Sexual Harassment & Fidelity

I have to admit that working in a male-dominant environment is very uncomfortable. Especially if surrounded by those 'gatal' species.

Before I came to work at site, I didn't really notice any sexual harassment in my HQ. At least not in my department, coz the male colleagues were decent and nice. But I was kind of culture shocked in the first few months I've started working here coz sexual harassment are quite obvious.

Some guys here give remarks about your figure, talk openly about s*x or give hints with double meaning words, then laugh heartily on the subject discussed. According to the clerk, they used to discuss on the 18SX stuffs in front of her (before I came, she was the only female staff here), even tried to get her involved in the discussion. But she normally ignored them. It was very embarassing to hear what they were talking about. The worst case is the chinese boss himself.

When I first came, they also did it to me but being me, if I don't like, I just snapped at them sarcastically. Eventually they stopped talking 18SX to me or near me (garang kan aku...hahaha). My boss still talks 'dirty' on and off anyway. At one time he called my hp at 11.00 pm, I wasn't sleeping but I refused to answer his call (I never answer his call at odd hours, ok). Next day when he saw me, he said "why u didn't answer my call? were you making love?" in front of 2 others collegues...so rude, huh? Then , there was one time, I was riding with him in his car, surveying old pipes in the oil palm estate, he started telling me his stories with his numerous girlfriends and how he used to drive with them into the oil palm estate to make love. All I said "it's so immoral, isn't it?". He jumped and said "what immoral?" but he kept quiet after that. Anyway, I was scared when he was saying those things, who knows if he has any bad intention towards me...(aku kan kuat melawan dia....)...nauzubillah...

Yesterday, the clerk from another client's office came to my office. We went for lunch together and she revealed to me that she's being harassed by two male colleagues in her office. She's married with two children and the guys who harassed her also are married. When she's alone one of these two guys will come to her and harassed her by saying those flirting, seducing words. Sometimes even touch her hand or face. She told me that she asked another male colleague who is quite wise ( I also know this guy, he's decent and wise) why these men behave that way towards her cause she believes that she has not done anything that attract these guys. The wise guy suggested this lady to change the way she dresses up. Well, I have to admit that she's quite stylish (in comparison ngan aku yg datang keje pakai kemeja buruk, seluar jean n sandal Bata). She wears pants and nice blouses, high heels and puts make-up. Sometimes she wears kebaya and one time she wore kebaya nyonya, she really became the talk in the offices (BP and YP office). She told she disagrees that she should change the way she dresses up because that's the way she is and besides her husband always wants her to dress beautifully everytime even when she goes to work.

Besides her, there is also a female staff at the office, so I asked whether this lady being harassed or not. She said no because that lady is chubby and always wears baju kurung (in another word, not attractive enough la).

Hmmm.....for me, if she's working is the 'normal' working environment, it's up to her how she wants to dress up. But now that a guy had honestly pointed out the possible reason why she's being harassed, isn't it wise enough to change it at least just to see whether it'll make any different? Memang la seorg yg 'gatal' itu akan tetap 'gatal' walau pakai apa pon (remember the system analyst, Suzila brutally raped and murdered even though she wore tudung?) but if we could do something to make a different, why not try it out, right?

All I can say to her is be careful, and try to avoid these guys as hard as possible. I'm just afraid if these guys keep seducing her, she'll fall for them (although I pray that she won't). Don't we hear enough about scandals /affairs between married guys and married ladies, cause marital problems and eventually divorce?

I'm praying so hard that I will not be tested with this challenge...and so do my friends out there. Amin....

Uwaaa...aku byk keje!!

I'm so busy off late. Our clerk has gone, her contract ended last April. The client didn't want to extend her service because the project is almost towards end (tapi x abis2 pon!). But other staffs from other office said it was just a way to make my boss quit as soon as possible. There are only two of us left in the office now, the boss and me. So of course la I'm the 'machai' here doing everything. Gone are the days for me leisurely facebooking, blogging or whatever fun stuffs. But since I always consider blogging is good therapy for me, I've decided to make sometime updating my blog. But keep telling myself that only this one entry then I go back doing my work.

