Fun For Fathers Evening II

Last week
The story-telling session had just ended and Mrs M was distributing a leaflet about the next Fun For Fathers event and was encouraging all to come.

From the back of the room (parents are involved) I heard Little D ask, Can I come with my mom?

Oh, yes, of course, D. You can come with your dad, uncle, granddad, brother, uncle or even your mom.

Little D hurried over to me, with a worried look in his eyes. Can I go next week? Mrs M says I can come with you!

I smiled and nodded.

Today

Little D had his schedule full today. After school, he had his dance club. Then, approximately an hour later, he went for his kelas mengaji. I asked to be excused early so that he could attend the FFF thingy. The older kids asked a million questions and offered statements including this: But you can't go, Mama!

I assured them that Little D had asked the teacher himself and all will be fine; provided the boys came with us because they were, after all, Little D's male carers.

Off we marched in the dark (it started at 6pm) and upon arrival at the school gates, I buzzed on the intercom (gates were all locked and they had cameras on the intercom as well). When I heard a lady's voice asking about us, I said that we were there for the Fun for Fathers evening. This is what I got:

I'm sorry but it's only for fathers.

Dang! My voice must have sounded feminine or was it my scarf that gave away the secret? My head went blank for a second, but managed to answer,

Er.. but we don't have a father! I could feel the heat rise in my face - of insult, humiliation and anger.

Oh, is that Z and H's mom?

Imagine the agony of being recognised as the forlorn widow who is perhaps the talk of the school. Nonetheless, I hissed, Yesssss....

Okay, come on in!

Thank you! I shouted through the intercom.

And the gate buzzed open while we sneaked in.

At the front door, the Head Teacher greeted us - the same woman who helped us and also made my life more difficult and miserable on a few occasions.

In the hall, it was awkward when eyes stung into you. I noticed a few more civilised parents being polite by not looking into our direction. Correction - MY direction. There was, however, an annoying man who was probably wondering why we didn't have an adult man with us. That was acceptable, but oh boy, he sure didn't know how much I felt like going up to him and poking his eyeballs out!! Hehehe...

All in all, Little D enjoyed the evening so much as Abang H and Z built him a super cool wooden boat with sails. Mind you, no dads or granddads were as creative as those 11-year olds! Little D also had his sister make him a puppet, and his mom to make him a mask.

In retrospect, however, I hope that was the last FFF evening the school is having for the year! (though I sense there'll be another one next term)