The Cheerleader Girl

Nobody believes if I’m going to tell everyone that I was a cheerleader back in the elementary school. Of course I am one of the cheerleaders and the physical that I have is never being an obstacle at the first place. It doesn’t have to be a pretty girl to become a cheerleader anyway. In the teen movie, cheerleader was a popular girl. In my case, I’m not a popular girl. I am more popular in joining the band choir. Well, it’s pretty much exciting to fit in the cheerleader’s shoes. I can feel how much excited are they and plus, I don’t have to wear a very sexy outfit either. The school used in their very own way and it’s very highly recommended. It was set in 1991, where I was still in primary 5, where I have to struggle with a few enemies and foes in my life. Madam Patricia and Cik Saadiah were calling anyone that is interested in cheerleading. Everybody was very happy to go except me. I’m not interested at all because I was eyeing to be the part of the band choir’s member. I was hoping I will be chosen. But damn! They said they were already enough member join in and I was very much unhappy about it. I’ve decided to join any school’s activities because I’m giving up. Surprisingly, one day, I saw my name was on the notice board when they’re announced the list of the cheerleaders. I’m not only surprised but I’m pretty much impressed of myself. Who wants this fat girl to become cheerleader? They must be blind anyway. Huh! Nevermind, I’ll take it.

First day at the school’s small assembly field, I and a few pupils went for the cheerleading practices. I didn’t talk much as if this is helping a lot. As the record was playing, we’re started to follow Cik Saadiah dancing steps. It’s pretty hard but there’s nothing complicated for me as I finally get the first few small steps. I can’t really remember who’s singing the song but the beat of the sound was making my two feet moving. I really love it because it was so interesting. I’m not only feels that I was dancing but I feel I was exercising as well. I really hope that I can drop a few pounds. On fourth day, my mom refused me to attend the cheerleading. She wants me to follow her and dad to go to fruit garden. I obey her but deep in my heart, I was declined the idea. I hate to go there. I have no friends. I don’t want to friends with my cousins because they’re not my taste. They’re unlike me, feeling free and want to have fun without hustle. Plus, they think I am too fat, lazy, babygirl and tomboyish. I was so much upset on what they think about me. That’s why I don’t want to live in that kind of environment but my parent forcing me to do the thing that I don’t want to do. Plus, my parent never leaves me alone at home because they’re too worried about me. I’m just hoping that they’re stop worry but soon I found out, their love on me was the greatest of all in the world. That’s why I never refused what they said.

3 days, I did not attend the cheerleading activities and finally, I was appears at the school field. Madam Patricia was very angry and upset with my attitude. I thought I was the one who done it but I found out, there’s more of us doing it including Dahliawaty. Silly me, I thought Madam Patricia will go punish me alone. She asked me what my problem is. I’ve told her that I can’t disobey my parent’s order but I really love cheerleading. She began to tell me that this time I have to choose between my life and them. That’s when, I’ve started to think she is right. Sooner or later, I have to make a decision of my own. I can’t depend on my parent because they do guide me to have a better life but I was the one decides what to do it. Therefore, on the next day, when my mom asked me to follow her again, I was refused because I must do what I have to do and it’s for my school and for me. She was definitely surprised and very much angry on me. My dad as well but he didn’t told anything. By hook or by crook, I will be going to my school and do what is more interesting than follows them to fruit garden. An hour before my dad is coming, my mom and I still arguing and she wants me to go but I definitely refused. Finally, I’ve told her that I’m not going to play my cousins because they’re the bad bully and I’m not going to compromise with it anymore. My mom was shocked to learn the truth that I’m not interested to play with them. An hour later, when my dad comes, he saw me went out.

He asked me if I’m interested to go to the fruit garden or wanting to be cheerleader girl. I’ve told him that I am more interested in cheerleading than to be alone in the fruit garden. He gave me the spare key and asked me never to loose it. I was smiling and I know my dad will understand what I’m doing. I’m happily gone to the school and joining my friends. I found out more and more pupils join the crew and that is including my best friend Sulastrie. I’ve asked her, since when she was interested in cheerleading. She’d told me that it was very much interested than joining the school debate. Exercising her body is better than exercising her mind. I was smiled happily for her. Now, I’ve got two best friends and I don’t have to think about joining band choir anymore. At least, for a while and from three months I’ve attended it without feel regret. Our crew was getting bigger and even it took 2 hours of practice than an hour practice just like what we did before. My late cousin, Jonathan was joining in as well. He was happy to do it. He was the only one who never bullied me and becomes my best friend. He’d died 3 years ago and honestly, I would cry remembered how he dies. It was very tragic death. Back to the cheerleading story, I was in the first ‘S’ group. All we wanted to do is the word – MSSR a.k.a. Majlis Sukan Sekolah Rendah (The Junior School’s Sport Competition).

