Shaving
Comic Illustrations / Ilustrasi komik: Johnny Ong
No one would have guessed. I certainly did not. He has lived through some of the worst experiences anyone could ever imagine, yet he has a ready smile for anyone. He would readily give any person a second, third, fourth, fifth and as many more chances necessary in his relationships with people. He would ignore all the hurtful remarks, and any and all bad experiences in the past. How does anyone have that much of a positive attitude in life? I first met him through his then girlfriend, and we quickly became friends. I would often think of his cheerful smile whenever I start to feel sorry for myself. I will start to think that what I am going through is nothing to what he has gone through, and how he still struggles today. What if I had not met him? Would I be the kind of person I am now? Would I try to be more positive as I face my own difficulties in life? I will certainly never be sure of my answers to these questions, but I am so very glad that I can call him friend.
In an interview with him, after the digital storytelling workshop, I asked him, "why a story on shaving?" He answered that he wanted to tell a positive story, that his life is not all heartache and pain. He wanted to share the happy moments in his life, and shaving is an integral part of his being happy.
INTERVIEW: Why did you do a digital story on shaving?
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My ability to shave is important to me. It is one of the more positive life experiences I have. My life also has good moments in it, not everything is negative.
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I wanted to show people that I also have happy moments in my life.
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Yes, it's definitely a different kind of story compared to most of the stories you have shared online. It's definitely more you, your positive attitude in life, your character.
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He had yet to produce a digital story that described something positive in his life, and this was it! While it may be his first, I hope there will be many more of such stories from him.
Bercukur
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Aku sering melihat papa bercukur.
Papa bercukur ikut cara orang dulu – Bukan baginya pisau cukur 4-keping-untuk-cukuran-lebih bersih. Papa hanya beli pisau Topaz, yang akan ditukar setiap kali dia bercukur. Aku sering mendongak dan melihat papa melumuri mukanya dengan krim pencukur, Mengambil masa meluncurkan pisau cukur itu sepanjang mukanya dengan palitan ke bawah dan ke tepi, Tetapi jangan sekali ke atas… Dengan rapi mengelakkan dari mencukur sekali misai kesayangannya. Aku ingat lagi cara dia menyapu mukanya dengan losyen aftershave yang penuh maskulin, setelah selesai bercukur. Aku tahu suatu hari nanti akan juga akan aku lakukan ritual yang sama. Setiap kali aku mandi, aku meniru papa. Selepas menggosok gigi, aku biarkan ubat gigi itu mengalir ke daguku. Aku guna berus gigiku seperti pisau cukurnya Mengupasi cara-cara berbeza bagaimana akan ku pakai jambangku kelak… Melihat yang mana rupa yang paling sesuai untuk ku. Kegemaran aku jenis janggut goatee chinstrap sejak itu. Suatu hari aku terjumpa pisau cukur pakai buang di bilik ibubapa ku. Itulah ketika aku belajar bahawa ada wanita yang bercukur juga… di seluruh badan kecuali di muka. Bila ibu ku memberi ku pisau cukur ku yang pertama, aku masih lagi berharap suatu hari aku boleh bercukur muka ku seperti papa. Kadang-kadang aku ada pergi ke kedai gunting rambut dan meminta mereka mencukur aku… dan mereka akan pasti ketawa. Aku tahu tiada apa sangat yang boleh dicukur mereka, tapi aku tak peduli. Ada garis di muka ku yang sungguh halus ia hanya jelas bagi ku jika ku hampir tekan muka ku ke cermin Tetapi ia cukup untuk mendekatkan aku kepada bercukur, macam papa. Bila aku akhirnya melalui proses akil baligh seperti yang aku mahu, pakcik ku, Bukan papa Yang mempelawa diri untuk mengajar ku bercukur. Sayang sekali, hanya tukang gunting sahaja yang boleh memberi ku janggut goatee chinstrap yang sudah lama aku idamkan… Dan sekarang mereka tidak lagi ketawa. |
Pic by A.M. Kuga Thas
Pic by Munirah Rohaizan
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Pic by Munirah Rohaizan
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