With the clerk not around, I'm like 'patah tangan'. Before she helped prepare the reports, just give her a list, she'd print everything and arrange documents. Last week, I was supposed to receive faxes from another office but the faxes never came out. So I kept calling the other office why there was no fax. Turn out, the fax machine here apparently was out paper. Buduhnya haku!

My boss on the other hand gave me new daily task (which was done by our clerk earlier), to take his newspaper from the sundry shop next to our office and switch on his PC every morning. Lucky enough, he doesn't say anything about making him drink, if not maybe I become incredible hulk...hehehe.

It's ok, just another 2 months plus to go. I've prepared the resignation letter, will forward it to HQ by end of this month. So kena byk2 bersabar.

Wokey...gotta to stop now, byk betul keje menanti!!!

New Addiction!

I've been browsing thru the Internet and found some interesting blogs of some other muslimah which lead me to this new online gadget. It is called Polyvore which allows you to select fashion items and combine them to make it a costume set. Soooo interesting!!!

So I've managed to start a set on my own. Not very stylish I would say, but I'm happy with this first set.



So, anyone joining me with this new addiction? Just click on the above image to be linked.

A Very Challenging Day

The kembara gave problem again...and twice in a day...*sigh* Just last month, the fuel pump went kaput, this time around another thing came out pulak...

First, I was driving to work early in the morning when suddenly the engine went dead. And I was in the midst of overtaking a lorry ( I took highway that morning, nasib baik la!). Half panic, I quickly pushed the emergency light button, and pulled over to the emergency lane. Luckily, there was no vehicle speeding behind my car, if not just imagine the worst...

Since I'm a car illiterate person, I didn't bother to open up the engine coz I couldn't tell what was wrong with the car. So I called up my husband first, just telling him what's going on and not to worry (though I hope he can come instantly, but it was very far, I was about 15km more to reach Yong Peng) coz I was going to call the PLUS hotline. After a while, two PLUS policemen came to my rescue. There was an Indian guy came along with a separate car, who happened to be a guy working for workshop, searching around for car break down. They opened up the engine but upon seeing my fuel meter (which was nearly empty, but not reaching empty actually, it's just doesn't function well), they said my car probably running out of fuel, that's why it went kong. I argued, saying that I knew it wasn't the fuel problem (ok, I said I was illiterate about car but I've learnt few things now) coz I've pumped in petrol before I left Melaka. Though only RM20, (I can pump in full tank at Yong Peng only in order to get petrol claim) I know it's enough to travel from Melaka to Yong Peng coz I always do it. But they did not believe me, ok..that's fine..I think because I'm a lady here and I needed their help, so I stopped arguing. They said they would buy me some petrol at the nearest pump station, so I gave them some money and they left. However, the Indian guy stayed with me. He was just looking when the policemen checked my car, now they had left, he introduced himself properly and asked whether he could look at my car. Well, I know this fellow could be some prankster, taking advantage on my situation but since I have to wait for the policemen to come back, I really needed a company, so why not?

The Indian guy turned out to be a good chatter. And since I had series of problems with my kembara, I tried to act as if I know lots about car, and I think he was quite impressed when I asked him whether my car having the fuel pump problem again ( I just didn't want him to think that I know nuts about car) He also thought that it wasn't about the fuel, but he said he couldn't 'tunjuk pandai' in front the policemen. But he also couldn't tell what's wrong with my car, he said must take it back to workshop (oh yeah? I didn't buy his words, I know things about this ulat towing issues). Anyway, we chatted a lot about many things (it was a long waiting for the policemen to come back). I think the guy willing to stay because if my car really breakdown, he could ask his man to tow my car to his workshop. And as I expected, after sometime a tow truck came. I asked the Indian guy whether he called this tow truck to come but he denied it, saying that it was a coincident that the driver was on the way back from Pagoh going towards Yong Peng. Even the driver said he met the policemen who supposed to buy petrol for me at Pagoh, they were the ones told him about me. And the driver told me that the policemen were having drinks at the time he met them. Oh boy.....

