The Blink is Dusk.
Areha Chips
Areha sits outside the fence of Junka's school. In his hand he lined cassava chips and banana chips. That day, he learned to sell for the first time. There's shame and awkwardness. But Areha strengthened herself. Because he wanted to earn money to buy school equipment. If the school dress SD, clothes he used to still be able to wear.
Areha sat on the side of the fence, and was timid. Many school children saw it. But Areha just kept quiet, not offering her wares. His mouth was hard to open, his tongue felt folded.
The first day, no one bought. The second day, only three people bought the chips when they came home from school. The third day there were five students who bought his chips. The fourth day and the seventh day returned none of his trades were sold.
"Areha, how you trade." Ask grandma in soreh day. He sat down to rest and stomped his feet, tired of just coming home from the cake sale.
"That's been three days no one's bought it, Grandma." Areha said sadly. Grandma took a deep breath, and stroked Areha's hair. The hair was in a neat braid. Areha looked sad and just felt how hard it was to make money.
"Areha must be patient, you must keep trying and learn how to trade by yourself. Keep trying, God willing Areha's efforts will be successful." Grandma said, making Areha amused and strong.
"Yes Areha, you have to be kind to people. Offer them well. "Spicy cassava chips, only a thousand." so Areha offered." Aram said, imitating the way of selling, he lay down a tired break also just came home from looking for used goods.
"Yes Koyong, yes Grandma. Areha will keep trying." Said spirit.
"Well, so. Grandma's new granddaughter." Grandma said, Areha smiled and Aram did too.
...*****...
The school bell rings the break. Junka and friends are out of class. The students passed through them.
"Kalia wants no promise." Ask a friend of Junka's.
"No, I have two grand, I want to save it." Answer Junka. They agreed not to go that day. Then play in the school garden near the fence. Shady angsana trees shade where they play. Some elongated benches were filled with students sitting and playing. While sitting Junka saw a child outside the fence. He stood toting his wares. Junka felt familiar and approached the school fence.
"Areha, you're selling." Ask Junka.
"Yes Brother." Answer Areha.
"This is just go to the page. That's okay, there's a lot to sell at school. You've been selling here for a long time." Ask Junka.
"It's been two weeks, maybe." Areha replied uncertainly, then she went to the school gate and entered the schoolyard.
"Sister Junka." Areha said, Junka got up from his seat. Welcoming Areha who came closer. He sat next to her.
"Why not get into sales. Students can't get out of the school yard." Junka.
"Casskin chips." A friend of Junka said.
"It's banana chips." The other one said while looking around.
"How much does it cost, brother." Ask Junka's friend.
"One thousand, cassava chips and banana chips." Answer Areha. All are interested, because large containers are cheap prices. The children also approached and bought. One by one came. By the time the bell entered the break hour mark ended Areha's trading was up. Not playing happy Areha, until her tears dripped.
"Areha, brother go in first." Said Junka and friends. Areha waved her hand and they retorted. Within ten minutes the school grounds were deserted. The teachers were walking on the school terrace towards the classroom. Areha returned happy. He bought three pieces of ice crim for two thousand. He will be eating with his two younger siblings, Figan and Luran.
"Snake once Kopek, buy again tomorrow." Figan. Figan hasn't eaten ice cream in a long time. All three are so happy.
...*****...
Meanwhile, in Junka's class and my friends were telling stories. Waiting for the teacher to arrive at the class.
"So your sister, Junka." Ask another.
"Why doesn't he go to school." The other one asked.
"It's finished school maybe." Tell the others.
"He was my neighbor, just moved in. I often play with him when I go home from school. His name is Areha, he's an orphan. He used to be in school, already in fifth grade. Because his father and mother died, they could not pay the contract and were asked to go with the landlord. So they don't go to school anymore." Answer Junka
"Oh, pity ya. Means he if he keeps school sixth grade too." Friend says.
"But, it looks like he's younger than us." The other word.
"Yes, he's fast in school. Good report value. He showed me." Junka's Story.
Suddenly two male students standing at the classroom door ran over. Everyone knows, surely their homeroom teacher will be in. So they all sat back on their benches neatly. The classroom guardian enters the class, there is a good afternoon greeting, followed by a greeting.
