Whimsical 19: Kumki

 You are a kind and warmhearted tiny human, from whom I learn more than all my learnings in my previous life.

While you began Primary 1 at 7years, your class had a few trouble makers. First, you played with them, then realising their folly, distanced yourself from them rather gently. One of them, still treasured your friendship and would come to you for advise, help etc. When you were completing Primary 2, you gave him a good advise and he said he would miss you the succeeding year.

When you began Primary 3, he ran to you thanking you for being his role model, advisor and supporter and added, "Thanks to you, I'm now a class monitor. I'll try to be as good as you were last year". And you did follow-up with him that towards the end of term 2, you recounted his good natured leadership to me.

Your primary 3 class also had a trouble maker- like in all classes in all schools. He kept bullying you as the proud peacock of the class, as you were good at what you do. When I enquired how you responded to him, you replied in a matter of factly tone, "I'm not a proud peacock. So I know he wasn't referring to me, and didn't respond" I was dumbfounded.

Later, in the early part of term 2, you told that the teacher had shifted your seating arrangements and has requested you to sit alongside this troublemaker. You were also given an option to go back sitting with your friends when you felt like. But you persevered. Two weeks into this assignment, you narrated that this boys behaviour has changed greatly. Then one day you brought this sticker in your diary

You shared very happily that the troublemaker boy stuck this to your diary. My insides swelled with pride. You're the Kumki of your class.

Afternote: When I received the Term 2 report book, I was surprised to see your teacher's note that communicated: He should look at challenges as opportunities and be resilient. We walked together to school on the PTM day, and I recounted all the incidents until Term 2. We surprised her with all our narrations of how you related with your classmates and friends. I understood through the conversation that the teacher had made remarks based on chance encounters that she had assumed to be observations.