Brutal Family

Part 17 Granny Surtiasih

The next day Jaya is strange again. This time I confused him why. He was not angry, rather kept his distance. Come to think of it, I didn't make any more speech mistakes.

"Dude." The bicycle stopped beside me.

"Hi, Jay."

"You're picked up?" tanyakanya.

"Yes. Mang Budi." We're silent. Downstream students pass through the gates filling the void of dialogue. I bowed down, cursing myself why it could be this ugly.

"I'm home first, man."

"Oh, yes. Um-Jay," Jaya put off her paddling back at me. "Be careful."my great-grandchild was a little amused.

Jaya nodded, then passed through the crowd using her bicycle. My cheeks are so hot. I want to laugh and prance.

"You guys from earlier were weird," the Goddess continued walking out the gate.

"How weird?"

"Yes, just weird, the lyrics keep smiling. Again, smile again. You guys just dated?"

"Huh?! Notwithstanding. We are cousins, Wi. No way." I said quickly.

The goddess clucked, "What if it's a cousin? If the new brothers can't."

"What the hell are you, Wi?"

The goddess rushed into the empty number four city shuttles. Jostling with the people at the door. Sometimes the Goddess can be as silly as that, let alone her attitude that does not want to budge. People will be punished if they are not in tune with his thinking.

Not long after my car stopped in front of me. Mang Budi lowered the windshield, greeted me for a while before entering. For me, Mang Budi is like a family not just a homeworker.

"Neng Bungah's. Can you come by the house for a minute?"

"Some one's missing, Mang?"

"No. Mamang has not prepared a meal for Mamang's mother, Mamang's wife suddenly has needs outside."

"By the way, Mang. All of you let Bungah know where Mamang's house is."

"Thank you Neng." she looked back at me from the rearview mirror.

***

　

From the big road to the house Mang Budi must walk through a small alley. Mang Budi's house is simple at the end of the alley looks beautiful. The yard is full of soothing greenery. Mang Budi let me in as soon as the key was opened.

"If it's not locked, I'm afraid I'm out of the house, Neng. It's senile, danger."

This area is pretty quiet. Only one or two people live outside the home. If there is nothing with his mother Mang Budi and no one is looking after him, it is even more dangerous. A white-haired woman came out of a room. Walking closer to where I was sitting, it seemed like this was Mang Budi's mother. I forced an awkward smile. I was ready to grab Grandma's wrinkled hands, but the way she looked also called out to me made me stunned on the spot.

"Without?" his voice vibrates. My face was cupped, a longing mixed with sadness was clearly created on his eyeballs.

"Mom, I'm not Laras."

"When did you come to pick me up?" hand held. I returned the grasp of his mother Mang Budi. "Have you met Nyi Mas and Surya? How are they doing?"

The barrel? Is this Laras who is called Mang Budi's mother is the Laras I ever dreamed of?

"Who's the barrel, Grandma?"

"Laras, I'm sorry I couldn't help you. Nyi Mas likes Surya. I ... I can't resist Nyi Mas's desire to get acquainted with Surya."

This grandmother did not answer my question.

There must be a correlation between Laras, Surya and my dreams. This is no coincidence. How can it be so often I hear the name Laras. I was pensive too, this grandmother kept mentioning Laras and sorry.

The arrival of Mang Budi hastily separated his mother and me. Persuade the old woman with great understanding to want to go into the room again. Even though her dear gaze continued to point at me endlessly muttering.

"Mang Budi knew who Laras was whose mother Mamang meant?"

"No, Neng. Maybe his old friend mother, understood already sepuh so his mind sometimes remember sometimes forget. Mixed up, Neng, his memory. My mother often forgets. Why, Neng?"

"Well if Surya looks like Mr. Ginanjar, his grandfather Neng Bungah. Ginanjar Surya."

As expected, Laras is related to my family's life. Because I was in the same blood stream, it hit me. Something binds this relationship, all the interrelationships I'm trying to break down. Unfortunately made my head dizzy for a moment.

I should discuss it with B if this is the case. He was the only one who believed my story and could be talked to - meaning a discussion about the strangeness of our family.

"Mang, next time Bungah can ya Bungah look at his mother Mamang? Dude so miss Grandma."

***

　

"Do you know Mang Budi's mother?" I sat next to Papa who was working in the living room.

"Hjp? Bi Surtiasih's? Why?"

"So Unga stopped by Mang Budi's house. Because his mother Mang Budi no one loves to eat. How old is he, Pa? The same age as Grandma?"

"It looks younger than Grandma." Papa replied still focusing on the laptop screen. "The Bi Surti family served our family from a long time ago. Bi Surti is also the babysitter Papa, when Mang Budi was born, Papa feels like he has a sister."

Then there is the possibility of Grandma Surtiasih knowing the ins and outs of the Ginanjar family. Even though he was senile and his words bounced, I was sure that any of his words were the truth. Given his devotion to our family who are still descendants of Sumedang royal nobility for quite a long time, Granny Surtiasih has a lot of documentation. I have to see Grandma Surtiasih. Faster know faster can be handled.

"Don't fuck around, dude," Papa said.

"Where was the reunion event yesterday?"

Papa turned his attention to me, his eyes narrowed. "You switched. Diverting the conversation with the old man was disrespectful."

"Oh come on, Pa. I just wanna talk to you.”

Shoulders poking. "Yeah, a lot of people are coming. You come with Papa sometime. Other people's time with their wives and children, only Papa's alone."

"Yes ready boss." My hand salutes, laughs at Papa's hearty look.

***

　

In my room I was not calm. The sleepiness of not being present that night was exhausted by my activity of seeing the slow rotation of the wall clock. As soon as the window was knocked, I ran to open the window. B is almost shocked. As usual B was very good at opening my room's iron trellis. I pulled B into the room impatiently.

"B I know something," I told him without letting him sit down, he listened. "So home from school Mang Budi stopped by first to his house. I met Grandma Surtiasih-wait do you know Grandma Surtiasih?"

B nodded. He sat himself on my bed. Then I went up there, pulled the blanket so we wouldn't get cold. "Well, Grandma Surtiasih calls me Laras."

Not understanding the reason, B crossed his index finger on his lips. His eyes glared as if I had just broken something. My shoulder is poking question marks. He also took his little notes.

Don't mention that name.

Oh, I forgot. One night I told him about the sightings of two creepy women and strange noises every time I was alone. B forbid me to mention the name Laras blatantly. The name is like a curse.

"Sorry, forgot," ringisku. "What do you think if I see Surtiasih's grandmother again? The problem is that he is senile, I do not know when Grandma Surtiasih said no slur."

You sure Grandma Surtiasih knows something?

"Is the evidence that Grandma Surtiasih called me Laras a natural thing? Lately that name has been haunting me. That's why I want to ask you directly, why does Grandma Surtiasih call me that? Maybe he has an answer, or at least a hint."

B took a breath. At least I found faith in B's eyes.

I'll take care of you, man.

　

　

　

　

- Damaisland-