1 month left and we’re given a pom-pom. Mine was yellow. I don’t know why I feel blue is the best and I was so jealous when my friends got blue pom-pom color. Damn, I want a blue color but not yellow color. Dahliawaty told me that I should stop upsetting on it and move on because it looks very pretty. Madam Patricia and Cik Saadiah told us that finally, they’ve decided our outfit should be white T-shirt and red sport pant. Luckily, I have bought both of that outfit few months before I’ve entered primary 5. Aha! It is right on time as well. Sulastrie and Dahliawaty told me that somehow both of them will buy it and when I’ve asked Jonathan, he’d told me he bought it a month ago. He told me it was very coincidence. Perhaps, he was right. I bought it as well because I found red and white is very attractive. Pretty much looks like Indonesian and Singaporean flag to me. Anyway, I’m still prefers blue. We’re struggling to make it right and I saw many teachers love the way we’ve done it. One day, as I was sitting down and talk with Sulastrie and Dahliawaty, suddenly, three of us saw Cik Saadiah crying. We were wondering what was going on and thought somebody that she loves had passed away. When I’ve told it to Tiam, she’d told me that she was having a fight with Uztaz Malik. Not a religious matter again! Damn it. Kids just want to have some fun and he expected something else. It’s really irritates me and until now, I never agree with the idea.

Fighting is isn’t an issue but now, Madam Patricia had clearly taken over from Cik Saadiah until it’s all settle. Lia told me it’s all sucks when Cik Saadiah was not around but I convinced her that Uztaz Malik will somehow will see the best result that we’re ever produce and shows to him Cik Saadiah was working hard to get it done. Sulastrie thinks the same way too and besides, she doesn’t think that their religion had forbid the kid to have some fun except sometimes, what we’re doing is far from the routine. Dahliawaty have the thought the otherwise. She agrees that the idea of having some fun but for Uztaz Malik it was too Westernize. There goes the irritating part and I think Dahliawaty explained it right. Well, who knows for sure and it was the secret among the staffs and the teachers. On afternoon time as usual, we’re practiced again and suddenly, we’re saw Cik Saadiah come and told us that she was very happy to see all of us finally did what she wants and she wants us to do the best that we can, no matter it is for school and for life. She even told us that to never giving up and never ever forced ourselves to do something that we don’t like at least we have to. Years after years, her word becomes a part of my life and I found out the life isn’t that complicated but it takes a body and mental strength. Believe it or not, all of us decided to show to Uztaz Malik, cheerleading is not only just the show but promoting body and mental health. That is the secret between us and even Madam Patricia and all teachers knew about it.

The secret was never been spilled to the other pupils either as one day we’re all talking about it while sitting at the big tree waiting for Madam Patricia to come. As all of us argue with it, I’ve come to the conclusion by saying that it is true that once British had colonized the country and also not all of them promote the bad culture to us. If that is an issue why we’re wearing these kinds of clothes, I’ve told them? I pointed out at the Iban people for an example. If there is no British, we’re never went to school, learn English, have this kind of Reebok shoes and most of all we never knew the life is more interesting than we’re doing right now. They’re all turns quiet for a while. I guessed they’re shocked hearing what I’ve said and it was too advanced to think about. I’m still arguing about it until I was in secondary school. Then, I’ve told no matter what they’ve said about it, we have freedom to choose what we’ve decided in our life either it is good or bad. But I know Cik Saadiah doing it for the sake of the school and she knows what is good and bad when she decides to ask her pupils to join the cheerleading. After that, they’re all agrees with it. I’m not fully sure that whether they know what am I talking about but I just hope they get the message. We’re continue to do it whether Uztaz Malik like it or not because the time were getting closer for us to perform during the inter school competition at the end of the month.

