"Dear,"
Lea stared up into the eyes of her mother. the innocence of the 5 year old seemed to show with every pupil opened.
"Yes, Momma?"
"How was school?"
She rested her rag doll in her tiny palms and glanced up at the ceiling, a habit she had when remembering. "We learnt a lot of stuff," She smiled. "like... counting, reading, coloring, spelling,..." her blue eyes brightened. "i know how to spell Astronaut, Mom! it's A...S...T...R...O...N...U...T, Astronaut!"
Threasa laughed softly. "Are you so sure?"
Lea paused. "No.. Oh, it's N-A-U-T, right?"
"that's my smart little girl. What did you read about today?"
"Ms Lou read to us the story about this three kitties," Lea's eyes lightened and darkened with every glance. "they were going to have dinner, and one of them was SOOO hungry, that he ate the huge fish that they were going to share. At first, he lied and said he didnt eat it, but later, he said he was sorry and told his friends that he would always tell the truth from now on. That's going to be my favourite book, Ma," she grinned.
Her mother smiled back,"I'll get it for you when i see it at the bookshop today."
"T's okay. Ms Lou said she could lend it to us. Momma, today i drew a picture of us!" The preschooler dropped her doll and reached for a crumply paper just across the floor tile. "Look, ma. that's me, and you," She skipped to Threasa's side and pointed out two rather crudely drawn stick figures, but nonetheless valuable in sentiment.
The mother caught sight of a rather odd pose. "Lea, darling. why did you draw mommy holding lots of money?"
Her daughter giggled. "Because you always work so hard and earn so much for us." Lea snuggled up to her mother's side, and she responded by running her fingers through her hair and pecking her on the cheek. "Where'd you get this idea from?" She thought.
"Momma?"
Threasa looked down to Lea. "Yes?"
"Today Alexa said that the people in Langkong were bad."
"Why did she say that?"
"She said that lots of people there did naughty stuff, and were no good. Don't they have naughty corners for those people there momma?"
"I'm sure they would have. But, Lea, just because someone goes to or lives in Langkong it does not mean that they are bad, okay?"
The latter nodded. "Yes, Ma."
"Now, you go back to playing your toys, okay? AhMinah's going to arrive soon and Momma's leaving for work when she comes."
"Will you put my drawing on the fridge?"
"Sure-" ding dong.
Threasa got up with the picture and opened the door to welcome the elderly woman in. After exchanging greetings, she hung the picture on the fridge door just as she promised, and got ready for work.
Upon leaving, she kissed Lea on the forehead. "Be good okay?" She closed the front door behind her.
Lea turned her head to the white board of wood. "I'll miss you, Ma."
--
The taxi arrived not long after Threasa came down the first floor.
"Where will you be going to ma'am?" the driver asked.
"Just drop me off Elis Avenue. I'll walk the rest of the way."
He grinned. "people nowadays, too busy to go for a proper exercise, no?"
Threasa shrugged. The walking bit was going to go her good.
But maybe it was more because of the fact that it was on another district, a short walking distance away from Langkong.