My Mother is a Transvestite

Lunch Together

Along with the sun rising higher in the horizon, hunger begins to rub against their stomachs. Ana, recognizing this gesture, immediately began to open their picnic basket. From the basket comes the aroma of food that is appetizing. There are smoked meat sandwiches, fruit salads with yogurt, and chocolate cakes that are still warm.

"What's that, Mom?" ima asked, her eyes shining when she saw the chocolate cake.

"Surprise!" said Ana while showing a chocolate cake with cheese toppings. "I know this is your favorite."

Joseph glanced at the cake and said, "Wow! Thank you, Mom." He then took a piece and enjoyed it. "What a son!"

They sit around, enjoying their lunch under shady trees. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of wildflowers. Every now and then, small birds perch on tree branches, stealing crumbs of fallen food.

After eating, Joseph began to tell stories. "Mom, today at school, I was given the task of creating an essay. At first I was in trouble, but my friend, Ardi, helped me. He gave good ideas and advice, and we managed to finish it together."

Ana, taking a sip of her orange juice, replied, "That's great, Joseph. It's always good to work with your friends. There's so much you can learn from them."

Ima, not to be outdone, immediately shared the story. "Mother, you know what? My teacher, Ms. Lina, is very kind. He has always been encouraging us, and today he praised the paintings I have made. I'm so happy!"

The look on Ana's face showed pride. His eyes sparkled at the stories of his children. "I'm proud of you, Ima. You are very talented at painting."

They then shared stories, laughed together, and enjoyed a moment of togetherness. In the midst of the conversation, Ana gently held the hands of Joseph and Ima, giving a warm, meaningful touch.

For a moment, they fell silent, enjoying the peace of nature around. The leaves of the tree twitched in the wind, giving rise to a soothing gurgling sound. In the distance, the mountain stood majestically with its peak covered in mist.

With her eyes half closed, Ana observed her two adopted children. Yusuf with his slightly messy jet-black hair, his handsome face with thick eyebrows that were slightly wrinkled as he thought. Meanwhile Ima, with her round eyes that always seem full of curiosity, blushing cheeks, and long hair that always decomposes beautifully on her back.

Moments like this, for Ana, were the most precious moments. Seeing her two children grow and develop, sharing stories and laughter, became a reminder to Ana of the blessings of life.

After they finished eating, they tidied up their supplies and decided to continue their activities in the wild. However, the memories of lunch together under the shade tree will always be remembered as one of the most beautiful moments in their lives.

The peaceful atmosphere surrounding this family seemed to change in an instant as the ringtone of Ana's phone broke the silence. Ana, who is engrossed in hearing a funny story from Ima about a cat she met at school, quickly reaches into her bag to retrieve the phone.

The rustling leaves, the song of birds as if singing the song of happiness, as well as the scent of wildflowers that adorned the meadow, were momentarily forgotten. All the attention was focused on Ana who looked surprised at the name that appeared on her phone screen.

"Hello?" his voice trembled slightly when he answered.

On the other hand, Joseph and Ima could only hear whispers from the phone, but Ana's facial expression gave them an idea of the severity of the conversation. Ana's brows furrowed, her eyes widened and her lips trembled. His skin looked pale in a matter of seconds.

"...you can't hide it forever" the menacing voice from the other end of the phone was loud enough that Joseph and Ima could hear it.

Ana's hand trembled as she closed the call. She looked at her two children with teary eyes, looking scared and anxious.

"Mom, who is that?" ask Ima in a voice full of worry. His movements showed tension; both of his hands hugged, as if seeking safety.

Ana tried to take a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "There's someone from my past, honey. People I don't want to miss. He threatened to uncover the secret I've been keeping."

The atmosphere became tense. Amidst the beauty of nature, fear and anxiety now predominate. However, one thing remained strong between Ana, Joseph, and Ima.

Ima, with her teary eyes, approached Ana and hugged her tightly. "Mother, no matter what happens, we are always beside you" he whispered in a trembling voice.

Joseph joined in the embrace, adding warmth amidst the emotional turmoil they felt. "We're going through it together, ma'am. As we always do."

Ana, though shaken by the threat, feels a little better with the support of her two children. His face seemed a little calmer, although his eyes still showed signs of anxiety. "Thank you, my dear. I promise I'll explain everything, but now, let's enjoy our time together here."

They try to continue their activities, even though the mood is different. However, the support and warmth they give each other shows the strength of this family facing every storm that comes.

After a while of trying to re-enjoy the beauty of nature around her, Ana found it difficult to really calm down. The shadow of the mysterious phone was like a black shadow enveloping his mind. With a heavy heart, he decided that it might be better to go home early.

"Honey," Ana said in a soft voice, trying to cover up her anxiety, "Maybe we should go home now."

Joseph and Ima looked at each other. They could feel the anxiety lingering in Ana's heart. Ripe, Joseph nodded. "Good, Mother. Let's go home."

They quickly tidied up their belongings and returned to the car. Along the way, the green and blue landscape of the sky feels different. There was a slight mist of anxiety that shrouded Ana's eyes every time she stared at the window.

However, Ima, with her distinctive spirit, tries to distract. "Mother, did you know? I plan to take painting classes after graduation. I want to be a famous painter!"

Joseph, continuing the conversation, said, "And I want to learn about technology. Maybe I can make my own app someday. Who knows, you could use my app."

Ana glanced at the two with teary eyes, touched by her children's efforts to comfort her. Although his heart was still heavy, there was a feeling of warmth spreading in his chest. "The two of you are the greatest gift of my life" Ana said in a trembling voice.

They continue their journey by telling stories about their dreams. As if the darkness that momentarily enveloped Ana's heart began to fade, replaced by a ray of hope from the future of her two children.

The sun slowly began to sink, shining on their car with a golden yellow light. The shadow of the trees on the side of the road moves quickly, along with the speed of the car. In the distance, the mountains stood majestic, with dazzling-looking silhouettes behind the afternoon mist.

Despite the lingering uneasiness, their journey home was filled with laughter and stories. Whenever Ana seems lost in thought, Yusuf or Ima will tell her about funny things or their plans, making Ana smile again.

When they arrived home, the sky had already turned into a mix of orange and purple, signalling that night was coming soon. They got out of the car, looking at each other with understanding.

"Mother," Ima said as she hugged Ana tightly, "we're always there for you."

Joseph, with his slightly teary eyes, joined in the embrace. "We're gonna get through this together, like we always do."

Ana, with eyes that flooded with tears, felt so lucky to have these two children by her side. Although the storm might be threatening, he knew that with Joseph and Ima, they would be able to pass through it.