mati pucuk

circa 1996

in the car, with my parents, en route to some where. definitely not to australia.

my dad, driving. my mum, may be staring at the dashboard - view limited, orgnyanyer tak tinggi. me, membelek bungkusan akar2 kayu. 

im bored and i love to read, so i read the information on the packet.

kegunaan: kesihatan dalaman badan, sengal sengal badan, cegah deman, batuk batuk ringan, menguatkan sendi sendi badan, menyembuhkan sakit tekak dan mati pucuk.

mati pucuk? ape tu?

"ma, mati pucuk tu ape?"

i can see my mum turned to my dad, perhaps seeking for help (?)

sambil gelak, "bang, baik awak jawab bang..."...gelak lagi.

"awak lah jawab..."...ayah aku gelak juga.

"mati pucuk tu ape yah?"... diaorg gelak. makin kuat.

"ko ni dik, mati pucuk tu bila k**** org lelaki tak leh naik lah." gelak lagi besar. mak aku pon.

aku tenung bungkusan akar kayu tu, lima saat pastu, campak kat tempat kaki sudah...