PEANUTS

Valentine’s Day 2009 would be the most memorable day for me! I rediscovered the magical dust of laughter behind the pages of PEANUTS. I borrowed five old comics written in the 1970s by Charles M. Schulz from my brother, sat at the study table, Coldplay’s songs jingling in my ears, and with the comic book in my hands, one right after the other, I finished reading all of them in one tidal swoop. The first page itself had my stomach in knots. I was sure I had caterpillars in my bones tickling its way to my limbic system, filling my blood with fresh oxygen and massaging my heart with the need to be young again. I experienced an unexplainable kind of freshness that night. Now, I would say I had a fantastic date with all the characters in PEANUTS. As if Mr. Schulz had given me the key to the world of eternal happiness, giving me the permission to meet his friendly creations and ending up opening myself to them.

I just couldn’t believe that all this time I assumed that the cartoon depicted a tale about a bunch of schoolchildren who chose to act stupidly, being silly and naughty and enjoy lives pulling their friends’ legs or sleeves. All the five books carried messages. About looking after the environment or mother earth, about the role of school (imagine if schools can talk, especially ones like Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, aged 100 years old, what stories would they tell, and only one person would be able to listen to their qualms?), philosophical discussion on humanity and friendship and sibling love, care for animals (what if they are able to talk and only one person could hear them— Dr. Doolittle), cleanliness, puppy love…

And I almost forget to mention how my English vocabulary has expanded a little, “whelped, playing possum, wishy-washy”. English lessons in class would never be boring anymore! Use PEANUTS teachers (or the real one for maths maybe), with a very open mind indeed!!!

So, parents, students, children of any ages, grandpa, grandma, aunties, uncles, friends, teachers, workers, employees, employers, cousins, nieces, nephews, extend your arms and embrace a whole new world today with a strip from PEANUTS.