GOODBYE

9. balloon herding

Day by noon. Akas, his grandfather, and grandmother were having a casual conversation at a bamboo bale next to the house. Ngatijo nimbrung. He's a young man here who since toddler picked up Subagyo, then people consider him the son of Mbah Bagyo. Now “annya” Mbah Bagyo so two, Akas added. The only real one has gone home half a year ago.

“Good day..,” heard a greeting from the fence line.

Akas looked forward, and immediately recognized the guests who came. Pastor Joshua, pastor of Christians in Sedayu church. The church she used to hang out with her mother and all her sisters on Sundays.

“Good day, Father,” greet Akas with a smile, immediately greet and kiss the hands of the shepherd.

Reverend Joshua smiled back, “How are you, Akas?”

“Good, Father. Mari...,” Akas invited him to the side of the house, to be introduced to his grandparents, following Ngatijo.

In Sedayu, Reverend Joshua is familiarly called Father. He means Father, a typical greeting of Christian priests in the west. It is only mentioned if it becomes a Father because the local tongue is rarely strong enough to twist the English well and correctly.

“This is your grandfather's house, right?” ask Father Jo, stepping.

“Iya, I stay here now.”

Father Jo mangosteen. It seemed that he was about to ask, something else, but had already hunted to the side of the house.

“This is my grandfather, Mbah Bagyo.” Akas introduced his grandfather who was smoking klobot while twisting the bagbih.

Father Jo smiled as he reached out to Subagyo, who also smiled back. They also introduced themselves to each other. Go to Surtiyah. Ngatijo is invisible, either withering to where.

“What's the need, Pater?” Subagyo asked, opening the forum. “With me or with Akas?”

Father Jo smiled again. “To be exact, with Akas if Mbah Bagyo does not mind,” he said.

“Hehehe. What the hell is said?”

Father Jo laughed softly.

“Come, Mom.., Father there needs to be the same Akas,” Nur invites his wife to move, giving time and place to the shepherd.

Surtiyah nodded. Both of them went into the house. Father Jo looked at their steps while nodding lightly, then heard a long sigh.

After they vanished swallowed by the house, Father Jo again looked fixed on Haryati's youngest child. “Akas, Akas...,” he said, shaking his head dear. “If you look at you, I immediately remember your mother,” he continued while spreading his typical friendly smile.

Gnarled, scratching behind the ears.

“What do you work for now?” ask the priest.

“Not there, Father. Help-help Mbah just take care of the garden.”

“School?”

Akas.

“Still always to church, right?”

I fell silent, then shook my head.

“Why?”

The youngest is still silent. Why, huh? Feelings, don't know....

“Why?” Father Jo asked again.

“Emm, maybe because my mother is no longer there, Father,” replied Akas, then.

Father Jo's forehead looked somewhat wrinkled.

Silent moment.

“But your faith remains Christian, right?” Father Jo asked carefully.

Akas nodded. Just same.

A smile re-expands on the pastor's friendly face.

“Shortly, Father, I'll get you a drink,” Akas stand up, want to take a drink.

“No need, no need, that's easy. This is the important one..”.

“What's the matter, Pater?” the youngest is hooked.

Father Jo looked at him....

“Begini, now the program is opening. I came here on purpose because I thought of you as Haryati's son. Your mother was one of my good congregations,” said the pastor, as he continued to look at the youngest.

“What program, Father?”

“Recruitment of prospective pastors,” replied Father Jo, slowly.

“I mean, how?”

Father Jo sighed, his face looking slightly stiffened.

“If you want, you can go to priesthood school. Our church has candidate rations. I weigh-in, it looks like you fit in,” said the pastor.

Akas gawking. Pastor school? Wuih, never been that dear.

“What do you mean, Pater?” he asked again, excited.

“Yaa, school to be a pastor..”.

“As Father?”

Father Jo nodded, his smile that had not finished.

Beaver-grip, then stuck.

“Why? How to be silent?” Father Jo broke silently.

“I don't have an SMA diploma..”.

“But, you can read, write, and count, right?”

Akas nodded.

“Then diplomas are not needed, hehehe...”.

“Oo, don't need diploma terms?” I am back enthusiastic.

“If passing the usual path, should. This is a special line. If you want, you are chosen. Stay in, study well, continue to graduate as a pastor. Next, guide the people. In principle, all borne by the church.”

