The Whistling Competition

It was about at the end of semester 3 in the year of 1990. I was in primary four. That means, it reached at the end of the year and the new semester will started on December 1990. I will be in primary five in next semester. There are so many things that I cannot forget in this year and how I just loose few friends who quits the school. Every year, I will loose one by one of them. Honestly, I really do miss them, compares to the others during in the school time at secondary school. What I really like on every the end of the semester was we’re doing something stupid. It was a stupid games and nothing more than that. I’ve been tried a lot of stupid games such as playing hockey with the broom, slippers rounders, playing ‘badtennis’ which was the game is actually badminton but the shuttlecock had been replace with the tennis ball, robot on the moon dancing, ice-cream stick stretcher, blowing the ping-pong ball with straw and lots more. Yeah, I know its’ weird! No doubt, sometimes, our class teacher was quite mad on us too because every the end of the semester, surely our broom’s hair will shave off. Now, in this episode, I would like to tell about the whistling competition which later we’re been laughed out and been called as the bird.

One afternoon, about more than a week to end of third semester, we’d finally finished the last exam and about to receive a test paper tomorrow. I’m not feels nervous like the other does. Not because I’m too confident but I just feel normal. Nothing bothers me. Sayah, Laila Suhana, Sulastrie, Dahliawaty and I were talk about Brazilian ever famous telenovela – The Right To Love (Dierto De Amar, starring Gloria Pires and Lauro Carona), Zuraidah, Musin, Mahadir, Ranggi and Norhatiyah were playing ‘selingkut’ (game of knuckle bones), Julia, Federick, Siah, Larson, Jemat and Lia were reading the books together. Manjan, Aidawaty, Norliza, Yahya, Lema and John were listening to Sabohhie which done storytelling. Basically, after exam, we had nothing better to do. “I’m bored! Let’s play.”, suggest Sabohhie when he suddenly appears in front of us. “That sounds interesting, what sort of game?” asked Ranggi, who’d came along. Everybody seems thinking the same thing. I had no idea what to do. All the games had been played. The standard game and the weird game, it’s all just the same. We were thinking and keep on thinking and suddenly, we heard somebody whistling. Oh, yes. When we look at outside, it was Encik Julaihi alright. He was whistling a song called ‘Pok Pok Pok Bujang Lapok’ which sang by the late P. Ramlee alongside with the other two famous actors Aziz and Sudin.

He passes us by and we’re looking at him. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Sabohhie to us again. Few moments later, I’ve heard, Larson answered that question. “I know, let’s organized the whistling competition.” Everybody was like confused and shocked at the same time. “That’s awesome!” says Ranggi who seems to be so excited. “…the girls were invites too, if you like”, he says again. Sulastrie seems to be interested and I was thinking that the idea was quite fun although it’s ridiculous at the same time. All of our girls keep on thinking and looking at each other. “Give us a minute and we’ll tell you”, says Norliza. All of the girls were done discussion. We discussed about the game and it’s nothing but a game. We’re breaking the rules as soon as we agree on it by accepting the challenge from the boys. It’s such a weird because in our culture the girl is usually forbid to whistle because it’s rude. However, I don’t care about that as long as in the name of having fun, nothing worries me much. Therefore, the leader of the each team will send at least two best competitors in the competition. The practice was given only a day and tomorrow the competition begins.

In my way back home, I tried to listen to bird sings. However, the bad thing was when I needed it to whistle I did not see the birds around. Huh! Bad luck, I thought. At home, the whole afternoon, I’ve been listening to the bird that was keep by my dad as his pet. Another bad luck is here for me when the bird does not sing. I’m certainly got furious and then, went to my room and play the cassette. I’ve been listen all kind of music and even various Malay artistes but it seems like nothing suits me. At last, I played a song from Boney M called ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’ and ABBA’s song called ‘Does Your Mother Knows’. At least this song gave me a little bit idea to start. Well, I’m a fan of Disco song although they’ve said disco is dead. In my opinion, disco is not dead, it’s just that, it’s been freeze in that moment. Rap music is started to spread like plague around that time after the American famous boy band ‘New Kids On The Block’ making a hit. Therefore, I’m started to practice. I feel my mouth and my tongue is twisted here and then but it seems like no music come out. For the entire afternoon, I’m trying and keep trying because I’m desperate to win. I don’t care what my mum says. “Fails, all fails!!” I shout. “What are you shouting about?” asked my mum. I’ve told her it’s just nothing. I’m afraid she’ll be misunderstood that was my exam.

I stop practice and listen to the song again. I tuned to the radio this time and trying to listens any fancy song on the radio. After hearing a lot of songs, suddenly, I’ve heard the song called ‘Locomotion’ by Kylie Minogue. Kylie was quite famous around after making a debut called ‘I Should Be So Lucky’. I tried to whistle to that song for few times. After trying few times, suddenly I feel a little song came out as soon as I whistle. Finally, I’ve got the tune. I was so excited and told my mum that I can whistle like a bird. My mum never opposed what I’ve show to her that day. Instead, she shows her talent to me. She’s even better than me because she can whistle just like my dad. She never told me before but I feel very much impress. She’s even taught me more. By the late evening when my dad came back from our fruit garden, he was definitely surprised when he heard I can whistle just like I did. “Finally, someone’s learn to become a bird”, says my dad. “Dad!!” I shout again. He sounds like protesting but that’s doesn’t mean he protest what I’m doing. He was happy that I can do it just like both of them done. He even says “Welcome to the whistle club, my girl”. I answered “Thank you daddy, I love you.” I kissed him and then waiting for the day of tomorrow. I’ll show my skills to the boys and I promise I win something for the girls.

