On Friday night there was a big argument when I went to bed with Ponleu and Oudom; who would be able to sleep next to me. It was finally decided that I'd be in the middle. After that was settled, another argument ensued about who would tell stories and how many stories would be told. I put my foot down as it was already after 10pm and Ponleu's stories especially can go on until dawn the next day. I honestly don't know where his imagination comes from; he's only 9 years old but he can tell stories, in English, that include everything including the kitchen sink. I'm hopeless at telling made up stories so I usually end up telling stories from my past.
Sleep is never easy with two other bodies in the same bed. When I was a child in England we had three in a bed but I cannot remember it being as complicated as here. Oudom doesn't like the quilt so he sleeps on top of it which means he's in control. Ponleu starts off with his head on the pillow but in the morning he's usually under the quilt at the bottom of the bed.
I managed to get my walking exercise done before they got up for breakfast. Back home they are a noodle and rice family but with me they always want toast. Oudom wants his with peanut butter and Ponleu with cheese - he's says it's salty so I have to cut it paper thin. After that, the hard part starts - what to do with them. If I'm not careful they both want the phone and iPad. I've downloaded books for Ponleu but after a while he moves into playing games. Oudom is constantly searching for information. Today I learned about the capital of Brunei, which I have to admit I didn't know. I also learned the best way to slice bread - turn the loaf upside down, press down on the loaf and start cutting.
In the afternoon I heard "Peter" drifting up from downstairs - it meant that 3 year old Cheata was coming for a visit along with Samnang, the oldest. Luckily I have no treasures to worry about so I just leave her alone to entertain herself which means playing with everything in sight and then checking out my drawers and cupboards. Meanwhile, Samnang is discussing what I'm going to have for dinner as he planned on cooking it. They did go home for a couple of hours but then the three boys returned for the evening.
I'm always impressed with Samnang's cooking skills. This time we decided we'd have grilled cheese sandwiches with a tomato sauce. As usual, I had to sit in the kitchen to watch and discuss as he doesn't like being alone. He's a typical 14 year old; fed up with his parents whom he thinks are crazy, fed up being with his brothers and sister, the world is crap etc. He wanted to know if he should be allowed to go to a mall on his own. I have to be careful as I don't want to offend his parents. It's like being an unpaid counsellor.
The meal was excellent and then Samnang returned home to have spaghetti. His grandmother would be cooking it so naturally it would be a mess. I was left to entertain the two lads until bedtime which meant finding a movie. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never see anything on the weekend that resembles an adult movie. Last night it was a fantasy cartoon movie which I sort of followed. It's interesting watching the boys, how their facial expressions change as they get involved with the story. It made me wonder what we used to do during the war years for entertainment. In our house it means solitaire or dominoes in the kitchen. We were only allowed in the "front" room on a Sunday; often no fire was lit as we needed coal for the kitchen fire. After school we were always told to go outside and play and we rarely went home until it got dark. Here in Cambodia, city children are enclosed in homes with no garden and no city green spaces; it's no wonder they turn to computers for entertainment. In a way, I feel sorry for them.
