Last Sunday after church, I went back Klang as usual. Having my weekly dose of family time with mum, gran and Paul.
I sensed some tension at home. Not knowing why, I commented on the old TV in the living room. It was a bad call. The TV keep switching off on its own. And once its switched off, it take ages before we are able to switch it on again. Just like an old engine parked for days in cold winter days.. Apparently Mum and Gran has been arguing over the old TV. Gran thinking that it can be fixed, while Mum felt its time to change.
As the argument goes on..the day was getting warmer and hotter, that I eventually fell asleep on the floor. Mom ushered me to sleep in the room, and switch on the only air-cond we have in the house. Life is good, when Mum is around. :)
"Leng ah.... wake up.. I need to watch TV.." I heard Mum's voice. "Huh??" I was in a state of sub-consciousness...
"Meee (short for Mummy), you go and watch outside la..."
"Cannot la... The TV cannot switch on. It's 6pm already, my drama is starting soon..."
" I thought it was still ok just now?"
" Cannot already. Eh... you go and talk to your Granny la... tell her we need a new TV." In my heart, I knew this was coming.
" Why don't you ask her yourself?" I asked back.
" Cannot la... later she will scold me back.. You are different, you are her grandaughter ma.."
Lazily, I went out to the living room, Paul was looking at me anxiously.. as if I will work wonders with the old TV. I pressed the small squarish button under the screen. It blinks. Green...... and then red again. I repeatedly try to switch it on, both manually and with the remote control. But the button was stubborn, and it keep blinking, switching between red and green, just like the decorative lights outside our house.
I gave up. Anxiously, I went to see my Gran.
"Ma.. (granny in Hokkien).. we need a new TV la. The old one cannot use already..Its not worth it to fix it also. No one use this type of TV already.."
My gran looked at me at the most suspicious way.. "Cannot meh... ask the fatty to come and fix it la." Fatty is the furniture shop owner in our neighborhood.
"Fatty doesn't fix TV la, he only sell furniture..." still trying my luck..
"Hmmmmm......" Silence. That's the longest "hm" I've heard in my life.
"When you go out, please buy me 1 kg of glutinous rice. I want to make "bak chang"." My gran replied.. I was shocked to see how easy she gave in. Mom was standing behind the doors, and I can see twinkle in her eyes, and I think I saw some tears flowing down..
"Ok la.. 1 kg only rite? Nothing else ya.. Meeeeee, come let's go to buy TV!!" I was screaming to my mum.. signalling that our plan works.
Mum came out immediately with changed clothes and purse, running out from the house with my car keys and handbag as well.. Just like a young kid, anticipating for an outing. And so, happily we went to a local vendor to get my mum's long awaiting TV set..
...To be continued..
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