DRAGON CARVED JADE BRACELET
Chapter 59: KRISMON CONTINUES

MAY 1998 EVENTS.

    Jamil is really confused. The craft business he worked for was really a collegiate. The employer has gone all-out. Very high bank interest is fatal for bank customers who have debt. Just like the brass craft entrepreneur where Jamil works. The owner of the business is not able to pay bank installments. As a result, no longer able to pay debts, especially to pay employees. There is absolutely no money. The businessman went bankrupt.

    That morning, the brass craftsman boss gathered all his employees. In the room where put the goods produced, both newly printed and sanded or smoothed. The place is commonly used by Jamil with his friends to work.

    "You know the present condition ..." so the beginning of the words spoken by the brass master.

    All the caravaners were silent and downcast. There must be a big problem that will be conveyed by his boss is related to the chrismon that hit in Indonesia. No one answered. No one is speaking.

    "Krismon has destroyed the nation's economy. Including my efforts ..." continued the brass boss.

    Again the employees gathered in the room fell silent. No one dared to answer. Just seeing his boss's face was already very clear.

    "Frankly I'm broke" said the brass boss limp in.

    The employee immediately raised his head, looking at his deathly pale boss. His words were not loud, but hearing that remark immediately struck down the heart. There is an emergency for employees.

    "Please all of you understand .... I don't have anything else. Even to pay bank installments alone, I already have nothing. I am no longer able to live, let alone support you. This effort has been coleb .... Bankrupt ..." said the brass boss.

    The employees immediately looked at each other, of course the feeling of sadness began to envelop his heart, as a sense of empathy for his employer.

    "Certain ..., how are we, sir?" suddenly there was an employee who dared to make a sound, asking his fate.

    "I don't have any money .... My debt swelled because of the very high bank interest. While these items no one buys, because the community also has no money. Let alone buying brass ornaments, to buy rice and the necessities of everyday life there is no money. So, it's likely that I should close this business .." her employer explained.

    "Waduh ...?! If we close what work, sir ...?" ask the other employees.

    "If you work, what is ...? Wong's goods also no one bought .... Even if you keep working, how ...? I can't pay employees .... No money ..." answered the employer, who was also confused by the fate of his employees.

    "Lhoh ..., means we don't work anymore, sir ...? What about our wife's son, sir?" ask other employees.

    "Please understand .... Today alone I get a bill from a bank whose interest exceeds loan sharks .., not only strangling the neck, but already snare the neck as if to be hung .... My money is over .... I have no money at all .... If you don't believe me.., this is you know, my wallet is empty ..." said the employer while showing his wallet to his employees.

    "Well, how are we, sir?" ask one of his employees, who would also be very sorry for his boss.

    "Please someone help me think .... My head was dizzy to experience this chrismone ..." said the brass master who had resigned everything.

    "Pak .., how about while we work, but the pay is fixed tomorrow if it is no longer chrismone .... Lha now, we get paid a little bit first .... While waiting for the economy to recover again, Mr.." said his employees who certainly have thoughts so as not to happen PHK.

    "But about paying you guys that, you know .... Frankly, the company has no money at all .... The only thing is a swollen debt .." replied the employer.

    "But if in PHK, what do we want to do, sir ...?!" the other sahut.

    "If I may propose .... How about we keep working a little bit, but we also look for part-time outside .... At least who can hoe ya join hoe in the rice field, which can go to sea to find fish .... The important thing is that the needs of the kitchen are met, but there is no term PHK. How about, Mr ...?" said one of the senior employees.

    "Well, maybe so much better .... So don't expect too much from this place .... People have thought so many times to buy brass crafts, mending to buy rice .... But I still need people who want to help me to take care of this business .... Frankly, I can't keep getting charged by the bank" said the brass boss.

    "Yes, Sir .... What matters is that if the economy improves, we will continue to work here .." said the employees.

    Finally, the brass boss advised his employees to find odd jobs, at least to be used to cover the lack of kitchen shopping needs. The employees also agreed. But the brass boss ordered the delivery driver to be ready if there was an order. Likewise, other employees are asked to be ready if there is a job, especially to help raise ordered goods.

    After the work agreement was reached, that day, these employees went home empty-handed. Although some are disappointed, but with the explanation of the boss, they can accept the reality. Of course pity also with his boss who broke it.

    Like Jamil, who came home with a gloomy and helpless face. Of course Jamil is confused, what else will work if rested from his workplace. Wanting to go to sea with the fishermen, Jamil could not. He also resigned, only hoping that God Almighty immediately ended the trial of the nation that is experiencing this monetary crisis.

*******

    That night, still around seven p.m., Jamil and his wife were in the living room, watching the television news. Of course it is still about the demo demands of reform. Not only demanding economic improvement, but also demanding President Suharto to step down. The leadership of the new order is associated with corruption, collusion and nepotism, which are often referred to as KKN.

    "Tok .., tok ..., tok ..." suddenly the sound of his door knocking on people.

    "Kulonuwun ..." the voice of the one who knocks on the door of greeting.

    "Kang .., there are guests ..." Juminem told her husband.

    "Who is it, Jum ...? These nights are exactly what you're visiting ..." asked Jamil to his wife.

    "Well, yeah don't know to, Kang .... There look ..." said Juminem who told her husband to see his guest.

    Without answering any more, Jamil immediately rushed to his feet and moved to find out and open his guest door.

    When he opened the door, he was surprised by the guests who came.

