PELLET THE MIDWIFE

Chapters 1. The Big Dipper

"Mom, I've planted the parcel in Fadli's yard. What's gonna happen next?" A girl spoke to her mother in the dark of the night.

"Patience, Puspa! We'll wait until tomorrow morning!" The mother answered with complete confidence.

***

I fell in love with Fadli the village chief's son. That young man is very handsome. He has a high posture and a little muscular, the dream of women. The shape of the nose, eyes, and lips are all perfect. I don't want to know, however I have to have it.

A week ago, Fadli had just returned from the city. With the wealth owned by his parents, Fadli could continue his studies outside the area. What most young people in our village cannot do.

I'm Puspa, now I'm 22 years old. Since childhood I have had a beautiful face compared to my other female friends. I've known Fadli since childhood, we even sat in one bench in SD.

Fadli was the son of the most admired man in our village. He was Mr. Lukman, the only person to have been the village chief for a dozen years. Not because he does not want to be replaced, but indeed no one is willing to replace his position.

Mr. Lukman's performance is very memorable in our hearts. He was a fair village head and was not picky in giving help, making us reluctant to choose others as substitutes.

That afternoon, I went to the shop on foot. Mom ran out of salt and she told me to buy it.

When I arrived at the stall I heard the mothers were gossiping.it has become a habit for them, he said if not gossip when gathering like vegetables without salt, tasteless.

I chuckled, displeased when I heard them talk about Fadli.

"Mbak Yu, do you know that Fadli's son Pak Lurah has returned from the city?" Bulek Entin, the owner of the shop said with an unpleasant face.

"Yes, I've even met you, Entin," replied Bude Lilik, a woman with a bulky body posture who lives next door to Bulek Ntin's house.

"Iyo OPO? piye handsome what is Ndak?"

"Wuih .. gantenge pol tenan, Entin. If only I were young, it would not have been Mr. Lurah's son."

The two women who were no longer young were shamelessly talking about a young man who was disillusioned with their child.

"cn ... Puspas. What are you buying?" Bulek Entin finally realized my presence after I had been ignored. "Salt, Bulek." I replied flatly.

"Puspa, have you met Fadli yet?" Bude Lilik began to take me in their gossip. "Not yet, Bude." I replied lazily. I want to go home before they say anything.

"You must be smitten if you meet him, Puspa." Bude Lilik laughed broadly in what he imagined. In the meantime I just smiled wryly.

"What are you talking about, Yu? The Fadli must have had a girlfriend in town, the handsome wong must have been a lot of love," Bulek Entin kept talking made me even more uncomfortable.

"This, Pus. The salt! What's the same again?" I immediately grabbed the plastic containing salt from the woman's hand. "This Bulek already," I said while giving him two thousand dollars.

Not far away I stepped, they immediately gossiped about me.

"Puspa is ayu lo, Yu. It fits if the same child Pak lurah," said boulek Entin made me blush.

Although the Entin buleks praised me, but their flirtatious attitude made me feel furious. Is not enough of my rivals in this village so that women like Mother also want to follow along?

"Follow mother!" Even at home I was still grumbling.

"What's up, Pus? Home from the stall kok ngedumel," Mother who was cooking began to be disturbed. "That's Lo Bu. Bulek Entin same bude Lilik on flirtatious talk Fadli," I said in an annoyed tone.

"Fadli, Pak lurah's son?"

"Come on, Mom."

"Fadli's home yet?" Mom started to wonder.

"He said so, Mom. I haven't seen either."

"You go there, Pus. Meet him!"

"Yo shy to, Mom."

"Why shy, is he your friend to?"

What Mom said was true that Fadli and I used to be close friends, but we hadn't seen each other in a long time, of course, there was shame.

"Sup ...!" I heard a call from outside. Another familiar voice in my ear "Sopo, Pus?" ask Mother.

"Who else to, Mom. If it wasn't Tejo."

I get angry every time that guy comes home. Basic don't know yourself. It's decile, cungkring. Just keep teasing me.

"Open?" I stood on the terrace while putting on a jutek face. "Ojo ferociously to, Pus. Her beautiful ending is gone!" Every word that came out of his mouth made me feel emotional.

"Ora try kokehen lambe! (Don't talk much) What's the point? I'm busy."

Instead of retreating to get rejection from me, the Tejo even more vigorously welcomed me home. "Yok streets! unactivated."

