Ms. Dorky

C2; 16. The Comenian

Henry went back home. After spending a long time in Bandung and Kalimantan to check his business, the man now sits sweetly in the dining room enjoying the gulai of fish made by Raya. There was a Heru there, but as usual silence occurred. The two men looked like strangers who were met at one table. Henry glanced at Heru, a little relieved that the boy had already returned home. Henry was worried if on his return to Jakarta and Heru was still mengalang buana somewhere. Although often quarreled but Heru was the only son and heir to all Henry's business, so sometimes even though it looks indifferent but secretly all Heru's movements are always in Henry's monthly report.

“You read write smoothly?” henry suddenly asked Ayu as the girl brought additional fish gulai.

“I-iya sir, can” Ayu replied clumsy.

Henry tapped the table with his fingers and frowns. “You were his last education to where?”

“SMP pak”

“Hmm...you come with package C only, continue to lecture.”

Ayu's eyes rounded in shock at Henry's words, the man's expression looking solemn. “But my pack don't have-”

“Cost?” Ayu nodded innocently. “My company in Bandung has a foundation that provides scholarships for high achieving children”

“I am not an accomplished child sir, I am purely just a graduate of Junior High School because I am not a pinter. If I go to school again, I will just waste money, explained Ayu plain.

Henry laughed loudly, his booming voice filled the dining room making Ayu's forehead wrinkle. Is there something wrong with Ayu's words? “You try it first. Inget, education is important, people today like to look at others from the level of education. If you go to school, you might be better off. You are still young, do you want to be trapped continue to be a maid here?”

Ayu gulped, Henry's sentence seemed to be an attack of fact. Ayu hunchback did not dare to reply to the man's words, he was afraid of mispronouncing. Ayu's eyes looked at Heru who had been silent since, the boy's eyebrows raised up and then nodded slowly.

“Think again Yu, really kok papa” said Heru open voice.

“Iya sir, thanks for the offer, I tried to talk to my mother first” reply Ayu politely and then return to the kitchen.

...----------------...

Outside the rain slowly began to dissect, Ayu sat staring at the raindrops while chopping long beans. These two days he kept thinking about Henry's words. A school? What Ayu is able to remember Ayu he was not so smart, especially if the lesson is mathematics and the like. How hard Ayu tried to learn during the night still his brain did not want to work together to solve a collection of numbers with a combination of the alphabet. Here Ayu thinks; sometimes even though we have tried hard, but intelligence is like an expensive gift for certain people. Just look at Adit, the boy has a cleverness that Ayu does not understand. Not once Adit who is still an Elementary School teaches SMP mathematics just by armed to read Ayu's notes. Adit also loves to read, his hobby of sitting for hours under a tree reading all the books he borrowed from the traveling library.

[Tried first son, happy mom kids school mom. I used to not graduate from Elementary School, but if you want to see you there is a chance for school, I am very happy] said Ayu Mother when they spoke on yesterday.

Did I try it? batin Ayu. Brakes. Ayu's daydreams fell away, her face turned to find Dini putting a basket of chili on the table with a riled look. The girl didn't smile the sign that something had just happened to her.

“Ngapain you Yu?” ask Dini.

“This is mbak, vegetable napiapain for dinner” Ayu replied. Dini snorted and began to wash the dishes. Ayu continued to work, he chose silence not to disturb Dini, occasionally Dini sounded mumbled annoyed.

“Yu, Yu, are you done? Jacquard meatballs yuk." Ningsih appeared with a smile.

“A little more mbak, this I wash bentar” replied Ayu then wash the vegetable pieces of beans and drain with a small basket.

“Enak very yes Yu, feel again play to the house aunt” quipped Dini suddenly. Ayu turned a bit surprised.

“That means mbak?”

“Badminton was asked by Mas Heru, making a cake requested by Kak Laras, I could not refuse mbak. My work also I try to finish.”

Dini sneered, obviously not willing to hear Ayu's defense, he knew Ayu did not lie but now Dini like to explode shed his emotions on the girl.

“Reason for you! Do you have a reason not to work? Because of your work I have done a lot. What's the point of having a lot of people at home, but I still have a lot of work? What do you think you're good for? Where my salary remains so aja”

Ayu took a breath, quite hurt to hear the words Early. As Ayu remembered all this time he tried his best to finish his work, if not Ayu will ask for help Ningsih and then tomorrow Ningsih's work will be assisted by Ayu. But now even Dini who looks very angry at him.

“You want to tempt Mas Heru right? I'm watching your behavior like dating in front of Mas Heru. Uh, you should have realized, you're just a maid here. You-”

“Heh Early!” snapping Ningsih hard made Dini flinch. Ningsih moved closer, her face flushed red with annoyance. “What did you just say? You said Ayu what? A shackle? Agape! Conscious Din! You're jealous because you can't like Ayu. You think in this house you're the best? Any show off, any comments, mbok yo thought your words were sick what not! Think this world has you what?!” spray Ningsih irritated.

“You do not need to interfere, I like to say anything to Ayu”

“Yes if I like it I also want to reply to your words. Wh why? You want to fight with me?”

“Bad you!” snapped Early but did not dare to slap Ningsih, compared to Ayu, Ningsih was indeed much more reckless and difficult to fight. All this time Dini dared to Ayu because the girl was just silent and never fought back.

“You started it! Until I hear again you recite strange to Ayu, I sew your mouth!” threatening Ningsih, his hands clenched ready to punch Dini when the girl replied to her words.

“Mbak, already, do not fight later heard Mbok Raya. I'm wrong, sorry Mbak Dini” scolds Ayu trying to stay calm, even though his body trembles afraid Ningsih play hands.

Ningsih. “Your work is Yu?”

“Iya mbak udah”

“Come eat meatballs, I treat” invite Ningsih to pull Ayu away.

“Mbak thanks yes. But I was so scared that I hit Mbak Dini” said Ayu slowly when they were away from Dini, at a glance Ayu could see Dini mendumel staring annoyed at them.

“Iya Yu, I was planning to pinch her lips, let her not comment people continue. I actually just wait for time to spray the Dini, just there is a chance now. That's a child should be roughened to ngerti”

“Iya mbak yes, already mbak, do not be angry constantly, later beautiful lost loh” janda Ayu stroked Ningsih's back. The two walked forward, the rain had stopped and the meatballs looked cool perched in front banging his bowl. When he was about to open the gate heard the sound of Heru calling Ayu, the guy just parked the car, he gave a code for Ayu to approach him.

“Iya Mas Heru how?”

Heru handed out a paper that read the registration of package C. “It. Thought again Yu, if already, fill, continue to love me, later I take care of”

“I-this is serious mas?” ayu's eyes stared in disbelief.

“Kalo is not serious, I am gebug bokap. Already there, you want to snack meatballs right?” reply Heru then stepped into the house. Ayu looked at the guy's back and the paper in his hand alternately, his lips then moved displaying a sweet smile.

“Makasih Mas Heru” murmured Ayu slowly despite not being able to hear by the guy.