MISS AISHWA

Friends and New Neighbors

Early in the morning Aishwa wakes up, seeing that her father is still asleep. She packed up and prepared for her routine. No breakfast and just a sip of water. Just as he was about to open the door to get out, his father woke up.

"Aishwaa". Call his father whose tone is still a bit depressed because he just woke up.

"Yes dad?"

"Where's the money you got yesterday?" Ask his father

"There's in dad's closet drawer". Aishwa answered with a beating heart. Because he only brought home fifteen thousand dollars.

"Sana, go. Find a lot" his father told him to leave. Aishwa quickly opened the door and ran out. He was afraid that his father would scold him.

He also walked to the place of the base beside the road under the tree. There is an office and school area. A lot of people walk in that place. The distance from his house to that place is about 3 to 4 kilometers. Quite far if taken on foot, especially for children his age.

On arrival there, a boy appeared to be two years older than him. The boy was also seen carrying a box of polish like himself.

Aishwa approached the boy and greeted him.

"What's his name?" That's Aishwa, too friendly even if she doesn't know that person.

"I'm Rafa" she shakes hands with Aishwa.

"You live near here?" Ask Aishwa.

"No. My house is behind that hill, probably about 3 kilos from here" replied Rafa while pointing towards the hill far behind the tall building.

"Same. I live behind that hill too".

"You're new here?" Ask Aishwa

"Yeah, I just moved in a few days. I'm from Medan. But when my parents divorced, I moved here because I was with my mother" he said in a somewhat slender tone.

There is a feeling of compassion for Rafa. He found a friend like himself.

Aishwa already knows what divorce means. Like his father and mother separated. He means it so.

"You're school?" Ask Aishwa

"Yes, it's third grade SD. I also plan to continue school here. But for a while, I worked first. Maybe next week I'll be enrolled in a new school"

"That means you can read dong?" Ask Aishwa.

"Yep. Don't you know how to read?"

Aishwa looked down at the question.

"Aishwa's. The school didn't give you money. School just spends money. Youunderstand?" aishwa said as she swept her lips as if mocking her father said.

"That's my papa" Aishwa continued

"Can you teach me to read and write? But be quiet. Don't get caught by my papa." Aishwa said innocently.

"Can aja. You come to my house at night. There's my mom and sister"

"Oh yeah. thanks!"

"Patiently well. May your father open his mind and be able to educate you. It should be this year you go to school because your age is supposed to go to school" Rafa patted Aishwa's shoulder gently.

Aishwa was very happy. There was a glimmer of hope in her to be able to read, write and count.

Shortly after their conversation, a man in sunglasses with a long mustache came up wearing dull shoes. And it seems like the shoes were never cleaned for a long time.

"Dek.. please clean yes, all shiny packing". His ink to Aishwa while taking off his shoes.

Seen the man's socks are hollow and his big toe is two-two looks.

Aishwa and Rafa laughed grimly at the sight of those socks.

"Why are you laughing?" Ask the man while taking off his glasses. The look of her sharp eyes made Aishwa a little scared.

"The legs are funny, second to none" Aishwa replied as she covered her mouth with a laugh.

While polishing the shoes, Aishwa and Rafa heard the father's story. Rafa also helps Aishwa.

"It's om his shoes are done" Aishwa gave the shoes to the man.

"Thank you, his shoes changed" The man put on his shoes and gave Aishwa and Rafa fifty thousand dollars.

"Oms. No small money?" Ask Aishwa

"Take the change, it's because you made me laugh"

It was not the reverse, it was precisely the man who made them laugh.

"Thank you" as usual, Aishwa bowed in thanks.

"The same, the real work. Let you succeed" said the man, putting on his glasses and passing away.

Two hours later. No more people coming. Aishwa's stomach is hungry. He looked at Rafa who was also sitting listlessly. It seems like he's hungry too.

"Rapans. You're not hungry?" Ask Aishwa

"Actually I'm hungry but it's not good to leave you alone". Answer Rafa

"Well, we'll eat yuk. We got windfall today".

"Yes, but it's cheap"

"okay".

They went into the stalls nearby and saw the menu and prices listed on the walls. The cheapest price is 15 thousand. And it seems to them that it is a bit expensive. They are looking for another place. At the end of the road there is rice. Installed price dibalito "stool rice only 5000".

They finally ate. Aishwa feels new this time he eats good even though the price is only limaribu. And only this time he also got a customer who paid him fifty thousand.

What an unexpected windfall. And only this time he smiled just because of socks.

***

On the eve of the night, they came home together because their house was unidirectional.

In the street they talk a lot and without feeling they enter the hallway of their house. It turns out that Rafa's house is close to Aishwa's. Only about 20 meters.

"That's my house? But just contracting" Rafa pointed to his rented house.

"I'm the corner, right next to the little garden. Aishwa pointed at her small house.

"Wouldn't go in first?" Rafa asked as he opened the door of his house.

"Assalamu aleikum?" Rafa greeted her at her house.

"Waalaikum salam" a woman's voice came from inside the house. The woman comes out and Rafa kisses her mother's hand. Mia's mother, Rafa's mother still looks a little young. She wears a hijab.

"Kakakkk" a small child who may be around three years old also came out to Rafa. The little boy was holding Mr Bean's teddy bear. Be careful, Mr. Bean will be angry.

"Mother.that's my friend. Aishwah"

"Oh yeah.. Her name is beautiful like her man" praised Rafa's mother.

"Don't go in first, Aishwa?" Ask gently. Rafa's mother is very gentle and loving. Not a single bit had he ever raised a voice to his son.

"No aunt, my house is at the end. I'm afraid I'll be worried".

"Yes, the heart of yah.".

Aishwa then went home. There was a feeling of envy and jealousy in his heart seeing their family so perfect. Even though their parents divorced, they can still be happy.

As usual, before entering the house, Aishwa calculated his income today.

"Today's servants can clean sixty thousand"

He put ten thousand in his piggy bank.