Santri Famiglia's

Accepting the Endless Challenge

After sipping the refreshing cold of tomato juice, Sanubari felt his anxiety slowly evaporate. His mind became clearer, as if the fresh juice was also refreshing his mind.

Suddenly, a sharp question from Fang interrupted the atmosphere. "Why are you both soaking wet?"

Fang glanced towards Sanubari and Shawn. Water dripped from their hair and clothes. The floor is stepped on, the occupied seats are also wet.

Shawn who was sitting next to him instantly took over with a mischievous smile. Shawn told me while laughing. "Oh, it's all because of the weak Sanu. Just carrying me, he was out of energy. Finally, we fell into the river,"

Hearing Shawn's explanation, Sanubari rolled his eyes inwardly. "This kid."

Sanubari was a little upset. Although Shawn had warned before, but his nosy behavior never changed. Although his heart was a little furious, Sanubari chose not to return Shawn's taunts. He felt it wiser to continue enjoying every sip of fresh tomato juice in his hand. Inwardly, Sanubari hopes that Shawn can be a little more cautious in the future.

He's trying to understand. Shawn, however, was still a child and delinquency was part of the children themselves. Sanubari reminisces about childhood. He knew a nice little girl like Zunta. He also knew a bad boy like Aldin.

They keep growing. Not forever, who likes fun will still be like that. Sanubari believed that people could change. As long as it continues to be educated with kindness, everyone can surely become good sooner or later.

Fang said sternly, "Come on, quickly get inside the house and change clothes!"

However, Shawn malasively replied, "But, I want to play with Sanu."

With a serious face, Fang once again confirmed, "There's no room for excuses. You should immediately change your clothes so as not to catch a cold, then finish your schoolwork!"

Shawn left with a lethargic step, his face looked glum. He grumbled to himself all the way to the room.

"This is so unfair" he murmured inwardly.

Meanwhile, Sanubari noticed Damiyan's gentle gaze, then he refocused his attention on the glass of juice in his hand. The smile of the white-haired man made his heart warm. Every good action done by Damiyan meant so much to him. Sanubari mused, maybe it was time he invited Damiyan to join the Santri Famiglia. The thought of giving Damiyan a decent job if she made it home came to her mind."

"Grandfather Fang, I accept the challenge from you" Sanubari said as he placed an empty glass on the table. His confident expression was so powerful as an approaching storm, igniting the blazing flames of spirit.

He has to prove to everyone that he can. He has to prove that he's not as weak as they think he is. He must silence their banter with proof.

Fang looked at it with sparkling eyes, a wide smile etched into the face like a big cat that knew it would catch its prey. "You take this challenge with a passionate heart, Sanubari. I'm amazed."

The next day, the morning sun rose with a gentle light that illuminated the note sheet in Sanubari's hands. The young man sat under a tree, eyes wide open as he read the small clues written in blue ink inside the dark blue pocket book.

"Hit the ball."

"Mastering the art of poisonous needle spray."

"Studying martial arts."

"Mastering inner meditation for the sharpness of the soul and mind."

...

Sanubari scratched his head, a sign of confusion clearly emanating from his face. Pondering, he muttered, "Why are the five points in the form of dots?"

"Fang smiled mysteriously, his eyes lit up in intelligence. In a soft voice, he said, "Nothing is worthless without a hint of mystery, right? This might be the next step after mastering what you've learned so far."

Fang laughed lightly. "Trust, Sanu. I would never lie to my friends. I'll state when everything's really done. These inserts are just to make sure everything is running honestly. Imagine if I reveal all the details, then put my check or signature as a sign of the challenge has been completed! If it's like that, don't rule out the possibility that you'll tick or copy my signature so you can get the hell out of here, right?"

"Nonsense," Sanubari a mangosteen, "though I won't do what Grandpa accuses."

Sanubari tried to understand Fang's worries. He keeps the book in his pants pocket. "So, which other fields should I take care of?"

"There is no work in the fields and fields today."

"What?" Sanubari hysterically, "come on, Grandpa Fang! Give any job as long as it makes money! I don't want most of them unemployed, then lingering on the debt."

