I'll wait for your promise

Dead City 1

The sound of someone calling with a knock on the door woke me up from dreamland. I pulled the blanket over my head, still lazy to get up. The alarm has not sounded. There was the sound of the door opening, familiar footsteps approaching. Stop right next to me. The fan turned it off. The blanket slowly opened. My eyes were closed hugging the bolster, a little peeking. An old woman was standing watching me, calling out many times. I pretended not to hear. Wiggling, changing positions turned his back on the white-haired old figure. Calling ceased. Step into the window, opening the curtains. Many times I peeked, a little smile saw the overly diligent Sewan open the window and turn off the porch lights when the sky was still pitch dark. The morning prayer rang, not long after the alarm at HP sounded. The wrinkled woman was still standing looking out the window. Glancing at the left right noticed the road. I woke up to turn off the alarm. Sitting cross-legged, looking at him for a moment. Boost. Folding the blanket and tidying the sheets.

“Sopo toh sek senenge mateni lamp. Egek peteng wis patented. (Who likes street lights. Still dark is dead.)” Sewah grumbled annoyed. He also turned off the lights before dawn. Huft…

I just kept quiet, still tidying the sheets. Sewah turned to step out, grumbling the same thing. I was trailing from behind, towards the bathroom. While he went into his room.

“Mbah no wudhu.?” I asked when I arrived in front of the bathroom.

“I durung aborted. (I haven't canceled.)” Back grumbling.

“Sewage is off. Farted in my room.”

“Ora! I'm a fart croso rack. (No! I don't feel farting.)”

“Waste has farted, I heard.”

“Kui kowe sek farting. (That's you farting.)” Cesspit closes the door.

I'm giddin', get in the bathroom. This is not the first time. Sumpah is senile, but if reminded always deny. Sometimes prayers are forgotten. My family just moved from Jakarta when I was in second grade Junior High. At home, we never use the language of Java. Not much vocabulary we know. I understand when other people speak Javanese, but cannot say it.

A rumbling sound was heard as I prostrated, accompanied by a very loud thunderbolt. After the prayer, I usually read the Qur’an. While Simbah watches the news on television. This time he did not leave the room. Stop teaching, surprised to hear the sound of lightning again sounded louder. Look out the window. Very bright lightning. How scary! It's not usually like this. The red sky lit up as lightning appeared. What's the matter? Feelings become unbecoming. What is feared. It looks like the rain will be very heavy. But why should I be afraid? Why is it different with the rain this time? I returned to the holy book. Spit out of the room. Sit in his favorite chair, in front of the television. After teaching, I fold the mucus and put it on the prayer mat. He had not turned on the television, still sitting leaning against the ceiling of the room. I saw the wall clock, it's 05:35. Back to the window. Why is it still dark? Heading to the seat in front of the television, across the long haired Grandma sat down. He looked at her for a moment.

“Kayane meh udan deres. Petire is really exciting. Dunge yo peteng. (It looks like it's going to rain. The lightning is so loud. It's also dark.)” Sewage grabs the remote over an empty jar, turning on the television. “Koyo ngono lamp with wis patented. Melas wong sek passing, dalane peteng. Meh through wae wedi. Ora iso dalan. (It is possible that the street lamp has been destroyed. Poor passers-by, the road is dark. Going through scared. Can't see the road.)” Still continuing his grunts. Pushing the remote button, looking for news.

“It wasn't obeyed Mbah…? The lamp is broken. Sometimes lights sometimes off.” I explained it for the umpteenth time.

Cesspool chuckle, “Medeni yo. Koyo ono setane. Sometimes dead, sometimes murup. Jal nek ono wong through the dead talk. Dindarani ono satan mlyu keweden. (Thrattlingly yes. I think there's a demon. Sometimes it's dead, sometimes it lights up. Try if there are people passing by continue to suddenly die. He thought there was a demon, immediately ran away in fear.)” Putting the remote on the table, already found her favorite news.

I took a deep breath, leaning back. We started watching the news seriously. Natural disasters are back in Indonesia. Uncompleted flood disaster in Jakarta, Mount Sinabung erupted, and now Mount Kelud. Oh Allah... What is this? Why are disasters everywhere? Is this a sign of the apocalypse.

I'm saying home. As usual, Sumpah came out to sit on the terrace. Want to watch the gardener sweep the yard while waiting for his subscription porridge seller to pass.

Something different I felt. The sky was still dark from the window. When I opened my eyes, I was shocked. All white. Terrace, trees, grass, streets and even the roof of neighboring houses are white. Ash rain! Why is there ash rain? Did Mount Merapi erupt as well? My house is near Mount Merapi. If the day is sunny, the peak of Merapi is always visible in the morning. Naturally if the ash erupted can reach this city. Even if an earthquake is felt, even if it is small. I immediately asked Sumpah to come in and close the door. It seems like a danger to go home. Worrying something happened. Spice peeking from behind the curtains. Like a child who hides. His entire body was invisible, except for his legs and movements. I asked him to go back to the news.

