LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

COPRA

I still don't think it out. How could Arfa be accused of the attempted murder of Bray. My mind was unceasingly trying to remember well the archer Bray who at first glance was indeed similar in posture to Arfa. Denying I can't. My memory says so. Making sure it's true Arfa feels the opposite of my other heart words. I was caught in deep confusion and anxiety.

It was late in the afternoon when Santi drove me to the foundation office. Actually Santi asked me to rest today but I refused. In a quiet house makes my fret even more so - so think about the fate of Arfa and the truth of the news that the mama mama delivered. I want to take the burden off my mind. My longing for Aga is unbearable. I insisted on making a short stop at the office that I thought could treat my heartbreak by chatting with that kindly clever parrot.

"Assalamu'alaikum." I said my greetings as I entered the aviary accompanied by Santi and doctor Farhana.

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Assalamu'alaikum." Aga repeated my greeting. Attitude indifferent. Just mimicking without noticing my arrival.

There's a word missing after the greeting. No more pretty words. Maybe that's what Aga saw. I am no longer beautiful. Reasonable. My face is still broken and my wounds have not healed.

No warm looks welcomed me. Just ordinary. The red-headed parrot remains perched on the branch of the sonokeling tree.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Aga. How are you?"

"Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Good. Fine."

I waited for a few minutes with my hands outstretched. Inwardly hoping that Aga would perch in my hands and beg for me to leave her fine fur as she used to do to me. I miss his attitude.

My hands ache but Aga never perched in the hands. Even flying away. Move to a higher branch. I looked at him disappointed.

Farhana's doctor placed a piece of papaya in a coconut shell tied to a tree trunk that formed a 90-degree angle with one of the sonokeling tree branches. Aga immediately came down and pecked at the papaya that the Farhana doctor placed in the coconut shell. He ate with a meal that afternoon.

"good. Good. How are you." he nodded and pecked his food back.

His behavior still looks funny. I smiled even though I was sad because Aga didn't recognize me anymore. He doesn't miss me who hasn't met in weeks and taken care of him. My missus clapped one hand. Just misses itself.

"You don't recognize me anymore, doctor" I said.

"The thought of a bird is not as good as the memory of man, Fifa." comforted Farhana doctor as he developed a smile and patted my shoulder.

I replied with a forced smile. Just to appreciate Farhana's doctor's effort to comfort me.

"Alhamdulillah Aga healthy. We plan to put 2 female parrots in this aviary so that she is not lonely. What do you think?"

"Again." I answered without thinking. It is time for you to have a partner to breed.

"Then tomorrow we will move 2 female parrots from the breeding cage to this small aviary."

"Doctors don't have to wait for me to come in for this kind of execution. I believe doctors are much more experienced and knowledgeable than I am. As long as the doctor thinks a decision is good, I'm told enough."

Doctor Farhana answered with a smile. I know he appreciates me as the chairman of this lay foundation.

I waited for Aga to finish eating while listening to the story as well as the vet's oral report. After I finished eating I approached and tried to greet Aga once again. Aga's reaction was just nodding. He wouldn't let me caress his red head. The bird flew back to the branch of the sonokeling tree without me touching it.

Duh, sad. Feeling like love is rejected.

"good. Good. Assalamu'alaikum's chat. Assalamu'alaikum." Aga repeated those words.

Although his attitude is indifferent, but I believe all Aga sayings are prayer. I hope that the beautiful feathered bird's prayer is answered for my safety and kindness.

"Your wounds are almost healed, Fifa" said Farhana's doctor looking at my face.

I smile.

"Still in control of a dermatologist?"

"Still."

"good. Discipline is the key to success. Good result. Maybe next week the wound that the bottom of the cheek will dry perfectly. If itches do not scratch yes. Apply the ointment prescribed by the doctor. You'll be beautiful again."

"Alhamdulillah."