...*****...
It was late in the afternoon, Grandma came home from selling the cake as usual. His body was tired and his clothes were soaked with sweat. He took off the sandals, and went up the terrace.
"Uwa, just got home from the cake sale." Said Uncle Ruyo's wife. He swept the floor and lashed a foot rag on the foundation of the terrace.
"Yes, Tuyi. Tired of feet it feels like a date." Grandma replied Ms. Rumi. From Deak's contract, his mother was out toting garbage in a plastic bag.
"Uwa, Deak played with Areha, yeah." Ask while putting up the sandals. Grandma called Deak. There was a voice of response from within.
"Deak, it's inside ya." Call grandma, Areha hears the call and recites. While Deak's mother stepped near the already mountainous garbage town.
"Deak plays inside, Walah." Grandmother said. Deak's mother told him she asked Deak to come home soon. Grandma got into the contract. He is thirsty and will drink as soon as possible.
"Junk is up, garbage men rarely come. The pay turn can't be late." Said Uncle Ruyo's wife. He tidied his foot rag.
"Yes, that's the garbage man" replied Aunt Walah. Meanwhile, Jum and Lam seem preoccupied with their cell phones, both immersed in a great game, online gaming. Without regard to the world around.
...*****...
An eighteen-year-old girl got off the bus at the Alang-alang Lebar kilometer 12 terminal in Palembang City. The big bag he was carrying, there was a backpack on his back. Dozens of male female passengers also got off the bus. Ojek arrive around the bus offering transportation services.
"Text. Ojek." They say, ojek serve directly because usually people who come from the region do not have an online ojek application.
"Dik's object." A motorcycle taxi driver in his thirties offered his services.
"Sorry Brother, I'm waiting for an invitation. My cousin's brother is coming soon." The answer. The taxi driver nodded and went to approach the other passengers. There are some bus passengers already going with the taxi driver of their choice.
"Hallo, Riha where." Ask for voices on the phone. He drives a car, handset in the ear.
"Position in front of the terminal, brother just enter, I'm in front of the exit of the vehicle." Answer the young and beautiful girl. It was not long before a black Avanza car appeared and stopped at the girl's side. The glass was opened, and the front door was also opened. Looks young man in long pants and t-shirt color spout oblong. On the back bench were two children, one woman and one man.
"Sister Riha, welcome." Two children greeted while waving their hands. Riha smiled and lifted her bag into the car in front.
"Sister Gapu, not kulia today." Said the girl. When the car is already on and the girl sits down steadily.
"Lecture, but skip." Answer the young man named Gapu.
"Hey, little boy, don't be pretentious. You think I'm a victim of soap operas." Gapu. Riha laughed lightly and said.
"Yuzaka, what class are you in now." Ask the girl from earlier in silence, busy with fairy tale books.
"I'm already in sixth grade Brother." Answer Yuzaka.
"If the stories of the soap opera, the girl who is always silent: the sign is in love and remember with her lover." Said jahil's sister.
"Ihhhhh, soap opera again, soap opera again. The soap opera story is a lie." Areha replied, she then beat up her ignorant sister who kept laughing. Then he jumped on the back bench.
"Silver Aram. Brother Aram." He said, so Gapu and Riha laughed lightly. While Yuzaka is only gouging at his ignorant sister. He was very nervous about his sister.
"Already, Hapa. Kasian Areha's. The bigger it is, the more ignorant you are." Riha.
"Riha, where's the Indomaret address where you'll be working." Ask Gapa.
"Not to know yet, brother. What is clear is that tomorrow Riha comes to her office, for file verification and debriefing. List it from the internet." Answer Riha.
"Hopefully the location of your workplace, there is an angkot or Trans Musi range. If you use a trus ojek, pay a month's salary." Said Gapa.
"So, if you say proven, Riha how dong." Ask Riha.
"The only way you're looking for a contract is around the workplace. Learn to ride a bike." Said Gapa, Riha smiled she realized that she was afraid to bring a motorcycle especially in a city that is very crowded motorized vehicles.
"Yes, it's okay then." Answer Riha.
"How are the grandparents, uncles and auntes in the village." Ask Gapa.
