When There's a Beginning...

Thursday, 10 March 2005

...There is always an end. And, what an end it will be (or should I say "was"). In an early blog entry in this journey of mine, when I was newly introduced to the students about seven months ago, I had to take Phu to the bathroom. Many of you commented on the story as being a memorable one. Well to wrap things up completely, I just had the blessed opportunity of taking him to the bathroom again. Let me recount the events for you.

As I was sitting in the office after lunch today, I see Phu (who should be in class doing Silent Reading) running back and forth outside the classroom. I figure, ah, it's probably just one of Phu's things. (He tends to run around when he gets really excited.) Suddenly, he comes to the office door, peers his head in, and says to me, "Ms. Mau, toilet please." I follow him outside, remind him to put his shoes on (The students leave their shoes lined up outside the classroom door.), and now he's got a worried look on his face, as he tells me, "Ms. Mau, pook" (at least that's what the sound he was describing sounds like).

I escort him to the bathroom. He runs inside to a stall, comes back out within seconds to turn on a light switch, runs back in the stall, comes out about ten seconds later and throws his belt on the sink counter, then returns to the stall. Ten more seconds later, he comes back out with only his collared shirt, red vest, and shoes on, and throws his shorts and underwear on the counter. Takes one glance and me, a deep breath, and heads back inside to do the deed.

A pace outside, checking out the neighbor's houses, looking at the paint job the workers are doing on the building, and noticing a dead bird on the grass. About five minutes goes by, and I begin to smile to myself as I remember my first blog entry I wrote about this very situation I was once in long ago. This, I'm sure, will be blog worthy as well. I peek my head around the corner and ask, "Phu, are you finished?" Whereas in August, I heard no response from the young boy who knew not a word of English, today, I heard "No, pook!! I not finished." Five more minutes of sighing, groaning, splashes of water, and Phu going "Pook! Pook!", I ask again..."Phu, are you finished?" Suddenly the door comes open, and by this time, Miss Matt has come to see where Phu is, and we are laughing about his pants being on the counter, how he's taking so long, and I tell her, not to worry, I have to finish this one out with Phu (probably regrettably so). Seeing the door open and hearing no more sounds, I ask Phu if he's finished because he's been in there a long time. He starts to get frustrated and cries a little bit, "Finished! Finished!" although by the tone of his voice, I think he meant "Not finished." I ask him why he has the door open, and he says "Bad smell." All I could do was chuckle.

He finally finished, took awhile trying to put his pants back on, washed his hands (as I put plenty of soap in his palms just to make sure!), and wailed his arms skipping back to class. Oh Phu...What toilet memories you make! And indeed, they all must come to an end...