The Story of Ah Huat (Eng) Play-ON programme

Happy Days Ah Huat is a very happy boy. He is 11 years old. He is loved and famous among his friends and teachers. After school, he enjoys playing with his friends.

I’m here, I’m here!

His grandmother (Popo) is very dear to him. Popo takes care of him. Ah Huat is her one and only grandson, and she loves him so much.

You have been like this for months, I have had enough of you!

Dark Clouds Coming

Where are you guys?

Stop blaming me! You are no different from me!

At home things are not going well, Ah Huat’s parents were often heard arguing and quarrelling. This made him feel unprotected and scared.

Ah Huat worry for his father and mother wondering if one of them may feel especially sad or hurt. He also worries if one of them may seem angry enough to lose control and this makes him anxious as well fearing that his parents might also be angry with him.

I wish all of these arguments will stop……

Goodbye is the hardest word to say

Ah Huat is sad because his parents have now divorced. He is forced to face the fact that everything that was once familiar with, must change, and he needs to accept it all like moving to a new city and school.

Look at his oldfashioned shoes!

Oh, how I wish I could join them.

“Mr. Muscle� from the village (kampung), haha!

Fly book! Fly!

Hahaha!

Why are you all treating me like this!?

Oops!

‘Kampung Boy’ needs new glasses!

Hahaha!

Ahhh, my noodles!

Why are they treating him like this?

I want to let you know that we are the boss over here!

After six months Ah Huat’s mother remarried a widower who she had met at work. He has now a six-year-old stepbrother whose behavior he found to be hostile towards him. When Ah Huat realized that a toy given to him by his old friend was destroyed by his brother, he was very sad. He thought that his brother did it intentionally. He got angry and yelled at his brother.

His mother witnessed the commotion and had to send Ah Huat to his bedroom. He felt he was unfairly punished when he was the victim of his step-brother’s provocative behavior.

In the darkness of his bedroom, Ah Huat felt cold, isolated and all alone. He has found that he has been through so much the last few months and there is nobody in this whole wide world knows how desperate he is feeling …not even his own mother.

Why did you bully your little brother!?

I did not do it on purpose, I was just playing.

I did not!

He started it first!

Life for Ah Huat for the very first time started to take a positive turn two friends stood-up for Ah Huat during one of the teasing episode in school. Even though they fear the retaliation and exclusion from the group, but they still go on to do what is right.

Ignore those bullies, let’s play at another place

If this bullying continues, I will get help from the adults and we will be your witness.

The friendship extended to Ah Huat was a turning point. They soon became good friends and it restored Ah Huat’s trust and faith, there is a light after all at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you, you all…

When Ah Huat’s mother and step-father was alerted by the school to Ah Huat’s ‘nervous’ and withdrawn behavior as well as his declining test results, both parents started to make an effort to make and spend some quality time together as a family. Presently, the family spent their Saturdays together, playing badminton, cycling and having picnics in the park. This family activity brought a gradual positive change Ah Huat and his step-brother’s behavior and feelings. It slowly dawns on Ah Huat that his younger step brother, Siow Meng, was in many ways going through the same emotions as he was experiencing; both lost love ones; in his case his father and Popo, and in Siow Meng case his mother who had recently passed away before his father remarried Ah Huat’s mother. This has helped Ah Huat to feel and act more kindly and sympathetically towards Siow Meng and he now invites and involve Siow Meng in his play.

Come on!

Ok, I’m serving!

You can do it, Ah Huat!

You can do it, mum!

One year later, Ah Huat is smiling and laughing more often as he regains his sense of play, fun and humor. He got to know this stepfather and stepbrother better over the months and feels closer to share his thoughts and emotions together as a family.

He now hangs out with his new friends at the bookstore or watching movies.