“And awu. Pak Rebo rak will teapot nyapu yard. (A ash rain. Mr. Rebo will not come sweeping the page.)” Spit out from behind the curtains.

I lead him, “Iya Mbah, ash rain can damage health. It is also free, it will get dirty again. If it were tomorrow if the rain had stopped.”

Wipey laughs little. We continued watching television. There is no information about Mount Merapi. Where did the ash rain come from? Is it possible this ash rain from Mount Kelud. Ah no way. Mount Kelud is located in East Java. Cook the ashes until Central Java. My brain was thinking hard about finding answers.

Father texted me not to come home because the ash rain from Mount Kelud is very heavy. Suddenly I was shivering. It turns out that this is ash from Mount Kelud. Terrible, his ashes can get here. This incident is indeed more terrible than the eruption of Merapi in 2010. All the television stations talk about it. We just sat in front of the television, not wanting to miss the news for a second. It was getting late, but we did nothing but sit in front of the television. We were hungry because there was no food.

“Wa’alaikumussalam.” I turned towards Sewah. Obviously, his chatter stopped, he was asleep. Sighs, Again the television is watching Simbah. I looked back.

“Go home first, eat. Hungry right? From morning not yet eaten.” Mother came near. In his hand was a plastic bowl filled with rice and side dishes.

Every day I always bring food to Simbah. not much, just one bowl. That too a day is not necessarily over. Sometimes it doesn't decrease at all. Never eat, put the bowl anywhere you forget. Once he was angry at Mother, felt not brought food. Though the food is in the ricecooker that has not been used for a long time. Fortunately I memorized where Simbah always kept food. If not in a ricecooker, in a jar or in the refrigerator. He said not to be swarmed by ants, but eventually always forget to put. There is no stove here. Wastewater is worried about fires, so ask to be sent food only every day. Only at night I eat in this house. Spending the rest of the food. During the day I eat at home or in a restaurant.

Sumpah suddenly woke up, looking confused. I saw Mom standing behind me.

“When kowe teapot? (When did you come?)” Ask Mom.

“Newly Mom. Here I bring rice and tempe bacem order Mom kemaren.” Mom steps into the kitchen. Put the bowl on the dining table. Not long after that I returned.

“Ora nggowo clear vegetable? (No clear vegetables?)” The eyeballs follow Mom's steps.

“In a small pot is there still Mbah?” My answer. Although it is not worth eating.

“Neng ndi? Ora ono pot neng mejo. (Where? No small pot on the table.)”

“Kan Sumpah who put in the refrigerator. He said to be cold. Let it be fresh like ice.” I'm standing. Two days ago the vegetable was cooked, but never touched. Never for more than a week. For the same reason, let it cool. In fact until stale and moldy.

Sesah laughed remembering her already very senile self. He loves vegetables, but only the sauce. Each time a clear vegetable is always included in the refrigerator. If it is cold, drink it directly from the bowl or pan. He left it and finally I ate it. Huft... by force! Even though I don't like to eat it. Sewah will not leave before the vegetables I eat.

“Difa let me go home first Mom, from morning she has not eaten. Later come again.” I asked permission from Simbah.

Sewan just nodded with a gloomy face. I know he must feel lonely every time he is left behind. Mom and Dad had invited her to live together many times, but she always refused. The old woman did not want to leave her house. He likes a quiet atmosphere. Our house is very crowded because it is next to the field. Lots of kids go out. Mothers are not less crowded. While watching his son play on the field, they gossiped in the long bipan in front of the house. It would be an inner pressure for him if he stayed with us. In addition, here are also many memories with Simbah Kakung before he died. It had been five years, but the atmosphere was still felt. I often feel like he is still with us. Every time he saw his room, he called, “Difa.. Difa... rene. Ono sek narik Simbah's. The meh digowo lungo? Please....please...please…??? (Difa.. Difa.. here. please Sewah. There is narik Simbah. Is the waste taken away? Please....please...please....????)” That was the last day I met Simbah kakung. He dreamed that someone would pull him away. Turns right. While repairing the damaged car on the bridge, his leg caught something and fell into the river. Four days later his body was found far from where he had fallen. At least that's what his coworker told him that night at the scene.

Living with Simbah is like living alone. He often falls asleep anywhere. When watching television, eat, sit on the terrace or in the living room. The little old lady never realized that she had been asleep for a long time. Actually our house is close. No more than ten minutes of walking. But I can only accompany you at night. While during college and help Mom sell. Mom has a food stall on the side of the road. Even though there are two employees, Mom still needs my help occasionally.

We're saying we're going home. Before I left the house, I gave me a mask. Even though it is close, it is still dangerous if not to use it. Today I do not sell, the weather is not very supportive for activities outside the home. It feels like a dead city, all white. The asphalt road was not visible, thick ash covered it. There was no one on the road but us. Everyone is hiding in their homes. Without waiting for the announcement, teaching and learning activities are closed. Parents will not allow their children to go to school under these circumstances. Let alone schoolchildren, I'm not allowed to go to campus.

~*~

Don't forget to leave a trace, my friend...

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