DOT 4 : GANGSTER

Daniel (7 years old)

 

You came home on the first day of school (Primary One), walked through the door, flung your bag down on the floor, and made a big announcement. 

You said, and your exact words were, 

“Ma, I’m a gangster.” 

Dad was smiling. Mom was horrified. 

However, before Mom could say anything, You pulled out a small notebook from your shirt pocket, and said excitedly, 

“I have 5 gang members.” 

Mom took a peek at your notebook and remember seeing Bryan Chan’s and Shatthish’s name on it. Dad signaled not to make a big fuss, and later explained to Mom that You were just so excited to be in school with your friends, and that was just your cute way of expressing your friendship that You had with your friends. 

Your “gang” of friends, You meant to say perhaps. 

Dad seriously doubted whether You really understood the real meaning of “gangster” then. Dad said to Mom, your son is not talking about your kind of gangster – your sapp part chai (name of a triad when Mom was in college). 

Mum felt much better and calmed down.

It was during the middle term of your Primary One year, that You began to have headaches. You would come home and say, 

"Ma, headache ..." 

Sometimes, Mom would give You 2 pink panadols (pink for kids) and the pains would subside. Other times, the headache would leave shortly after, untreated.

Initially, Mom thought it was because of the hot sun, your shirt was always drenched with sweat by the time You came home. You seldom made a fuss. It did not affect your daily activities. Not once did your mother see You moaning with pain or crying over the headaches or complaining in a way that triggered in your parents, an urgent, 

"Let's take You to a doctor ..."

Besides, the headaches did not stop You from doing your daily activities. After the panadol, You would just carry on with whatever you were doing – whether it was playing with your GameBoy, your remote control cars, or disturbing your sister. 

It was not apparent to Dad and Mom that the naughty cell was about to create some really serious, big-time, trouble.

 

 You won 3 Gold Medals that day.

 

 You have always hero-worshipped your sister ...

Daniel in Standard One. Sports Day.