The Blink is Dusk.
To School
DREAMS ARE NOT EXTINGUISHED
*
The sun has awakened.
Implies redness in the eastern sky.
Warming the earth with a hug.
The day we call it.
I'm reaping hope.
I started the ideals.
With a slow step.
Pushing dad's inheritance cart.
Used bottles.
The road side trash.
Which a cruel man casts.
Without knowing the meaning of cleanliness.
But there, I live.
Dare to dream and eat.
*
Aram went looking for used goods. Pushing the cart down the street. The atmosphere was still dim, the sun had not yet shone brightly. The houses are still tightly closed.
"O Allah, strengthen the soul of the child. Give directions and guide the way. He was so responsible with his brothers. His soul is big too. Without ever complaining let alone blaming his life's destiny." Grandma's Heart. He stood in the hallway of the door looking at Aram's departure on the street of the compound. This is how Aram is in his day.
...*****...
Grandma Miss Rumi, Junka, Areha, Luran and Figan walk towards Junka school. That day, Grandma didn't sell cookies. Deliberately came to Junka's school to meet the principal. Along the way Areha and Junka were happy stories. Moreover, Areha wants to go to school at the school where Junka school. Figan was overjoyed, he was walking while jumping around in a broken street pit. Suddenly:
"Gedebukk." The sound of people falling.
"Tin. tinnn." Motorcycle horn sounds.
"Figan, be careful." Grandma said, when she saw him fall. His feet stumbled on the rock, as the road was broken and many were scattered. Grandma leads Figan to the side of the road, three motorcycles pass.
"Your legs hurt Figan. Why don't you come with me through here." Said Luran, pointing at the roadside. Areha and Junka approached. Some of the late mothers came home from vegetable shopping.
...*****...
Salika had arrived early in the morning at school. He wanted to talk to Dehan that day about an important matter. So he waited for Dehan to arrive at school. He doesn't want to talk, his heart says. Salika now seemed to start taking care of. His face was pale and gloomy.
"Salika, what are you thinking." Said Sufo gently to his best friend.
"It's okay, Sufo. I'm just a little unwell." Answer Salika. Sufo knew that Salika was something he was hiding. But he can't do anything. Not just his personal problems, but his extended family. What if the house is really sold by his brothers. Where he went, while he was not familiar and never toyed with his brothers' house. Salika had not thought about family, did not understand socializing with her own family. Even though my brother is like a stranger. Salika is only concerned with smartphones and the world itself, and dating all along. That's the picture of children today. They do not want to learn real life, but try to get into the virtual world and cosmic illusions.
While in class Salika waited for Dehan to come. But Dehan didn't show up in the classroom. Their class guardians entered and missed the class. Dehan did not enter that day.
"Dehan's got news why he didn't come in." Ask the Class Guardians.
"No....." Answer some students.
Salika was so sad that day. He grew moody and had no appetite. Makes all his friends worry. They saw a very drastic change in Salika. During the break she cried herself and would not talk to her friends. Friends are familiar with the state of Salika who just stayed dead the mother.
"Mom, mom. I'm sorry mom. Salika regretted not listening to mother's words. Because I prefer to listen to other men who are not who I am. A boyfriend who uses the word love. It is unequaled with mother. Who gave birth and raised me. Mom, I'm sorry." Salika said full of deep regret. During this time, Salika did prefer to listen to Dehan's words. Salika was completely submissive with Dehan's sweet and romantic words.
...*****...
The sound of people typing on a computer keyboard. A man in a white uniform sat up typing.
"Sir, addressed to the service only, or to the agency of the letter." Ask the young man. My mom is busy with new books. He was a librarian at that elementary school. He was busy pinning and coding the book.
"Ke Dinas, To the Head of Education Office of South Sumatra Province. Us and so on ..." Obviously a man's head was already somewhat bald. The young man picked up, and re-typed.
"Assalamualaikum, good afternoon, sir." Grandma said, she was standing in the front of the doorway. Areha, Figan and Luran stood to the side. Everyone looked at the door, full of question marks. Seeing that, the young man who was typing rose from his seat. Then reach into his pocket, and choose a sheet of money.
"It's Grandma." Said the young man gave ten thousand, five thousand two pieces of money to grandma.
"Oh, sorry, granddaughter. Grandma didn't come to beg. But remember asking about school." Grandma's reply, Areha, Luran, and Figan looked at the young man without blinking. The principal and the librarian also noticed. They also thought that the grandmother had come begging. Because it is common for people to come for donations or begging.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Grandma. Yes, please come in." The young man replied, then he glanced at the smallest Figan. Then add five thousand rupiah.
"May for the grandchildren of the grandmother." Youth advice. Grandma understood, he who is wise knows that young men feel guilty and ashamed. So grandma wants the atmosphere to be warm and friendly, grandmother allows. The young man who served as a school administrator gave money to Areha, Figan and Luran. The three looked at grandma, and grandma nodded. All three are so happy to get pocket money. The three thanked him, then the grandmother was welcome to come in and sit at the headmaster's desk. Areha and her two sisters sat in the guest chair. The young man returned to work.
