2016-10-22
2016-10-21
The Little Prince
When France fell to the Germans during World War II in 1940 a French fighter pilot fled to Africa but he crashed in the Sahara. As he set about the arduous task of repairing his machine he was surprised by a little voice "S'il vous plait, dessine-moi un mouton" - it means "please draw me a sheep". The little fellow making the request was Le Petit Prince or The Little Prince in English.
About five years later in a little village in Kelantan a 7 year-old boy George was asked by his mother to fetch some water from the well. George was angry at being always the one asked to do the chore and snapped back at his mother, "What about Edward?" referring to his brother one year younger at 6, "couldn't he do any work around here? Is he The Little Prince?"
The two boys had an older brother who was away at the Madrasah (religious school) most days. Whenever he returned home our little prince never missed the opportunity to ask him "Please draw me a horse".
Edward spent most of his days in deep thought unless he was listening to his mother teaching Quran to the village children. He paid attention to every Arabic word and phrase intoned by the children and his mother's correction. His mother was worried about him because most people who looked at Edward thought he was a stupid kid. His mother had hopes for him. She thought he was a late bloomer.
Two years later all the 3 boys along with their sister were enrolled in the village school and they were all in the same class. At the end of the year the teacher announced the exam results. Edward the youngest sibling was top of the class. Later at home he asked his mother, "why are the other kids so stupid?" His mother was happy that her Little Prince was a good student as she had hoped but she did not show it. Instead she reprimanded him for saying such things as "the other kids were stupid."
Four years later at age 11 Edward left his family home to move to Kuala Krai to attend an English school. It was both a sad and a happy occasion for Edward. He was sad to leave his mother but was happy that he had an opportunity to learn English and get a good job that would earn him at least $137.00 per month. The saddest part of Edward’s schooling during the next four years was that his father could not afford to pay his board and lodging. He was practically sold into a life of slavery where he did chores like carrying water and firewood and washing and ironing clothes for the other students. He often thought of his home life where he was never asked to do anything by his mother.
He enjoyed school life especially reading the English story books but his favourite subjects were Algebra Geometry and anything to do with Mathematics. He wanted to study science but they did not teach that in Form I so he had to wait till the next year. He thought of his Uncle who shouted at him one day “People who go to English School and study Science will be condemned to Hell”. Edward thought to himself “Maybe I am already in hell now”. Four years went by quite quickly. The School would not proceed to Form II and Edward and his friends transferred to a Kota Bharu and he left the life of slavery behind. It seemed to him everything would be alright from then on.
Years later Edward learned French and came across the story of the Little Prince. “That is me” he said. He liked what the Fox said to the Little Prince. On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. One does not see clearly but with the heart. The important things are invisible to the eyes
The Little Prince
About five years later in a little village in Kelantan a 7 year-old boy George was asked by his mother to fetch some water from the well. George was angry at being always the one asked to do the chore and snapped back at his mother, "What about Edward?" referring to his brother one year younger at 6, "couldn't he do any work around here? Is he The Little Prince?"
The two boys had an older brother who was away at the Madrasah (religious school) most days. Whenever he returned home our little prince never missed the opportunity to ask him "Please draw me a horse".
Edward spent most of his days in deep thought unless he was listening to his mother teaching Quran to the village children. He paid attention to every Arabic word and phrase intoned by the children and his mother's correction. His mother was worried about him because most people who looked at Edward thought he was a stupid kid. His mother had hopes for him. She thought he was a late bloomer.
Two years later all the 3 boys along with their sister were enrolled in the village school and they were all in the same class. At the end of the year the teacher announced the exam results. Edward the youngest sibling was top of the class. Later at home he asked his mother, "why are the other kids so stupid?" His mother was happy that her Little Prince was a good student as she had hoped but she did not show it. Instead she reprimanded him for saying such things as "the other kids were stupid."
Four years later at age 11 Edward left his family home to move to Kuala Krai to attend an English school. It was both a sad and a happy occasion for Edward. He was sad to leave his mother but was happy that he had an opportunity to learn English and get a good job that would earn him at least $137.00 per month. The saddest part of Edward’s schooling during the next four years was that his father could not afford to pay his board and lodging. He was practically sold into a life of slavery where he did chores like carrying water and firewood and washing and ironing clothes for the other students. He often thought of his home life where he was never asked to do anything by his mother.
He enjoyed school life especially reading the English story books but his favourite subjects were Algebra Geometry and anything to do with Mathematics. He wanted to study science but they did not teach that in Form I so he had to wait till the next year. He thought of his Uncle who shouted at him one day “People who go to English School and study Science will be condemned to Hell”. Edward thought to himself “Maybe I am already in hell now”. Four years went by quite quickly. The School would not proceed to Form II and Edward and his friends transferred to a Kota Bharu and he left the life of slavery behind. It seemed to him everything would be alright from then on.
Years later Edward learned French and came across the story of the Little Prince. “That is me” he said. He liked what the Fox said to the Little Prince. On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. One does not see clearly but with the heart. The important things are invisible to the eyes
The Little Prince
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