Gaama has a preview of what to expect!! Educational tour.

Nate plants himself comfortably on gaama's laps.
That's how gaapa reads to him in Library.

That's a hand-stand, gaama!

Gaapa lovingly zips up Nate's sweater.
Nate stands still to be fixed up. Good boy!

Gaapa in full control. No nonsense!

At the Library

Gaapa is serious and in absolute control. Gaama was educated by the routine of gaapa's Friday afternoon trip to Berries, which must include time at the Library, otherwise the boyz will ask gaapa many "why[s]".. No afternoon kopi for gaama on her day off because gaapa said we must be at Pats by 4.00pm to pick the boyz for Berries. Needs time for boyz esp Sam to organize themselves, bags and all. Sam is easily distracted and takes his time to drag himself away from frens all the way down the stairs at Pats. Gaapa grunts loud: Get the water bottles, and the bags, Sam! Hurry up. Meanwhile, Nate hung on trustingly to gaapa's hand, watching the action. "Gaapa, can I go and play there?", Nate pointed to the playground. Gaapa didn't bother to give Nate an answer. His look said a firm No. Finally in car, all strapped up, out popped milk bottle, thrust into Nate's hands. Car moved. "Can I have something to eat, gaapa. I'm hungry?" Sam asks. Sometimes, he gets a bite, sometimes none. We had yummy muffin yesterday. "Thank you, Gaapa, it is the best muffin I've ever eaten", a grateful Sam grinned. Nate only got his share of muffin after his milk.

"Are we going to the Library, gaapa?" Nate asked. "Only if you finish your milk quickly, and if we have time". "But gaapa, this is the way to go home", Nate peeped out of the window, and suggested. Gaapa did not see the need to answer, stepping on the accelerator.  "Better suck your milk, Nate". Nate gripped his bottle and settled back into his seat.

Approaching J8, gaapa warned gaama to follow the strict routine of procedure to come, no more no less, because there are great expectations from the boyz. Gaama was fascinated to see how the boyz fell into line with gaapa, starting from the car-park. "Let them carry their own berries bags", gaama suggested. "No, they carry their bags after the Library session, at the lift up to Berries". So, poor gaapa slung two berries bags across his strong shoulders, and grabbed the boyz tightly by their hands. They followed quietly out of the car-park.

"I will bring you to the Library, gaama", enthused Nate, wanting to show off. Gaapa marched all up the escalator to J8 air-coned shortcut. "Eve, Nate will tell you about the spider on the floor soon". Sure enough, little fella pointed out the spider pattern on the tileed floor "See spider on floor, gaama" as we approached ground floor. Gaama  looked hard and tried to figure out the spider in the tile pattern. 10 secs later, gaapa instructed gaama: "Hold on tight to Nate, Eve. He's going to jump and rush to press the pedestrian light soon. There's heavy traffic". Ok. And Nate surely did exactly what gaapa said he would, with much zeal.

As we entered the Library's main entrance into aircon comfort, gaama loved the blow of cold air; the boyz were thrilled. Excited. "Gaama, this is the Library!. I bring you!" and Nate grabbed my hands and all rushed down two flights of stairs to the children's section in basement, the boys ahead. "Careful of the steps, boyz! Don't run!" gaapa shouted as we tried to hold the surge forward.

The moment, we touched ground, Gaapa ordered the boyz. "All go toilet first, Sam and Nate. Gaama you go wait at the seats!". The boyz didn't even whimper any protest [unlike if mama were to be present]. Good old gaapa disappeared into the toilets with the boyz. So obedient. Gaama happily found a comfy seat and fished out her phone. Boyz came out from toilet and disappeared among the book shelves. Suddenly, Nate appeared with a book in hand, turned his back towards me, and nudged his buttocks up to sit on my laps. I was taken by surprise. Gaapa grinned: "That's the way, we read in the Library. On the laps". OK, so reading started on "Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do" with gaama. Nate was attentive, serious and fascinated by the pictures as the monkeys executed varying postures of mischief and play. Gaama pointed to one monkey: "Nate, this little monkey is standing with his two legs facing the sky and his head on the floor". "Gaama, that is called a hand-stand, not hands up and head down on floor!", Nate immediately pointed out to gaama. Wow, thanks for the lesson, Nate! Smart fella, direct to the point.

"Finished, the end". Book closed, and Nate jumped down from gaama's laps. Gaapa instructed: "Boyz, come here and wear your sweaters before we go to class". Gaapa was in full control. I was amused. Boyz immediately walked up to gaapa. Sam put on his sweater, while gaapa lovingly and tenderly zipped Nate up as little fella stood obediently. No arguments. All done, and followed gaapa up the stairs, to make way quickly to Berries. Gaapa walked in record time. No dilly dallying. I guess the boyz could feel the serious grip and tug from gaapa's hands.

Leaving the Library, the boyz ran up a short slope with metal bar at side. "Eve. No deviation, this is the way the boyz go to Berries", gaapa said. In fact, sometimes the boyz circle down and run up the slope again! Gaapa does make this little allowance because the boyz love this part of journey. Gaapa still bearing the two bags on his shoulders, Sam on his left hand and Nate on his right. Focused and no distractions, holding tightly, gaapa was focused on his mission, to arrive at Berries just before 5, with all expectations of routine fulfilled for the boyz. Emerging from lift at Berries, gaapa gently and tenderly placed each bag squarely on the boyz' shoulders and gave each a pat. Straight to Berries. Gaapa reiterated:  "Sam goes straight in, and Nate has to turn to his classroom on the right. Remove shoes and hand the boyz to their teachers".

Hug, hug, bye bye, gaapa!  Phew! Gaapa relaxes as the boyz disappeared into the rooms, quite happy to see their teachers and friends..

Gaama was fascinated and impressed by how gaapa runs his Friday operation with precision, army-style, tempered with love and allowances for the boyz, and how the boyz fall into line, without a mumble. Quite a time-tight exercise of getting boys and bags, milk and Library time [a must], toilet, sweater, etc. dropping into place to reach Berries by 5.00pm. Thank God, gaapa gets to use the car on Fridays. Well done, gaapa! He really loves the boyz and has his way with the boyz. They work on mutual understanding. Oh!  Almost forgot, immediately after each mission, gaapa dutifully SMSed the parents to report that packages were delivered safe and sound and off to fetch gaama.

Yesterday afternoon, gaama had a preview and vision of what a post-retirement program means. It causes me to ponder deeper and reflect. It may actually be less stressful to control office operations, computers and tackle people problems, from the comfort of her air-conditioned office, sitting on her cushioned chair. At least, there's time for a cuppa at her desk!

Only the charm of  "good boyz" may lure gaama from her desk, in God's good time. We love gaapa!