LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

MY HEART

Fourth morning I went back to breakfast with my grandmother at the dinner table. After the morning prayer I heard the steps of several people accompanied by the sound of luggage wheels being pulled in a hurry. A few minutes later, the sound of a car engine left the yard. Gufron and his family went a long way without saying goodbye. My heart feels sliced. Mournfully. My presence is not considered at all. Though I am not here as an ordinary guest but still their close relatives. It's appropriate that there is a little bit of stale when it comes to leaving me. Especially genealogically I am Gufron's elder brother.

"Mr Gufron, Father and Mother went to the airport at dawn" said the kitchen assistant who prepared our breakfast.

Grandma did not respond. His attitude is ordinary. No offense, anger or sadness left without saying goodbye. Really am. This family habit I find strange. Not like family in general.

"Uncle is saying goodbye to grandma?" ask me while scooping warm ijo bean porridge into a bowl that has contained pieces of bread and milk.

"Yesterday I told Mr. Rodi if you want to go to Jakarta early in the morning."

Oh, so the farewell is enough through the family driver alone. No need to go directly to his parents. Is this the way of life of large urban residents who are considered modern?

"There's an important meeting in Jakarta huh, Grandma?"

"Either. They would rather live in Jakarta than here. Your uncle is here because there is still a duty as the principal and administrator of the integrated Islamic school education foundation. Otherwise, he may have joined his wife's son living in Jakarta."

Grandma's flat answer made me momentarily fixated. Poor thing. During this time grandma must often be lonely left unceremoniously by this family.

"That's why move you here, Fifa. Accompany grandma. If you can't stay maybe your sister can transfer schools here to accompany this old grandmother. The quality of education here is better. You and your mother often visit. Now transportation is easy and fast. You don't have to take a boat for days to get to Makassar, do you?"

I justify. Now everywhere is faster and easier. The important thing is there is money and now the money thing is no longer a scourge for us.

"Later to discuss with Fifi yes, Grandma. Fifa promised to look at Grandma as often as possible."

Grandma smile. His sight looked far away. Something was still in his mind.

Grandma sighed and swallowed the food that had been chewed in her mouth before returning to speak, "Grandmother really wishes that any of you would accompany grandma. To be more comfortable we can live in a coastal house or find a small house near the store. This house is too big. Let it be your uncle's responsibility because this will be his home."

So much better. Our family habits are somewhat different from uncle's. If you have to accompany grandma, certainly not in this cold house.

"Grandma heard Gufron's in need of money. If the grandmother certificate is given now, this house can be sold to cover the debt that has been due." said the grandmother later.

Ooh turns out Gufron came home to sell the pepper farm because of debt. Did he quarrel with grandma yesterday until last night passed him he did not say hello to grandma. A little bit of this family problem is starting to unfold.

"Grandma's old, Fifa. The rest of this short life wants to be used to do good and worship. Grandma will be calmer if you see your grandchildren happy. The important thing is that grandma has done justice for all so that it will not be a problem in the afterlife."

I nodded in understanding. Maybe I'll be like that when I'm old. When our bodies are old and fragile, it will be happier if we can see our grandchildren happy. Especially if you can stay with them. Seeing the condition of the uncle's family that does not care, grandma must feel alone and lonely. Luckily there are assistants who faithfully serve and care for him with all their heart so that grandmother can live his old age better.

"Why do you want to stay with us?"

"Grandma's old, Fifa. Can't stay in the interior. Every month grandma has to go to a heart and internal medicine specialist."

Is correct. Staying with us is not an option. Grandma is not worthy to live in the interior. Since childhood he has been accustomed to living in a big city that has complete facilities. His health condition is not possible now. The various degenerative diseases it suffers need intensive health control. If there is something with health in Makassar more quickly handled. Our village is very far from the health facilities. Puskesmas is just a dozen kilometers away. If you need to consult a specialist, puskesmas will usually refer to a hospital in Ternate which is located very far to have to cross the ocean.

In the afternoon I called Fifi who had come home from school. I told you what Grandma said this morning. As I thought, Fifi was immediately enthusiastic about the opportunity to live in a big city. The boy has long craved modern life as he sees it on social media.