"Emoh, mending don't come here again Dejo! My boyfriend's coming from town I don't want him to be jealous."

Hearing my last words Tejo directly came down from the blind motorbike.

"Who do you mean, Dek?" he asked with a shitty look.

"The son of Mr. lurah. You don't know if she's my girlfriend?" I deliberately admit Fadli as a lover so Tejo will feel disinclined, because Fadli his son Pak Lurah.

"Ra percoyo me, Dek," he said with a laugh.

"Ra percoyo Yo wes, karepmu!" I rushed into the young man's house will be big head if I continue to serve.

"Where's Tejo, Pus?" I came out of the kitchen with a cup of milk coffee.

"Who's the coffee for, ma'am?"

"For Tejo, to,"

"Iki piye's mother? Kok even in bikin

coffee, the bigger the head, ma'am." I took the cup of coffee from my mother's hand and downed it to the last drop. "Emang Mommy wants to have a cantungkring, buluk and poor like him?" It's not that I'm insulting, it's just that Tejo's attitude makes me dislike.

"Yo ra sudi," Mom shudders in horror at the thought of having an unemployed ghost like Tejo.

"Don't pay attention, ma'am!" I gawked into the room.

In the room I started to imagine Fadli. How is that young man's face now? It used to be handsome for sure now more handsome. Kuremas pillow firmly because of anxiety. "Tomorrow I'll find a way to meet him" I murmured softly.

***

Ever since I graduated from First High School, I've only stayed home. Wanted to go to college, but what my power is that only a widow's son doesn't have to charge for high school.

The last two months I've been with an organ troupe in the village. With a pretty face and a good body I immediately became a prima donna. My voice is also pretty sweet.

"Pus, you have been told by Mas Agung not yet when we play?" Anita who is a group friend told me on a phone call. "Yet, Nit. Where's gig?" I was so excited to hear the information from Anita. For almost a month we have not been able to work. The same lipstick powder is thinning. Buying savings is not enough.

Ask Mom not to either. I only sell Nasi pecel in front of the house, it is not too crowded for sure the money is also not much.

Durian tub collapsed. The news from Anita makes me happy. While diving drink water. Already get paid can also be a chance to spread the charm on Fadli, fun. "What's right, Nit? Wah can durian collapse this,"

"What do you mean, Pus?" Nita doesn't understand what I mean.

"If the gentleman, the cost must be good, right, Nit?" I am the champion give it up.

"Yet, you too! Ha ha ha."

Nita laughs happily, but here I am the happiest.

"Mala, how?" I remember that one of my rivals. Mala is not like Nita, she has a bad character. Every time I get a lot of saweran he'll instantly scoop up a hot tub of worms.

"Not knowing me, Pus. Ask the Great!"

"All right, I'll ask him later."

***

There was still one day before the event. I intend to buy a new dress to perform, but my money is not enough. Do I have to borrow the same from the Grandpa? All right, I'll try.

Once connected, Mas Agung immediately answered the phone from me. "What's up, honey?" That guy was always flirty with me. Not caught when the wife taps her ear.

"Mas, for the day after tomorrow I don't have a dress that fits how?" I deliberately spoiled her just to seduce her.

"The one you usually wear is there" he replied casually.

"Which one, Mas? Everything's been cleaned up. The show is in our own village Lo Mas. Must wear that cetar dong!" I continued to whine unabated until my goal was achieved.

"How do you feel, dear?"

"Buy it first, Mom. Later if I get a direct honor I pay, huh?"

The Great did not immediately reply, it seemed like he was thinking first. Understandably a married man, surely the money in the hands of his wife.

"Alright, because you are my most charming biduan I love to borrow, but immediately pay it not in installments! Rum will be raging."

Mbak Rum is his wife Mas Agung, the woman is notoriously fierce. Mas Agung who had long hair like a thug just bowed to him.

"Ready, Mas. Muach!" I kissed her a long way because she was so happy. "Try me on the serve, Pus. I'll give it all to you, for sure,"

"Hushy! Started fretting, Mas," I'm upset.

"Opo kui, Mas. Zinc in service? Hii ..hh!" There was the voice of Rumi's mother on the phone. From his voice can be sure that Mas Agung got a jewel. "Guyon Lo, Deck. Forgive me!"

I laughed when I heard the two men fighting on the phone.

