MARANTI (FOOD OF THE DEAD)

EPISODE 7: THE STORY

My feet have stepped on the porch of Mr. RW's house. There were three pairs of sandals on the steps behind me. Two pairs of large sandals and one pair of small sandals with a cartoon image in the middle. One pair is certainly mine, one pair of small sandals certainly belongs to his son Clara, and one pair I doubt it belongs to Clara or the old grandmother. Deep down in my heart, I suspected that the old grandmother was not a human being, but a creature, so there were no sandals on the porch.

Getting closer to the door, for some reason the air temperature was suddenly a bit warm and made a sultry. Sayup-Sayup I heard a debate inside the house. I could not hear it clearly, but I was sure that was arguing inside both women. I thought, Clara was arguing with that old granny. I who originally thought the old grandmother was just a dedemit, began to doubt my own estimates.

[Tok tock]

"Accoland ...."

I knocked on the door and said my greetings right in front of the door. There was a loud scream at a glance, but it was not so clear. I knocked the door back slightly hardened. For some reason, there was a slight desire in my heart, may those who were arguing inside immediately stop what they were doing after hearing my loud knock on the door.

Next, I heard the sound of a rather loud footsteps walking towards the door from the inside of the house. A second later, just as I was about to say my second greeting. Suddenly the door that was originally closed tightly, suddenly opened wide. From behind the door came Clara with a smile.

"Eh, You, Ma'am?" clara chuckled in surprise.

"Yes, Clara," I answered trying to read the hue on her face.

"What's inside, Clara, how does it seem to be so crowded?" manya I'm peeping.

"There's nothing, Ma'am. It just so happened that I was feeding the child" replied Clara.

"Such a child are you still a bribe, Clar?" my sergeant doesn't believe me.

"How else, Ma'am? If he doesn't digitukan, he will not eat all day. He was just cool with the comic collection his father bought," Clara replied in a high tone.

"You should start teaching her how to eat by herself. The child has grown up, ntar if fed continuously, can inhibit the development of independence," I replied.

"Mbak Sinta, I don't know how difficult it is to manage that child! No, if you already know the stubbornness of the child, surely Mbak Sinta will be overwhelmed too!" clara defended herself.

"Okay, I'll try to help you later, Clar," I replied, throwing a smile at the young woman. For some reason, at that time I remembered Nur's childhood which could be said to be hyperactive. Already countless home appliances are collapsing due to its super action. What I still remember until now is when he cut the cloth belonging to some customers who have been Iotongi to be used as clothes according to their orders. Yes, at that time I was still opening a small taylor business at home to help Diki mas who still work odd jobs. Stress, that's how I felt at the time. How not? The fabrics are the property of the neighbors who will be used for two more days for the grand recitation in my area. Meanwhile, I know for myself the price is quite expensive because I also accompany the neighboring mothers to buy the cloth. Unimaginable of where I have to earn money to compensate for the losses I have to bear. So confused, I almost hit the child hard just my way. Fortunately, Diki suddenly appeared behind me and shouted loudly at me just as my right hand was pointing in the air, preparing to give a hard blow to my heart.

At that time I felt like I was in a state of disobedience. My blood felt all over my head. I can't imagine if I really hit my son at that time. He could be disabled or die from it.

I tightly embraced my little boy's body at that moment. Kuciumi had his head full of tears. Many times I apologized to my son who was looking at me with his innocent face. Meanwhile, Diki also hugged me from behind. He instead scolded me for almost harming Nur for losing his temper. He actually apologized to me for not being able to meet the needs of the family well, so, I had to be exhausted from also working at home in addition to taking care of household affairs. Even at that time mas Diki also told me that I could pawn his family's legacy necklace to replace the cloths that had been muddled by the actions of Little Nur.

"Thank you, Mom," I answered softly as I wiped away my tears.

"Alhamdulillah, finally the beautiful wife is back," replied mas Diki with a sweet smile.

"I'm not going anywhere, am I?" my protest.

"No, afraid of being taken away, because there was Mak Lampir just this way," replied my husband by returning to his smile wider.

"Ah, Mas Diki, there's-there," I said after understanding the meaning of my husband's joke. Yes, Diki did give her advice in a joking way, but deep down, I felt guilty and ashamed of my mistake. I promised myself I would be more patient with my son. There was no reason for me to be rude to my son and husband. They are worth more than anything in the world. Even though the fabrics were expensive, I could still work harder to buy them. But my sons and my husband, if they are gone, I will never get them again. Imagining that, my tears broke again.

"No, Clar. You just remember something" I replied lightly.

"What is that, Ma'am?" tanyanya.

"It's nothing, really," I replied as I wiped my tears.

"Okay, then," said Clara, not looking anymore.

"Clar, here I bring a little food for you and .." I stopped my words while hoping Clara would continue by saying the word 'Mother' to represent the figure of the old woman who had troubled me several times.

"My boy?" clara replied a little disappointing to me because she did not mention the old woman by name.

"Yes, Clar," I replied covering up my disappointment.

"Thank you very much, yes, Ma'am. Ma'am has bothered to deliver food here," replied the young woman.

"Ah, it's nothing, really," I replied.

"Please sit down, Ma'am!" clara said as she pointed to one of the chairs. I sat down on the chair Clara showed me. One of the teak chairs belonged to Mr. RW.

"I'm going to stay back, yes, Ma'am, to move this food?"

"Yes, Clar."

Clara also left me alone in the living room which was quite large in size.

I looked at the whole living room. Nothing has changed. It is still the same as when this house was occupied by Mr. RW and his family. There were no more pictures on the wall. Maybe they were moved to a new home.

I waited a little while for Clara to come inside. Suddenly I heard someone's moaning from the direction of the room next to this living room. I sharpened my ears to see if I didn't hear wrong. My hearing was not wrong.

"Claraaaaaa!!!" call me on the sidelines of that voice.

There is no sign from the inside. Meanwhile, the groaning sounds were getting louder and louder.

"Claraaaaaa!!!!" call me even louder, fighting with a slashing moaning voice from inside the room.

There is still no truth from within. I don't know why my hair suddenly brimmed at that moment.

Seriate