Wuih, Akas glared happily. Father Jo also widened his smile.

“Where? Want no?” the priest winks his eyes.

The youngest nyerdereh was carefree. I guess, if you don't want to be stupid, huh? Imagine, the capital of the body doang. But.., there are Mbah Bagyo and Mbah Surti who are his parents now. The adab must speak first. No cooking?

“Where?” Father Jo teased again.

“Pulling once Pater, really. Only I have to say first to Mbah Bagyo with Mbah Surti. It's not good if you don't ask permission.”

Father Jo nodded, then sighed.

“Yes, I get it. Indeed you have to say first with Mbah, not polite his name if nyelonong. But, Kas. actually the final decision is on you. Not in me, open in Mbah, not in anyone. It's on your own. Sometimes, it is not easy...,” Father Jo looks fixed Akas. “Not sometimes, often even. Therefore, it needs determination and self-sacrificing readiness if you have to. Remember, the goal is to guide the people. The task is very noble and not everyone is given the opportunity by God to carry it. It's a pity to be wasted. So, the decision is on you.”

Akas looked down inside. He felt he understood the meaning that Father Jo had just said. Understand where it's headed. When he raised his face, his eyes met the priest's shady gaze. So, Akas again bowed.

“Hahaha..,” Father Jo laughed softly. “File, you don't get confused gini, ah. Come happy, thanks happy news how sad?”

Hearing that Akas smiled, then raised his face.

“Well, that's dong. This is the new shepherd candidate name, hahaha..,” Father Jo laughed again, slowly.

Akas laughed too. Also, slowly.

“Yeah, I think it's enough. This is all I want to tell you. Now just waiting for your decision, right?” tukas the priest.

“Pardon me if I haven't decided yet, Pater.”

Father Jo nodded. “Nothing to forgive, you're not wrong. It's wrong not to tell your grandparents. Just remember my message. His decision is in you, not in anyone. That's it.”

“Good, Father. I will remember.”

Father Jo nodded again while patting Akas on the shoulder. “Already, I want to leave to Mbah Bagyo...”

“Waduh, I made you drink first, yes?” sambar Akas, just realized again that this special guest has not been treated.

“Nease, thank you.”

“It's really okay, Father? I feel bad, no.”

Father Jo laughed. “That small business, that matters your decision. Beware...,” he said while glaring affectionately to “balon” her pastor; would-be candidates.

Akas smiled too.

He felt Father Jo was indeed affectionate towards him. If not, what are you doing to Baturaden? In Sedayu was scattered prospective breeds, many want free school so. To be a pastor, which is clearly a noble duty in the eyes of God. Back when Akas was little to church with his mother, Father Jo almost always took the time to say hello in particular. In fact, the little Akas was often swung or sat for a long time in his lap. Understandably, Haryati is indeed one of the favorite congregation of the pastor. Diligent to his church, do not know the word truant, unless he was not in Sedayu. Again sick, as long as he is still strong awake, Haryati will come to the weekly Mass of Reverend Joshua. How not to be chosen as one of the favorite congregations?

After saying goodbye to Subagyo and Surtiyah, Reverend Joshua returned to Sedayu. Akas drove him to the side of the road, and accompanied him until the priest got a bus. Shortly before boarding the bus, Father Jo glared fondly at him again. “Awas...,” he said while moving the index hand right, then smiled widely.

I smiled back, but without glaring.

And so, for the rest of the day the youngest continued to smile. His grandfather did not ask, his grandmother did too. The persistent Ngatijo....

“What's the matter, Cash?” chase, ask to know.

“Nothing,” Akas cengengesan.

“Alaaah, you are this. If it's not Mbah's grandson, I'm teaching you.”

“Bare what?” challenge the youngest, kidding.

“Yes no, hehehe...”.

They also laugh. Then, “What the hell, Cash?” he started again.

“Oo, I'm really teaching,” Akas nags his foster brother.

Ngatijo ouh-ooh secure his head, then managed to also break away from the clutches of the opponent and immediately sprinkled into the kitchen regardless of Akas who had just successfully persecuted him. Maybe you're too hungry, you're going to have lunch. The youngest continued to laugh on the bale-bale. This is her first happy life since her mother died.