After waiting about an hour, finally the policemen came. They filled up my tank with the petrol, tried start the engine but nothing happened. Then they checked the engine again, connect here and there ( I was totally out of what they were saying) and finally managed to start my engine. The policemen told me that one of the fuse had burnt, now that they have provided the jumper, my car should be ok. I was so relieved at the fact that my car need not to be towed away.

The guys checking my car

So I resume my journey to Yong Peng. But after I paid my toll fee, my car went down again. And apparently the tow truck was just behind me. He came out and smiled to me and said he knew that this would happen. Takde cakap byk punya, he quickly had my car attached to his truck and I rode with him to go to his workshop. Luckily the workshop just about less than 2km from the toll, and right in front my office. I quickly called my supervisor, Bala to come coz I needed his opinion about fixing my car. Bala came right away. I asked the tow truck's driver how much did I have to pay him for the towing service, he said that was up to me. So I handed him RM20 (I didn't know whether it's the right amount but he took it, thanked me and drove away).

Thanks to Bala, he was the one talking to the Chinese mechanic about my car, I just listened. The mechanic said my car will be fixed by the end of the day, so I left and went to work. Late afternoon I received the call from the mechanic, telling me that I could take my car. And guess how much it was...RM300++. I asked Bala's help to fetch and deal with the mechanic on the high charge coz Bala has been helping me all this while when I have issues with workshops. Bala managed to get the charge reduced but still it was RM200++.

I have just drove a few kilometres away from my office and it went kong again. Luckily I didn't enter the toll, I was using the trunk road, so I called the Chinese mechanic to come. He came, fixed something and asked me to drive back to his workshop. I was really dissatisfied because I have paid so much yet my car broke down again. The other mechanic (I think he's the boss) came to explain. Before he did, I called HB and let the mechanic talked to him. The way the mechanic talked, I knew HB screwed him up. The mechanic said he had changed the fuses and checked the wiring, so only now he knew the culprit was this air-cond relay. He said I have to take my car to car air-cond shop to change the relay (hey, I thought everything is under one roof!). He said I can drive all the way back to Melaka coz he had disconnected the relay off, it would no longer cause the short-circuit problem. I called HB again and he said since the mechanic had confirmed that way, then I just go home. But I took hi-way of course and not turning on my air-cond.

Unfortunately, just about 4km to reach Ayer Keroh toll, my car went dead again!!!! So called HB again just to inform him and then called the PLUS hotline number and waited. Two policemen came after a while (this time from Tangkak section, the morning one from Yong Peng section). And of course their first question was "Minyak habis tak?" So there I was explaining the whole day event about my car. And unfortunately, they did not have any apparatus to provide the temporary wiring to the fuse so they towed my car to the Ayer Keroh toll. One of the policemen maneuvered my car's steering and we had a little chat. He said I was lucky enough that my car did not break down at one spot on the hi-way, somewhere between Pagoh and Yong Peng ( I think he mentioned KM 127) He said, those vehicles having break downs at the area, had experienced their vehicles being shook by "budak kecik". Spooky, huh?

I really felt emotionally down with this constant occurrences of car break down. At the moment the kembara is still parked at the toll, supposed to get mechanic to fix it, but since yesterday was Labor Day, workshops nearby were closed. This morning, cik HB drove me to work all the way from Melaka and currently I'm waiting for him to fetch me up. Pity him has to drive around 400km today but I have no choice. I can't take leave.

This is why I think I can't wait to resign.....

Umbai

I haven't been to Umbai for many years. The first and the last time I went there was sometime in 2003. Even when we have moved to Melaka since January last year, we still did not go. The reasons are; we think is Umbai is quite a distant from our house, we heard that the food price is expensive over there and we have found another good place to eat seafood in Alai which is also nearer to our place. But when we heard that Umbai seafood restaurants now has been upgraded and looks superb, we wanted to go. So when Nazwan and Emma invited us to go with them, it was very welcomed.

It took us only 40 minutes from my house to get to Umbai (it isn't that far, huh?). Umbai looks totally different now (I hardly remember how Umbai looked like before the upgrading works). The whole things are actually a floating complex now, comprising the food courts, souvenirs stores, walkways, toilet and surau. There is a watching tower for those who want to view the sea. Basically, the place looks so prestigious and beautiful.

