He folded the clothes tenderly and with intense concentration.It may sounds bizarre because how can he concentrate on folding clothes as if its a very tedious work for him.But, its real that folding clothes is the routine of his life and he derived satisfaction from it.People called him Ah Hing.Since small, he has this fair complexion, small eyes, flat face and button nose that distinguish him from others.He has this innocent smile that can't help to melt people's heart away.Some people may have taken his smile as a mischievous grin.Sometimes when I saw him smiling at me, I can't help wondering whether he has this big plan that he is planning to trick me.

However, all these is just parts of my chaotic thoughts.He is too innocent to be suspicious of. He is considered huge size because he has bulging fats and basketball size stomach.These are the characteristics of him i kept noticing every time I visited him in kampong.My usual greeting to him is a HELLO followed by a shy smile .When he saw me, he seemed to be delighted for a few minutes.He will show me his homeworks to me, and me on the other hand, fascinated by his perseverance in writing the words in his notebook repeatedly.He told me that in his school, he learned a lot.The knowledges that the teacher imparted to him he learned by heart.However, his intelligence is so little that any new knowledge that is passed on to him seemed so alien.

After he showed his work to me, he will beam with pride.He is just so clueless that he is born with imperfection and he yearned to have a normal life like other did.My conversation with him is usually brief,mostlybecause I don't know what to talk to him and partly, I have this evil thought that talking to him is wastage of time.I am evil, right.After that, I will go back feeling sad yet happy.Feeling gloomy because how can his life being destroyed just because he happened to have this health defect called Down Syndrome.He has the intelligence of 7 or 8 years old.This also tells me that he can't fullfill the basic necessities of his life.He can't go through the experiences the most normal people took for granted.He can't sit for UPSR, PMR, and SPM that most students dreaded with misery.He loves learning new things.I can see it when he write APPLE or CAR repetitively on his worn out notebook.He can't go to university and experience the campus life.He can't get a decent job in which he is passionate about.He can't earn money and live in big house.I don't think he has the opportunities to worry about his mortgage or economy or politic.

The worst of all, he can't get married like others did.I heard mummy said before he wanted to get marry.At first, I laughed at the idea but after a while I am ashamed of myself.I wondered if he knewthat how couldn't he get married??Did he know that he is mentally retarded??He has IQ of 8 years old, kay.I quickly brushed away the thoughts.This is life after all, I reprimanded myself.


I felt happy because I have acknowledged this very important message from meeting him.Whenever I visit him, he is always busy with his house chores.Mummy said he has always been the great helper at home.He wash, dry, fold and iron the clothes.He sweep and mop the floor.Sometimes, i saw him doing some sewing.He can even cook!!

He is a contented person.He doesn't feel that is any flaws in him.He is happy with himself.He is not famished for wealth, fame and attention like people nowadays did.He has no bad perception toward others.He is just HIM.Although he might be special in his own way.Although he might not work, fall in love, tie the knots, have babies and live happy life with big family or do what others did,he succeeded to convey a strong message to all of us.

His life told us that sometimes we just have to accept our own imperfections and be contented of the good things we have.His life told us that we should be happy because we have a normal life that most people like him craved to have.

This story is fictional or real, only the creator know.