Learning to Be a Mother

28. Don't Pout.

"Can't be reduced, ma'am?"

"Sorry, Mrs Baras. I can't, I'm not the one who took care of the problem."

I let out a breath, kept the telepathy connected to this cell phone between me and Irma's mom there. I just got rumored Fathan received a suspension for three days, he wasn't allowed to take the exam at school as punishment for having created a commotion there.

"That means Fathan's test at home?"

"Yes, Mom. Fathan exams at home through the exam link that I later love."

I walked back and forth around the living room, thinking about how to say it to my sleeping son. Surely Fathan was disappointed to hear this news, as if his learning efforts were futile because it could be a question provided in the link is different from the matter of his friends in the class.

Maybe I can negotiate. While stringing up his sentence, I glanced at my son who was already soundly asleep through the door that was not tightly closed. I'm sure Fathan is exhausted now, Monday is tough for us.

"Sorry, Miss Irma. But isn't this unfair to my son?"

"I'm sorry, Mother. I still can't do anything about this, I just like other counseling teachers ask."

It can't, yes. Nor can I force Ms. Irma, it could affect my son who gets punished again for his mother's behavior. I can't talk her out of it all the time, it's night and it's time for everyone to take a break. I'm sure Ms. Irma must be secretly grumbling.

In the end, I can only say his words. Thank you for taking your sleep to tell me this information.

"That's it thank you, Mom. Sorry malem-malem."

"It's okay, Mrs Laras. I should've apologized for calling first."

We had a crisp laugh, trying to reduce that awkwardness.

"If there's anything, please don't hesitate to come to me, ma'am. Tomorrow I'm at school, so Miss Laras can come straight here."

"Oh, yes. Thanks a lot, Mom."

After that, the call was decided unilaterally. We go back to our own business. I looked at my son from a distance, smiled a little, then closed the door. Tomorrow I'll wake up early, tell my son slowly that he can't take his exams at school. Fathan needs a break too, so I'd better leave him alone at home.

Meanwhile, Kalista must have been depressed by what her father had done earlier. Both from the high intonation of his voice and the physical violence towards me, he probably understood what was going on today. I mean, I wish that after this day has passed, Kalista will be more in control.

...***...

Unfortunately, I woke up late. I finished bathing at six in the morning, did not have time to clean many parts of the house because he was busy preparing his school needs Kalista. After a plate of omelettes was placed on the dining table, I turned to find my husband who had no idea where he was going.

From my room, Kalista's room, bathroom, and ended up in the living room. There was no sign of her presence, I was worried until my daughter came, it seemed she knew her mother was looking for something.

"Dad's gone, Ma."

I looked at him for a moment. "Old old?"

"Udah," he answered back to the dinner table. "From before Mama wakes up, I'm glad Dad left with his car."

I exhaled, maybe he didn't want to be disturbed or served as well as usual. I can take care of it later, now it's time I approach my son who may still be in the room.

I opened the door slowly, displaying a room that was cleaner and tidier. The messy books are no longer visible, the trash is clean with the interior of the room sprayed with the scent of lily flower perfume. I was stunned to see that as intent tidied up the room, he was indeed reliable.

"Fathan."

The faithful man with his study table turned his head, smiling sweetly with a wave of hands as a form of greeting in the morning. As I recall it was only seven in the morning, but her clothes were already neat with textbooks that looked like they had just been read.

"Mama."

"This is eating, Ma," he replied gently.

Hearing her who was still meek, I could not bear to tell you about the suspension for her actions yesterday. I returned her smile, approached my first child while gently rubbing her hair as a greeting for a bright morning.

"Fathan, today you're testing at home, yes."

I could see a change in expression from his face, as well as the gesticulation that had been very welcoming to me. The pull of a smile on his lips loosened, swapping into someone who would listen to important information with a face ready to accept the facts.

"How many days, Ma?"

"Fathan, yesterday Mama's mallem called Irma. Said you got a three-day suspension, you can't go to school now."

There was a breath that my first child breathed in, it seemed like he understood what I said earlier. Not an opportunity to rest, but a punishment or suspension that must be received.

"Yes, Fathan studied at home."

I smiled calmly hearing him understand the situation, grateful my son did not babble much or did not oppose what he received. Fathan always agreed and according to when my husband and I told him to, in contrast to his sister who always denied. Huft, I don't know how Kalista follows like her big brother who is silent.

"Well, so. Don't cry anymore, yeah. Shame on his sister later, okay?"

Fathan did not respond immediately, there were a few seconds to be silent until it ended nodding slowly.

"This morning Mama wants anther Kalista to school, later all directly to other places. Mama's got business, Fathan at home is okay, isn't he?" I asked expectantly, trying to get her to say 'it's okay'.

"It's okay, Ma. Fathan's at home too."

I cheered inwardly, then turned my attention to the books that were still open at the table. Some of them I closed the page, can not cheat according to his words and actions at that time. Although Fathan tests at home, he still can't find the answer in the book. It's the same as lying, right?

"Can't cheat, otherwise get kicked," I joked on a little weird. "Mom get ready first, yeah. Later if there's anything to say Mama, there's fried rice on the table, don't forget to eat."

"Yes, Ma. Fatah will eat."

After that, I closed the door. Pulling outer as a fashion complement to take my youngest child to his school, he looked ready with his appearance now, decorated with hair tied two exactly a small child leaving for PAUD.

"Wanna go to school with that hairstyle? Like a child, why don't you usually, anyway?"

Kalista pouted hearing me so. "But this is good, Ma."

"Replace, ah. Good from where even like a boy, already horrified said Mama. Mama knows what's good for you."

"Why did Mama say that, anyway?" If it's this way, it'll deny, "It's my choice."

"Replace, don't like Mama to see you like that."

"Yes, don't look."

"Calistas!" Brother called.

The girl clucked. If his brother had said it, he could not have done much. Finally, the hair ties were removed quickly, he threw it origin and made his hair become heavily unraveled. At first I wanted to say pretty, but her face was just pouting.

"Don't pout like that if you say so, it's not polite."

"Whatever, huh."