Na Willa

When I grow up,

I want to be as tall as my dad.

FEBRUARY, 1968

So I can reach high

without a chair.

I love bananas.

Bananas in the morning. Bananas at noon.

At night? Still bananas.

I'm going with Mom to the market today

because there's only one banana left on the table.

There are crackers in the tin.

I do like crackers,

but I like bananas more.

I love my mom's curly hair.

When I'm older, I hope mine looks like hers.

Aunty.

When I grow up, will my hair be like Mom's?

No, it won't.

When you grow up,

you'll look like your dad.

Fair skin, small eyes,

and straight hair.

But I'm Mom's daughter.

I want brown skin and curly hair.

Miss, starting in February,

girls take after their fathers,

and boys take after their mothers.

So if I'm a boy,

I can look like Mom?

Sure.

Then I'll just become a boy.

A girl is a girl.

But I want to be like Mom!

A girl is a girl.

Willa. Hey.

What's the matter?

It's Aunty!

What did you do?

She said she wants to grow up like you, with curly hair,

but it's usually boys who take after their mom.

Willa, that's enough.

Listen to me.

You're mine and Dad's child.

You'll grow tall like him,

and your hair can be like mine.

What if my hair stays like this?

You won't stay like this forever.

Something will change.

And even if your hair stays straight,

you're still our child.

Is that true?

Yes.

Now, repeat what I told you.

I'm yours and Dad's child.

When I'm older, I'll still be your child.

Your name is?

Na Willa.

This is my house.

If you come from the left or right,

you have to pass a lot of houses

because mine is in the middle.

Mom said Dad works on the ocean.

He goes on a big ship that carries big stuff.

When Dad goes to the ocean,

he's gone for a long time.

But he always comes home.

Once, Dad went away to the ocean for a long, long time.

Willa.

When Dad came home…

Uncle, who are you looking for?

…I didn't recognize his face.

After that, he stopped being away for too long.

Every time he comes back, he brings me books.

I keep all the books from him in my room,

as well as the books Mom buys every Sunday at the stall next to the church.

Before I learned how to read, Mom always read them to me.

Melly and Gorilla stay here too.

Melly can't open her mouth,

while Gorilla's mouth is always open.

What are you making, Paul?

How about I make you a swing, Willa?

A swing? Wow! I'd love one!

The rope and planks are from the ship.

It's so she doesn't get bored, Marie.

Reading isn't boring at all, Paul.

Dad's box is full of screwdrivers.

Star-shaped ones for star screws,

and cross-shaped ones for cross screws.

He made a swing for me.

Do you like it?

Yes!

Thank you, Dad.

We also have Erres at my house.

If you twist the right knob,

Erres goes "buzz, buzz."

When there's a song playing,

Mom listens to it or sings along.

Paul.

Just a bit, before I go back to the sea.

Not too long.

I promised I'd read Willa a book before bed.

You're holding on tight.

You know I don't like to dance.

Let me borrow her for a bit.

I'll read you a book after this.

Like always.

You read to her every night?

Yes.

Just send her to kindergarten.

Showing up early just to sing?

She can do that with me at home.

She'll learn to read by herself at school, Marie.

She'll be happy there.

Starting today, we're learning to read.

If you study hard, you can read any book by yourself.

- Do you want that? - Yes.

Repeat after me.

My mom taught me how to read.

Reading is for school.

Here, we play.

Bud, you go.

At Krembangan, I have three friends.

Farida, Dul, and Bud.

I learn to read the Quran at home too, Willa.

Farida's house is across from mine.

She has a lot of older siblings.

Rahman, Ahmadi, Salim, Maryati, Fadli, Suryani…

Mom. I'm going to Willa's house.

Mom!

Mom!

Go ahead.

And my favorite of all is Martini.

Don't wander too far playing!

Farida can play at my house as long as she likes.

Her mom never comes looking for her.

I bet it's really fun to be her.

This is Bud.

He always has a runny nose.

Bud's dad works at sea too, like mine.

But he brings toys when he comes home.

Mom, that's mine.

You should share.

You've got plenty of toys,

like those plastic soldiers.

This one's for your little sister.

Bud has plenty of toys.

Dul is Farida's cousin.

He's already started school.

Dul says school is where smart kids go.

Dul, are you serious?

You can't even write your own name?

You're too slow.

You know slow?

Ready?

Three, two, one, go!

I think Dul is awesome.

He always wins at any game.

- Dul wins! - You lose.

You're slow!

Yay! I won!

You all lost!

It got cut!

Dul said there's one thing he can't do.

I want to chase the train.

I'll race it.

Hey! Don't go there.

We can't go near the train.

I'll find a way.

I want to stay like this forever.

Erres and Mom singing,

Dad leaving but always coming home,

having books around me,

and having Farida, Dul, and Bud in Krembangan.

Hey, Dul!

Dul!

I want things to stay like this tomorrow, the next day, and every day after.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Morning, Surabaya! Here's today's paper!

Since Mom taught me to read,

I can read the store names

I pass on my way to the market.

"Sinar Abadi Supplies Store."

Nothing's changed.

"Hong Fan Medicine Store."

"Lamp Store."

"Djaja's Tailor Shop…."

What happened?

I don't know, Willa.

So you really can read.

After the stores

and before Cik Mien's kiosk…

Baby chicks!

…there's a man selling chicks.

They're so small.

Can I have a chick, Mom?

Mom's answer is always the same.

Maybe next time.

Oh, man. When is next time?

We've arrived at Cik Mien's.

Cik Mien!