Three little girls

In Kuantan there is a particular place up the hill about a km walk from my house, in a Malay reserve area, where I like to jog because of the quaint scenery, the peace and quiet, and the relatively fresh air. The place where I jog makes a small loop around a dead end, and 5 rounds makes 1 km so it is also a good marker for tracking my distance.

In that area live 3 little girls who have become my friends although I am not particularly fond of children. I have given them some story books in the past and they like talking to me and telling me all their stories which I must admit I find quite amusing. 

Recently there has been a group of young boys hanging around that area on their motorcycles; they appear to be up to no good. Generally I feel uncomfortable when they are around although I ignore them and continue with my jogging. 

The other day the 3 little girls said they wanted to follow me jogging (their 1 round is my 2 rounds) but they were scared to pass by the naughty boys so they would wait for me to be near and then run behind me. I guess they feel more safe and secure in my presence. 

I feel heroic, I tell you. Really heroic. For a few minutes I was the protector of 3 little girls. It may not be much but it made me feel useful (a feeling I don’t usually have). Above all, I felt like a hero for the first time in my life. It is a nice feeling. 

I try and teach the 3 little girls as many things as I can, usually about the things we find around the area - caterpillars, a small snake, ants, wild boars. They cling to my every word as if I’m some kind of teacher, which in a way I guess I am. 

I can’t help but think that this is what it would be like if I had 3 little girls of my own. Teaching them things all the time and they hanging on to my every word, protecting them from naughty boys, keeping them safe, laughing and being happy in those few precious minutes.

With one big difference. I get to say goodbye to them at the end of my run. If they were mine I would be stuck with them.

I can handle children only for a short, fixed amount of time. About an hour or so. That is the extent of my maternal instincts. Then I’m out, thank you and goodbye.