"Basic boy!" scream Damiyan with a tone mixed with aggravation and innuendo. The more time he spent with Sanubari, Damiyan became increasingly aware of the childish nature attached to his best friend. Sanubari's concern about debt became a positive point, his enthusiasm in settling the debts also hinted that there is a responsibility contained in him. However, it is undeniable, Sanubari's style of behavior is sometimes able to turn him into a cheerful child.

"Huh, I never imagined a person as big as him could act as he pleased as that," muttered Damiyan inwardly, his sharp eyes incessantly observing every whim of Sanubari's psyche that made his stomach tingle.

However, Damiyan knows that being an eyewitness to all of Sanubari's ridiculous deeds provides an invaluable experience. "Hey, look at him! Like a child finding a new toy," Damiyan said with a wry smile as she watched Sanubari jump around with enthusiasm.

Sanubari's mood changed rapidly. Though, he had only heard words from Fang regarding work.

Sanubari's carefree whimper suddenly sounded like crisp trees being blown off the wind as a tub-shaped car entered the courtyard of the house. As it turns out, Sanubari just misunderstood. Sanubari momentarily held a timid laugh when he realized that other jobs had been prepared before asking.

Damiyan was just an observer. This time, he did it with his own eyes, not through the eyes of a man-made machine anymore.

"Come, Brother Dami, we're going up!" Invite Sanubari with enthusiasm. He laughed off.

In moments like this, Damiyan felt an irreplaceable closeness to Sanubari, although at times the boy was able to make him shake his head with his hilarious actions.

With the vibration of the engine pounding, they drove using a tub car to the farm in the middle of the green hills. The cool morning air blew softly on their faces as cars rolled down the winding streets. Sanubari felt a vibe of excitement tickle his chest, hoping to be able to feel the milking activity like he had seen in rural movies.

Arriving at the farm, an amazing sight greeted their eyes. The vast green land was filled with rows of calm dairy cows chewing on the grass. In the silence of the morning, there was the gurgling of water and the soft whirring sound of the wind. The friendly breeder greeted them with a warm smile, "Welcome! Who wants to try milking?"

Sanubari and Damiyan stared at each other. Damiyan was just being ordinary. After all, he would only be the one to look around while walking around.

The other is Sanubari. His face water is very predictable. Spirit seemed to leak from all over his body. They follow the breeder to the milking area. However, what made Sanubari surprised was to see large machines that were ready to operate.

"Wow, are we going to milk with our hands?" ask Sanubari expectantly.

The farmer's soft laugh broke. "No, Honey. Time has changed. Now modern machines that help us in the process of milking. But don't worry, you can still experience this unique experience."

While listening to the breeder's explanation, Sanubari and Damiyan saw how sophisticated machines with precision pairing squeezing tools. Then, slowly, they saw fresh milk flowing into the large barrels. However, their spirit did not subside. With the help of breeders, they tried to install a wringer on one of the cows that were already accustomed.

As Sanubari pressed the button that had been taught by the breeder, the squeezer moved smoothly. The soft sound of the machine was heard all around him. His heart was flowering when he saw fresh milk flowing into the container.

"Wow, I did!" he cried with joy.

Sanubari was also allowed to blush directly using his hands while once again pleading. Naturally, it was thanks to Fang as the owner of the ranch. His main job is simply as a porters who move milk to a delivery car. Nevertheless, he was allowed to explore various processes. Sanubari really gained a new experience.

Some time later, when Sanubari's work was over, Sanubari and Damiyan were treated to fresh milk. They enjoyed a cup of fresh milk that they had just milked themselves. Sanubari expressed her happiness to Fang.

"This experience is amazing! I can feel how precious the milk we enjoy now is" he said with a smile.

The experience on the farm not only gives lessons on modernization in agriculture, but also reminds them of the value of hard work and appreciation of hard-earned results. Sanubari feels today is a new chapter in his adventure, gathering precious memories he will never forget, as well as inspiration to advance his own industry. Thanks to that experience, he also wanted to have his own farm to support the organization's economy.