    The guest immediately entered, and sat in the living room. With a sad and sad face.

    "Jm .... Please make me a drink, a warm tea for my Boss sir .." said Jamil told his wife.

    "Yes, Kang ..." said Juminem, who of course immediately rushed to make drinks for his guests. She must also respect, because the guest is her husband's employer.

    "Don't bother, Mas Jamil ..." said his boss who was mince-talking.

    "Kok hearen, Mr. Boss .... Any important news, apparently ...?" ask Jamil who is certainly surprised by the arrival of his employer.

    "Sir .., this is warm tea .... Please drink .... Whether there are fried bananas, the results of the plant Kang Jamil .... Hehe ..." said Juminem who served the drink to her husband's boss.

    "Thank you, Ma'am .." said her husband's boss.

    "There's a development on the workplace, sir?" ask Jamil who is curious. It is natural that Jamil asked that, because inevitably, now he must be unemployed because his boss's efforts were stopped.

    "Mas Jamil .., you've been working with me for almost ten years .... I am very confident and happy with how Mas Jamil works .... In fact I never doubted the work of Mas Jamil .... Whatever I give to Mas Jamil ..." said the brass boss to Jamil, who certainly wanted Jamil to understand the kindness of his boss.

    "Yes, Mr. .., I understand. Dad was too good for us. Even my car is often loaned, including the driver all ..." said Jamil who certainly always remember the kindness of others.

    "But this time it's not like that, Mas Jamil .... Frankly I kolabs .... I am bankrupt .... I have nothing more .... Stay where the business is still left ..." brass boss was silent, but seemed restless.

    "Continue ..., how, sir?" jamil asked to know what his boss meant.

    "Mas Jamil .., help me .... Please my family .... Frankly I am confused, Mas Jamil .... Last morning I did not dare to be outspoken in front of the employees, I was scared at the demo .... Huk .., huk ..." Jamil's boss cried instead. It certainly makes Jamil confused.

    Juminem who heard the male voice crying was also shocked, "What's wrong ...?" inner Juminem. So he looked up, wanting to know what was going on.

    "What's up, Mom ...?" asked Melian who was beside him.

    "Src ....! Boss sir is crying ..." Juminem said to his son.

    Finally, the two daughters and mother in the family room immediately listened to the conversation of his guest. Juminem immediately shrank the volume of the television.

    "Pak .., don't be like that .... It is not good to lament fate .... Whatever happens, we still have to be grateful .." Jamil said to his boss who had run out of sense.

    "Mas Jamil .., the problem is that tomorrow morning our place of business, and the place where the family lives will be confiscated by the bank, because I cannot pay the debt .... Huk ..., huk ..." said Mr. Boss, who was still crying, a very sad sign.

    "Lha continues ..., how, Mr ...?" ask Jamil.

    "Please us, Mas Jamil .... Huk ..., huk ..., huk ..." said Mr. Boss.

    "Waduh ...., how can we help, sir ....?" Jamil was confused.

    "Please lend us money, Mas Jamil .... The important thing is that our place of business is not sealed, not seized ..." said his boss again.

    "Yes .... But I can't possibly minjami that much money, sir .... Even if I had, it was in the piggy bank at least a little .." Jamil said.

    "That's it, Mas Jamil .... Please bank bill that you pay .... How big doesn't matter. The important thing is that the brass craft business should not be confiscated, so that employees can still work .... I feel sorry for the employees .... If the place is sealed, what will they do ...? What will his family eat ...? Please you know that, Mas Jamil ...." Mr. Boss really hopes for Jamil.

    "Yes, Sir .... I understand, but where is the money? I'm just your employee, and you know how much I pay ...." Jamil is very confused, two things are opposite to each other. One side he wanted to help, but on the other side he couldn't do it.

    "Please, Mas Jamil .... I'm sure Mas Jamil has money. Mas Jamil savings ten years with me, must have been good .... Please yes, Mas .... Huhk ..., hul ..., huk ..." again Pak Bos's men expected Jamil.

    "Sir .., my piggy bank is just a little .... That's my plan to buy a motorcycle, my son is old, and we need transportation .." Jamil reasoned.

    "Please, Mas Jamil .... Pity the other employees .... For the sake of your friends .., not for me .... Later if you have money, just pay, assume that place you buy ..." said the brass boss who is getting resigned.

    "Oh my goodness, sir .... I really don't have any money, sir .... Especially to pay for your house ....Where's the money, Mr ...?" jamil said again.

    "But tomorrow morning our place of business will be confiscated, Mas Jamil .... How did Mas Jamil and his friends go? Huk ..., huk ..., huk ..." again, the confused Boss cried a sad sign that could not be resolved anymore.

    "Already, Kang .... The money in the piggy bank we lend first .." said Juminem to her husband, who had come out to the living room, who of course also took pity on her husband's employer.

    "Yes, Sir .... Poor friends of the Father .... If not, how will it work?" Melian suddenly also made a sound in the living room.

    "Yaaah .., that's .... Sir, it's my son and wife who approve .... Tomorrow, let's pay for a makeshift bank loan. I will open my piggy bank. Frankly my money is just a little bit .... Well, tomorrow we leave it to the bank to reduce the burden of corporate debt" said Jamil who finally resigned, because of the words of his son and wife.

    "Thank you, Mas Jamil .... Thank you, Mas Jamil ..." said Mr. Bos who immediately embraced Jamil's body and certainly could smile.