My feet, wrapped in thick shocks and thick sole shoes, walked above the cold earth of London, heading towards Chiswick Station. It was early winter 2000(2001?). The tube, the District Line, was on time in quite quiet late morning, too late for those London workers. I jumped in the train. And as always my eyes met the cold faces of Londoners. Their faces were as cold as the air outside. The train was heading to Upminster station. I stopped at Westminster station, and changed to Jubilee Line that was heading to Stratford station. At last, I got off at Canada Water station. Wrapped in a jumper and a long mantle, I walked for a few minutes in the cold air of London.
I finally arrived at Patina Walk. I stood in front of a modern flat. Most of London flats are modern unlike most of the flats in Edinburgh. I pressed the door bell then the door was opened. Raisa’s father popped up. I gave him salaam and he replied my salaam. Raisa’s mum also popped up and we exchanged salaam. My job that day was to babysit Raisa, almost a one year old baby. Father had to go to campus and mother had to work. I had the day off. Mother was very discipline. She made a list of Raisa’s activities and the time…. snack time, play time, lunch time, nap time, bath time. Morning snack with biscuits and tomatoe juice. Lunch with what…(sorry I forgot already, Raisa). Mother explained and showed me many things, the cupboards, the wardrobe, the milk, the bottle, the toys and so on. I assured her that I would have a great time with baby Raisa. After mother and father left, I started playing with the baby. It seemed Raisa quite liked me. She was very contented. We turned on the Indonesian children song. We sang and we danced. We played baby wooden blocks and we played many things. Also reading a story book. Raisa was a quiet, shy but smart girl. I had a great time with her until I had to go back to my flat as her father had arrived.
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My eyes jumped from words to words as I was reading Raisa’s book last night. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It’s hard to believe that the book was written by 11 years old girl, and it was written by Raisa!! Raisa was still a one year old baby in my old memory, but now she has grown up to a beautiful wonderful smart girl. She can absorbed all my mind into her book. I felt like I was reading John Grisham’s novel which was always absorbing. “Raisa, you have nicely and systematically written your book. The novel has got a fantastic flow of words. You really had a wonderful idea and super duper high imagination. I would love to visit the Baby Boo Academy and played in Funhouse. It must be fun playing in Funhouse. I would love to visit the Cloud Station and reached the highest Cloud to hopefully meet Anisa’s late father. I’m pretty sure the Rainbow slide is perfectly amazing! And wow I would love to try the world’s longest curliest waterslide!!
I was stunned by your beautiful English, Raisa. You spoke very little when I babysat you ages ago, of course… Oh I also love the watercolour illustrations, Raisa. Uncle Didit is a great designer. I did enjoy reading it, for sure, as much as you enjoyed writing it! I read it almost non stop. We had a power cut last night, but I used my mobile light since I couldn’t stop reading! Congratulations Raisa!!! I’m so proud of you. I’m sure father Yoga and mother Titi are very proud of you too, much more than I am. And I’m really glad to meet the big family of Affandi yesterday. But it was unfortunate that I didn’t see you. Next time hopefully, insyaAllah. Thanks a million, Raisa. And thank God for all His Blessings. Alhamdulillah…..”.
Special for Raisa Affandi.
