
when friends or family members sees either one of the boys, their comments would be the youngest look like naughty one, the youngest has that mischievious look, the youngest doesn't look intellectual at all. and all the good remarks goes to the eldest.
but looks can indeed be deceiving. this is what you call mum knows best! examination is around the corner and i am relief that the youngest has completed his english, maths and science revision. however, he still needs to revise his primary 1 to primary 3 subject for english and mathematics. why? he was chosen to sit for the GEP or gifted education programme paper on this coming 28th, his birthday. and i was of course surprise BIG TIME! so was his dad. never did we imagine the youngest, who always forget his books, who always had bad remarks written on his diary, who always had torn pages on his school books, who always got scoldings and beatings from his dad for being lazy and playful, is the intellectual one when he passed his mid-year with good results.
the eldest, who completed his homework every time, who always have full mark for spelling, who always have little wrong in homework, failed all his subjects, including malay for his mid-year. and that is like a slap to both my cheeks. where on earth did i go wrong? then i learned. looks can be deceiving indeed. the eldest whom we thought was the good one turn out to be the opposite. behaving good only at our front and start his mischievious self behind our back. the youngest was true to himself, no hidden character, bad or good, he show it all which was why he's the only one who get the most spanking and yelling at. now i learn. now i know. now i realise.
so for this coming exam, i decided not to push. i let them have their way but said if you think you want to pass, then study, if you think you want to waste my time or your time to study but dunno what you're studying, then keep your books. and i did remind them that they'll get the worst from their dad if they fail this exam. and i saw it all. the eldest took my word, twisted it and made it his shield. so everytime anyone in the house ask why the eldest didn't study, the eldest reply, mama said don't need to waste her time and my time so i did what she told me .. keep my book. he's having his jolly good time enjoying himself while both parents are at work. i am disappointed and upset but still happy with the progress of the youngest one. and i think right now, people are probably whispering that i only focus my attention to the youngest one and leave both my eldest and my brother-in-law (who is the same age as my eldest) to continue slaken in their studies. i did couch the three but one prove that he's only interested to have tuition with me because he saw the other two studying and that one is my worst case brother-in-law. i don't see a point in couching when all the revision that i gave, for him, is just a matter of giving each question an answer when all his answers are wrong even for addition and substration and to think he is in primary 4!! just like my mum always tell me in malay, orang bodoh kalau kita ajar, boleh jadi pandai jugak tapi kalau orang malas, macam mana kita ajar, tetap takkan pandai.
i am at lost end but i really hope the youngest can prove his best, the only thing that i can be proud of. looks like all i have to do is wait for their exams result and i can have the last laugh then.