On the next day, after receiving the English test paper, I was pretty happy as I was received a good grades. I didn’t expect anything but I’m happy with it. After the teacher was gone, it’s time to rock and roll. We know the teacher will be not around because they’re busy with the preparation for the excellence academic student ceremony that about to be held on next week. So far, I received three test papers including English that day which were the other two were Arithmetic and Moral. I was relieved because my grades were in the good condition. I was really in the mood for the competition. Therefore, I’m ready with it anytime. The boys were quite confidence that they will grab all the title of the whistling champion. Well, Dahliawaty was absolutely rejected the idea by saying, “Yeah right!”. At the moment, I thought Dahliawaty was absolutely ready for the competition. Musin and Julia had started the competition. Too bad, Julia can’t save the day at the first round. So to Laila, Siah, Lema and Hamimah, they absolutely can’t do it. It was very big surprise to the boys especially to Gis who’d compete with Norliza who whistling well like the boys. Haha!! All of us laughed at the boys who still can’t believe Norliza done the best that time.

Yahya tries to whistle like us but we’re never discriminates him although he was mute. We brought him to the challenge against Norhatiyah. Of course, he was unable to do that but that doesn’t mean he does not enjoy the game like us. He’s not deaf but mute. Zuraidah whistle well alongside with Sayah. No wonder, they can compete with Federick and Mahadir. John was competing with Dahliawaty and Lia was competing with Larson. Lia almost fails at the first place but she manages to do it as she asked me to guide her to sing ‘Rajin Adik Rajin’. “That’s unfair!” shouted Ranggi to me. “It’s fair you idiot! Sylvia’s never sing but she’s singing.” shouted Sulatrie back. That war between Ranggi and Sulastrie were never really end since from the flying broom incident. She’s always defending me whenever I need help. Thanks to Sulastrie it’s becomes a fair game after all. Sulastrie competes with Ranggi after that. “Why I suddenly feel like watching WWF again?” asked Mahadir. “I’m not going to do it anymore. I don’t want to be field correspondent!” I’m answering him back. Both of them compete until both of them can’t whistle anymore. It seems like the whistle sound had gone but they’re never charge as disqualify. “Well done”, congratulate Laila to Sulastrie. She winks back to Laila and that’s mean she was happy to beat Ranggi.

The competition continues and that was me competing with the champion Sabohhie who beat almost all the girl. Well, it simple song actually. I kind of like London Bridge and so, I whistle that song. Everybody was cheering up and it’s time for Sabohhie to show some of his talent. Nobody denies that the fact of Sabohhie absolutely was the whistler of all time. He always whistle every morning and almost everyday if he came to school. The winner was given to boy. Suddenly, the teacher appears which that is Encik Shukri and he asked, “What is going on?”. We didn’t answer that question but look at each other. “This class sounds like bird!” he says. As none of us wanted to explain, he asked us to clean the toilet. What the hell is he thinking? I thought. We were force to do it again and so, there we are to clean up the toilet. Instead of blaming each other, this opportunity that we took is to whistle more. Ranggi had started it first. There are a lot of songs that we whistle together. Honestly, I feel my mouth and my tongue feels the pain a little bit because it twisted. “Nobody can stop us”, told Sabohhie to me. “Absolutely”, I answered. I smiled at him. We’re doing our work until the end of the day and going home. On my way to home, I whistle again, over and over again. I can’t get it off from me.

On the next week, during the excellence academic student ceremony, Siah ran into Sulastrie, Laila and I and told us that she can whistle. She had done it well. Laila had congratulates her and Sulastrie and I were giving a peace sign and then laughing at each other. Sayah who sits next to me was also laughing. It was certainly a miracle thing happen after competition and scolded by Encik Shukri. Then, I’ve told her that, perhaps, it’s going to be a legend as we left the school later. As the excellence academic student ceremony begins, everybody waiting for the teacher to give the prizes. But before it done, Encik Sallamun which was our headmaster had started the ceremony with speech. During his speech, it seems like our class had been in his topic. He’s even given a nickname to us which a bird. Although, he didn’t tells the another class specifically which class had been doing the whistling thing, he’s definitely aimed it to us. He is even told that nowadays, boys and girls especially girls is quite bad too that had been breaking the rule but that was doesn’t matter because as long as we did not hurt ourselves and involved in unhealthy activities. “Is he on our side?” whisper Sayah to my ear. “I don’t know.” I told her back. Encik Sallamun was admits that it was quite rude for the girls in our culture to do it but he did not against the idea at all. After his speech, the ceremony had begun.

When I walked to Encik Shukri and shaking his hand, he whispered “Congratulation, birdie. It’s time to learn to fly.” I was like – huh?! Then, I pretend not to know. After the ceremony finishes, Laila was asking me if I received same the feedback as her as Encik Shukri calls her a bird. I’ve told that I’m already heard that. It was the same to Sulastrie and Sayah as well. “I feel stupid but I’m happy!” told Sulastrie. Four of us laughing at each other call each other as birdie. That was the last time we’ve been together with Laila and Sayah. Laila was move to Bintulu after that and Sayah was quit school. I am very upset with it and I feel my world is little gloomy since they went away. I missed Laila and Sayah very much. I’ve so much to say about everything that I saw in my life since they went away. I have no idea the hardest day of my life begins at primary five until the end of my school time at form five. Sometimes, it feels like a curse to me to get here. I never giving up and that’s the reason I’m stay and fight. I whistle until now and even better than ever. Whenever I whistle, the flashback of the memory during the end of semester 3 in 1990 is always in my mind. It was a great day and I can never forget this in my entire life.