Anna watched from a near distance to the kitchen. There were two groups. May, Lionel, Tom and Kenneth were in team one.
How they make and bake buns.
“Alright, now weigh 500 grams of flour!” came the instruction. May stepped forward. She was scooping into the container of flour. “No, I do first. I am the team leader!” Lionel intercepted.
Smack! Lionel was stunned; the right side of his face was whitened with flour. Tom grasped Lionel’s right hand towards May’s face. Both Tom and May are non-verbal. Lionel held back his hand and his tears, “no, mummy said, ‘boy cannot hit a girl!'”
May threw the scoop angrily on the table. Lionel took over.
“One… two… three…four hundred,” Lionel looked at his teammates, hesitatingly. “Should I take away some?” He was returning the scooped flour to the container. (Lionel’s mum later told Anna about Lionel’s difficulties and mixing-ups with numbers).
Kenneth stopped his hand midway. He guided Lionel to return the flour into the bowl on the scale. They added another spoon, “… there! 500 gram!” He clapped away the flour on his hands. Then he stood behind them again; seemingly unfocused.
His teammates looked up at him now with new admiration!
After mixing all the ingredients in the electric mixing bowl, the dough was divided into four. “You are going to do your own hot-dog buns. Divide your dough into smaller balls like this…” the chef teacher showed them. He shoved the smoothened ball under a big enamel bowl. All of them were attentive, except Kenneth.
“Kenneth, Kenneth, your turn!” Lionel went to call him. He was in the garden in front of the kitchen. Lionel showed and guided Kenneth on how to divide and roll the dough.
Later, while waiting for the baked hot-dog buns to cool down, it was washing-up time! “Kenneth, your trays are not clean! Wash again, see, here?” Lionel put the trays back into the huge sink. He was a good team leader. His mum told Anna that Lionel wanted to work in a bakery shop one day.
While waiting for their children, Anna met up with the other mothers. She admired their patience and persistence in driving their autistic children for the classes the last three years.
Conclusion
Baking lessons were part of Kenneth’s rehabilitation and socializing activities for one and a half years. But, Anna knew that Kenneth would make a better food connoisseur than a bakery chef!
Chen Song Ping, 12 January 2021
******
Reflections:
Does Kenneth still bake buns? No, he doesn’t.
But the classes above had allowed him to learn how to socialise with others.
Then I got sick. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My life changed. people looked at me differently. Stop inviting me for coffee and other activities. - Dave Mowry
Stigma affects many people with AIDs, autism, mental disorders, homosexuality, and now, recovered COVID-19. It threatens to imprison them in ‘closets’.
Education and destigmatizing for better societal acceptance are important.
I am special (Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com)
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” – Oprah Winfrey
Crises like Covid-19 affect livelihood, careers, families and friendship. They filter the latter. – Serena Chen S.P. , 2020
True friend stays.
“Ramai orang ingin menumpang dengan anda di kereta limusin, tetapi apa yang anda mahukan adalah seseorang yang akan menaiki bas dengan anda ketika limusin rosak.” – Oprah Winfrey
Krisis seperti Covid-19 mempengaruhi kehidupan, kerjaya, keluarga dan persahabatan. Mereka menapis yang terakhir. – Serena Chen S.P., 2020
Chen Song Ping 