The Planter

English classes have always been interesting to me mostly because of the students. My friend who teaches English at a secondary institution once shared one of the queer moments she had with her students. This is how the story goes...a student was absent from her class one day for he had to attend his father’s funeral. When he returned the week after, he came to see my friend to apologize. Trying to buy my friend's sympathy, he put on a sad face and apologized, “I am so sorry teacher, I missed your class last week”. My friend waited for his excuse. He gave another sad look at her and explained, “I just got back from "planting" my father! ("Planting" is a direct translation of the Malay word “tanam” which means to bury)