Legionaries

Panorama Angga

25 June 2002

At 09:17

School holidays have arrived. The final exam in Class III is over. I am proud to be ranked first. Dad was proud too. He was not tired of talking to his neighbors. His friends in the office too. But I didn't think he would promise to take me away. Go on holiday to the island of Gods.

I'm so glad to hear that. But, I am also afraid to remember previous events. Father is a forgetful man. He often forgets his promises. He never forgot his friends in the office. I have a lot of friends, but she only has one child. Why are you more afraid that your office mates are angry? Why is he not afraid that I am angry?

Every time I protested, Dad always said it was his job. He said he was willing to work day and night so I could be happy. It's true too. But honestly I need a friend at home. After Mom left, I was often lonely. There used to be a friend who always played at home. But now he never plays again. I need Dad, and it seems like now I'm starting to wake up.

Today my father has changed. At the airport waiting room, Dad called the secretary's mother who likes to stay in the office. He asked the secretary's mother to take care of the office for one week. It was because he wanted to accompany me on a holiday on the island of Gods. I'm so happy. I love Daddy. Today I kept my promise. Today my father has changed.

I can't wait for my plane to go. I'm restless. I want to quickly get to the island of Gods. I want to play water on the beach. I want to get on the boat. I want to ride bananas. I want to ride a water duck. I want this. I want that. A great deal.

"Good morning, Father. Anybody want to order?" A tall and skinny woman came to our seat. She wears a batik uniform and a long skirt. Said the mother teacher at the school, the woman who worked on the plane was a flight attendant. Maybe she's a flight attendant. The flight attendant asked Dad.

"What do you want to drink?" Dad asked me.

I answered. "Orange juice."

Then, Dad rubbed my hair. Then, he told the flight attendant. "People juice is just like cream coffee, Mommy."

"Any more, Father?" The flight attendant asked again. Dad shook his head. "Waiting for the order, Father." The flight attendant went with a small book.

"Hows it? Are you ready for an adventure?" Dad looks so happy. I'm also very happy. I'm nodding. "When you get there, just check in? The streets are tomorrow."

"I'm going to swim, Dad."

"If it's just swimming, in the hotel can be."

"I want to swim on the beach."

"Not today, Angga. Tomorrow, will you?" I'm not happy, but Dad said again. "By the way, I have a surprise gift for you tonight."

"Gift? What prize?"

"The name is also a surprise. Can't tell now dong."

I'm happy again. Today I look different. Today my father has changed. May you stay like this. Forever.

"Mr Hendra Panorama?" Dad's surprised. Me either. There was a man across from our seat. He's still young. His eyes are narrow, but he is friendly.

"You know me?" I asked the man back.

"I'm Priyambodo, sir. Just call Pri." Then the young man shook Dad's hand. "I Idolize You after reading your profile in Forbes magazine."

Dad smiled. Reply to the smile of the man. "Oh, huh? I feel flattered. But isn't the magazine a long time ago?"

"really. But I still remember and am inspired by your story. Since reading the article, I have become motivated to rebuild my family business that had collapsed."

"Oh, you're a businessman too? In what field?"

"Pharmacy. It's a family business. Papi I was the one managing, but after the riots of '98, we went out of business. You must know why when you look at my physical features."

Dad mangosteen. And I don't understand at all.

"As a businessman, you certainly understand how the storm of crisis that hit the economy of our country at that time. Our company was among those affected by the '98 riots, looted and burned by the mob. So do our private homes and family-owned facilities. There's almost nothing left." Young men tell long stories.

"I'm lucky to be able to fix everything, even if it's not as perfect as it used to be."

"Thank God, sir."

The flight attendants came back. The father and the narrow-eyed man stopped talking.

"The drink is ready, Father." Stewardess says.

Dad took coffee and orange juice that the flight attendant gave him. He put orange juice on my little table. Then he kissed his coffee cup. How to drink your coffee is weird. He drank little by little.

"Pak Pri," Putting down the coffee cup, Dad called out to the young man across. "Coffee?" father said to the man.

"Oh, no, sir. Thanks." Thanks." The young man smiled a little. "Sir Hendra is a coffee lover?"

"It used to be. Now, I don't copy too often. Usual. Health."

"Do you like to talk about politics?"

"Well..Well, you know where?"

"I've heard of it. He said people who like to coffee usually like politics."

"Ah, cook anyway, sir? Quibble. You psychic huh, can you know such things?"

"Not really, sir. About politics, actually I only read from magazines." Dad laughed then. That guy too.

I started to get dizzy hearing their talk. Adult conversations are hard to understand. Rather than eavesdropping on them, I better play by myself. I better go back to my own world.

I'm turning back. Then look at the view outside the glass of the plane. I realized I was already in the clouds. Usually I can only see clouds from above the attic. Oh yeah, I just remembered one game about clouds. Game guessing the shape of the cloud. I used to play it a lot. Not alone. This game cannot be played alone. Two people must play. Yeah, two people. Me and the Clouds. The clouds are my friends. He used to play at home. Now he never plays again. Yes, it's called Cloud.

I miss the clouds. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Dad won't let me meet the Clouds. Dad's always mad when I talk to the Clouds. He also took me to a doctor. The doctor said the cloud was dead. But I'm sure the clouds are still alive.

From inside the plane, I still kept seeing the clouds in the sky. Then I pointed at the cloud. If the Clouds were here, I'm sure he would have pointed at the same clouds. The shape of the cloud is good. He has a mouth. He's got fangs. He is very similar to the Cloud's favorite animal. Wolfs.

"Ting keg!" That sound surprised me. "The passengers we respect, we inform you that the Rajawali Airlines RJ-1025 aircraft will soon land at Dewa Airport in five minutes."

I heard a female voice from the plane speaker. I'm so happy. In a moment, we will arrive at the island of Gods. I saw Dad straight away. Looks like he's asleep. Maybe he was exhausted. If he is tired, he can sleep anywhere. But, only now do I see him sleeping on his side. He must have been so exhausted. Soon, the plane will land. Inevitably, I had to wake him up.

"yeah? Daddy's? Awake, Dad. We'll be there soon."

Dad's not up yet. He must have been so exhausted.

"yeah?I'm holding Dad's shoulder. But Dad didn't wake up yet. ⁇ yeah? Daddy's? Awake, Dad. I want to get to this."

Dad still didn't move. My feelings are not good. But I need to wake Dad up quickly. If not, we will miss the plane. ⁇ yeah?I tried to pull Dad's shirt. But Dad was still quiet. ⁇ well, wakeup.long ago, I was upset too. I pulled Dad's shirt tighter. ⁇ Ayaahh!but I still don't want to wake up either.

Now I'm worried. I'm restless. I'm rattled. I freaked. I don't know how to. I started sweating. I started thinking things out.

No, I have to keep waking up. I tried to hold Dad's hand. But I'm scared. But I can't be afraid. Dad said, I'm a brave boy. The word Cloud also.

Suddenly, the plane shook. Dad's body turned to face me. Our faces face each other. But Dad's face looks different. He was whiter than usual. His eyes glare. His mouth froths like liquid soap. I'm actually a little scared to see it. But I still have to wake up.

“Dad? Awake, Dad? We've arrived. ⁇ I said. While crying. why don't you wake up? ⁇