Constellations of Love

Chapter 7. Gaby tomorrow

On Tuesday morning, Pandu called Laras if he would be willing to come with him to

look at Gaby, it's afternoon. The little girl will undergo her first chemotherapy today.

" I'm sorry, I can't be sure yet. Maybe later after I go home to teach, I'll let you know."

Pandu understands. This is quite sudden for Laras. Although yesterday the day after Sunday afternoon, he once gave information about Gaby's chemo schedule.

At school, on the second day of the week there will be a visit by the foundation from the factory. Reviewing the routine every three months, with General Affair staff, named Mr. Kevin.

Bu Nur on Monday was notified by telephone from the factory staff.

At ten in the morning, the two guests were at school. Bu Nur took them. While class B children are given the task of making vowels in their respective box books. This time the class was supervised by Mr. Yus.

Class A, is learning to draw and color animal-shaped arrays. Two ducks. Mother and her child.

A middle-aged woman named Candra's mother, from the school's patron foundation, looks very fashionable. Cream blazers and short-sized matching skirts. High heels as high as maybe nine centi meters decorate his legs. Handbags are also from famous brands.

With a driver, they go around seeing the activities of children to school facilities.

" For the next semester please make a request for funding proposal as usual, ", said Mr. Kevin.

Ms. Nur, replied, "Well, sir."

" How about an additional small library space to the west of the gate?" mother of Candra's.

" Next to the kitchen, you mean mother?"

" Yes, there is space. We make it small, about three times three meters?"

" We agree, as long as there are additional funds," continued Bu Nur.

" Sir Kevin please immediately submit to the top for the allocation of funds!" candra's mother said firmly.

" Okay, mom ..."

Until eleven o'clock the discussion takes place in the teacher's room. There will be a change of proposal.

After school after school, the guests say goodbye. Bu Nur told me all the discussions.

Laras and Mr. Yus heard carefully. The three of them are happy because there is an addition of facilities that is a library for children.

At two or less ten minutes Laras had arrived and rested at his house.

" Sir, Laras asks permission to see Gaby. It's his first day of chemo" Laras said after lunch.

" Yes, can. Look at little Gaby. Give encouragement and moral support to him and his family."

" Who's going there with?"

" Doctor Pandu. "

" Ehm, remember don't be too late."

" Thank you, grandma. The appointment barrel before eight is back at home."

The grandmother nodded with a smile.

Laras immediately sent a chat to Pandu's doctor.

The doctor was very happy.

" Thank you, Laras. So I have a friend on the way later."

The distance from their sub-district to the hospital in the city was two hours drive home.

At half-four in the afternoon, Pandu's car was parked beside the store to pick up Laras.

The doctor's neat appearance. White horizontal striped ash shirt put in black denim pants. White sneaker shoes.

After saying goodbye to Grandma, they left.

Pandu occasionally throws a glance at the girl sitting next to him. This time there was a thin makeup on the face. Hair tied ponytail. Wearing long brown culottes, white blouse patterned polkadot with maroon color knitted cardigan. Footwear flat shoes black. Small sized ash sling bag. Earthy appearance. But still sweet.

The whole trip was filled with small talk. About everyday life at school or at the health center. Some funny stories, especially the activities of children of Kindergarten become a trigger for laughter.

A hilarious story yesterday about the feud between a husband and wife.

The name of the child to be listed in the birth document of the first child.

The admin officer of the health center is made dizzy to break up. Until the head of the puskesmas must intervene.

" The wife wants to perpetuate her ex's name behind the name chosen by the husband. "

"Yes?"

" I still remember. The Febrian Sukma Margono. Febrian was born this month. Sukma, the former. Margono is the husband's last name."

" The most beautiful ex possible, doc."

" Ehm, yes too. It's hard to move on, maybe. He he he...."

Laras laughed.

"How does the story end?"

" I told them to make a pact that if the second daughter, the husband's turn could slip the name of his ex. The wife must be Legowo....."

" When will the second child be a boy?"

" Now that's hard. That means that the wife has many ex. Ha ha ha......"

