Neighbors Don't Know Themselves

Part 1 CITRA

After work, my husband asked to buy medicine to catch a cold. He said his stomach was nauseous too. Before long, he lay down while twitching his head. Furthermore, the conversation did not sound clear because I had stepped outside the house to go to a neighboring stall that was only blocked one house from my house.

Arriving there, the mother - as she was called - was hanging clothes in the yard next to her house.

"Buy what Tea?" Ask after settling even though still by tapping the bucket.

After I mentioned it, he took what I needed and put it in a small black crackle.

"Everything was 11,500, "he said again and handed over my groceries. I gave him 50 grand. While counting the change, the mother told me..

"Teh, mommy to Teteh just want a story.." paused for a moment like someone was buried. Ehh habit, I curse in the heart. Every time shopping here, of course there must be a 'mukadimah' first, but with a 'cover' that is somehow. I was going straight home, but suddenly I was not feeling well. Plus the change that has not been given, I had to stay as usual.

"Where was the thought of the Mira Tea? , "the mother whispered "Arisan has not been paid for several months. Keep on with the guttering mother. If you have to keep nalangin mah, males mom too. Wanted to be charged, afraid to be a problem. Because her husband did not know Teh Mira joined Arisan" .

The so-called Tea Mira was a neighbor as well. His house was in the middle between my house and my mother's house.

"Not every day to the shop. Her husband cigarettes the same coffee. Tea Miranya rice, meat equals vegetables. His children took snacks. Never said anything, never anything. Dizziness mom mah."

Paused..

"But every afternoon mom look like shopping to stall down. Also just returned from Borm*, the children brought one milk each, buy chicken geprek try. Mother is also a Tea man, has feelings. Look at Mira Tea like it's a heartache."

Yee who said it was Zuma toad, I said in my heart. Excited, why be stuck in a situation like this.

"When what day try A iwan his stopin motor in front of the house. Miranya tea jumps, she knows her grocery crack is falling. Pas seen the contents of rice the same spinach. I guess mom doesn't know. Though thought, for what is also secretly shopping to other stalls, if you want also a debt to the mother settle first. I will pay you again easily. Bayangin Teh, how's mom like?"

"Especially last month tea, he was crying to the mother's house, he said the Tita wanted to buy a tablet, the other one had not paid SPP. The capital money warung Ibu Kasihin. Turn now he's got the money, why don't he want to pay the debt?"

I still keep listening.

Shown again 9 months ago when he had just moved here, Teh Mira and her husband were the first to come to see you. As natives, they warmly welcomed us overseas. What a matching husband and wife, Teh Miranya beautiful A iwawan handsome, equally blessed with a friendly and open nature. Even so open, all the business he told me all. From the start of public affairs to personal affairs nothing is missed. At first it was uncomfortable, but long used to it too. Maybe his character is like that.

Until one day, her husband came to see you. Initially want to borrow a hammer, so long so borrow money without hesitation. We just got to know. He asked for two days. Yes I just give without a second thought, count the leave of the self who has no one here. But what was the two-day promise, the molor became three months after the payment was paid in installments.

Borrowing money becomes a habit. Even now there is still the rest of my money that has not been paid. The more you come here the more courageous. Not her husband, the same. It's not just the money they borrow. Small furniture such as plates, spoons, bowls, glasses status is already at the stage of having to be tucked away. When asked, the answer that is almost certainly not washed or still used is just a sign that my stuff will never come back home.

Food should not be asked again. Countless times have children brought empty plates to ask for food. Sometimes just bring the stomach. At first, I never minded. Instead of being thrown away, yes mending is given. But for a long time so fed up too, especially when his children dare to grow up the refrigerator and then casually take anything without saying.

Just yesterday while cleaning up my ex-husband's meal, came Mira Tea while carrying a frying pan, he said he wanted to cook because the gas in his house ran out. I have ordered, but not delivered yet. Beres cooking Mira tea asked for crackers that I fried this morning, yes I welcome. Kirain wanted to take some, it was brought the same jars. Go home, thank God there is nothing left. Ludes even to the crumbs. Not stingy, just upset. Who was sincere, long ago so feel used. I don't dare to talk. Not talking about the more you do not know yourself, it is wrong.

But no matter how upset I was, I never told anything about the Mira Tea family to my other neighbors. Fear of unwanted things happening. Enough I know. My husband was just curtailed when I was upset that I couldn't be arrested anymore. But as usual, my husband simply said; "Patience" .

Then the mother's chat I can no longer see properly. The head suddenly dizzy, accompanied by a bad taste in the heart because what we - more precisely the mother - talk about is only blocked by the wall. Unsettled wanderlust afraid that Tea Mira had suddenly come. Even though I did not chim in and just sat quietly while listening, but still the title is ghibah-ghibah as well. There's no difference. In retrospect, it feels hypocritical for my life, like playing a play as a gray character. No white, no black. He said he was upset, feeling that Tea Mira and her family were very troublesome. But when you ask for help borrow money or anything, even given again - again despite having to curse in the heart. But I don't know..

"No debt, pity. But if you are loved, you never want to pay, "said the mother again while handing over the change. Relieved, finally the closing sentence came too. Not waiting for long I immediately say goodbye, afraid that the mother changed her mind.

Arriving at home, it looks like the husband has fallen asleep tightly covered with snoring. Perhaps he was upset waiting for his wife who bought medicine like the Choki-Choki slogan; long and laaamaaaa.