Dul
006. Prayer Together

How many times, Dul again incised bad memories about his mother who was injured. One afternoon Sejah came up with a plastic package and carried the canvas bag he used to wear. His eyes were swollen and the corners of his lips were hurt.

The sound of a rickety wooden fence swinging made Dul look back. Towards the door he was behind.

“Dul ..!”

That familiar cry instantly made Dul scatter to the door. “Ya, Bu ...” His mother came without prior appointment. If it wasn't for wanting to give something away, there might have been something important that her mother would have said.

“Bu,” said Dul on the doorstep. A sight he never wanted to see. “Mother why?” ask Dul.

He ignored Dul's question. “Mbah Which lanang? Mom wants to ask for help.”

“Mother why?” repeat Dul again.

“It's nothing, Dul. It's nothin. I asked you, Mbah Lanang where?” Seated sat leaning against the wall and wiped the sweat on his forehead.

“Mbah to neighbor back. Mbah Wedok is also there. I called for a moment,” said Dul, opened the front door and picked up a pair of sandals and went back into the house. Hurry to the back door and cross the narrow courtyard towards the settlement next to the alley of their house. That's the quickest shortcut.

Although it was a little difficult to ask Mbah Lanang to move his body from the stall, finally the old man wanted to come home with him despite grumbling.

“What else, anyway? I used to want to have a good life. Married to a rich man's son to make his life good but stubborn. Nyari hard by herself. Spelled stress ... stress ... don't have money like it's more stress.”

Dul did not understand what he was saying. Even Mbah Wedok who walked next to him did not hear the words. What was she talking about, her mother? Who is the rich man's son? What father? Stress? Is that stress?

Dul went to the back door first and came to his mother. “It Mbah has come,” he said.

“Pak, some days I can't take Dul to school. I'm moving out. He knows where I live. Two nights he came screaming. I got drunk and threw myself in the door. Neighbors cost on the complaint and talk to the one who has. I'm ashamed,” said Sejah.

“Nganter what time? The kinda is far away, right?” ask Mr. Colored.

“Make me not far, Sir. You can walk in the morning. Dul wants to too. But if you mind walking, charge ten thousand a day. Make angkot and cigarettes Mr,” clearly Colored.

“Udah how many times you moved residence. Yesterday you said that this one is far away. Fredy wouldn't know where. Just a few months ago, you moved again. Make tired aja.”

Dul sat with his back next to his mother. Listening to every word of mother and Mbah Lanang. While Mbah Wedok just back in with the newly lifted laundry from the clothesline. At least Mbah Lanang did not ask about 'he' who came to his mother's boarding houses.

“I have no problem if you can't remember me. If I have to keep doing this, I'm okay. Mom and Dad pretended not to see me, I was nothing. But this is about Dul .. I just ask for anterin's help and pick him up for a few days. I'm moving in. Don't sell money later, sir.”

Dul swallowed and lowered his head. From the corner of his eye he saw that his mother was wiping sweat with the sleeves of his tee shirt. Her mother's legs were bent in front of her chest. At first glance his mother half curled his body. His mother looked like a child who lost the fight and wanted to complain about his fate to his parents. But Mbah Lanang and Mbah Wedok look ordinary.

Really ... Actually he's okay to go and go home to school alone. He's not afraid. He had missed his path and walking back and forth was not a problem. He looked at Mbah Lanang half hoping to calm his mother's heart.

“Ya, already. Starting tomorrow, right?” ask Mbah Lanang.

Dul notices his mother quickly opens the canvas bag and pulls out her small purse. Spreading out the money sheet and immediately taken by Mbah Lanang even before his mother's hands were straight while thrusting.

He is over five years old and has been in school for a long time. Soon he'll be going up to TK B. At that time he did not understand why Mbah Lanang did not say the things he said along the way to the house earlier. Every fight with his mother, Mbah Lanang was upset but also could not say anything to his mother. I don't know why. He doesn't understand yet.

After the deal was agreed between his mother and Mbah Lanang, the man disappeared through the kitchen door. Mbah Wedok as usual. Silence is like a living statue. His mother was sitting in the doorway wearing her rubber shoes.

“Dul, I don't want to nganter you school. The costs that I will occupy are a little far away. Behind the big mall that you point at every time we pass. Far away here, but closer to where Mbok Jum is. These few days are the same, yes. If you start early, dapetnya appreciable.”

“Iya, nothing,” Dul said.

“You learned diligently. If there is PR. Your future depends on what you do today. Enough of my mother like this. You don't.”

“Iya. Later I will do my own PR,” said Dul, hoping that the answer will help relieve the mother.

Dijah rubbed Dul's face with both palms. “Kata Mbok Jum, all human behavior is hanging here.” Sejah pointed at Dul's chest. The place where the boy's heart beats. “Depends on his heart. So good boy for Mom's sake, yes, Dul ..”

Dul never saw his mother cry when she was hurt. Even when he was yelled at by his father, his mother only looked angry. Not sad. That afternoon, he saw his mother's eyes glazed over.

“When can I stay with Mom?”

I don't think that question just slides. A little regretful of Dul went back into silence. He felt he had just added a new burden to his mother.

“Quickly,” replied Colored.

Dul looked up again at his mother. Didn't know that her mother would answer with something that pleased her heart.

“Quickly, Bu?” ask Dul again to convince himself.

“Iya, asap. Words are prayers, so you have to answer them as your prayers. Our prayers together. Now you don't feel like you want to finish TK A. TK B and you're in SD. Later if you can be more independent, we stay together. So, I'm not too worried if you leave you at home alone. Know?”

Dul nodded. “Ngerti, Mom. Soon ...,” said Dul.

In the afternoon before the magrib he again released his mother in front of the door. The woman who gave birth to her walked in a hurry with a black bag on her shoulder and a plastic tote that most likely contained clothes.

Beautiful mother .. Poor mother …

I love Mom ….

To Be Continued