Easy Target

Within a span of one week, two houses in our residential area have been burgled. The modus operandi is the same, they come in through the ceiling from outside of the house and they only collect small valuable items such as cash, gold, handphones, laptop etc.

Last Saturday, when our next door neighbour returns home after the holidays, they found out that their laptop and some cash missing. The robbers even left the ceiling wide open not bothering to close it back. Luckily, nobody was home and nothing else was taken.

Yesterday, another house at the fourth row was broken into (our house is in the second row). The burglar tried get into the house at 8pm. The wife who was staying alone at that time heard the noise in her ceiling went to check and saw a man open up her ceiling. He looked equally surprised to see her and fled away. Maybe he thought the house was empty. I dare not imagine the possibility if he knows the lady was staying alone and all the things that he can do to her.

Yesterday, I was staying alone with Adam, Hannah and Nadia. Gen was outstation to Kuala Tahan near the Taman Negara Reserve. At 8pm I was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner. I have no idea about the burglary until Mak come and informed me about it after Isya’ (she always drops by everytime Gen is not around). Abah went to that house while the police were still there. The police said there are a few reported similar cases and so far, the burglar chooses empty houses. Abah is a bit upset because he was worried about me and the kids and the police seem to take the matter lightly because there is no injury or fatality reported.

Abah and Mak end up sleeping in our house. We don’t have any spare bed, so they both slept on spread quilt in the living room. I know the hard floor must be harsh on their tender old bones but I was so afraid sleep alone and to tell them otherwise. Gen promised to settle his matter as fast as he could so that he can come back today.

Last night. I sleep with my car keys and I will switch on the alarm if anything happen. It’s a tip that I got from a safety class organized by the Bar. However, we were reminded that the burglar will react differently if they felt threatened. I’m not sure whether I can think (or even breathe) if I come across the situation. We were reminded that no matter how valuable our possessions are, our life and our loved ones are the most important things in the world.

Ya Allah Ya Tuhanku, peliharalah kami dari sebarang kejahatan dan kemungkaran. Amin.

Abah

I think I always talked about Mak in my blog. The main reason is we always talked. Even when I’m away, I’ll call and talk to her. Truthfully, I did not spend that much quality time with Abah. He’s a very conservative guy, and he doesn’t want to listen to the story of my life. Lately, I noticed that he looked so much older. I have taken some time to notice certain things about Abah that I don’t think others know.

1. Abah use fork and spoon while dining. Actually, Abah cannot feel his fingers sometimes. If he eats using his fingers, the rice will fall down uncontrollably as he looses his grip. I can see that this frustrates him so much.
2. Abah always use the same fork and spoon. Small light spoon with longer handle and a small fork. I think it is easier for him to maneuver the spoon.
3. Abah eat a small portion of meal every time. I remember my sister in law thought that Abah didn’t like her cooking. The truth is that he’s diabetic, though he’s not on insulin or anything, he’s being cautious. Around him, I get to understand that it’s not about others; it’s just the way he is.
4. Abah is a cautious driver. Gen said he had never met a person that measure parking his car (at home) using car lights like Abah. When Abah parks his car, he will switch on his highlights and stops when it reached certain point. He does this perfectly and the car will end up exactly one inch from the front door grill. The sad thing is, I think his vision and his grip is not as good as before because he keeps on slamming on the front grill, now so often.
5. Abah is a man of few words. Now, he prefers to keep quiet than talking. My brothers and sisters thought that he’s annoyed or simply ignored them. Actually, he cannot hear very well, you have to speak up in order for him to hear you. Another thing is that he had looses most of his teeth. So his words are sometimes slurred, inaudible and if he talks too much, he might emit saliva while talking. He hates all this.
6. I tried to talk to him as much as I talked to Mak, my avid listener. Sometimes I succeeded but most of the time I failed. I talked to him about his health, his check-ups, medical appointment, and his coming eye operation. Most of the time during our conversation, I noticed that he get distracted easily. Distracted as in drifting away. I’m not sure what causes this. I still tried now and then.

The good thing about Mak is that she can talks, nags even when Abah did not pays her any attention. I just hope that Long, Angah, Kak Miah and Ateh see Abah the way I see him, the reasons for his being. He may shut himself inside his room when we come home and our children wreck the house, but if we didn’t come home, he will ask Mak, ‘Mana orang ni semua, lama dah tak balik?’