Dul
026. New Residential

“Mother eat first ...,” said Bara on Mbah Wedok who sat straightening his legs.

It was then that Dul observed how Mbah Wedok was watching Bara. The old woman's gaze was centered on Bara's face. And at that time Dul remembered that Mbah Wedok had never really met Bara.

Each time he drove him home, Mbah Wedok never received a farewell Bara greeting. It was Mbah Lanang who was most often in front of the door. Mbah Wedok only knows the existence of Bara from his stories, the sound of his motorbike, also the call of Bara who called his name from outside the fence.

Hearing the offer of a meal accompanied by the pouring of boxed rice and Bara's friendly smile, Mbah Wedok seemed only able to nod.

Must be Mbah Wedok did not think that Om Bara as good as that ….

At such an important moment, it seemed like Pakdhe Supri was not very sensitive. Because the man immediately threw a family conversation in front of Bara.

“How later, Jah? Does Dul stay here? Kakang want to bring Mom to stay at Kakang aja's house. How is this house? Would you like to stay here with Dul?”

I think Pakdhe didn't talk like that to Mbah ….

I don't know what Pakdhenya means. But at that moment his mother looked more confused.

“Mothers join Kakang?”

“Iya, if Dul wants to come with me also nothing.”

Mbah Wedok's answer further added to his mother's confusion. His mother, who was sitting cross-legged, now turns sitting with two legs together. It was as if her mother was begging her parents and siblings.

“Why aren't you here? I can come back here, Mom. Dul is also still in school near here,” his mother said again

“I don't want to stay with you, Jah. I'm going to ngerepotin. I don't want any more. If anyone wants to be with you, take Dul. Live with Dul, with your new family. Don't think about me. I am your brother's responsibility. Until I die, I am the responsibility of my son. Dul's still kind of kind of a TK, take him. Cassian. He wants to get you. Nak Bara must also know how often Dul nyariin you.”

I don't know. In Dul's memory at that time, the words of Mbah Wedok and Pakdhe Supri sounded more like expulsion from his mother. Mbah Wedok meant well, not wanting to burden his mother. But on the other hand no one worries about how her mother survives and takes care of her still in school. His mother's family kind of threw all that responsibility on Bara. The man who was incidentally at that time had not become anyone's mother.

What if Bara stopped wanting him and his mother to be a family? He and his mother would be alone in this world.

“Kang Supri is okay?” His mother's forehead was worried. Dul is getting close to his mother. Wanting to convey the implied message that no matter what, she would always be there for her mother.

“I'm nothing. You don't have to think. You think your son. If there is a time once in a while come where I make a look at Mother.”

If asked who he would have more pity on, of course Dul would have pity on his mother. Women who collect small pieces of money from scavenging garbage and trading under the hot sun just to make sure that it is fulfilled. Not once did he hear his mother complain or come to his pakdhenya. Never ask for money, just borrow his mother never.

And now, citing poverty, his mother's brother refuses to care about their fate. Bara who had moved the rice box from outside the door into the room seemed to be hearing the conversation.

She moved slowly towards her mother. Their distance is very close. His mother's face was very clear and looked very tired. Bara got closer, then whispered in his mother's ear. So curious, he put his ears on.

“Bring all Dul's clothes, I have a place for Dul and his mother. The forehead don't drag on.” Bara rubbed his mother's forehead after saying that.

Dul rewinds his body so he can see Bara more clearly. At that moment, he was obviously very impressed. The sound of the coals is so soft. The tone of consolation and persuasion made one.

At that age, Dul liked the way Bara talked to his mother. He agreed to every word the man said. To him, that was how a male figure should treat a woman weaker than him.

Dul's activities eavesdrop on the conversation of adults that night was interrupted because of fatigue and drowsiness. The last memory of the night was when Bara took him and his mother into the car. Don't know where they're going. But Bara's cheerful face while driving the car and her mother's quieter face, make Dul more relieved when giving up on his drowsiness.