Baras smiled and muttered, "There is something ..what is it that hard to make a move on?"

" Have any experience with this?"

Pandu arrived - suddenly talking more personal things.

" sthat mean?"

" Your most beautiful ex...."

" Ha,ha,ha. There, the monkey love story "

Laras only joked, but Pandu took things a little seriously.

" First love?"

" That's it, doc. It's not important. What about yourself?"

" My ex is a lot..," seduced Pandu, do not want to lose.

The corner of his eyes glanced towards the oval face of Laras.

" I thought, sure."

Scout chuckling, "Ex-friend but friendly, ex-enemy, ex-neighbor, ex-lover, ex-assistant."

Laras laughed. He knew full well Pandu wanted him not to just think about Gaby's condition. So along the way they filled with joking. So that the mood is not down, when visiting people who are sick.

" Dok, before you get to the hospital, can you stop by the toy store or baby shop, maybe?"

" Yes."

" Gaby once told me that she likes animals. I want to buy a stuffed rabbit for her."

" Ehm, may. In the shops before the RS turn seems to exist. We'll be there soon.

The guide directs the car to the destination. Park it in front of a toy store. They immediately go down and into a room filled with various types of dolls from small to jumbo sizes.

There are various other types of toys in the middle and back of the store. That afternoon there were only two to three visitors.

The eyes of Laras were fixed on the part of the animal-shaped doll. A medium-sized rabbit shape was chosen. Ash color ash with wide ears.

" Let's go to the cashier" prevented Pandu as Laras was about to take the note in his hand to Cassa's desk.

The man asked for a note and Laras was told to wait at his place.

Not for five minutes. A pink goddiebag has been pinned Pandu. They went back on their journey. The distance of the RS is only one kilometer from the shop.

Tracing the corridor of the large RS before entering the elevator to the third floor, Pandu advised Laras to strengthen his heart. The situation of Gaby.

" Yes, I promise."

" Good, Barrel."

Suddenly Laras felt his chest pounding. He can't shake his shadow of the conditions in little Gaby.

"I have to be strong. Come on Laras you can do it" he whispered.

The elevator is moving slowly. Just the two of them there. From the elevator door, they turned to the left.

Suddenly the man clasped the fingers of Laras's left hand which felt cold. The girl was a little surprised. For a moment he felt the warmth of Pandu's hand.

Pandu smiled and turned his head, "How? You have to keep your promise to be strong."

The barrel takes off Pandu's handgrip. He nodded slowly. Bringing his hands over his chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath once again.

Pandu knocked on the door and opened it.

" Good afternoon. .." greet the man to everyone in the room.

Papa mama Gaby on the side of the bed. Both of his brothers are on the other side. Grasping Gaby's fingers.

It looks like Gaby is sitting in the middle of the bed. The infusion hose is still hanging on the left side.

" Oh, there's Pandu's doctor and the teacher's mother, let's go ahead" papa Gaby, welcoming their guests.

Mama Gaby just turned her head and smiled faintly. Not from where he was standing. His hand is seen rubbing Gaby's back.

Doctor Pandu is welcome to sit down as well as the mother teacher Laras. The guest chair is about three meters from the patient bed

For a moment papa Gaby told the condition of the princess in a soft voice.

" The first chemo is over at three o'clock. Gaby was nauseous and vomiting. She kept crying because all her bones and joints hurt."

Laras. Unable to imagine the pain Gaby must endure.

" Are you able to swallow drinks or soft foods?" ask the doctor Pandu.

" So I've been drinking a cup of carrot juice. A little porridge too."

" I'm sorry, sir can we get closer to Gaby's bed?" this time Laras ventured to ask a question.

The teacher was eager to hold Gaby's fingers, if possible even to hug her. Like a few weeks ago in an ambulance that took them to the health center.

"Let's go, Ma'am and Dr. Pandu."

Papa Gaby approached the princess. Followed by Dr. Pandu and the teacher. Both brothers moved away from the side of the bed and gave their place to Pandu and Laras.