Sunset view in Umbai

It was time to choose the stall....Nazwan wanted to select the stall that had been recommended in the newspaper. There are more than 10 stalls to choose from and each stall offers the same things so if the newspaper had recommended one stall, it must be very outstanding (and so, we thought....) As we were there quite early (it was 7.30 pm), there were so much of seafood we can choose. So Emma and I had chosen the following menus based on the owner's recommendation : Ikan siakap bakar sambal, ikan jehanak masak tiga rasa, sotong goreng tepung, udang butter, kerang bakar, sup cendawan and otak2.

While waiting for the food to arrive, we took turn to do maghrib prayer. And by the time we finished praying, the foods arrived on our table. I was disappointed to see that the udang butter was not the udang butter I had in mind (the one with eggs+butter shreds and curry leaves on top of fried prawns). Instead, I think this udang butter is actually fried with butter, that's how they call it udang butter. Anyway, it tasted quite good. And we were surprised to see the kerang bakar. We ordered 0.5 kg for that, but we only saw it on a small oval plate. We thought there will be another plate to come but after a while there was nothing. So we called the waitress and asked about the kerang coz the no. of kerang on the plate didn't look 0.5 kg to us (I always buy kerang at the market and I know roughly how 0.5 kg looks like and too bad I didn't take photo of the kerang served to us). The ones on the plate, we could actually count how many were there. But the waitress confirmed that are all 0.5 kg kerang that we ordered. Well, what could we say, if they lie, then there's nothing we could do about it. The rest of the foods were ok, not that so superb. I guess because I always eat in Alai, I think the food in Alai is more delicious.

Emma, Nazwan and their cute daughter Erina

Asking for the bill was another problem. I guess we had asked nearly 5 times, each time they came they said they'll bring the bill shortly but after waiting quite sometime we had to call again. Finally the bill came, the amount was RM140...as much as we paid for 10 adults when we ate in Alai (I posted the entry here). Told you, it's expensive in Umbai.

But I guess coz the place is beautiful, probably that is why it is expensive here. For those who want to enjoy the sea breeze while dining and don't mind paying more, then this is the place. As for me, I've seen enough Umbai, so if I want to eat seafood, Alai is the place.

Cleaning and Cleaning and Cleaning............

We going to have guests sleeping over in our house tomorrow. Dear cik HB's friend, Nazwan and wife, Emma is coming over cause they want to go to Umbai, famous seafood spot in Melaka.

So I must make sure that my house is ready to receive guests. Oh! Don't give me that look....I know I'm such a bad housekeeper, the house probably being swept once a week, dust all over the place but I'm no superwoman. My life is so hectic with my works, handling my family and I have no maid. So I have to give priorities to only certain house chores like cooking, laundry and washing dishes. And of course, cleaning up the mess created by the twins. So tonight I will not cook and must force myself to clean my house.

I think my house is perfect as a candidate 'How Clean is Your House?' reality show.

Movie Review: Gracie's Choice

This movie is based on a true story and always being aired on Hallmark Channel, it doesn't feature any famous actor/actress but I find this movie is very inspiring and touching. So I have watched several times and think to share the movie review here. Happy reading...

Gracie Thompson was a teenage girl lived with a junkie mom, Rowena and 4 other siblings, Rose, Johny, Brian and Ryan. Each of her sibling was offspring of different father. Gracie herself had not seen her father since she was 2. Her mom was unemployed and they lived on small amount of welfare money. Not only it was small money, her mom even spent the money to buy drugs. They lived in a messy condition, Gracie always skipped school cause she needed to help taking care her younger siblings and doing house chores. Her mom was too busy doing drugs or spending time with her boyfriends. One time, her mom went missing for 3 days and there was no money or food left for the children. When Rowena came home, she only brought with her dough nuts and a new boyfriend, whom appeared to be nice and caring to Gracie and her siblings but later tried to rape her. Gracie fought back but was beaten by the man. When her mom came to her rescue, the guy claimed that Gracie tried to seduce him. Gracie tried to tell her mom the truth, but her mom quieted her down by asking her to forget what had happened. Rowena said she was still young, and needed a male company so she asked Gracie not to ruin it. (Can u imagine what kind a mother is that?).

