The Survivor

27 March
Everyone were busy. Cooking, gossipping, fooling, shouting, laughing, preparing for the kenduri (feast). Abah had shot a kijang. The bubu (fish trap) from the river was 3/4 full with fish. The kampung folks had brought rice, sagu, tapioca, sweet potatoes, yam, shoots, coconuts, for the occasion.

Nyai had me cuddled to her chest. Nenek II was making funny faces to make me laugh. Suddenly both both of them and those nearby screamed with shock and fear. A coconut had fallen right on my head and broke into two. I was the silent one. When the scream subsided it was my turn to burst out my lungs. I survived.