"Now Wednesday or Thursday. He said the essential aviary is clean and the birds are well groomed. They have been judging from legal documents and websites. Here just review the aviary and interview with the veterinarian and the BKSDA."

"Sip. It's okay then."

Every day I go to the foundation office. Return home safely with no interruptions at all. The process of assessing the green company and exploring PT XY's investment is running smoothly. No news or events worried. Everything is going as it should.

The gossip mama-mama has got the 'by-by' she wants. They always stop every time they see me taking care of plants in the front yard of the house or sitting casually on the porch.

There is no news about Arfa. Information just stops. No one knows where and how Arfa is now. The latest news that mama mama fussed over the past two days is a complaint about the price of copra that dropped so that farmers do not want to harvest the sheep.

"We don't have any money. Paitua is still waiting for a good price to harvest coconuts. Because he said the cost of paying people who pick and process copra is still more expensive than the selling price. How can this continue. We're on debt add-on."

"That's probably the middleman."

"No. He said the copra was over-production and the freight was expensive."

A mother laughed, "Then let the coconut fall on its own and sprout."

"Don't mock. Where would we eat if not from selling copra, mama? Finding damar in the woods is getting harder. Enak ngana pe paitua work at PT XY with salary every month. No matter the price of copra goes up or down. Don't have to suck at finding damar in the woods."

"Ngana ask for help with Fifa so that ngana pe paitua can work at PT XY. He was with his director. It's easy." anyway."

Whahuh? The danger is right this young mother's thinking. Speak arbitrarily. The repot also turned out to be close to them. Toolable. Or indeed it was actually their friendly purpose and approached me.

"How, Fifa?"

"Sorry! Sa can't help. PT XY does not open job vacancies."

"Try talking! So even the broomstick is okay."

"Sorry, Mama! Can't do. Sa piki the fathers of good coconut farmers bakumpul together for deliberation. Both piki way out."

"Where would the fathers be collected if there was no money."

"Then ask if Firdaus wants to invite the father to be collected here. Then coffee and roasted beans."

"Well that's it already. If you invite the director's father in person would want to come bakumpul."

Indeed, the price of agricultural and plantation commodities is uncertain. Good sometimes. It is not uncommon to fall due to oversupply. For farmers who rely only on the efforts of one type of plant plummeting commodity prices damage the economy of their families. I don't know if Bray agreed with my idea of gathering farmers to create a kind of community so that their problems could be solved together. Actually I want to gather them for deliberation. But if the invitation on my behalf doesn't feel right and the mama must think badly of me. That's why I sold the name Bray. Just random. If Bray is not willing, I will force Salman here.

But uh ... how about I just try to invite both - Salman and Bray - along with the deliberation with the fathers of the coconut farmers? If necessary involve my former stepfather who is the head of the village. Later I will prepare a little alms envelope for them to add enthusiasm.

"Jum'at afternoon, I promised to go back to the village. But not to cuss with the fathers of copra farmers. Not good with the farm there. It should be their job to form a farming community" Salman said when I asked him to be the facilitator of the coconut farmers.

"Just talk, brother. Sharing possible experiences with the condition of the coconut farmer Jailolo."

"Just like the complaint. The price of copra is going down. But here is a group of farmers who already have their own drying machine and coconut by-product processing plant, so the income does not only depend on the price of copra."

"Well, that could be an example of good practice."

"Hmm."

"Wouldn't you? Most of them are originally inland. It must be opened to understand the coconut plantation ecosystem. Firdaus will also be present. Chat ordinary kayak baba used to share experiences with the villagers. There is no target."

"All right."

Finally, what he had done was done again in another form. If baba used to often share knowledge by inviting person-to-person dialogue. Now Salman has to share his knowledge with more people in a community meeting. This coconut plantation business is relatively new for our villagers. They followed the next village transmigrants who were successful in coconut gardening. Previously people preferred to grow sweet potatoes, rice, cassava or vegetables whose products are enjoyed directly by the family for daily eating needs.