Some relatives of mine had just arrived in Singapore for a short visit. My parents were given the responsibility of picking them up from Changi Airport and dropping them off at my grandmother's place. The family car was not large enough to
accommodate all of us, so my brother and I had to stay home instead. I was given the responsibility of being my brother's baby-sitter for one long afternoon. I was confident so I did not protest too much when my parents asked me to do so.
At first, it started out all right. Father had cooked some porridge for little Dill. Dill was only ten months old, so it was usual that he should be messy with his food. I did not mind too much. After lunch, I put Dill to sleep in his cot. Thinking that my job was a
breeze, I went about doing my own things. An hour later, I returned to Dill's cot to give him his water, only to find that he had crawled out of it!
I felt as if I had stopped breathing for a second or two. Frantically, I searched the room for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Then I heard a loud crashing sound from the kitchen and Dill's loud cries. I rushed to the scene, thinking that the worst had happened. When I got there I saw some empty plastic bottles on the floor.
I checked Dill for cuts or bruises but luckily, he was okay. He was not the only one who had a fright that afternoon. From then on until my parents got home, I made sure that I watched over him with
hawk eyes. |