Another time, since Rowena had not paid the rental of the flat they lived in, they were chased out and had no where to go. Rowena planned to go back to her mother but it was a long drive. So they stopped at a motel but she had no money to pay for it. What she did, she asked her children to hide in their car, she and Gracie went to see the manager in-charge, pretending that they were in emergency and couldn't pay the money that night, but waiting for her grandma to come next day with the money to help them. The manager trusted her and they stayed at the motel that night. But early in the morning, they fled away.

Rowena's mother is an old, church-going lady, lived by herself. She said she couldn't keep cleaning the mess Rowena kept making, so she gave her some money and asked her to go somewhere else. Rowena did, they found another place to live. But not long after that, their house was raided by the police (because Rowena kept drugs) and Rowena was sent to the prison. Gracie and her siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes. Gracie and Rose were sent to a teenage center but they couldn't adapt staying there. Rose kept fighting with other girls and Gracie helped but she was the one who got punished. Gracie demanded to call her grandmother and her grandmother came to claim them from the centre. Her grandma had made arrangement with the court for all the children to stay with her. But it came with few conditions. That Rowena couldn't come and see the children or stay with them or else the children will be under the guardian of the court. Her grandma is the official guardian and she received certain amount of money from the welfare department to raise the 5 kids.

As her grandma was old and weak, Gracie was the one running around to manage everything, from taking care her siblings, doing house chores, going to school and doing part time job. Until one day, she bumped into her school's counselor and was summoned to her office. This counselor found out about Gracie's background and advised her to concentrate on her study. Gracie told her she couldn't but the counselor told she had to in order to straightened her life. She then left.

A boy in her school was attracted to Gracie when he first saw her running in the sport field. This boy, Tommy was an excellent student in the school and came from a wealthy family. He wanted to give a lift to Gracie in his sporty car but Gracie turned it down. He then joined her took a bus to Gracie's house. Gracie told him about her life and expected Tommy to give up but Tommy didn't. Instead, their relationship grew intimate. Gracie also had established good relationship with her counselors and was doing good academically despite her hectic lifestyle.

However, Gracie faced a dilemma when her sister, Rose was pregnant and wanted to move out to stay with her boyfriend. Gracie worried that Rose, who was only 14 turn out to be like their mother but Rose claimed that she wouldn't. Gracie couldn't do anything about it, she had to let her go.

One night, Gracie invited Tommy to have dinner at her house. In the middle of dinner, Rowena showed up with a stranger whom she introduced as her current boyfriend. Apparently, Rowena had just been released from prison. Everybody surprised but the boys were happy to see their mom again. Sensing that things will not be good, Gracie called her mom for a private talk. She told her not to ruin their life again and she better go away because if the court found out she's there, they all would be taken away. Rowena looked hurt with Gracie's words, but she manipulated her by saying she loved them all, she wouldn't want to ruin their happiness. (yeah, sooo right!).

So Rowena and her boyfriend discreetly staying with them. And she had been using the money they received from welfare department on drugs and beers. One day, Gracie was invited by Tommy's parents for dinner. Gracie was nervous but Tommy's parents were very nice to Gracie, she liked them very much. She didn't hide the facts about her family and she even asked whether she could bring home the leftover foodfor her family. Tommy's mom was so delighted with her. When Gracie went home, she overheard conversation between her grandma and her mother. Among the things spoken, was her grandma complaining about her mother doing 'exercise' with her boyfriend in front of the boys, about them drinking and smoking in the house. Her grandma said the allowance money will come tomorrow, and asked Rowena to take it and go away. Her mom started accusing her grandma for hating her, that was why she asked her to go away. Her grandma was a soft-hearted person, she apologized to Rowena for making her felt that way without realizing that Rowena was actually manipulating her. Gracie knew her mom so well, she knew that Rowena would stay for the money and worsened their life.

Gracie decided to tell her counselors about her mom and they advised her to get her mom out of the house because if the court finds out, there was no way Gracie and her brothers could stay together. Gracie went home and confronted her mom. They had a big fight, her mom said Gracie had no right to decide things in their house. Even when her grandma tried to stop the fight, she was pushed aside by Rowena.

