DEAD
Section 32
The woman looked at what was in front of her with an astonished look. After arriving at the port of Batavia for days traveling by sea from the Netherland, the woman was immediately picked up by a man who cut a gallant and strapping body. His face was characteristic of the Dutch East Indies. With a mature brown skin, large eyes that are sharp like an eagle, and a nose that is also large, but slightly pointed. His jaw was firm, in accordance with his cautious personality.
“Excuse me, are you Anna van De Beele?” asked the man in fluent Dutch, making the woman surprised.
“Yes, I am the person you mean,” replied the woman who turned out to be Anna in Dutch as well.
“Include, I am Joseph, one of the workers at Mr. William's house. Mr. William himself sent me to pick up his wife's sister, because he's been busy lately to be able to pick her up by himself. He was quite sorry for it.”
“I already said in the letter so he wouldn't be willing to pick me up. I know how busy my brother-in-law is, but he's a good guy, isn't he? Well, where should we go now?”
The man, who introduced himself as Joseph, took Anna with him, on a road trip that was quite tiring. There wasn't much they talked about along the way, and it was Anna who started talking to Joseph.
Anna is a learned woman, raised by a respectable family. But she is inversely proportional to her sister, Sophie. He never looked at anyone in the way Sophie looked, who always put people to their degrees. And to that woman, people of high rank were people of noble descent, respectable families or people who had a lot of wealth due to hard work. Meanwhile, those who worked as servants, servants, jongos or whatever they called, were only people of low level, who were not worthy of him to speak to.
That's why Anna came here, to get her sister to change the view that everyone is equal in God's eyes. Mr. William immediately asked for it himself, in an honorable way to come soon. Anna is not difficult to get permission from her father, because the man really likes his daughter-in-law who makes a lot of money for him. Of course Anna did not say what the real reason she came to the Dutch East Indies was, because Sophie's attitude actually came down directly from her father. They are both people who embrace feudalism.
Anna only said that she wanted to visit her brother once in a while who after marriage rarely came to her house. A few days later he was already on board, staring at the sea with a sigh. Anna is also a jovial and adventurous woman, a type of woman graceful and strong at once.
“Your Dutch is very fluent, I had thought you were from the Netherland too,” Anna said again, keep choosing your call-I, want to show that she also respects Yusuf.
“Lord William himself taught me. It took me a long time to surf this. We all need to speak Dutch, because Mrs Sophie .. can't speak Malay yet.”
Anna could catch any hesitation as Joseph took a break in his sentence, perhaps choosing a suitable word. Of course the man had to be careful in talking, let alone with Anna, the sister of his master. Anna understood very well about that, hence she spoke again.
“Yusuf, no need to hesitate on me. Just so you know, I am different from my sister.”
Yusuf smiled, then his awkward attitude slowly disappeared, but still tried not to be too familiar. The man still knew himself and put his position right.
***
“You really came?” Sophie looked at Anna in disbelief.
“Where have I joked with you,” reply Anna. “In my letter it was written that I was coming, so I actually came. Didn't you miss me already? You haven't been coming to visit us in a long time. Mom and Dad miss you so much, so long time no see you.”
Sophie swerved. “Do you insinuate? You sound sarcastic.”
“Of course not. Where have I ever done something like that to you. Never mind, I never meant that. Don't you ruin our meeting with your prejudices.”
Sophie led Anna to the second floor. The waiter who passed by him immediately lowered his head until Sophie passed by.
“They respect you a lot. I guess their backs would be in pain if it would bow too deep and for so long.” Anna tried to joke.
Sophie smirked in satisfaction and haughtily said, “Didn't they really have to behave like that? I'm their employer, they work with me. It is fitting that they bow like that, because if not for sure I will drive them away.”
“Don't be too hard with them, Sophie. And again, do not say like that, they ‘kan understand our language.”
“Anna, since you've only come here for the first time, I'll warn you. Do not be easily fooled by their attitude. These lowly people no one really respects me, they behave respectfully for money. They will do anything to make money. Yeah, they are like that. Low and pathetic. Just a matter of money, money and money!”
“Sophie ..”
“And how did you know they all spoke Dutch? You ‘kan did not talk to them earlier. I saw you right away when you came in.”
“I know from Yusuf, his Dutch language is very fluent. I thought he was from Netherland.”
“Oh, my poor sister. Anna, don't you equate us with people like them anymore. They cannot be compared to us. Just because they speak Dutch doesn't mean you can assume they're from the Netherlands. Don't we look very different?”
“I don't really see the difference, everything almost looks the same.”
“Omong empty! You should check your eyes later. I'll accompany you.”
Anna just smiled, it seemed like a tough task to get Sophie to appreciate her servants. But for Anna it was too soon for her to give up now. He will do well, try as hard as he can.
“I know very well our thoughts are the same and I want Sophie to be able to appreciate the people who live here more, even if only a little. I just want to make everyone at home feel comfortable. Of course they will be more happy to work if the host is also friendly.”
That was his brother-in-law's phrase in his letter asking him to come.
“This is your room. I hope you like living here, of course you'll like it. I went back to my room first,” Sophie said as they reached the wooden door that looked expensive and carved. “If you need anything, just call those lowly people to take care of you so that I don't waste paying them. Remember, call them, not me.”
“I still want to bother you.”
“Do not, Anna. I seriously. I will meet my friends tonight, women from the Netherlands and noble wives. High level people. You can come if you want, but don't bother me. I will make up and prepare myself so that I will not be ashamed. Oh, of course it won't. I ‘kan educated and graceful women, all know that. I'll go to the room first. Enjoy your rest, my dear sister.”
Anna walks into her room after Sophie is no longer seen in the corridor. His sister was picky with people who were invited to hang out, but she knew that her brother was actually a good person and very dear to her. Sophie loved him very much.
