My madam, my poison

So close?

Today is Sunday. I plan to take mom, Lyra, and Fina for a walk in the zoo, as Lyra proposed a few days ago.

As we prepared to leave, a car entered my yard.

"Mother ... that's Uncle Keenan's car isn't it"?" ask Lyra.

"Did you make an appointment to see Keenan this morning?" ask mommy.

I shook my head.

"Uncle Keenan!" call Lyra when Gibran's late brother walks toward the terrace.

"You guys are so neat. Are you guys going to get out of the house?" tanyakanya.

"Yes, Uncle. We're going to the zoo."

"Oh, so. Today my uncle came here to pick you up. At that time my uncle promised to take you for a walk. But only now did uncle have free time."

"Where is Uncle going to take me?" ask Lyra.

"There is a new tourist attraction opening in the city. Tea garden with outbound rides."

"That sounds exciting. What if we go to that new tourist spot first, to the zoo after." Fina.

"Right, it's still morning. We still have plenty of time" said the mother. Keenan nodded in agreement.

"Yes, you and Lyra get in Keenan's car. Let me and Fina ride in your car with Mr. Amin" said the mother.

"T-t-but, …"

"Come, Mom." I could only resign when Lyra suddenly pulled my hand and led me into the black car.

"Sorry, yes, Lyra. Uncle didn't tell you first. The intention of uncle wants to surprise you, but it turns out you also want a vacation today" said Keenan.

"It's okay, Uncle. I'm even happy, because I became a vacation in two places," said Lyra.

"You're the most happy to be invited to vacation" I said as I pulled Lyra's tiny nose and played a little. The little girl grimaced, revealing her neat rows of teeth.

"If Uncle Gibran is still around, it's gonna be fun."

"Uncle Gibran or uncle Giblan?" sindir Keenan's.

"Uncle Gibran is."

"You used to call him uncle Giblan."

"Where is it."

"If you don't believe me, just ask your mother."

Lyra, who was sitting next to me, raised her face.

"Are ya, Mom?" tanyakanya.

"Yes, that's it. You can't say the letter R. So uncle Gibran you call uncle Giblan" I explained.

"Ah, Mother," grunts.

"It's okay. Almost every kid your age used to have trouble pronouncing the letter R. But what matters now is that you can."

"Still far away, Uncle?" ask Lyra.

"Maybe it's still about twenty minutes away. If you are sleepy, just sleep. Later after I wake up uncle."

"I'm going on vacation, not going to sleep in the car" said Lyra who suddenly made Gibran chuckle.

About twenty minutes later we arrived at the first tourist destination, the tea garden. Although it is a new tourist attraction, the place is quite crowded with visitors.

"Lyra, you dare not ride the flying fox?" ask Fina.

"Flying fox is what, Ma'am?"

"Then our bodies will be tied with ropes and then slide from a height."

"When it falls?"

"Not fallen. Officers will put a safety device on our bodies before we slide, it must be safe."

"Ehm …"

Lyra seemed to think for a moment before finally giving an answer.

"Yes already. I'm gonna try."

"Well, that's dong. That's called a brave girl."

Fina took Lyra's hand and passed from before me.

"Where's Mr Amin, Mom?" my many.

"It's coffee there." Mother pointed her index finger towards a small shop in the parking area of the tourist spot.

"Ehm .. I want pictures there. It must be good to be on social media."

"Wait, Mom."

Ah, mother seems to be walking too fast. Within seconds, he was gone from my sight. And now I'm alone with Keenan. I wonder if they let us alone?

"Ehm .. We see Lyra and Fina, yuk," Keenan said a little awkwardly.

"You want to ride the flying fox too?"

"Ah, no. I'm-I'm actually a phobia of heights."

"What's? Altitude phobia?" I chuckle.

"Yes. My first fear of heights was when I was about six years old. At that time Gibran and I climbed a mango tree behind the house. The ignorant Gibran went down first but he hid the iron stairs we used to climb up. I cried for almost an hour and no one helped me because my mom and dad were out of the house, while Marni was at the market" Keenan said.

"Then, how did you finally get down?" I was curious of course while holding back a laugh.

"Mbok Marni who just came home from the market who found the iron ladder and helped me down. From that moment on I was afraid of heights."

I put on a thin smile.

"That fear should not be allowed, but resisted," I said.

"Fight?"

"Yes. You have to fight your fear. Do you want to be defeated for a lifetime with that fear? What if you are married and have children. Your son is crying because his kite is stuck in a tree. Are you going to let her cry for hours?"

