Take a Bath

note: cubaan berotak suci. cerita kanak-kanak.

Adli sat alone in the classroom. The other boys and girls were busy playing and talking at the back of the class during recess. However, nobody wants to invite him play with them. So, Adli had to resort to sitting alone at his place eating the sandwich his mother made.

Adli was sad but he could not understand why his friends treated him that way.

When Adli got home, he sat at the dining table and reflected on what happened in school. Adli realised that it happened almost everyday. Almost no one wanted to play with him although there was nothing wrong with him. He never bullied anyone and never caused troubles. Hence, he can never understand why he was always alone.

‘ Adli, have you eaten?’ Mama suddenly came from behind. Adli just shook his head and said nothing.

‘ Are you alright, dear?’ Mama asked while she walked to sit in front of Adli.

‘ Mama, my friends does not want to play with me. Why?,’ and Adli started to cry.

Mama did not say anything. For sometime, Mama just held Adli in her arms.

‘ Adli, I think I know why they did not want to play with you,’ Mama finally held Adli at arms length.

‘ Why?’ Adli asked between sobs.

‘ You have to take a bath more often,’ Mama said softly. ‘ Did any of your friends say anything about your odour?’

Adli hung his head in shame. He remembered a few times that his classmates said that he stinks.

‘ Hurm?’ Mama asked again.

‘ Yes,’ Adli answered in a small voice.

‘ So, tomorrow morning, we get up a little bit early and have a real good scrub before school, ok?’

Adli smiled.

The next morning, Adli woke up earlier than usual and scrubbed himself thoroughly. Usually, he will spend about ten minutes but today he put in extra effort. This time, Adli did not say anything when Mama powdered his body.

It was worth it because today, Adli had more friends to play with. Nobody pinched their nose when they walked beside his table.

Adli will always take a bath before school from now on.