"What can you help me with." Ask the Headmaster.
"Look sir, my three grandchildren dropped out of school. How can he continue his schooling here." Ask grandma.
"It can be, what class, and the report book are still there." Ask the Headmaster. Grandma then called out to Areha and her two sisters. The headmaster asked the three.
"Our report is pseudo, fifth-grade Areha, third-grade Luran and first-class Figan." Answer Areha smoothly.
"It can, but fine at the beginning of the semester. Two more months this semester. So enter at the beginning of the semester and the subjects can be all." Answer the principal.
"Alright then, Alhamdulillah. We'll be ready, sir." Obviously grandma, grandma also has not much savings to buy school supplies. Two months will give them the opportunity to increase their savings.
"Why drop out of school, naughty ya." Sentil mother librarian while working.
"Where does it work." Ask the Headmaster. Grandma was silent while looking at the headmaster. The Headmaster understood the meaning of that view. But Figan suddenly wanted to cry.
"Areha, go to the cafeteria with your sisters." Grandma said, hearing that Areha, Luran and Figan are out for jahan. Figan who suddenly remembered both of his parents had now forgotten to return and he ran ahead for the snack.
"They're orphans sir." The grandmother explained, making everything quiet. Grandma told me the truth. He also told of Aram the older brother who struggled to support them. They were stranded and lived in a sack tent in a forest. Until finally found grandma where their situation is very sad. Aram was very ill and almost lost his life.
"Yes Nek, take it if they want to go to school. We'll help, and they can go to school." Said the Headmaster. Meanwhile, the young man heard all the grandmother's stories. She secretly took pictures of Grandma from behind.
...*****...
Aram walks on the Old Kenten road on the edge of Palembang City. He knew that on the side of the road there were some places where people would throw garbage. Two years ago he used to go there looking for used goods. When you see the rows of empty shophouses. Remember when he and his three sisters spent the night on the terrace of the shophouse. Aram pushed the wagon slowly, occasionally stopping when he found a used bottle, or other items such as cardboard, used plastic soft drink cups.
"Ttiiinn." The long horn of a truck car is full of bricks. There were two trucks sitting on a pile of rocks. Aram pulled over his wagon quickly. indeed the road is narrow and many cars and then tares. After which, he walked over and found a pile of trash.
"Go home, don't come with me." Said a five-teen-year-old boy. He hit a girl on the shoulder with a nine-year-old boy. The girl of Areha's age was crying and her sister was silent in fear.
The boy left. The dress is messy, the shirt he accidentally ripped. There are tattoos on the shoulders and arms. Five friends followed behind. They look like street kids. Aram pulled over, away from the party. Secretly Aram was horrified by their style and appearance like street thugs. Her daughter and sister were sitting on the side of the road crying. Aram began to sort out the trash and pick up what could be sold.
From the opposite direction came two mothers holding large plastic sacks full of used plastic. They also choose garbage. Aram continued to watch the two brothers. His heart felt worried, because he also felt the hardships of life. What if they were also orphans like her, Aram thought.
Pretty much Aram gets used stuff. She was already tired, and the two scavenger mothers left. Aram pushed the wagon to the edge and intended a break.
"Sister, come here." Call Aram. Two brothers looked over and they hesitated. Aram raised a hand waving towards them. So the two approached and sat on the cardboard that Aram had laid on the ground.
"Let's eat." Aram divided the rice, the Aramaic part he put on the lid of his container of rice. While for the two brothers remained in the container, eating various. Aram uses a spoon because his hands are dirty. Two sisters wash their hands with drinking water. They ate together, vegetable squash and salted fish side dishes. Two brothers looked hungry. They ate impatiently and seemed to choke.
"Drink on." Aram said while thrusting a bottle of drinking water from Aqua plastic bottle. Aram asks where their father is. Their father went somewhere and got married again. The one who hit him was their oldest brother. Their mother is sick. So they have no food. They were looking for their sister because mom was sick, and met on the street earlier. They asked for money to buy medicine and to eat them. They also dropped out of school.
"So I want to make money." Said Aram.
"You Brother." Answer the girl.
"Sister's looking for second-hand stuff." Said Aram.
"By my brother." The answer.
"What's your name." Ask Aram, while packing things.
"Snake." The answer.
"Sister." Ask Aram to his sister.
"Rubby." Answer Lisam's sister. Aram then gives a plastic sack to Lisam. They started walking down the street.
"What we take." Ask Lisam.
"Plastic bottles, all kinds of cans, cardboard, paper, iron, and aluminum." Answer Aram.
"Sold where Brother." Ask Lisam.
"Many merchants are collectors of secondhand goods." Answer Aram. The three of them continued to search for secondhand goods. As time went on they found a lot of used stuff. Aram is already poultice-located garbage boxes or landfills. So is the location of the sale of used goods. Time passed quickly, now indicating five o'clock in the afternoon.
"Uwa, sell cardboard." Aram said to a second-hand collector. It looks around his house stacked sacks filled with used goods.
"Oh, you. It's been a long time since I showed up selling stuff in Uwa." Said a man in his fifties. He wears long pants and dresses in a plain white shirt that stains a lot of dirt.