Dul squirms under his blanket. The morning was still cold, it felt like he wanted to go back to sleep curled up. However, as his eyes blinked looking at the ceiling, a new awareness made him turn away instantly. The ceiling above where he lay looked different.

Dul opened his eyes wide. The blue ceiling with a sprinkling of star-shaped stickers and planets makes it seem to stare at the night sky. He looked down at his blanket, then his bed, then he turned his body to look at his pillow, even the bed he was in. He sleeps in bed. And his mother was sitting casually on the floor putting together clothes from inside the closet.

Last night Om Bara took me and Mom in the car. Is this a hotel? We were invited to the hotel again?

“Om Where is it, Bu?” Something to be sure. Where are the men who bring their happiness?

“Work,” replied his mother relaxed. To Dul's ears his mother's answer sounded relaxed. But in the ears of others, that answer could sound very cold.

“This hotel? There's a pool too?” The second thing to be sure of. If they stay at the hotel, he will ask for his swimsuit to be removed.

Her mother's response was too long. Dul can't wait to make sure of himself. He ran out of the room to see another hotel room.

“Dul, here! Mbok there cook fried rice,” exclaims the voice of a woman. Dul looked over and saw the woman he knew.

The appearance of Mbok Jum had made him a little did not recognize the woman. Mbok Jum looks cleaner and more cheerful. Maybe because the clothes he wears are better. “There are Mbok Jum also …. Mbok Jum is coming to the hotel?"

Mbok Jum chuckled to meet him and led to the dining room. “This is not a hotel. Om Bara said this is your mother's house. Here, sit. Let's like those rich people.”

It can't be Mom's house. This house, yes, must be Om Bara's house.

“Mother's House? Home Om Bara ..” Dul insisted on correcting the words Mbok Jum who felt were not true.

“Om Bara who said this is your mother's house,” errat Mbok Jum again.

“Indeed Bara said Mbok?”

Her mother appeared in the dining room with a happy smile that was hard to hide. It seemed to ask the thing just now to Mbok Jum just to strengthen the happiness in his heart.

“Iya. When I was here, I was there too. Whose house is this. Bara says, ‘This is the home of Colonized, Mbok. I'm ready to be Colored.’ Jah, Jah, he said. Yes, it means your home. I want something else I don't want to taste good. Bara that if again diem, like to make people wrong behavior not good. She did not do anything.” Mbok Jum laughed.

A new understanding enters Dul's memory. Mbok Jum's Assessment of Bara. Until his teenage years, Dul realized that one's judgments of others could also influence his judgment. In the memory of his teenage years, Dul never believed the words, ‘I don't care what others think of you’.

In fact, the judgment of others must also have a background that could be his assessment of something. Too much hearing bad things will make him judge bad things. And vice versa.

And that morning he heard Mbok Jum's assessment of Bara. Bara who will make Mbok Jum wrong behavior is not good even though the man did nothing. When spooning fried rice into his mouth, Dul repeated his moments of togetherness with Bara. Does he feel bad even though Bara just kept quiet?

And there is. In fact a lot. If Mbok Jum prefers to be quiet at that moment, he prefers to break up the awkward situation by asking questions to Bara.

Bara is not a stiff man. But the look on his face is serious when silent, it often causes anxiety and questions. Did he behave well with that man? Is there anything that makes the man feel bad when he is with her?

It's not just me to Om Bara ….

The rest of the morning will be remembered for a lifetime. Happy and happy to be in a better place. Wider and cleaner. Own room, own bed. Even the colorful container drawers that have been broken and snagged every opened, are now replaced with wardrobes patterned cartoon characters that look sturdy.

His mother said goodbye to going out of the house because she would take care of something. Dul forgot to ask what the business was about. He was immersed in his plan to walk around every corner of the house in a new house suit and white powder that was applied to his face.

To Be Continued