One evening, when I was clean up my pom-pom, my dad came and look what I have doing. As I’ve told her that I’m cleaning and trying to groom my pom-pom, he helps me along. He’d asked me how it’s going to be part of cheerleader girl in cheerleading team. I was told him it was very fine but he never knew what was happen. My mom never wants to argue about it anymore. She knows that I’ve made my own decision and I did prove to her that I can do it. On the next day, we’re practicing the steps again. 1..2..1..2.. I keep on counting the step to make it perfect. When it comes to the part where I have to run and jump, oh man, it was very much difficult. Cik Masidah came by and had taken our pretty picture. For two of half months, I feel I’m getting thinner and I knew I was stepping into shrinking machine. Two weeks before the sport’s competition, we’re sitting at the school’s field and listen to Encik Sallamun, our school headmaster, talking about it will be the best show of all and he decides Cik Saadiah to become part of the team. When he was told us about, we were screamed happily and I was given a high five by Dahliawaty and Sulastrie. Looks like, Uztaz Malik was lose in this game. Cik Saadiah was back on the track again and she wants us to do it and it doesn’t have to be perfect because all she wants to see is the best of it. We’re very happy to serve the best for her. I can see Uztaz Malik looking far away from the staffroom will the full hatred in his eyes. Who cares about him? Everything was succeeded and his show is over.

We’re struggling hard until on the next three days before the competition, Cik Saadiah told us that we should have a rest. She wants to see us to wear a pretty outfit with shining pom-pom to show the best cheerleading shows that ever shown on the small district of Bintulu. What I can do, I’m just listen to her words carefully. Therefore, we took a rest before the day had just begun. My next-door class schoolmates, Maria Dana had told me that she was quite exhausted and never think of anything instead of the show and the sports. Me, in the other hand, for three days, I was watching television while my parent’s away. As the day was coming, I was getting my whole outfit and ready to rock the world. When I looked at the mirror, I’m still can’t believe the person that I am the part of cheerleading team and I was one of cheerleader girls. Oh, man! I must be dreaming but it’s not anyway. I went to the school around 7:05a.m. I’ve already saw Dahliawaty and Sulastrie came. They’re so early than me. I’ve told them that I’m still can’t believe what I’m doing right now. Even if this is the dream, I must be sleeping while opening my two beautiful eyes. Sulastrie and Dahliawaty felt the same way. Oh, well, looks like this is going to be part of the mysterious school days that no one believe if we told what we’re doing. We’re all went to the Tatau BDA’s field that is near to my dad’s office, SRB Chung Hua Chinese School, the old town market and even the BDA’s library. I can see hundreds of audience came all over the place to see us performed and even to see the sport competition.

I can’t stand people looking at me and if I’m asking to perform a singing or have speech in front of hundreds of people, I feel like peeing. I can’t imagine myself to become politician that goes for the campaign. I probably fainted. I was so nervous especially when I got seeing my parent somewhere out there. I never wanted them to see me performed because I was afraid that I can’t do any better and they’ll probably embarrass on my behavior or my show. However, they always understand me and do as what as I said. When it started, I began to focus my mind and my body and counting the steps. Everything is okay except the running part. As I’ve told you earlier, I hate running and jumping around. It made looks like an idiot. As I can’t fully focus on that part, suddenly, I dropped my pom-pom but luckily I managed it quickly. Huh! That is so close. Probably, everybody will throw me the rotten tomato for the bad show. I am very lucky enough to make it right. After we’re showing MSSR words, suddenly I’ve heard the big explosion coming at my back. No need to fear, nobody drops the bomb but it’s all about to competition is now begun. After it finished, Madam Patricia came and scold me for making such a mistake. There are few of us made one but I guess I was very tired with all of it. Sometimes, she can’t simply blame me for such thing like that and I think she never likes me at the first place. This is remain mystery until now and if it’s true, well, I have prove to her that she was totally wrong to call me whatever she thought about me.

Nancy Banying told me that I was stupid, fat and useless to the rest of cheerleading team but luckily, my cousin defending me. He’d told me the story when we met at his home three days later. I’ve told him that if I’m stupid, fat and useless, she was very wrong because when it comes to quiz and English storytelling competition, I was a champion and I had beat her everytime we’ve enter drawing competition. He knew Nancy was jealous on me. Well, that bitch certainly thinks she can do it by talking. She probably hasn’t heard this wise word, action speaks louder than words. I’ve told him not to worry about what she says and one day, she’ll see what it means by that. Talked about cheerleading itself, Sulastrie told me that she probably never done it again near future and she going to miss this for her entire life. So does Dahliawaty and as well as mine. That time was gone and it was still the best memory that I’ve ever had in my life. Right now, when I think back of the memories of becoming cheerleader girl, I still cannot believe that I was selected and performed in the centre of the field. If anybody wants me to become a cheerleader now, perhaps, I’m not that very interested but I’m happy to teach what about cheerleading is. It’s true that it’s doesn’t take a popular girl or any kind of pretty bitch to do it but to believe that you can do it. It’s like crisscrossing the globe to find a perfect picture of myself and getting there was such an odyssey.