Gaby's sunken eyes stared at Laras. His round face now looked shrunk, pale and limp.

" Teacher's mother" Gaby's hoarse voice rang out.

Laras tries hard to hold back from looking sad in front of little Gaby.

" Gaby is beautiful, this is the teacher's mother bringing you a stuffed rabbit."

There's a twinkle in Gaby's clear eye. The hare was a wide-eared and soft-haired rabbit that Laras handed to him. Smile expands.

"Thank you."

Papa and Mama Gaby looked at each other at the sight in front of him. This is Gaby's first time in treatment, seen throwing a big smile and her neat white teeth clearly visible.

A smile that everyone around her misses.

Barrel touched Gaby's arm. Suddenly arrived at the small asking to be hugged by him.

The two embrace each other. The clear grains from Gaby's eyeballs began to drip.

" Gaby's missing school, Miss teacher .."

" Gaby take medication first, follow the advice of papa mama and doctor yes. It will be healthy soon. Can go to school and meet friends back," whispered Laras, trying hard.

" Yes..... Madam teacher."

'"Friends - friends miss you too..."

Gaby let go of the hug and nodded towards the teacher's mother.

He asked if the teacher saw him again, to be given pe er coloring and making origami and thicken letters or numbers.

Baras is so moved. Gaby, smart kid.

" Yes, I promise to bring Gaby a book later. Now Gaby has to stay up. Gaby has to eat a lot too."

" Good, Miss teacher. Anyway Gaby wants to get well quickly and go to school again ....."

Barrel put a thumbs up for the little girl.

Gaby mimicked the movement of the teacher's mother.

Ask for high five hand movements. Laras. The laughter both broke. Everyone in the room was amazed by the way Laras gave support to little Gaby.

Almost forty minutes, Laras and Pandu swoop down on Gaby. By evening, they were ready.

Papa and Gaby's mother are very grateful for the visit of Guru Larasati and Pandu doctor.

Once out of Gaby's room, Pandu can't wait to know what Laras' recipe is grabbing Gaby's attention. Making a twinkle in the little girl's eyes come back on.

" What comes from the heart will touch the heart, too" said Laras, with no intention of bragging.

"Hem, I'll remember that quote from you."

They walked along the corridor to the parking area. Pandu invites Laras to eat first. It's almost six in the afternoon. The doctor directed the car towards the town square, not far from the hospital.

" We eat at Lesehan that sells a variety of fish dishes. How's it?"

" Agree."

Frankly, Laras' stomach started to squirm. Because trying hard to resist the feeling of sadness watching Gaby's condition, had made her stomach tense. Perhaps that's why he's hungry so quickly.

They were waiting for orders shortly. Two servings of rice, grilled gurami and tuna fish soup. Saute kale and sweet iced tea, complete it.

Pandu's cell phone ringing is heard. Classic tones from Dave Koz. At that time they were talking about the atmosphere of the city. Pandu asked for Laras' permission to receive his phone call.

" Hello."

...........

" Oh, eat again."

............

" Have you checked with Dr Zul?"

...........

" Okay, tonight, I'll call."

...........

"Thanks." -."

Pandu closes the call.

" My sister called from Jakarta.'

" Oya?"

" Mom has to control the doctor's subscription, while papa has an out-of-town assignment."

" Is your mom sick?"

" Recovered from the pain. A few months ago mama had gallstone surgery."

" Don't call him directly?"

" So still resting, try later tonight I call and chat with mama."

" Given and guarded by the doc, as long as you still have complete parents."

Pandu was silent hearing the words of Laras.

"Well, the order has come. Let's eat....." Pandu diverts the conversation.

After eating, they drove home.

Along the way, their chatter was about the atmosphere around. Sumatra's long, winding road and surrounded by oil palm plantations and forests that seemed to be without edges.

Also Pandu experience when working as a young doctor in the far end of the country.

It was not felt until eight o'clock in the evening Laras had reached home.

" Thank you doc, I've invited Gaby."

" All together. Met, take a break."

" Yes, be careful."

The slow sound of car horns and the wave of Pandu's hand, ends today's story.