Semalam, sempena mengambil kesempatan cuti Hari Kebangsaan, kami sekeluarga telah mengambil keputusan untuk "memerdekakan" Agus, kura-kura air kami yang sudah kami pelihara lebih dari setahun. Kami merasakan yang sudah tiba masanya Agus dilepaskan ke persekitaran yang lebih menyerupai habitat semulajadinya dan kolam di taman berhadapan kompleks membeli-belah One Utama telah dikenalpasti sebagai kawasan sasaran. Kami pun prihatin juga akan kehendak dan kemahuannya. Kalau dia bosan lepak dalam kolam, dia boleh melepak minum espresso doppio di Starbucks.
Ekspedisi ini telah dianggotai 6 orang: ibu saya, adik saya, kawan adik saya, adik ipar saya dan anak buah saya. Dan Agus juga jangan lupa. Misi berlangsung selepas berbuka puasa untuk meminimalisasikan faktor gangguan lain seperti orangramai yang lalu-lalang yang kepochi dan pegawai sekuriti yang mungkin akan mengesyakki yang kami cuba mencuri kura-kura yang sedia ada di dalam kolam 1U itu.
Ekspedisi ini telah dianggotai 6 orang: ibu saya, adik saya, kawan adik saya, adik ipar saya dan anak buah saya. Dan Agus juga jangan lupa. Misi berlangsung selepas berbuka puasa untuk meminimalisasikan faktor gangguan lain seperti orangramai yang lalu-lalang yang kepochi dan pegawai sekuriti yang mungkin akan mengesyakki yang kami cuba mencuri kura-kura yang sedia ada di dalam kolam 1U itu.
So, on to the real story (with all the info and statistical data provided by a trusted source, my mom)
At first they went to the 1U park to release Agus there but later found out that he wouldn't have a great social life there as all they could see was a baby land turtle hanging around by the the pond. So there was a change of plan and they headed to the Kiara Park where there was one pond that is filled with Agus' peeps. He'd surely be happy swimming around all the other male and female water turtles, and finally have the chance to sample different culinary delights other than the turtle pellets that we feed him every single day from the first day we brought him home. Sometimes the people who come to this park will feed them bread, kangkung, or if they are really lucky burger left-overs. Nah, just kidding. About the bread and kangkung.
So when they arrived there, my brother slowly released him into the pond. Oh I forgot to mention that to honour and remember Agus, we've painted a giant yellow A on his back. With hindsight I think we should've painted A|X instead. Baru nampak macam pakai designer combat t-shirt.
By this time my niece had started to cry. She had opposed this mission from the very beginning, citing ill-treatment and cruelty to domestic animals as the main reason.
Agus slowly waddled into the pond, berenang ke sana ke mari sambil high-five dengan semua yang ada di sekelilingnya. Then he swam back to them and put his head up to stare at my brother. Then he went back to the middle of the pool. But still came back to where my family was waiting. And looked up expectantly. Almost as if he was waiting for his food to be fed to him. Literally, I mean. My dad would patiently feed him the pellets every day. I think he is the "most overly fed and fat but hides it well under the shell" pet water turtle in Taman Tun.
And he kept waiting. His head above the water looking at them. By this time my niece was bawling her eyes out. My brother started crying. My mom jangan cerita la. Tengok iklan ibu dan anak pun boleh nangis. Pendek kata semua yang hadir sedih lah melihat kesayuan di mata Agus. Mungkin dia tahu kenapa dia di letakkan di situ dan mahu merayu meminta jangan dilepaskan. But they had to do what they had to do.
So they turned back and left.
One by one.
With Agus along with them.
I now seriously think that Agus is the fifth unknown Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle member. While the rest have great physical strength, Agus is the one with the mind-bending power. Dia telah berjaya mensaikokan empat orang dewasa dan seorang kanak-kanak untuk percaya yang tempat yang lebih elok untuknya adalah di dalam rumah dan teman-teman sepermainan yang dia perlukan adalah empat ekor kucing dan seekor ikan puyu dan bukan bersama rakan-rakan yang sama spesis dengannya di luar sana. Lagipun nanti kalau hujan boleh pening kepala. Jangan main-main dengan hujan asid ni.
Agus is now happily reunited with his good ole tub at home. When he gets bored, he stares out through the translucent plastic and watch the kittens play.
And from this moment on I shall call him Agustino, the fifth TNMT member alongside Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Rapahael et Donatello. Super A for short.
At first they went to the 1U park to release Agus there but later found out that he wouldn't have a great social life there as all they could see was a baby land turtle hanging around by the the pond. So there was a change of plan and they headed to the Kiara Park where there was one pond that is filled with Agus' peeps. He'd surely be happy swimming around all the other male and female water turtles, and finally have the chance to sample different culinary delights other than the turtle pellets that we feed him every single day from the first day we brought him home. Sometimes the people who come to this park will feed them bread, kangkung, or if they are really lucky burger left-overs. Nah, just kidding. About the bread and kangkung.
So when they arrived there, my brother slowly released him into the pond. Oh I forgot to mention that to honour and remember Agus, we've painted a giant yellow A on his back. With hindsight I think we should've painted A|X instead. Baru nampak macam pakai designer combat t-shirt.
By this time my niece had started to cry. She had opposed this mission from the very beginning, citing ill-treatment and cruelty to domestic animals as the main reason.
Agus slowly waddled into the pond, berenang ke sana ke mari sambil high-five dengan semua yang ada di sekelilingnya. Then he swam back to them and put his head up to stare at my brother. Then he went back to the middle of the pool. But still came back to where my family was waiting. And looked up expectantly. Almost as if he was waiting for his food to be fed to him. Literally, I mean. My dad would patiently feed him the pellets every day. I think he is the "most overly fed and fat but hides it well under the shell" pet water turtle in Taman Tun.
And he kept waiting. His head above the water looking at them. By this time my niece was bawling her eyes out. My brother started crying. My mom jangan cerita la. Tengok iklan ibu dan anak pun boleh nangis. Pendek kata semua yang hadir sedih lah melihat kesayuan di mata Agus. Mungkin dia tahu kenapa dia di letakkan di situ dan mahu merayu meminta jangan dilepaskan. But they had to do what they had to do.
So they turned back and left.
One by one.
With Agus along with them.
I now seriously think that Agus is the fifth unknown Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle member. While the rest have great physical strength, Agus is the one with the mind-bending power. Dia telah berjaya mensaikokan empat orang dewasa dan seorang kanak-kanak untuk percaya yang tempat yang lebih elok untuknya adalah di dalam rumah dan teman-teman sepermainan yang dia perlukan adalah empat ekor kucing dan seekor ikan puyu dan bukan bersama rakan-rakan yang sama spesis dengannya di luar sana. Lagipun nanti kalau hujan boleh pening kepala. Jangan main-main dengan hujan asid ni.
Agus is now happily reunited with his good ole tub at home. When he gets bored, he stares out through the translucent plastic and watch the kittens play.
And from this moment on I shall call him Agustino, the fifth TNMT member alongside Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Rapahael et Donatello. Super A for short.
