Che Soo Ismail, a prolific and talented short story writer in Malay newspapers and radios, was recounting her first love story. It was also one of her short stories collection. She had an interested audience in me so she had fun regaling the best parts of the story. Now that the man of her affection is a widower, she has no intention of renewing or rekindling the past. Her excuse - he is no longer the handsome, dashing man he used to be !!!! I had a good laugh over that. She said she had managed to maintain herself and was disappointed when he let himself go. He looked old and fat. Hmmm ....
For someone who did not even complete her primary schooling (she stopped schooling at Standard 5 as she was lazy - she was a straight forward, honest and open person.) She is intelligent but lazy. And spoilt by her father and four elder brothers. She was not embarrassed with herself nor her living quarters. She lives in a squatter area where neighbours can just about peek into her house and see everything. But that is the beauty of it as she gets her ideas for writing from just observing the people around her.
One would think that how could someone who had no formal education in the Malay language could create stories and dramas using the beauty of the language. The structure, the grammar, the idioms, the aesthetic of the language itself. How humbling that some people asked me to write when I, a graduate in English Literature, do not think I am that creative or artistic. I love language and appreciate the beauty of it. That was why I had enjoyed our intellectual discussion and changing of opinions and how one looked at things. I might not be very good in expressing myself in Malay and she might not understand English very well but we got along with gestures and translation. Even if some of my points got lost in translation .... hahahaha .... ;-))
I was curious as to how she first started writing. How did she teach herself the language. How she first got her story published.... She was open enough about it. She started with the story of her background and family. The years of staying home but she never stopped reading and improving herself. She never had a formal teacher or whatever but she watched TV and listened to drama on the radio. A very pampered child as she is the only girl and the youngest in a family of 5 siblings. Her writings sustained her as her main income. She even managed to look after her mother with the income generated from her writings. Now she lives alone in the family house. Even though her brothers asked her to move in with them, she preferred to be on her own. She is a fiercely independent woman even though she does not drive or own any form of vehicle. She is very friendly and easy going. Very simple and talkative. She has a positive outlook towards anybody or anything. Everything happens for a reason, she surmises.
Now she is writing her first novel for DBP. Eton is her editor. She gave me the story line which was about family, relationship, responsibility and love. The idea came from one of the residents here. I had the privilege and honour to listen to her story board as she presented it to Eton. I told Eton I wanted an autographed copy of her masterpiece when it was published ....
I had met and talked to Pak Sako, another great Malay writer when I was in Form Six. I also had the privilege of attending a talk by Prof. Muhammad Hj Salleh - "Si Tenggang Homecoming" when I was studying at USM. We even had a lively discussion about one of his literary works which we had to do under Malaysia and Singapore literature. Dr. Sunny Tan.... Prof. Gitu..... All intellectuals. Academicians. Is it not humbling that a simple woman of Standard Five qualification can stand tall among equals in producing literary works? My salute and respect towards Che Soo Ismail. As Eton said she has talent. She should know because she chooses Che Soo.
** One can just type Che Soo Ismail in the search engine and one can read some of her writings.
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