20091101.0022
Alfan Fandi
Barely 12  with large brown eyes and sticklike arms  Fandi is three years older than his brother -- in his eyes almost a man.
 "I am older " he said sternly. "I do more rowing. But sometimes the work is hard  especially when the current is strong."
 The delay doesn't bother Fandi and Alfan. For them  the Kampar River is their local street corner  a place where they play and test themselves  becoming excellent swimmers.
 On a recent day  still dressed in his school uniform -- pink plaid shorts and matching tie -- Fandi launched his sampan from a sagging dock with rotting boards. Leaving school  he had picked up a plastic jug of cooking kerosene for his mother  which he stowed along with his green backpack.
 His gaze focused  Fandi stood for better leverage  extending two long oars into the water. The handles crossed at his chest  he pushed outward  propelling the boat forward  lifting the oars from the water as he felt the craft surge forward.
 A weary Fandi sometimes hands the oars over to his brother. Secretly  Alfan would like to row more  but he knows his place.
 Sometimes  when his Fandi is running late  Alfan leaves school without him  knowing his brother will catch another ride. The younger boy takes the sturdy little boat by himself and rows alongside a friend  like a neighborhood kid trying out a new bike without supervision.
Alfan would like to row more  but he knows his place.
 Yet the when need arises  he said  "I'm ready."
 Sometimes  when his Fandi is running late  Alfan leaves school without him  knowing his brother will catch another ride. The younger boy takes the sturdy little boat by himself and rows alongside a friend  like a neighborhood kid trying out a new bike without supervision.
 Even when the new bridge is finished  Fandi said  he isn't sure he wants to give up his daily row. The trip is quicker on water. The river is what he knows.
Barely 12  with large brown eyes and sticklike arms  [TGT] is three years older than [TGT] brother -- in [TGT] eyes almost a man.
 "I am older " [TGT] said sternly. "I do more rowing. But sometimes the work is hard  especially when the current is strong."
 The delay doesn't bother [TGT] and Alfan. For them  the Kampar River is their local street corner  a place where they play and test themselves  becoming excellent swimmers.
 On a recent day  still dressed in his school uniform -- pink plaid shorts and matching tie -- Fandi launched his sampan from a sagging dock with rotting boards. Leaving school  he had picked up a plastic jug of cooking kerosene for his mother  which he stowed along with his green backpack.
 His gaze focused  [TGT] stood for better leverage  extending two long oars into the water. The handles crossed at his chest  he pushed outward  propelling the boat forward  lifting the oars from the water as he felt the craft surge forward.
 A weary [TGT] sometimes hands the oars over to his brother. Secretly  [TGT] would like to row more  but he knows his place.
 Sometimes  when [TGT] is running late  Alfan leaves school without him  knowing his brother will catch another ride. The younger boy takes the sturdy little boat by himself and rows alongside a friend  like a neighborhood kid trying out a new bike without supervision.
[TGT] would like to row more  but [TGT] knows [TGT] place.
 Yet the when need arises  he said  "I'm ready."
 Sometimes  when [TGT] is running late  [TGT] leaves school without [TGT]  knowing [TGT] brother will catch another ride. The younger boy takes the sturdy little boat by himself and rows alongside a friend  like a neighborhood kid trying out a new bike without supervision.
 Even when the new bridge is finished  [TGT] said  [TGT] isn't sure [TGT] wants to give up [TGT] daily row. The trip is quicker on water. The river is what [TGT] knows.