It's my life

"This is ridiculous. What do those blastered muslims want from us!?" My dad was in such rage. "Don't tell me our house was raided."
"Calm down, Widjaja. There's no use of being angry over all these. What's gone is gone. U can't turn a porridge into rice. U can't do anything about it." My mom replied calmly, though i can still see her strain in the face. She retained that little pimple that was already there for 3 weeks. She was too stressed up to give attention to that little carbuncle distortion on her face. Why don't she ask me to pinch it out?
Then we heard over the radio. " The mobs are wiping out some houses and killing any chinese they see. Homes are plundered and the polices are trying to stop them by throwing tear gas and some of the riots fought back. The invulnerable shield seems to be obselete by now, as the size of the mobs increases....." the announcer of the radio paused for a moment. "Wait... new incoming report from Samanhudi. New re-inforcement from the police force has approached and they are carrying a few deadly weapons like bayonets and machine guns........"
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"Looks like we were lucky." My mom showed her slight happy face after a few weeks of agony. "Our house remained intact."
"Yeah... we were lucky... bless the Lord..." My dad looks glad and seemed to be filled with bliss. " We should go for a celebration!"
"No. don't forget that the muslims are still around. We should stay indoor these few days."
"But... " My dad sighed as he lost his fantasy of drinking his favourite beer, 'Bir Bintang'.
"No buts. Both of you, listen. And you too, Sari and Fatimah." She was referring to my dad, me, and my 2 maids. "I want all of you to help me. We are going to lock every single door here and block and windows to prevent te outsiders from looking inside. We are only leaving a small hole to peek outside. Widjaja, Andy, both of you go for the doors. Fatimah and Sari, go for the windows."
"And you!?" All of us exclaimed.
"I wash the dish"

We were rather lucky, as the riots didn't manage to reach inside our neighbourhood while weare gone. Only about 12- 16 houses remained standing in this area after the big mobs. There were some bodies lying on the road, mostly the bodies of the killed protesters. The police force is securing this area and cleaning up the street. Just for safety, we have to do what mom said.
The maids did mention that one of the mob managed to climb in our house through the backgate( they were inside the house. They did not come with us to Mr. Allen's house). Fatimah took a broomstick and hit his hand, and he dropped. He ran away. That was rather freaky all right.......

4 days later

"Looks like it's safe now. I think we can start taking out our wooden board from the door." My mom telling us all. "Anyway the police force has stationed their units here... We should be safe. And furthermore, we are running out of food supply."
"Agreed" My dad said.
"Agreed" My maids replied.
"Agreed." I replied fatiguely.
We felt terrible after locking ourselves inside our house for 4 days. It's miserable i tell you. We must rely on our lamp all the time, and we can't even make loud noise. We have to stay and sit in the room, staring at the wall and ceiling for 16 hours a day. What agony....

The next day

"Andy, do you want to go abroad and study, just like your sister and brother?" My mom asked me.
I shook my head. "Yes."
"Good, it will be much better for you in Singapore. This place is no more safe for you. You will have to leave."
"How bout you, mom?"
"We will stay here."
"But i can't live without you."
"Yes you can. You are already 12. You are going to be 13 soon, and I trust your siblings can take care of you even if you are unable to."
I remained silent. I juz walked away and went into the living room.

That night I overheard my parents' conversation.
"We can't afford to let him stay here." That sounds like my mom.
"Yeah sure, but you can't force a kid to go somewhere when he doesn't want to."
"Do you prefer to let him decide or die here?"
"Of course I don't want him to die. I love him."
"Then we will have to force him to go overboard! We have no choice!"
"Is Jeffrey coming with him overboard?"
"Dear, don't forget, he and his family were nowhere to be found."
"I forgot about that...."
" You better don't tell him anything about Jeffrey. It's gonna make things worse."
"I understand."
I opened my eyes wide while lying on the bed when I heard what hapened to Jeffery. I couldn't believe what i've just heared. I couldn't belive that he and his family disappeared.... My buddy, lost, just like that. God please, don't let him die. Protect him..... I already knew him for 9 years, and please don't take him away from me. He's the only friend i can rely on. We played together. We look at girls together. We swear together. We studied together. We ran together. And if he were to die, we'll die together.
I don't know what makes me say that at that night. I was just shocked after hearing myself saying that... and I'm just scared of death. I closed my eyes. I couldn't sleep that night.