Climbing Mount Slamet

Meet Old Grandpa

I paused for a moment, trying to decide which way I was going. The sun was getting higher, but the weather did not feel so hot.

Throughout my eyes, I only saw wooden boards lined up. There is no tombstone like in a cemetery in general. Almost all the wood has been rotted and porous. Even the mound of land is almost flat and almost unknown if it is a funeral. I walked slowly, afraid if suddenly just accidentally stepped on a board or even stepped on a tomb that was already almost unrecognizable.

Suddenly the originally sunny weather suddenly became cloudy and drizzling. It's refreshing for my body that hasn't had a bath in days. Only, if my clothes get wet, there is no more cloth that I can use to replace them.

I stumble downstairs. The road that began slippery and pebbled makes the more difficult terrain that I have to go through. The water in the bottle is getting smaller. While the food provided by Grandma Rampi has not been opened. My intention will be later if you have found a comfortable place to rest.

"Where is this, why from earlier there was not a single house that I met." I muttered that began to despair. The problem was that all the way down the mountainside, there was only a tomb that I saw. At least I have not found any signs I will meet with residents or residential residents.

I sat under a large tree. The leaves are quite lush and slightly resist the fall of rain water that is increasing so as not to wet my body that has begun to get cold.

"That's what?" I stood up and made sure that what I saw was true and not just my hallucinations. A building from the wall that seems still good and quite new, with a roof of asbestos or zinc that still looks shiny. I have to be a little patient because it seems the rain is getting heavier. But at least I will find a place to rest and ask for help in that house. Surely there will be people who live there and will give me help to get home.

"I went around this building that I was so hard at. How can this be accompanied, if the doors and windows are not there. I turned around a few times to make sure there was really no place for me to ask for help. The ground that was muddled by the rain had just made my shoes worse and worse. Both feet also feel cold and wrinkled.

"Ah, fuck. It's mak mungkup" I cursed rudely because I felt deceived and disappointed. I forgot where I am at the moment. I should be able to keep my ethics and speech in a place like this.

"Search for what, son?" suddenly a voice surprised me. An old man carrying a hoe appeared out of nowhere. The surprised me immediately jumped up and hid behind this house-like but very small building.

"Don't be afraid, what are you looking for?" the old man repeated his question.

"Father of man? Or isn't?" I dared to ask like that, because I felt very tired and wanted to go home quickly.

"Hehehehe.." the old man chuckled at my question.

"Why am I not human?" the old man answered while lowering the hoe he carried on his shoulder.

"What's that made of, Cake?" ask slowly.

"Tomb." she answered briefly. The man did not look. He just kept digging fast. Maybe because the soil is wet so it makes it easy to hoe it.

The man was sitting under a tree not far from the tomb he had dug alone. I ventured out from behind the building and sat leaning against the wall of the hood.

"Grandpa is alone? Didn't anyone help dig the tomb?" I'm starting to get stale.

"none. After all, the house that should be occupied for yourself, wouldn't it be better if we ourselves made it?" said the old grandfather while chuckling made me swallow the saliva hearing his words. It sounded strange to my ears, but what was strange I did not know. Just feeling awkward with her words and making me reluctant to ask again.

Visible skin is wrinkled, the bones also look very clear signify how old the man is. The two eyelids that look cute, the face that looks pale may be tired. It makes me feel deep pity. I ventured to get closer, trying to offer the provisions that Grandma Ranti gave to him. With trembling hands, the man accepted it.

"Where did you get this?" ask the man.

"Someone I met before I got here, Cake. He helped me." I replied as I opened the package which turned out to be full of food.

"Then eat. That was for you. Not for grandpa." he said.

"We eat together, Cake." My bargain is still rejected by him.

"Walk that way. Later you will find your way home." suddenly the man stood up and asked me to leave immediately.

"Loh, Cake. Where's grandpa going? Eat this first." I said while busy wrapping back the food I had not finished eating. Intended to suck up food to give to the old man, but when I turned my head it seemed that the old man was no longer there.

Like a chick that lost its mother. I looked and looked all over. Looking for the figure of the old man who carried the hoe earlier, but his figure really disappeared without leaving a trace. Only the former land really exists. It is impossible for a man who is very old, to stand up just a little need help can walk and disappear quickly. I clasped my food pack tightly, enough to be on guard when hungry hit and not yet found a way out. Fortunately, I still remember the instructions given by the old man whom I had not asked what his name was. I walked on and this time the road was getting easier. Not a lot of wild grass or big rocks. Just a pebble and a few large stones do not interfere with the trip.