Buffet

Alman was reclining in his rocking chair placed right in front of the kitchen door watching the four of us scurrying in the tiny kitchen making our own favourite drink  for buka puasa (breaking of fast). Azan came and just as we were into the second bite of some sweet starters, Alman gave his warning cry and that characteristic twist that signaled his wish to be out or for some company, or simply that he was getting hungry. What started as a sit-down dinner together (which is something we always look forward to in Ramadan) instantly broke up. Opah brought her plate over to  Alman on the floor, Tok joined in, Mama shifted to the other dining table so Alman could look up at her too while Abah proceeded to the coffee table from where he called out to Alman in funny voices now and again while eating with his eyes glued to some Japanese cartoons on tv. All so that Alman would not feel left out and allow us to enjoy our fill. Lion prince acknowledged the attention with little sheepish smiles and tiny sighs, and if he was hungry, he did wait till Mama finished her dinner, somewhat hurriedly, before starting to wriggle more decidedly and whine.  

That was the first day of puasa. We’d gotten wiser since then, making sure Alman is not hungry at least during the first twenty minutes into breaking fast. So he would join Abah and Mama on the cartoons and sometimes Gran and Gramps in the kitchen can hear his chuckles. “When can you be our imam, my little man?” asks Mama. Till then, we have to take turns at solat.

Alman takes charge when he suckles, demanding full attention and taking his own sweet time. Last Saturday we were at Onyang’s for berbuka. We arrived rather late and Alman was all fussed-up for his “nenen” after the usual round of greetings and teasing with Onyang and Maklong . No compromise there, so be it. But when Azan was heard and Mama politely asked if he could let her break her fast first, Alman actually stopped suckling, looked up and grinned! Fasting is especially challenging for a mother who is nursing fully at home and expresses her milk during the day at work. Perhaps Alman knows this too.