do such a stupid thing.

I sobbingly told her what Appu did to me and instead of feeling sorry for me, she burst out laughing and said I deserved it for being so stupid. Man, I was scared to my bones all night thinking that the deceased would come get me for drinking his Chinese tea offering. And that wasn't the only time Appu conned me. There were many more times but I just can't remember them. I know he made me a sandwich with sand in it once and told me it was peanut butter and I ate that too. See I told you I was daft ... LOL!

I sometimes just cannot believe how silly I was when I was growing up. I even thought that cars stopped at traffic lights cos there was this invisible barrier when the lights were red. That's why they didn't dare move. And I was 6 or 7 years old at that time! LOL! There was a time when my cousin conned me that I could power a 12V car cassette player right of the mains in the house and I actually stupidly tried it and blew up my uncle's cassette player not to mention blowing a few fuses in the process and almost killing myself. They all knew how to amuse themselves with my stupidity back then.

Siggghhh ... daft I may have been back then but how I long for those times again. It was such fun times, though half the time it was at my expense. But I never did have a care in the world. Nothing to be responsible for. I always knew food would be on the table, there would be a roof over my head and all that. All I had to worry about was getting more time to play and watch TV. It sure sucks being an adult at times!
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