My mother was trying something unorthodox… (P3)

The story happened when I was 7 years old. The father of a classmate told my mother that he had a relative who could help…

As we are approaching home, it feels like I am having the best cat nap ever. Leaning on my father’s back, in the security of my mother’s arms. On the last turn leading to the entrance of our communal house, my mother is shaking my shoulder to wake me up. When I open my eyes, in front of me it is the stagnant pond that all children in the collective community hate. It is rather a puddle of still water, with green water hyacinth on all over the surface and full of whatever-you-can-imagine underneath. Moreover, on sunny days, the water emits an unpleasant odour that encourages you to pass by as fast as you can. Even cows and goats of Cham children do not want to drink water there. My mother tells me to jump in the water. “What did you just say?” - I need to make sure that I did not mishear her.

- Go soak yourself in the pond baby. I will go with you.

Then she takes me down from the motorcycle and we are walking toward the water. My mother explains briefly that Ms. Chin gave us some tricks to unspell whatever the evil souls are doing to tease me. As we get closer to the pond, the smell gets worse and worse. It’s a sunny day today. The air temperature can reach 38 degrees right now at the beginning of the afternoon.

- Please mama, it’s so disgusting. I don’t want to jump there. - My voice is almost broken and I am not sure if I am screaming or crying now.

- Ok then just sit here by the water. -  My mother drags me as close to the water as possible.

We are sitting next to that horrible water. My mother is holding me with one hand as if I could run away immediately if she loses her hand. Honestly I will. Definitely. With the other hand she is scooping the water and putting it on me. All over me. Top to toes. At the same time she is mumbling something like “Go away and let my daughter be normal. I am rinsing all your maleficence with the water you are in.”

That is not all. With the last scoop of that water on her hand, my mother asks me to take a sip. And she is not kidding. I feel like I want to vomit. With eyes full of tears I do as my mother said. I committed to this when I agreed with what she said behind my father’s back.

Standing up totally wet, and probably stinky, I ask my mother not to tell any child in the house what we just did.

Telling my father to go ahead and we will join him later inside, my mother walks me to the entrance of the communal yard. Around five to six cows are sitting, laying there. I suppose that they are having some digestion pause at the moment. I never envied them like this before.

- Now you should hop on a cow.

I cannot believe in what I have just heard.

- Roll on one cow’s back and try to rub your hands and your face to its back. - She adds some more details.

I understand that my mother is being serious. I come slowly to the youngest cow. My whole body is shaking like a leaf. “Are you sure they will not bite me mama?” - I am asking and trembling with fear.

- Don’t be silly, cows DO NOT bite.

No, but they DO kick your ass. I am pretty sure. That cow turns its head back to look at me. I suddenly start talking to the cow. “Please be nice to me. I will not hurt you. I will be quick.”

I don’t even notice how unpleasant the hard hair of that tiny cow is poking on my face. Its back is too warm. The cow is also shaking as hell. I am not sure who is more frightened now. The cow or me.

My mother is mumbling something indistinct. With a hand wave she means it is all done now. I jump down from the cow’s back and run as fast as I can to our house, hoping that none of the neighbours' children have seen the entire embarrassing scene.

Since that day, my mother has been checking on my skin way more often than normal. Whenever she has a chance, she wants to have a look on my back, taking my hand, touching my neck. Well, I know what she is looking for.

Two weeks later, my mother tells me that she is closing her kiosk for the whole morning. That must be something really important. As far as I remember, we have never closed the kiosk so far. No matter what happens. This time must be really important. My mother takes me to Ms. Chin’s place on the bicycle. Without letting my father know.