"You're not the mother, I am", Rowena said screaming to Gracie, pushed her to the floor and bet her.

And Gracie fought back by saying " You are never a good mother, you have us so that you could get money from the welfare. Too bad you had few miscarriages before, or else you'll get more money!"

Those words made Rowena cried and stop beating Gracie. She walked off from the house. The boys who watched the ugly scene, were so frightened. That night they talked about their future and Gracie felt she needed to do something to avoid their mom coming back and ruin things.

With the help of her counselors, Gracie went to the court applying for taking in charge the custody of her brothers from her grandma. She told the court that if their grandma continued being their guardian, she would get the money from the welfare in which she would give it to their mom. It's not that Gracie didn't love her grandma but her grandma had soft spot when it comes to her daughter, Rowena. Even her grandma agreed to release the custody of the children to Gracie.

The presiding judge said this case is very complicated, that he never came across a 16-year-old teenager asking for custody of a child, and this is not only a child, it involved 3 children. But since Gracie received strong recommendations from her counselors and she had good reputation in school, the judge granted her the custody of the children under 3 months probation. With conditions that she has to find a decent place for accommodation, a car and must manage her brothers' welfares. Gracie said she could do it. She found a house to which she decorated the way she wanted and bought a cheap car. And of course, Tommy helped her all the way.

Things went well, the custody period had been extended because the welfare officer found that Gracie managed everything well, she got good grades at school and her counselor and Tommy asked her to apply for college scholarship. Gracie was reluctant at first about going to college because she didn't want to leave her brothers but Tommy convinced her that the boys can stay with her grandma when she goes to college. So Gracie applied.

One day, while working at the cafe (she had been promoted from waitress to manager now), she received a call telling that her grandma was hospitalized. Gracie rushed to the hospital, her grandma was so ill that she thought Gracie was Rowena and started saying weird things. She then passed away.

At the funeral, Gracie and her siblings were wondering whether their mom was coming or not. And Rowena only showed up at the reception after the funeral (again with new boyfriend), didn't show any grief at all upon her mother's death. She said to Gracie and Rose, that if they need any of the grandma's possession, just tell her because she intended to sell the house. She then asked for the boys who were playing at the back garden. When she called them, the boys were reluctant to go to her because they haven't seen her for quite sometime and the last time they saw her, she had brutally attacked Gracie, so of course they were scared. But Rowena kept coaxing the boys and finally they hugged her happily. They too, missed their mom although she wasn't a good mother. Gracie and her pregnant sister, Rose looked from afar, wondering whether she was staying or leaving and take the boys with her.

Rowena left, without taking the boys which brought relief to Gracie and life goes on. One day, Gracie received a letter stating that her college scholarship application had been approved. She went to work after that and was informed that there was a guy wanting to see her. When she approached the guy, the guy said that she must give him a hug, to which she was saying " who the hell are you?" Apparently, the guy was her father whom she barely remembered. Her father asked for a private talk coz he said he needed to discuss something important. When Gracie asked why her father had never contacted her all this while, he looked uncomfortable and gave lame excuses that her mother didn't allow him to see or contact her. And when Gracie questioned him further, he got mad. So Gracie became suspicious and asked why now he came to see her. Apparently he came because he wanted Gracie to sign some legal papers. It appeared that Rowena has gone to the court and applied for back charge child support from him for all her 5 kids. So he wanted Gracie to verify that besides her, the other 4 kids were not belonged to him, that he left the family many years before the other kids were born.

To which Gracie snapped to him " They are not yours! They are mine!", quickly signed the papers, shoved it off to her father and walked off by sarcastically saying "Good luck, dad".