It's not just Great Mas who often teases me so. Not infrequently the owner of the wish to offer me millions of rupiah as long as I want to spend the night with them. But I firmly rejected it. Not all dangdut saweran singers can be bought. Me included.

The sound and sway I can sell to enjoy many people, but my body is only for the people I love. Who else if not Mas Fadli. Just imagining it makes me feel embarrassed.

***

I went to the market with Anita. Our subscription clothing store sells various models of dresses. My choice fell on a blue night dress with a knee length and a closed chest.

"Tumben, did you choose this model?" chirps Nita.

The dress was different from the one I used to wear. Usually I like to wear skimpy dresses that have a fairly open cleavage. The risk of being a village biduan should be a little brave. If it wasn't like that, it wouldn't work. 

"What the hell, Nit? In front of Pak Lurah we must be polite, Nita! Don't let us be cheated later" I said while laughing amusedly.

I have to make a positive impression on Fadli. Don't let him be disgusted to see me dressed sexy on stage. I could fall in my pride.

***

"You owe it to Agung, Pus?"

I was shocked to find out I was in debt again. This isn't the first time I owe it to Mas Agung. But my debt was paid off, so it doesn't matter if I owe it again "yes, Mom. I don't have enough money to buy a dress" I replied.

"Be careful, Pus. I'm afraid that Agung has a crush on you!"

"Mother iki opo to? Don't think about it, the great man already has a wife, Mom. His wife is also beautiful, prettier than me."

"At present time, the affair is no prettier than your first wife, Pus. The important thing is they don't know themselves,"

"God ... Mom mostly watches Iki's gossip, wes I'm sleepy, Mom." I'll be in the room soon too.

The next day I prepared with thin makeup but beautiful. "Pus, what are you going on?" Mother has also dressed no less frenzied than me.

The event held in Pak Lurah's courtyard is open to the public. All villagers can attend. "Later Ardi picked me up, Mom."

Ardi is an assistant to one of our single organ group members, he is in charge of taking care of the sound system as well as the midwife shuttle to save on transportation costs.

"Yes, I'm leaving first yes,"

Mom dressed up like an office mom. I am ashamed of it. But how else, Mother is one of the PKK mothers in our village.

"Mother, who is it?" ask me before the woman who gave birth to me was really out of the house. "Same, Bulek Entin." replied Mother.

I forgot, they are best friends who are inseparable wherever they must be both. Understand both widows.

***

The courtyard of Mr. Lurah's house is already crowded in the residents. There are many geratis food today, of course they will not miss it just like that. I took my part walking towards the stage which was right opposite the house of the owner hajat.

My eyes continued to circulate all over to look for the figure who from yesterday had been bothering me in the dreamland. However, I did not find him.

MC has opened the event with a prayer. Mr. Lurah also has given a welcome word. Now it is Fadli's turn that the main star gives the words of pearl.

I was impatient, my legs didn't even stop swaying from nervousness.  "Why are you, Pus. Kebelt?" Anita asked while looking in wonder. "I'm nervous, Nit."

"Because ... Like a new singer just use nervous everything," Nita said lightly. He did not know just how the rhythm of my heart that had been berdisko ria. Thank goodness today only Anita and I were present. Mala was sick so she didn't come. At least the girl won't ruin my mood.

"We welcome Mr. Lurah's son who is the most handsome in the country ... Fade ...!" Mas Agung loudly called out Fadli's name.

There's only one stage, so Fadli will be making a speech on that stage with us.

True what many people talk about, Fadli is now getting handsome. My heart trembled as I watched him walk out of the house. "No man is that perfect? Gantenge ...!" unconsciously I muttered, making Anita cluck surprised by my behavior. "Cp .. ck ... Woi aware!" Anita patted my shoulder rough it hurt so much. He looked soft but clapped his hand like a porters hand. 

"It hurts to, Nit!" I protested, but he paid no attention to me at all.

"Excuse me ..." Fadli passed us by with a slight bow. Don't ask me how my heart rhythms at that time, if you put a microphone there, surely the whole world can hear it. The jedugh! The jedugh! The jedugh!

It's handsome, neat, fragrant again. I forgot to shut my mouth in awe. "Mixed, Pus!" Anita slapped my shoulder again. Instantly I closed my mouth while clearing my throat to neutralize the nervousness in my heart.