"Yes Uwa, I moved to the Coconut Talang Perum area." Aram answered, lifting the cardboard ties.
"Seven kilos." Said the Uwa. All Aramaic goods were sold that afternoon. All the money he earned amounted to forty-seven thousand. Lisam also sells used goods as a result. Only sixteen thousand dollars. When receiving the tear money Lisam elaborated. All this time he couldn't find money because he was in school. But the last three months he's not in school anymore. Aram saw the tears of Lysam. His heart was sliced, he knew that Lisam was in tremendous distress.
"Where is your house, Lisam." Ask Aram. They had already walked out of Uwa's house of scrap collectors.
"Not so far from here." Answer Lysam.
"May brother come by for a minute to your house." Ask Aram.
"Boleh Brother. But our house is ugly." Lisam.
"Sister used to live in the ugliest house in the world, with a sack-walled dirt floor. Is your home like that." Ask Aram.
"No Brother." Answer Lysam. Aram stopped by a shop and bought ice with three bags. How happy is Bagit. He who is thirsty, feels so delicious that ice. After passing through the paved road, they entered the path that was already in cast concrete. Then down to the dirt path. The road was winding between the vegetable gardens. Aram felt heavy pushing the wagon because the dirt road was somewhat damp. Then we arrived at a village.
"Come on, this is our home." Lisam. The house looks walled and cement floor. The roof of the house is made of zinc. There were a few more houses after that. Across many residents' houses and brick craft buildings. Many holes used excavation earth to make bricks.
"Lisam's mom's sick, it's been over two weeks." Lisam said, looking like a mother lying on a bed made of boards. Aram is really concerned. How much she suffered she thought. Aram realized now, it was not only him who suffered.
"We treat your mother in the field." Said Aram.
"No money, brother." Answer Lysam.
"Where's the mother's house." Ask Aram. Lisam told, and Bagit escorted. Aram in between Bagit to the village. They also pass through the path, from the side of the house. Arriving at a house is quite large and there is a writing of midwife practice.
"Assalamualaikum, Mother." Call Aram, an answer is heard and a mother comes out. Aram asks the mother midwife to come to Bagit's house. It turns out that the mother midwife knew Bagit's mother. Arriving home, the midwife examined Bagit's mother.
"Yuk Hanumi had acute diarrhea. The body lacks fluids." Said the mother midwife, then she injected and gave the medicine. Aram asked, how much does it cost. The mother midwife said that it costs forty thousand rupiah. Aram then broke up. Lisam was so moved, and so grateful. After the midwife came home Aram took Lisam to the stall. Aram brought thirty thousand dollars from home. Then buy two kilos of rice, one pack of salt, flavoring, garlic and onion one on, half a kilo of vegetable oil, a quarter sugar.
"This is for Lisam, take care of your mother. Cook and bribe mom. This is all you can give." Said Aram. Lysam was silent a thousand languages, then her cries broke. Aram also shed tears.
"Bagit don't be naughty yeah, help your sister take care of mom. It's your snack." Aram said, then he gave money two thousand rupiah. Making Bagit happy is matchless. Aram then came out and died fumbling to look for second-hand goods and two plastic sacks for Lisam and Bagit.
"Tomorrow, if you're looking for second-hand stuff." Said Aram. After that, Aram stepped home and at the same time it sounded azan magrib. Lisam was still crying haru while looking at Aram's departure. Looks like he's still holding a plastic office filled with rice and shopping kitchen given Aram. Then he ran after Aram, then stopped:
"Kakkkk, what's your name." Ask Lisam.
"Aram." Aram replied strongly because he was some distance away.
Arriving on the highway, entering the time of prayer magrib. Aram wanted to pray in the mosque, but he was embarrassed and his body smelled. He did not want to interfere with the prickliness of the prayer mosque. So he looked for another place to pray. Pray under a wild tree on the side of the road.
...*****...
Grandma and Areha are waiting on the rented porch. Azan isya is already reverberating. But Aram hasn't been home yet. Makes them all worry. It's not unusual for Aram to come home so late. Usually before the magrib has come home. Areha and her two sisters were most worried. Remembering their father who did not come home late at night, and came home tomorrow delivered by police in a state of lifeless.
"That's koyong." Said Figan. Seen from a distance there was a shadow of a person pushing a cart.
...*****...
After the shower and dinner. Aram sat languidly in front of his grandmother and three younger siblings.
"Grandmother, Areha, Figan and Luran. Sorry brother, today can not add savings to your school fees. Never mind increasing, the money I brought is also running out." Said Aram. Grandma asked why it was over. Then Aram told me about the incident last afternoon. Hearing that story, Grandma's tears trickled down.
"Grandmother's granddaughter is a very good person. How proud and lucky the mother who gave birth to you. How proud your father was of raising you. The earth and the sky will cry out to witness your deeds. So did the angel who recorded your charity. You don't have to apologize and be sad. You did the right and very good. You're a virtuous human being. Allah SWT knows and will do you good." Grandma said, then she embraced Aram affectionately more than her own granddaughter.
...*****...
