Meet my cousin, Zaqwan

by Irfan Adam Irwan Shahrin

Whenever I'm at Grandma's I like to play with my cousin Iskandar Zaqwan. He is Uncle Ike and Aunty Nana's son.

Zaqwan is still a baby. I am not a baby anymore. Grandpa sometimes calls me baby, I don't like it - so I tell him "I'm not baby, I'm Irfan!".



When we are together we play with many toys - Thomas the Train, motorbikes, and small cars. I like cars, I have so many of them. We also spend time doing alphabets and jigsaw puzzles. Zaqwan is good at them, but I'm faster 'cos I'm older than him.

Then we take turn to drive my QX 7277. But Zaqwan is always busy on the phone. That's ok with me, 'cos then I can have the car all for myself!

12

by Irfan Adam Irwan Shahrin                      


The following took place between 9 a.m and 9 p.m...

The last time I was at Grandpa's farm it was raining cats and dogs. All my activities had to be indoors, so it wasn't very long before I got a bit cranky.

Recently the weather was nice and cool, not freaking hot like the past few days. So I asked Mama if I could visit Grandpa at The Farm again. I was quite

surprised that she agreed to let me go. I must have been giving her a tough time, I thought. So it's good to get out of her hair for a while.

Of course I have my Papa too, but I didn't think of asking him. What Mama says normally goes.

Besides Papa may not notice that I'm gone for a day (no, that's not true, I know he'd go bonkers like Mama would). Most days Papa's at the office from early morning (before I got up) till 8 or 9 p.m.

Sometimes when there's a crisis he'll be blackberrying his colleagues from where ever we are having dinner. And then he's off to office after that.

On weekends my Papa is busy too. He is a racing driver and he teaches people to race, or join them for trips somewhere. At the same time he will sell them his Unit Trust. He gives real meaning to multitasking. 

I sometimes wish my Papa retires early so he can spend more time with me and Mama (and Grandpa). After all, he's already thirty two years old. He can retire, can't he?

That Saturday however Papa made himself free and together with Mama sent me to Grandma's. They hugged and kissed me good-bye like I was going away for a whole week.



Here's how I made myself busy at Grandpa's Farm (while Grandma prepared lunch and tea - boiled tapioca, I think - and Grandpa attended to his sick goats):




Tug of War



Feeding Sabarudeng with Uncle Iz



Running around and falling over



Feeding the Tilapia



Finish doh, can I have some more?, Please?
(The fishes were very full that day)



Back at the house to give Uncle Iz a Thai Massage




"I want my Ferrari...!"



Driving my Ferrari, with engine sound and all
(notice the sweat dripping)


The massage and racing with the Ferrari made me tired. After I had a short nap, and took my bath, we made our way home, and stopped by for dinner at this place:



I just love playing with straws


Back at school I made this for Grandpa:


 

Grandpa, this is you. Love, Irfan.



                                         

I Went to Grandpa's Farm

by Irfan Adam Irwan Shahrin Ismail

"Hello, I am Irfan Adam. I am four years old. Last saturday Papa, Mama, Atuk n Nenek (that's my mama's dad n mom), uncle Pin, uncle Tariq and I went to visit Grandpa at his farm. I have been there before, seems a looong time ago. I was still small then. That time I slept at Grandpa's farm house, but this time I was too excited to take a nap. Lagi pun I am a big boy now kan.

When we arrived that afternoon it was raining slightly. Grandpa was all smiles as he greeted us. I salam and hugged him, and asked "where's Grandma...I want Grandma" Grandpa said Grandma's not around, she's travelling.

Everybody then rushed to see how the boers were doing, while Grandpa checked the chicken he was cooking for us on the barbi. Later Papa and I took some fish food and walked to the pond to feed the fish - so many of them. Papa said they were Kois.

While Papa and Mama helped Grandpa with the barbi I played on the staircase with Grandpa's tattered old belt. Grandpa was so amused when I called it "vine". He said he didn't learn the word vine until he went to France to study grape plants. Then I went with Grandpa to feed the goats.

Here's the chicken, and me posing and acting funny...

 

The Vine

Caps in a row, as re-arranged by me

When it was time to 'buka puasa' or break fast we enjoyed Grandpa's bbq chicken and other stuff nenek bought on the way. Nenek also helped to cook some dish.

I continued playing until I felt funny and tired. When I spoke loudly my mama said it was rude. I felt my face jadi 'bengkak' (swollen) and my eyes became long and small - like those chinese cartoon characters. So I went on Grandpa's lap and whispered to him "I'm not happy with most people here..." Grandpa said I must be sleepy. He asked me to take a nap. So my papa and I went to the bedroom, opened the mattress and lie down. But I didn't sleep. We just chatted.

When I felt better I went out again to see TV (Grandpa didn't have cartoon channel 613, so I was forced to see Discovery Channel). When there was a picture of a monkey jumping up and down Atuk said that was my cousin, I said no, my cousin is Zaqwan...

Soon it was time to go home. We all salam and said good-bye to Grandpa. "Bye-bye Grandpa, see you real soon..."