"Ehm .. I want to get rid of this phobia. But I don't know how to."

"I know."

"How's it?"

"Let's come with me."

"Well, you're taking me here?" keenan protested because I took him to the flying fox area.

"Uncle Keenan! Lookhere!" yell Lyra from a height."

"Lyra hooked up flying fox. This is the third time," explained Fina who had just removed the safety rope from her body.

"He's brave too" I said.

"Ehm .. um …"

"Come on, he said he wanted to go up."

"I-i'm ta-..."

"Sir .. mas this is going up." Fina was seen slightly pushing Keenan's body towards the officer who installed the safety device.

"Ti-ti-no."

"Losing time with that little brother. He had gone up three times" said the officer, putting a safety rope on Keenan's body. I could catch the fear that was so intense on his face.

"You can definitely fight this fear" I said as I patted his shoulder gently. I don't know where that courage came from. While gliding at a height I saw neither fear nor panic. He shouted out loud as if he found freedom from the fear that had been restraining him.

"Zura .. I can .. huuuu!" yells.

"God. Why is he so excited" said Fina.

"During this time Keenan has a phobia of heights. I encouraged her to fight her fears" I said.

"Ehm! The story is there to be a giver of spirit," seduced Fina.

"Bu-bu-not that. I just feel sorry if my whole life has been ruled by the fear of heights."

"Love starts with pity, Mom."

"You like to tease mom the most." I tickled Fina's waist until she cried out for mercy out of carelessness.

Not long after Keenan and Lyra approached us.

"Mother ..I am thirsty and hungry" said Lyra. I saw a sweat on his forehead.

"Oh my God, son. How many times have you rode a flying fox to sweat like this?" I took a handkerchief from my bag and rubbed his forehead.

"Mas Keenan is also dry, not on a lap too?" insinuated Fina who made the man misbehave.

"Oh, I just remembered. I brought a handkerchief too." Keenan took out a handkerchief from inside the back pocket of his pants and rubbed his sweaty forehead.

"Where's mom, Grandma?" ask Lyra.

Suddenly my phone rings. Long live, just talked about, mom called.

[Hello, Mom.]

[You guys where? Not in that place]

[Ehm .. we went to the flying fox]

[We eat yuk, hungry mom]

[Mother wait there. Lyra and Fina had also finished playing the flying fox]

[Okay, I wait, don't wait a long time]

- Interrupted calls

The four of us had just left the flying fox area, suddenly someone approached us.

"His knit bag, son. Fifty thousand rupiah only," said the man who was more than sixty years old.

Waitaminute! His face was not foreign.

I've seen it, but where?

"Do you remember Grandpa, son?" tanyakanya.

I remember now. I once bought her knitting bag while I was out walking with Lyra and Gibran a few years ago.

"Yes, Cake. If it's not wrong then I bought a knitting bag from Grandpa. Grandpa sells here now?"

The grandfather gave a thin smile.

"Grandpa sells anywhere, son. Almost in every tourist spot."

The old man turned his eyes towards Lyra.

"This must have been the little girl that time. You are big now" he said.

"God, Grandpa's memory is very strong" I said.

It wasn't just me who bought the knitting bag that grandfather sold. Apparently mom and Fina were also interested in buying it.

"This, cake, money" I said, giving the grandfather two hundred thousand bills.

"This is the change, son."

"No, just take the change. Consider the sustenance of Allah through my hands."

"Thank you very much, son. May Allah provide you and your family with ample sustenance."

"Amin, thank you, Mother. Then we'll excuse you. Assalamualaikum."

I just turned my back, but Grandpa's holding me back.

"What's up, Cake?"

"Grandfather remembers that time Grandfather once told you. Grandpa wishes grandpa's prophecy was wrong."

I put on a bitter smile.

"Grandfather's prediction was right. The man I was with was gone. He died about 3 years ago."

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi roji'un."

"Can you see your hand again?" tanyakanya.

I reached out my right hand to the grandfather who had a friendly smile.

"Why is Grandpa smiling?" my many.

"Maybe you've lost someone you loved so much. But from the line of your hand I see if the replacement of the person you love is very close to you," he explained.

"What does Grandpa mean?"

"You'll know as time goes by."

"God. Zura why are you still behind?! mother shouted when she found me still did not move from the grandfather of the knitting bag seller.

"Yes, Mom! Excuse me, Cake. Assalamualaikum."

I passed from before the grandfather of the knitting bag seller, of course with various questions spinning in my head.

Connect …

Hi, loyal readers. Also in the work that is titled:

"MARRYING WITH THE DEVIL"

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