"You want to want to. Fifi can yes Ma, live with grandma in Makassar" said Fifi with extraordinary excitement. She must be prancing next to mom.

"Want to join Fifi and grandma in Makassar?" my many.

"Well, Istikharah prayer first yes, brother."

My mom couldn't make a quick decision. There were a lot of considerations in his mind. Though what is considered is sometimes only a small matter such as who feeds the livestock, who takes care of this and other small things that sometimes I do not think.

"But Fifi can stay in Makassar, Ma? The quality of the school is better there. Fifi can take care and accompany grandma." Fifi whined to ask mom to immediately approve the proposal.

"People of grandmother, Ma. Kak Fifa said grandmother often left alone because uncle Hasan's family is more often in Jakarta. Grandma must be lonely." added Fifi lightly. The sound is still in sulking mode.

"Tomorrow we speak again, brother. Mama's going to school first ask her teacher Fifi about Fifi's school and what are the terms of changing schools."

"Don't think too late, Ma. Moving schools is easy. The moment is this right. Tomorrow's the last day of the semester exam. Fifi wants to go to Makassar tomorrow."

"Kak Fifa sent us a ticket. If you do not want to, Fifi dare to go alone. Just ask to take Mr. Gery to Buli airport. Fifa will pick up at the airport there. Easy."

Fifi was very enthusiastic to eloquently arrange the trip as if he was used to traveling here and there. Though all this time it went only to the sub-district city only. Most often take a motorcycle to the market, garden, or school only. Never been further than that. In addition, the child does not have a SIM, fearing there is a police ticket if it goes too far.

"Send a picture of your ID and mom. I'll book a ticket now."

"That tumben don't use thought. Big brother a lot of money right now hihihi." Fifi was happy.

"Mama can't come, Fifi. There are still unfinished mat orders. After all, Fifa chickens, goats and birds do not take care of it if left behind. They could die."

"Then book my ticket for tomorrow afternoon or the day after tomorrow, sis. Fifi dared to go alone."

Fifi was enthusiastic. He really wanted to go to a big city. Moreover, Makassar is the largest metropolitan city in eastern Indonesia. I-i know. In his mind must have stored the plan photos throughout his journey to show off to friends. The child ABG.

In the afternoon Bray stopped by the house to leave. He brought a box of cookies in an exclusive red bag with gold ink. It contained a beautiful cheese cake that melted in the mouth.

We chatted for a while to fill the waiting time for the night flight schedule he chose to fly to Jakarta. I asked about the reason Gufron wanted to sell Bray the pepper garden. Just look for the companion opinion. Who knows Bray's answer is different from the conclusion I got from the chat with grandma this morning.

"Gufron is in need of fast money. He needs big funds to make up for the Russian imports stuck in customs. Three days ago he just called me to sell his pepper garden fast. I happen to have a friend who is looking for land. Price is the deal. But it turns out that on "H" day yesterday Gufron canceled unilaterally. Frankly I'm upset. But yesterday afternoon my friend had contacted the director of the plantation owner's company, saying the owner of the stock did not agree the asset was sold."

Oohs. So story. Same thing with what Grandma said. Bray knows more about what debt is. My question is, why would Gufron want to sell a garden that is not his right? So greedy and cruel to him. Maybe Gufron's vices were what triggered Grandma to rush to give me the inheritance of the baba section and then all the legal files on my behalf were put in a safebox bank on my behalf the next day. Grandma is trying to get all her grandchildren to get their fair share of rights. In the inheritance clearly stated the date of the decision of the distribution of rights to the inheritance shortly after the grandfather died and on that date the baba was still fresh fit.

"Sorry, I didn't know that the garden was yours now. But the problem is clear, Fif. Gufron must be looking for another source of financing."

I hope so. The grandmother said the Gufron-run company was much larger than pepper and cocoa plantations. Cook anyway can not find other sources of financing, bank debt or issue debt for example.

"What's not clear is our problem."

"Our problem? What's the problem?"

"Heart problems. Your heart is not open."