Behind the Grey Cloud

35 Meet Ali

It's satisfied I took off the miss at dad's grave. My heart is much calmer now.

All the junk in my heart, I poured out my father's food.

I walk home.

I went down a different path than my own. This road is a little bit far because it is twisted. I chose this path so that I would take longer walks through my village.

When I was a kid, I used to go down this street when I went to the market with my dad. I often carried my father.

When we passed in front of Mr. Abdul's house, he would call me and give me the fruit that was cooked in his yard. Sometimes, he feeds me. I'll be very grateful and kiss her hand when I go home.

Honey, now the house is empty.

Mr. Abdul has brought his son to move to the city. The house now no one is taking care of. Ripe fruits just fell from the tree. Even many are rotten.

The fence of the house was also in the lock lock and never opened.

The chair that is usually used by Mr. Abdul sat still perched in the yard next to his house.

I paused for a moment.

Enjoy all the good memories.

About the happiness of the past.

I smiled too, imagining it.

I'm back walking.

Tracing the narrow path between the rice fields. Enjoy the breeze. My hair moved with the wind.

Far away from my eyes, I saw a boy carrying a grain. Grain is rice that has been picked and crushed then put into sacks. It was like I knew that young man. He walked over to me and called my name.

" Hi, Brother Mayang. When's home?" asked the man who turned out to be Akbar, Ali's sister.

" Eh hi Akbar. Yes, my brother came this morning. You how are you?" I asked her the news. He then lowered his grain and sat down on a paddy field.

I followed her, sat down next to her and smiled at her. He seems very tired. He sighed, then took the drinking water that was in his pocket.

" Thank God, my good news, brother. Brother, how are you?" he replied after sipping the little drinking water that had stayed.

" I'm also a good bar. How father? Healthy?" ask me to ask about his father.

" Yes that's how you are, brother. You are old, so now often sickly." he replied with a sad face.

" hmmmm, you're not a school bar?" ask me again. I mean, it's still school hours. He should still be in school now.

" Today Akbar permission to go home quickly Brother. Because Akbar wants to take this grain and take it home to Bu Darmi kak. Not bad, the wages can be made to add buying father's medicine" he said while laughing wryly.

" Then, Brother Ali? He knows that you're a school permit?" ask me again.

He just shook his head slowly.

I guessed it. Ali must be angry if he knew his sister until permission not to go to school just to work.

" I feel sorry for Ali Kak. Every morning before leaving for school, he prepared and made some merchandise. Later he went home from school after changing clothes he went to the market to trade. Sometimes until night, he doesn't come home. I once caught her working as a pelvis laborer in a big market when I followed her secretly. But he never confessed. He said he's done group work at his friend's house." he told me a long story.

It seems he was relieved to have told me his problem. Because maybe he has kept it to himself. It was seen from the change in the look on his face.

I didn't expect Ali to have such a difficult problem.

He never complained. He never gave up. He will fight for his family.

After speaking for a while, Akbar asked me for permission to continue his work. I also continued my journey.

Suddenly as I reached the crossroads, I passed by someone I had just thought of.

" May."

He seemed surprised to see me. I was surprised to meet him here.

" Hey my frog prince." greet me to melt the atmosphere.

She smiles.

" When will it come?" ask him.

" Just this morning. You just got back from school?" my answer.

We also walk together. These footsteps lead to walking to a village rice field.

We sat by a shady tree.

I just met her sister, now I'm meeting her sister. I giggled amusedly.

" Oh yeah, how's Al doing?" ask him.

" I'm good May, you're alone?" he asked me back.

" I'm good too. What is your school. You must be happy to have many new friends." I asked enthusiastically.

" Ordinary is May. Lonely even. Because there is no you." she answered me.

" Oh yes, did you meet Akbar? He said he had today permission to go home early because he wanted to help Bu Darmi harvest rice. She should have been through here." she asked.

it seemed that from earlier he was agitated at the thought of his sister. Ali is very affectionate with her sister. He wanted Akbar to go to high school and be a successful person.

Mightiness. Even if I cover it from Ali anyway he also already knows that Akbar today permits school and helps the rice harvest.

" Yes, I had a chat with him" I replied casually.

" You're asking him why he didn't go to school and work in the fields?"

" Yes, I asked too. He said he felt sorry for you. You work from morning until night. Even you don't admit that you work as a pelvic floor in a big market. That's why he's permissioned the school to help carry the grain. The wages can be additional to buy the father's medicine he said." I also told him about Akbar.

" The boy was stubborn. I told him to just study. Do not think about work. eee he even stole gini rich time." said Ali upset.

" Yeah, but you don't get mad at him Al. Pity him. Actually his intentions are good, want to help you. It's just the wrong way. You rebuke him slowly and give understanding to him. Akbar is his son. I'm sure he'll figure out what you're saying." I said to calm Ali down.

He also seemed calmer now.

Still still silent though.

" I'm sorry, my frog prince, if I never write to you" I replied, holding my ear as a sign of apology.

He glanced and smiled.

" yaaa my princess" he replied, pinching my nose.

" I'm sick to know." I pretended to grimace in pain and she laughed.

I managed to cheer him up.

" Eh tumben go home. Emang in the city now is not beautiful huha." godnya to me.

" I miss you" I said back.

" Hmmmm, kirain now we are not beautiful, just want to go home again" he added.

" The city is no longer beautiful. It is more comfortable and pleasant in the village. Really deh.

It's just that, in the city education is much more advanced. The economy there is also more developed." I answered honestly.

" Yes, that's why I'd rather stay in the village. It's okay to be a village. The important thing is that there are those who don't bother." he answered while folding both hands and playing his eyebrows.

We laughed together too.

I miss moments like this.

It feels more plump. More comfortable and no load.

I could forget all my problems in town.

" Oh yeah, I came back first May. It was already the time when my father took the medicine. And then I have to go to the market. I'll be at your house later in the afternoon. I went back to my princess who is now much prettier" she said, shuffling my hair slowly..

" yes my frog prince. Be careful on the road." I replied as I waved at him.