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THE MYSTICAL STORY OF THE MORGUE GUARD

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↪ S e b u a h moans break the silence of the night in a morgue. Mang Uu, the mortuary guard jumped up from his sleep. He went around the room, but the source of the sound was not found.

I t u l a h first experience Uu when just a week in charge of guarding the mortuary of PMI Bogor Hospital, decades ago. The man, who is now 59 years old, is now no longer afraid to undergo his duties with professionals.

"A w a l - a w a l n y a fear. But now it's commonplace" Uu said in a conversation with

S e b e l u m became a mortuary guard, Uu became a parking attendant at the hospital. But because Uu often helps mortuary officials in the process of burying unidentified bodies, Uu was eventually seconded to the mortuary. Finally, 10 years ago, Uu was asked to work fully in the morgue while taking care of his cleanliness.

B a n y a k experience that Uu got as a mortuary guard. Uu must withstand various conditions on the corpse, such as accident or murder victims. There is also a scary experience like hearing the sound of crying,

groans, and footsteps. But not once has he seen the appearance of a supernatural figure in the morgue.

"K a l u just sounds too often. Almost every night. But now I am mah

N a m u n, Uu also reminded that the public often only associate the morgue with a bad image and horror only. Though according to Uu, guarding the corpse is also an important humanitarian task. A mortuary guard must be able to ensure that every corpse that comes can be well guarded in all conditions until the family takes it. Not infrequently a mortuary guard must also help comfort a grieving family.

Uu's task suddenly became light, because since 8 months ago, the cooling room for 12 bodies at PMI Hospital Bogor was damaged. The bodies of victims of accidents, murders or ordinary deaths in hospitals, cannot linger in the morgue of PMI Bogor Hospital. The body that was carried was only what the family had been waiting for. The bodies of those without families will be taken to RSCM or Kramat Jati Police Hospital. Otherwise, it is feared the corpse can rot because it is not cooled.

"If there is a family, the body will not be long in this room. At least one day was taken home. If there is no family, it can be days later and will rot here because there is no cooling," explained Uu.

Uu lived his work with dedication and thanksgiving. Uu know, his work does not even tend to be glimpsed by the general public. Who wants to work waiting for the body. However, for the Bogor-born man, working in the morgue provides a better income than when he was still a parking attendant. Uu did not explain how much his salary was. But he claimed his income was enough for daily needs, although his house was still contracted.

"We remain grateful. Because my family can still eat and the kids can go to school. Moreover, my children are now all working," he concluded.,,

CULTURE AFTER READING