"Alhamdulillah, good all brother." Answer Riha. The car drove slowly, down the road of Palembang City. Yuzaka asked Riha a lot about the village. For Yuzaka the village is amazing, because he grew up in the city.
...*****...
Grandma noticed Areha who was cutting thin cassava to make chips.
"You've made more chips Areha." Ask grandma. He put a kettle and cup on the floor. There's a rice hood and a spoon container. They don't have a food or food cabinet. So all the equipment is placed on the floor.
"Yes Grandpa, Alhamdulillah. Areha's trade runs out today." Areha said happily.
"Well, it's called sustenance. Try diligently and patiently. Later you will get the fruit of your labors." Grandmother's Advice. Deak was silent, that afternoon he returned to play at Areha's contract. Deak was comfortable in their quiet and affectionate contract. He noticed the knife slicing the cassava. In the eyes of Deak, it is so amazing when you see thin slices of cassava.
"Assalamualaik." A greeting from outside.
"Waalakum salam." Grandma and Areha answered, Deak turned to the door. Junka shows up and gets into the contract.
"Come Jun." Call the grandmother who recognizes the voice. Junka arrived in the kitchen and sat down by Areha's side. The three of them told stories and Deak was a loyal listener. Areha recounts that Junka had invited her to the school fence and had her wares sold out in the students' purchases.
The day grew late, Junka then took Deak home, because that was the purpose of coming to visit. By dusk, Figan and Luran come home from play and Aram comes home from looking for used goods.
...*****...
The rented mother came to Lam and Jum overnight at about eight. Without saying both realize the purpose of the arrival of the contract mother.
"Sorry ma'am, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we pay the contract." Lam replied, he still holds the cellphone continues to play online games even though talking to a much older rented mother. In the heart of the contract mother considers them very disrespectful.
"True Ma'am, payday money this month borrowed my brother, he went to the hospital. We told you we wanted to pay the rent." Jum said, giving a reason.
"All right, you're ten days from the date. Don't wait, because it'll dobal pay next month." Said mom contract.
"Yes, Mom." Sahut Lam followed Jum saying so. Then I rented it back to her house.
"How about this, Jum. We're looking for a loan." Ask Lam.
"You're the one, I told you to pay rent directly. You're not even gambling online." Said Jum blaming Lam. It turned out that their rental rent was played online gambling and lost.
"I think we're going to win, because we won. We bet big, lose." Answer Lam.
"Where gambling is it." Answer Jum.
"We borrow it from Mr. Gugus, maybe he can help." Advice Lam.
"Ahh, borrow the loan shark again. Money has children so. Increase our spending, not to mention the internet quota." Said Jum.
"That's the only way, we'll borrow two million. I'm a million you're a million." Advice Lam. Finally they agreed to borrow money from the loan sharks.
...*****...
An angkot stopped on the road. The car in the back stopped too. A young girl came down, and stood on the side of the road. An online taxi driver called.
"Where is Dik." Ask the Ojek brother.
"I'm on the side of the road in save four, brother. Pink hijab, black skirt and long-sleeved black shirt." Obviously the girl. Shortly thereafter the online taxi driver arrived.
"Riha's name." Ask the taxi driver, it seems that Abang ojek is still a bachelor. Riha nodded and rode on Abang ojek's motorcycle. Wearing a branded green helmet, Gojek. Fifteen minutes later arrived at Riha's destination.
"Srett. Srett." The voice of a woman was sweeping the courtyard. While cars and vehicles pass by.
"Assalamualaikum, Uwa." Said Riha.
"You've come home, Riha." Ask the Uwa.
"Yes Uwa." Riha replied rather lethargic.
"Why is it so lethargic." Ask Uwa.
"The workplace shop is far from the city center, so Riha has to contract." Said Riha.
"Yes, how else, that's how it works. You've Uwa said, just go to college, don't worry, you don't worry." Uwa.
"Yes Uwa, Riha wants to find work experience." Said Riha.
"Here you go, your sister Yuzaka has come home from school. Later if Uwa comes home from work asking for his advice." Said the Uwa, he then continued sweeping. And Riha stepped slowly into the house.
...*****...