Then, it was Gracie's high school graduation's day. Gracie graduated as one of the top students. After the graduation, with Tommy by her side, her counselor came to greet her and popped the news about her scholarship in which Tommy knew nothing about it. Tommy's expression changed and he questioned Gracie about it during their special dinner celebrating their graduation. Gracie said she kept it as a secret because she was not sure about going to the college because now her grandma had gone, she had nobody to leave the boys with. Tommy said she could just leave the boys to foster home, or just let somebody adopt them. It made Gracie upset, she said, if they were to be adopted, she'll be the one who adopt them. She wanted Tommy to adopt them together with her but Tommy refused, saying that he was only 19, he didn't want to be burdened with caring for kids and he wanted kids of his own, not them. Which made Gracie surprised because she thought Tommy loved her brothers all this while. They broke up that night and before Tommy left, he told Gracie that her family was ruining her life, and she didn't even know it. Gracie cried.

After that night, it made Gracie thought about adopting her brothers to ensure their future's custody. Her mom's erratic behaviors and Tommy's dishonesty about loving her brothers, made Gracie realized that her brothers needed her. She tried to find any lawyer who was willing to bring her case to the court because since she's under age, applying for adoption was not easy. Not many agreed to help her but she managed to get one. If her adoption approved, the kids' parents (which were her mom and unknown fathers) had no right to the children anymore and Gracie would not have to worry about them being taken away from her.

Finally her case brought to the court for hearing. That day she brought all her 3 brothers to the court. While waiting to be called, she went to toilet. She was actually nervous about doing this. When she came out from the toilet, her mom was already there, talking to the boys lovingly. She wore decent dress and she looked decent too (she always wore hippies style). "Isn't mom look beautiful?" Ryan said to Gracie. Apparently Rowena had been telling the boys that she now lived in a ranch in Wyoming and will taking them to live with them. She said they could ride on her white horse. Gracie didn't know whether her mom was telling the truth or what, but she knew her mom was trying to buy the boys because of this adoption things.

Gracie and Rowena were the first called into the court. They debated why Gracie should be granted the adoption. Rowena said Gracie shouldn't because she was too young and since she had sex with her boyfriend, Tommy in the house, she didn't show good examples to the kids (yeah, speak for yourself, Rowena). After the long argument, the judge decided it's the best to call the boys and let them decide with whom they wanted to stay with.

Johny was the first one being asked with whom he wanted to live with. Johny looked at her mom and said "I love you, mom, but I want to live with Gracie".

Rowena became panicked. She accused that Gracie had poisoned the boys' mind to go against her. The judge asked her to be quiet and turned to Robbie for his answer.

Robbie looked sad and said "Gracie is the one who feeds us, changed our diapers when we were babies, she reads to us and teach us, aren't those things done by a mother? With this, Johny looked at her mom and interrupted " Mom, you know that's true!"'

And Rowena started crying.

Robbie then looked up at the judge and said confidently " I want to stay with Gracie"

It was Ryan's turn now and Robbie was the one asking him "Ryan, be focus. Who you want to live with?"

Ryan said " I want to go to Wyoming, I want to ride the white horse mom told me about" Rowena had started smiling when she listened this and said "yes baby, yes".

But Ryan continued with "But I want to go home and sleep with Gracie at night". With that, the judge concluded that Ryan also wanted to live with Gracie.

The judge then came out with this statement " I think these children have found stability in their life and I don't want to disturb that. Miss Lawson (Rowena), I know you love your children but it is too late now. I declare that the rights of the parents are terminated."

With that, Rowena became hysterical. She started screaming and crying "Is that all? I don't get to see my children anymore?" A security guard came to take her away because she was making havoc in the courtroom but she pushed him aside and walked out. Before she left, she said to the kids "I will always love you all. I will find you no matter where you go".

After she left, Gracie and her brothers hugged together happily. The judge told them before she could declare that they are now a new family, they needed to give her their new surname.

They went out from the courtroom and discussed. Ryan wanted their cat's name but every body rejected. Johny saw a name on the wall, and suggested 'Weatherly" because their life was constantly storming before. Everyone agreed and told the judge. So the new family was now declared as "The Weatherly"

In the end of the movie, a conclusion came out on the tv screen, stating that after that, Gracie had been working and studying at the same time, graduating with CGPA of 3.9. Her brothers were excellent at school and Ryan wanted to be a judge someday.

Very long review, huh? Sorry, I got carried away in writing this cause I have watched the movie many times, I could even memorized the script :))