My siblings 3

With my third brother, Ahmad Fuad and his grandson, Edi on 8 Nov 2008.

Left - Kak long Zawiyah, Fuad, Zuraidah.

Down - Jun, Bang Fuad' wife.

Again I tried to acess my memory about my childhood relationship with my third brother, Ahmad Fuad but it is a very faint memory. I know that Bang Fuad was cared for by my aunt, Ochu Itam, my father's sister and spent most of his young life in Alor Gajah with her. He came to the family fold when he went to school. I suspect at that time, he accepted that his mother was always Ochu and felt he was the odd one out in our family. I wonder how my mother felt when she had to hand over the care of her son to a sister-in-law who didn't stay with her. It must be very hard. Another regret that I didn't give my time to listen to her stories when she was alive.

Left - my sisiter-in-law, Zainun, my father, CikGu Abdul Rahman, my mother, Maimunah and Ochu, my father's sister who took care of my brother, Fuad since a baby.

This brother of mine strayed away from the family when he was young. I remember, he became a teacher after his teacher training at Maktab Perguruan Bahasa, Lembah Pantai. Then he was posted in Penang and disappeared from our family. I remember how my mother cried and asked everyone whom she knew whether they knew or met my brother. She was sad and depressed and cried a lot missing her son. As usual, during my adolescent years I didn't understand and didn't care. You must remember in 1960s, Penang was a long way off - difficulty in traveling and communicating. Later I heard he was teaching in St. Xavier's School, Penang. He didn't come back to see my parents for about 2 years - another event when my mother suffered, missing her son and felt guilty for handing over the care to Ochu. While away from the family, I found out later that he made friends with my long time pen-friend in Kangar, Perlis, Zainol Rashid and his family. We shared this in common. He was educated at Malacca High School before going to Maktab Perguruan Bahasa and stayed at home. He married in Penang and has a son, Fuzian, who now looks exactly like him when he was young. After his divorce, he married Jun, his present wife and have 4 children - all girls.

I was not close to him when young. I have 3 other younger sisters who were the typical good daughters who faithfully did their house work to help my mother. I remember he was always on Ani's side when I was scolded by my mother, for he thought Ani was the dutiful daughter, cooking and cleaning diligently. I used to resent this. I thought it was unfair. Everbody didn't see how I washed basins of clothes by hands until my back ached and I finished my duty early and refused to help anymore as I have done my share. Cooking was supposed to be done by other sisters. I disliked cooking, until now. So I was accused of being lazy and scolded by almost everyone. My mother used to express her frustration by scolding and beating me but I never gave up on what I believed. My brother Fuad was one of them who said I was lazy and not doing anything in the house. He threw a slipper at me one time because I answered him back defiently and rudely. Being such a rebellious adolescent, I didn't care. I was quite a character and my family members found it hard to cope with me!

My brother came back to the fold of our family when my nephew, Fuzian, was taken away from her mother to live with us in Tg. Kling. My parents brought him back after they found out he was being neglected. Yan grew up under my parents' care as my brother has his new family. Bang Fuad used to work in Bahagian Peperiksaan, Ministry of Education where he retired. They lived in Kelana Jaya, then moved to Klang. Now he lives with his daughter in Aman Suria. Beside his son Yan, Bang Fuad has 4 pretty daughters - all married. He and Jun traveled to Vancouver regularly to see his daughter, Airin and 2 grandsons. Airin married a Canadian and lives in Vancouver now. As all brothers and sisters are getting old, we meet quite often and make an effort to look up one another.

Left - Sister-in-law, Zainun Ali (Ahmad Mahir's wife), Edi, Jun and first daughter, Ailin, 8 Nov 2008.