Menjahit

"Here there you go, you can do this Mun since you can speak Malaysian," he smiles at me as he hands me the admission notes.

Eh pakcik, Malay. Me-la-yu. Not Malaysian.

Ok hmm should I just speak English to them. I mean it's not like they can't speak English. But then it feels a bit weird because it's a young kid. Oh what the heck, since fellow Aussie colleague is with me, better speak English and save me from looking retarded. So like the whole family came in - mak bapak, adik kakak semualah.

"Ah adik gantuk kepala eh? Aaaa......", my voice trails off.

Damn it, it's hard to think in English and speak Malay. Come on Mun, look competent. "Aaaa ada rasa pening tak?" It's funny how 'do you have headache' just comes off my lips effortlessly but saying it in Malay feels so foreign. Ok how to say black out? Every English synonym comes to my head. Err pitam? Pengsan? Oh bloody hell.

"Ok adik duduk kat sini eh. Kak nak tengok kepala adik eh. Sakit kat mane dik? " I examine her head. I'm panicking. I need to suture her scalp. There's a laceration and it looks like it needs a bit of sutures. What the *&^!! is suturing in Malay? I blank out.

I prepare my suturing kit, not saying anything as my mind searches for the word.

Jahit? Hantamjelah.

"Ok adik, kak munirah nak bersih kan adiknye kepala eh." I wonder if I can say I want to jahit her head without feeling like I've just said I want to fly off to the moon.

Where's my bloody local.

"Ok dik, kak kasi ubat sikit eh, rasa sakit sekejap aje. Habistu nanti tak sakit ok."

Ok the word I need is numb. How do I say it will feel numb?? The family sits there, watching me.

Kebas? Kebal? Wait I'm sure its kebas.

"Ok rasa macam kebas sekarang tak dik?" The kid doesn't respond. Damn it did I just use the wrong word and look like an idiot? "Ok rasa sakit tak bila kak buat ni?" I prod her head with my needle.

"Tak," her tiny voice replies.

Ok finally, time to suture. As they left the ED, the mother turns to me and says, "Terima kasih eh Munirah." My name rolls off smoothly off her tongue.

Now that's something I don't get everyday.