Chubby Cindy

Learning the pain of an Autism family
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Beep went my hp at 3.43am on Apr 14 morning.. Being a super light sleeper, i stretched out my hand to reach for my hp.. A message from Jess asking me to give her a call once i see the sms to wake her up in order to prepare for our zoo trip..

After reading the sms, i knew i have to give her a morning call at 6am.. I tried to sleep again but i can't.. I bunked over my Cristal's (my little cousin) house to got to the zoo together.. Right beside her block are 2 busy roads.. The sound are cars speeding pass and bikes gearing up their motors are killing me.. I can't sleep at all, not even another wink..

I tossed and turned on my bed waiting for 6am to arrive.. But why is it so slow? It seems like ages before my aunt carried a tray of juices and water for us.. 5.58am, Cristal, Cynthia (my younger sister) and i sat up on the beds and drank the juices and water specially prepared by my lovely aunt..

After drinking a glass of juice and another glass of water, it was already 6.02am.. Finally i knew it was time to call Jesslyn.. "Good morning, Jess.. Time to watch up & prepare le.." She replied saying she didn't sleep the entire night as she was chasing a new tv serial.. "Let me rest for awhile and you call me again, ok?" she replied cheekily.. I hesitated and paused as my mind was thinking.. You woke me up from my beauty sleep since 3.43am and make me waited for 6am.. Now you asked me to call later.. Ahhh! Nevertheless, i said ok.. Next person to call was HX, i am always afraid of guy's punctuality.. "Good morning, Haoxin.. It's time to wake up.." I went.. "Hel.. Hello.. Hello.." he went and i could hardly hear him as his voice was breaking up.. Again he tried.."Hel.. Hello.. Hello" this time a little better but it still sounding funny.. "My alarm is set at 6.30am.." he finally said it clearly after clearing his throat for awhile.. I giggled and hang up the phone..

We were supposed to meet at 7.30am at City Hall MRT for breakfast before gathering with the rest of the volunteers for the event.. The event was arranged by Accenture for AWWA.. Bringing the special children out to a day at the zoo.. Total there were about 30 of us, mixed with Accenture and Non-Accenture employees.. All the Non-Acn employees were either relatives of the Acn staff or friends.. Like myself, i brought my little cousin, my sister and 5 other friends (Jesslyn, Haoxin, Tengteng, Huijia and Taufik)..

The bus journey to the zoo filled with excitement and nervousness.. Excited because it is my first time doing volunteering work.. Nervous as i really wondered if i can handle an Autism child.. We were briefed on the bus that the children may bite and beat us..

We were arranged into little groups to take care of a child each.. Eric, Emily (Eric's wife), Haoxin and I were in group 4.. Lenin will be the child that we will take care of and bring around the zoo.. Eric and Emily were from US and just came to Singapore last July as Eric was relocated here.. Lenin looks nothing like an autism child.. A healthy looking 9 year old Indian boy, he looks curiously at us.. We tried to break the ice but failed.. He refused to talk to us and even look at us.. I felt so lousy and lost..

The sun shone strongly and brightly at us.. The heat was making everyone hot and sweaty.. We learned that Lenin was a runner, running around trying to catch him made us feel warmer.. I took out my fan and started fanning myself.. Lenin grabbed the fan away from me.. He started fanning himself too.. At that moment, the ice broke.. I held his skinny hand and started to interact with him.. He finally opened up.. Lenin is a really cute boy, he started to complain he is hungry since the beginning of the trip.. He plucked leaf and grass to eat though without success due to our invasion.. Haha.. This little guy loves elephants.. He refused to go anywhere but to the elephant's area..

Things went pretty well until we were heading to the tamed animals show specially arranged for AWWA children.. Lenin refused to go in.. He said bones.. Oh, i know.. it's the skeleton bones of the animals.. He is afraid of them.. Not only did the volunteers came to try lure him in, 2 other teachers helped as well.. He is strong at his age.. A fully grown man can't pull him up from the ground.. So you can imagine how strong he is for a skinny 9 years old boy..

The last stop was KFC, Lenin's favorite place.. He wanted to eat since he started the zoo tour.. He really can eat alot at his age.. He ate 2 colonel burgers, 1 whipped potato, 2 vitasoy drink and a pack of apple juice.. But he still wanted more.. He started to reach out for the leftover food around him.. Eric and Haoxin had to pull him away and quickly removed any remaining food at our table..

The entire program was about to end, we had a group photo and the children sang us a goodbye song.. It was so touching.. We finally made our way to the chartered bus to go back to Accenture office.. Throughout the entire bus trip, i was thinking how tough the family have to go through.. Just a few hours with Lenin drove 4 adults tired.. We had to pay 100% attention to him at all times and running around to catch him is not an easy job.. He run fast, maybe one day he might represent Singapore during the SEA Games.. It might happen, you never know..

This event makes me think hard.. I love children alot but after meeting Lenin makes me think harder.. Will i be able to love and sacrifice everything for my children.. Like what our parents do.. Thank you Dad & Mum for loving us without fail!!

--Cindy HAD a little rocket--

Chubby Cindy

25 yrs old
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If you wander off too far, my love will get you home.
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Boy, my love will get you home

If you ever find yourself, lost and all alone,
get back on your feet and think of me, my love will get you home

Boy, my love will get you home
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