Mom's Not a Prostitute

Another Dark Story

Not always memories must be saved. If it's for good, it's okay to take it off.

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When I started to fall asleep, I was suddenly startled by the unusual sound of Tiara crying. I flinched after checking her condition. Her body is hot. I was panicking. This must have been the effects of the night wind and rain that time. I ran out to find a cure. But at midnight like this, there's no stalls open around here. If I had to search any further, I was worried about leaving Tiara alone. I also can't possibly carry it, go around looking for a midnight cure like this. This confused me.

"Whoever, Ma?" ask someone from the house next door, after seeing me pacing the porch.

I looked towards the woman who was approaching. I was surprised to see him wearing a helmet. Where's he going at midnight like this? Or just come home from somewhere?

"My son is sick, his body is hot. I need to hurry up and give him some heat-lowering medicine. But the stalls are closed." I listen to the anxiety.

"If so wait here, let me go out looking for a cure. On the road to town there's a stall that's open 24 hours." The woman quickly moved to her house, seemed to rush to turn on her motorbike and immediately shot. I didn't even get to give him the drug buyer money.

While waiting for the woman's return, I tried to calm Tiara. The crying never ended, making me panic even more.

About 15 minutes later the woman came home with a bottle of hot-dissolving syrup. Also cotton candy to make it easier to persuade Tiara to want to take medicine. But how did he know that this child was indeed difficult to be told to take medicine? I sat down while holding Tiara. The blond woman started preparing the medicine, pouring it a few drops into a spoon. After being persuaded by sweet words and a cotton candy, Tiara muffled the cries and opened her mouth to swallow the medicine. This slender-bodied woman looks experienced in facing small children. Maybe he also had a child the same age as Tiara. A while later Tiara slept while hugging her cotton candy. I checked his forehead, the heat started coming down. I'm really relieved and very grateful to Siska. Yes, the woman who helped me tonight is Siska, we've met. He also contracted in the house next door. When I saw that he was panicking, he just came home from work. He was a single organ biduan who mostly got gig calls at night. Usually for wedding receptions or special occasions. The pay is not much, but enough to meet daily needs, he explained.

"Ah, no need!" He refused when I was about to change the money to buy the medicine. I'm not feeling good. I am grateful that, behind all the problems, God still brings me closer to good people.

"So the first day you lived here?" ask again as we step outside. He said goodbye after making sure Tiara was okay.

I just nodded with a smile.

"Thank God! I finally have a friend to talk to. I can play here often, right?"

"Of course."

"Yes already. Tomorrow we'll just keep going again. It's late."

I smiled, assented.

***

It was still early in the morning that Siska was already screaming in the doorway. Although I only met him last night, I'm sure the shrill voice earlier belonged to him. Tiara first ran out, with a sprig of cotton candy in her right hand that had already been eaten in half.

"Eh, Honey. Mak where?" His familiar voice greeted Tiara. Even after I emerged from the kitchen, Tiara was already in her carriage.

"Be next door, yuk! Breakfast together."

I haven't confirmed it yet, he's turned around, passed by with Tiara. The boy quickly got along with the person he had just met.

Siska's house is as big as the one I contracted for. It's just that the paint looks good, and the furniture is complete. There was even tivi that made Tiara even more at home. He was stunned in front of the box-shaped object, watching a cartoon. Incidentally this Sunday, almost all channels broadcast entertainment shows for children.

Siska passed inside and back with a tray containing a plate of steamed sponge as well as three cups of warm tea.

"Anybody bothering everything?"

There was something a little strange on my mind. "Are you living alone?" tanyaku carefully.

"Yes, that's it!"

"Your family?"

The tea he was about to extract was put back after hearing my question. I feel bad about being too curious. Although he tried to smile, the look on his face was very lame with a moment before.

"My parents divorced when I was in first grade. Then I was dropped by Grandma. They then spread out in pursuit of each other's pleasure. And until now, they never came to see me. I don't know where they are either. Maybe already happy with each other's new family to forget the same as me." Siska. This time he really sipped tea earlier to relieve his throat. "I get my parents' affection only from Grandma. He raised me lovingly. Although forced to slam bones unnaturally for the size of his age to meet my needs. He was so tired that God asked him to stop. He died when I was 16." Until this second Siska's voice remained loud, but her eyes had already dewy.

"After Grandma was gone, I had to fight on my own. Strengthening the soles of the feet to fight the rigors of life. With nothing, I tried to propose myself as a biduan. Since then I have been singing from stage to stage until now. A job that is seen by many people. Bonded cindopang* is common, it does not need to be inserted into the liver. This is my life, they know nothing. This is the ji I can do to keep alive. As long as I don't do things that can hurt them, I don't have to be daunted." Siska's voice was firm and contained. His spirit and life force seemed to rub off on me slowly.

"And even on stage, I met a soul mate. The thin mustachioed man who secretly sows longing in the heart. He was a replacement keyboardist in the electon group I followed. A brief introduction peppered with the flames of romance continued into a serious relationship, until we decided to get married." Siska paused, sighing long. "But sadly, the marriage, which was only two years old, foundered due to the presence of a third person. I was divorced, dumped. She preferred the plunderer and left us, me and my son."

"You have a child?"

Siska nodded. A clear drop slipped from the corner of his eye. "Beautiful little girl. He was the same age as Tiara when God asked him to return after two days of fever."

Now I understand why he was so worried when he found out Tiara's body was hot last night.

"Everyone I care about leaves me. I was destined to be abandoned. The more I get here I'm immune. I'm used to living alone."

Again I found a cruel life story. Is life really like this? Is there a straight life without something that can invite despair? I'm sure there isn't. With Siska, I feel not alone. New power has grown in me. All life on this earth has been juxtaposed with their respective problems. I just need to be confident, set the pace, and sure I can get through this stifling part.

"Oh yeah, wait a minute." Siska's voice lifted me up from the banquet. I saw his bright face was back before he went to the room. A moment later, he reappeared while dragging a wheeled suitcase that looked full of cargo. He sat down on the floor next to Tiara who was engrossed in watching tivi. Through the movement of his hands, he called me closer. He unpacked the cargo of the suitcase that turned out to contain a piece of clothes his late son.

"These clothes will only become ant nests if no one uses them. Just make a Tiara, yeah!" bargain Siska while choosing the one that he thinks is the best and seems to be directly used to Tiara.

"Are you serious? These clothes, right, must have memories for you."

"Easy! Not always memories must be saved. If it's for good, it's okay to take it off. My son is still in here anyway" Siska pointed to his chest, "even without these clothes."

I can't refuse anymore. Thankfully. Tiara did have only two pairs of clothes, which he wore on the run at that time and the gift of Puang Nani when staying overnight at his home— clothes his former son.

Tiara looked excited as Siska asked her to try on some of the clothes she had chosen. Everything looks just right. Siska actually gave it all along with her suitcase. He even gave me some clothes that still looked new, he said he had only worn them a few times. At first I refused, a suitcase for Tiara alone was enough. But he said he was completely sincere, and he would be disappointed if I didn't accept it. Alhamdulillah! Somehow I have to thank you.

Siska did all this as if she understood my condition, even though I have never told her. He seemed sensitive to all forms of suffering, and wanted to save anyone from there. Me included. Fortunately, he did not demand to know back the story of my life after he explained his story, because his dark story was nothing compared to what I experienced.

***

Foot note:

*Sign for *******.

[Connected]