Mya Goes to School All by Herself

Abu Dhabi 2009

I’ve been calling Mr Siva, who’s in charge of the bus service of Mya’s new school. It hasn’t been easy with the accent and all the other normal challenges of cross-cultural communication, but at least he speaks English, unlike the other staff at the school who don’t or won’t. Eventually I got hold of the anonymous driver’s mobile number and called him after the Iftar the night before. Problem as usual - I couldn’t work out what he meant and was still unclear where we should wait for pick up and drop off. But at least I managed to give him my own mobile number so he could phone ME as well.

 

Mya was really excited about the idea. She insisted no one should go with her on day one, because she’s a big kid now. But I wasn’t so sure. We talked about how to sit still and hang on tight when the bus is in motion. Mya listened very carefully and promised she will do as Mummy says.

 

Sunday morning, I woke her up at 7am, "Hurry! We’ve got a bus to catch in half an hour!" Mya climbed down from bed, eyes half closed. Daddy was packing her lunch in the kitchen. Brekkie was already served. While Mya was eating, I did her hair and changed her into T-shirt and shorts.

 

7:30 sharp. "OK, lunch – check! bag – check! wallet – check! key - check! All set, let’s go!" Daddy tried to open the door. It was a bit tight – the wood was swollen in the heat and humidity. The door didn’t open, but the handle completely flew off. We were locked in!

 

I quickly called the Watchman. "Hi, Sayed! I’m so sorry to disturb you, but the door handle came off and we can’t get out. My daughter has to go to school and I have to go to work. Can you come and help us now, please!"

 

Obviously my phone call woke him up. "Oooookay, M’am, ooookay, I will come. Good-bye, M’am." What was I thinking? As usual, he may come, but definitely not now. Who else can I call? Bob and Cheryl opposite us.

 

"Hi Bob! I’m so sorry to trouble you, but it’s real emergency. The door handle snapped off when we tried to open it, and we’re locked in. Could you come and push the door open for us?"

 

"Not a problem – glad to help." Within seconds we were rescued by Bob from across the hallway, still in his dressing gown.

 

7:35, still not too late. We rushed out of the lift – where’s the bus? While I was searching and wondering, a woman walked to me and asked,

 

"You Filipino? You do house cleaning?" Who? Me? Moi? Ok, I may look Filipino because we Asians all look the same, but in what way do I resemble a domestic servant? Why today? Why now?

 

Too pre-occupied to tell her regrettably I’ve got a job already, I quickly called the driver. He was on his way. Bus door flung open. The impatient face of the driver. I felt a little relief to see the presence of a Filipino lady on the bus supervising the kids. Cars behind the bus were honking furiously. No time to ask questions – passed Mya quickly to the lady in charge.

 

As I blew a kiss to Mya, I saw this little figure sitting nicely in the seat, smiling, waving me goodbye. The bus door closed so quickly. Before I could tell her again to sit still while the bus is moving, the bus was already gone. I could only feel the heat wave from its exhaust pipe. Ah, there was the temperature and the humidity again. For a while I was so occupied with seeing Mya off in the bus on her first day, I forgot what a hot and humid day it was.

 

"Have a wonderful time at the French school, my little trouper!" I called out to her in my heart with tender gratitude. Now, had to get back to deal with the broken door lock … and go to work. Got five hours to teach today.