A true story actually. My mom was busy with chores at day’s end and left me unattended for a moment. While she was distracted, I crawled to the wax lamp which was mounted on the floor; and grabbed the light! The lamps those days were fed with wild latex/damar. No kerosene yet!

I must have been attracted by the newly lighted lamp. It was just getting dark in the longhouse kitchen, just after dusk.

There was panic and pandemonium in the longhouse after that as a small baby has burned his hand at the lamp. Luckily, Yahya’s father, the teacher in the local school, heard my cries and the commotion in the longhouse kitchen and came running to our part of the longhouse.

He brought with him some medication for wounds (iodine)! If not, I would have even worst scars on my right hand !!

My fingers are still slightly crooked and scarred to this day!

Backgrounder