TWELVE AND NOT STUPID BY ZURAIDAH OMAR

SUMMARY

This story generally tell us the inner thought of a twelve years old girl named Shasha. She is very intelligent and understanding girl. Although she was mad towards her father about being late to pick her up from school, she never complain about it. She realize her father is  very busy man. Furthermore, she was annoyed and angry at her father because he ask her to lie about Auntie May present. As for her family happiness sake, she just keep quiet and followed the order. The twisted plot in the story is when Papa bring them to a Chinese Restaurant and he already reserved a special table for us. Auntie May was there with a kid named Kassim. Papa explain about his relationship with Auntie May to us. Auntie May was hit by a severe family problem. This story ended with they try to resolve Auntie May's conflict with her husband. Shasha and her father's fraud nearly exposed when they drop out Auntie May at her house and she ask Shasha to come again regarding previous time she didn't invite Shasha.

QUESTION 1 ;

If you were ‘I’ in the story, what would you think of the relationship between Papa and Auntie May? Provide some reasons.

   If I were in the story, at the first place I will be thinking Auntie May werer having affair with Papa. This is because Papa had warning not to tell Mama about Auntie May. I have never met her before this. I have doubt about how she knows my name. I feel confused to look them appear to known each other and looks like they are having such a comfortable conversation.

  Besides, I wondering why Papa wants me to lie. He ask me to told Mama I had school activity and I forgotten to tell her about it. I felt pity to her because as we reach home, she seems worried and she told she almost called the police.

  I was thinking who is Auntie May to Papa. If she is not Papa's girlfriend, he has no reason to afraid of. Why I have to lied Mama about Auntie May that day and why they must met in private. Auntie May could maybe meet Papa at home only. That is why I though Auntie May is my Papa's girlfriend.

QUESTION 2:

Do you like the story in general? Why?

  In my opinion, I don't really like this story. It gave us as a reader a negative vibes regarding to their attitude. 'Twelve and not stupid' is very interesting at the beginning. I am wonder what twelve and not stupid is. It is very mysterious. The writer began the story with the character of Auntie May. I feel pity towards Shasha has to wait alone after school time. It will be so dangerous if we let a kid to be alone.If she has been kidnapped, she and her family would be in trouble. Shasha's father should be more alert about it,

  Secondly, I am curious with Auntie May. Papa ask Shasha to lied to her mother, for that reason I thought Papa has a scandal with Auntie May. I feel sorry to Shasha because she felt guilty to her mother. She is just twelve years old but already teached to lie by her father. If this continuing, Shasha could lied again and again throughout her life. As a parent, they should shows a positive value to their children.

  Thirdly, when they are going out for dinner at one of the Chinese Restaurant. Not to suprised, Auntr May was ther with a kid. At first place, I think that the kid was Papa's son with Auntie May. But I am wrong, Auntie May is the second wife if Yem. I feel bad for Auntie May as she has to  take full responsible towards Kassim. Yem should not leave them just like that. If he want to leave his wife, he need to divorce her. Plus, they should not involved their kid with an adult conflicts. They should settle it by themselves.

QUESTION 3 :

Imagine that you are going to film this short story. Describe the film in terms of the choice of actress/actresses, scenes and place. Provide some reasons to your description.

 If I am going to film this 'twelve and not stupid' written by Zuraidah Omar, I will have my own specific character in term of choices of actress. The first character that I want in the actress that play role as Shasha, she must be a very cute girl that has an intelligent look at her face. Next, I would like if she has a fair complexes skin because as in this story, Shasha's family has a little history with Chinese trait. In term of scene, I would highlights the scene that will bring suspense to the audience. One of the scene where Shasha met Auntie May for the first time and she asked to lies by her father. For the place selection, I would like to use a Chinese society place because from what I observe, the place is quite clean and luxurious. So, it will be nicer place for a shooting and it will be fit in how the writer describe the place in this whole story.