Dul
008. Trust From Mother

Somehow in the morning when going to school this morning, Dul felt his body a little bad. His lethargy and uniform felt sultry in the body.

In class, he was quieter. Do what the teacher asks, and respond to friends' chats only. Back home from school, Mbah Lanang came a little late. He was half-dead sitting in front of his class. His stomach was hungry, but he had no appetite. That afternoon he just wanted to lie down with the company of his most precious treasure in the house of Mbah. A small fan that his mother bought.

“You must eat." Mbah Wedok crouched down and rubbed his back. “This hot body of yours, Dul. Eat, just took a nap. Come on, get up, let's get a bribe.”

For Dul, Mbah Wedok is indeed a home man. The real occupants of the house. He only washed, cooked, made coffee for Mbah Lanang, and chatted with neighbors. The chatter with the neighbors was never again told Mbah Wedok at home. Mbah Wedok seems to have no emotions and desires whatsoever in his life. Once upon a time Mbah Wedok told him not to be dizzy thinking about other people's problems. Can fill the stomach every day Mbah Wedok is happy.

Mbah Wedok feeds Dul for life. No matter the meaning of life itself for his granddaughter. Even so, Dul loved his mbah. Dul now knew that Mbah Wedok had never defended his mother in front of Mbah Lanang, for fear of her husband. Or if there is another parable that can be found by Dul is .. Mbah Wedok more loving Mbah Lanang than his mother.

Almost one o'clock in the afternoon Mbah Wedok finished feeding Dul with rice, eggs and clear vegetables. Dul downed a cup of warm tea as a part of his lunch. Without taking the medicine, the warm tea was like reducing a bit of the heat in his body through sweat.

“I slept again, yes, Mbah.” Dul again held his flat roll with his forehead filled with sweat. Mbah Wedok nodded and went to the back with a dirty plate in hand.

I don't know how long he slept. Dul re-opened his eyes as his mother's voice called out. Fortunately, the door was unlocked. He does not need to stand up and move his bones that feel pain. Her mother appeared in the doorway in her usual uniform. A pair of rubber shoes, jeans and T-shirts, do not miss a canvas bag that is slung on the shoulder.

“You're sick, huh? Clock like this tumben not playing outside?” Sejah put the back of his hand on Dul's forehead.

Worried that his mother left immediately after giving the money to Mbah Wedok, Dul hooked a finger to his mother's finger. “Mother wants to go straight away? Don't want to accompany me to watch TV? I have no friends,” said Dul.

“Not go straight away, mom will accompany you to watch. Your dad has a date? Nothing, right?”

Dul sees the look of worry on his mother's sweet face. And he was just about to shake his head when the voice they hated so much, sounded from outside.

“Dul, why you?”

His father's voice must have been heard all over the neighboring house. He looked at his mother. The door was unlocked and the thing he feared was back before his eyes.

“Oh, her prostitute mother is again here. Why are you coming?”

His father's face was red. His eyes looked at his mother. His body feels weaker. Just thought about lying down and hugging his mother. But God did not want to grant it at that time.

“Basic dog! It's good you think I'm a whore in front of my son. Like your life is real.”

“Mother ...,” groaned Dul, leaning his back against the wall. The door of the house was wide open and his parents again engaged in a struggle before his eyes.

“Key from the inside, Dul. Mom wants to go first. Today I can't make you watch a movie. Lockable, yes. Later I'll come back again.”

No one can protect his mother. Mbah Lanang, Mbah Wedok, pakdhe-pakdhenya, let alone he himself. A thin little boy who is said to often get sick as a baby. Dul cries for his mother behind the door. His condition, which was feverish, made his mood even more chaotic. Dul lowered and hiccupped.

*Mother needs a brave protector .. whose body is strong. Protector who loves Mom and also .. do not hate me. *

Usually every time he was hit or stormed with his father, his mother seemed to deliberately disappear. Ordinary will come back after the scar is gone, or faint. But that time it wasn't. Because the next afternoon, his mother appeared in the alley as he was being cornered by a small commotion.

Dul played drawing cards with three children from his altar and two other children from the next alley. Among all the children, Dul was the youngest. Also ...the hardest life. One of the kids in the alley was carrying a bunch of fried chicken in a box. It's been on the bench since.

Over an hour of play, the owner of the fried chicken was shocked to lose his food. There was no one there but them.

“The one standing near this box is just you. We have been in and out of the house. You're the only one who hasn't been anywhere from the beginning."

"I'm not taking.” Dul defended himself.

“Pasti you. You never eat fried chicken. Your mother couldn't afford it.” The owner of the fried chicken began to hurt Dul with his words.

Dul almost cried from anger. Want to hit a child who is bigger than him and teach a lesson. But remembering how the face of his mother who would be angry because he listened too much to people's words, he could only defend himself with words.

That afternoon his mother appeared like a hero. Trusted all the words and defended him in front of the rough-mouthed children. A little embarrassed to finally understand why his mother did not allow to play outside for too long.

The afternoon conversation that imprinted in Dul's memories throughout his life went forward. Dul who considers that the whole judgment of the mother on him is the most important thing.

“Mother trust me?” Dul looked at his mother with tears that he had been holding back.

“Mother believe. Why should you not believe? Dul son Mother. I have to trust Dul more than anyone else. That's why Dul should always be honest with mom.”

Until then, there was nothing she considered so valuable in the world other than her mother's trust in her.

Dul felt his mother tighten their hands. When he left the alley and turned to the side of the road, his mother stopped for a moment to wipe her tears.

“Udah, don't cry. Kan, want to buy fried chicken ...”

His mother smiled at a glance, then took him back to a branded fried chicken restaurant that cost many times more than fried chicken on the side of the road.

To Be Continued