SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Haircut

It did not feel like six years Mr. Risman's family had survived in Hilman's pavilion. Although often dealing with mystical things, their strong faith actually makes the defense strong. Mr. Risman and Ms. Inah do not know that the cause of all this is Sukma. The supernatural beings liked the child so much, that they dared to approach him from birth to this world.

Today is the time for a haircut. Bu Inah could not bear to see his daughter's long hair that was dreadlocked like a child. Not to mention the large fleas, making Sukma often scratch his head.

Seated Sukma in a plastic chair in front of the house. As usual, Bu Inah became an impromptu salon employee to reduce the cost of haircuts. Using scissors and a makeshift comb, he began cutting Sukma's hair.

"Mother, slowly cut her hair, let Dedek not hurt anymore," the boy whined while occasionally pulling his snot.

"Yes, I'll cut it slowly, Dek," said Bu Inah combing her daughter's hair slowly. It starts from the lower hair so that Sukma does not hurt.

Bu Inah started cutting Sukma's hair. Some of the boy's hair went down to the floor. Sukma grimaced in pain, like being grabbed hard by his mother. But this time he tried to endure the pain. Only tears were shed.

From the main house, Farah walked hurriedly towards the pavilion. His face was frowning, as if to describe his impatience to Bu Inah.

"Mom Inah! Mother Here!" yelled Farah annoyed.

Momentarily, Bu Inah stopped the haircut, then glanced at Farah. "What's up, Mom?"

"You are awaited from earlier, it turns out that even cut Sukma's hair. You really appreciate your employer, don't you?" gerutu Farah, glaring at Bu Inah.

"Sorry, Mom. I guess Albi will be going to the maths tutoring place any minute."

"Yes, he's leaving soon, but I also need Mom's help to get him ready."

"Alright, Mom. Later after finishing cutting Sukma's hair, I go there."

"A lump, yes," Farah said as she hurriedly left the pavilion.

Ms. Inah simply replied with a nod. As soon as he reassembled his concentration, he resumed cutting Sukma's hair. Again the boy grimaced in pain when his hair was cut.

"Mother, when did you finish cutting your Dedek's hair?" ask Sukma annoyed.

"A little while, Deck. Stay tidied up."

"Yes, not for long. It hurts, Mom."

"Yes, I understand."

Amidst their conversation, Atikah walked out of the pavilion. "Mom, Aunt Farah asked me to help you get A Albi ready, huh?"

"Yes. You don't go there, yeah. Mom's gonna cut Dedek's hair soon enough, all right."

"But I want to help ease Mom's work" urged Atikah.

"I told you, don't go there. You know what the consequences are when you get there?"

"Yes, yeah. I'll be scolded by Aunt Farah, right?"

"Well, that knows."

"But what was wrong, Mom? I just want to help A Albi get ready. Is it because I'm poor?"

"Mom, I still haven't answered my question" Atikah said exasperatedly.

While sweeping the floor, Ms. Inah replied, "If you already know the answer, why ask me again? Never mind, mending you play with other friends."

Atikah was stunned, recalling the question she had said to her mother. "So right, just because we're poor, I'm kept away from A Albi?"

Madam Inah nodded.

"Why don't we become rich? Mom and Dad work together, too, Om Hilman. Then, why do you and Mom who work until the afternoon can not get a lot of money like Om Hilman?"

Bu Inah put his broom, then crouched down and looked at his daughter closely. "Son, everyone's fate is different. God has written the destiny of every person. Om Hilman is an educated person, so the money earned is also different from Father and Mother."

"Oh, so, huh? So, if you want to be rich, I have to be like Om Hilman, huh? High school let pinter and get a lot of money like Om Hilman."

Ms. Inah stroked Atikah's long hair. "In addition, you also have to try and work hard. Do not forget to pray to Allah, that he may always be given a fruitful provision."

"Alright, Mom. I'll do everything Mom says. Then I play with Dedek."

"Well, so dong, beautiful mother's son." Mom Inah kissed Atikah's forehead. "Then I helped you, Miss Farah, yes."

"Yes." Yeah."

Hurry up Bu Inah went to fulfill his duties at Hilman's house. Atikah leads Sukma into the pavilion, then prepares a towel for her sister to take a bath. Glanced Sukma for a moment, his sister's eyes were so cute. Every now and then the six-year-old boy nodded.

"Why are you, Dek?" ask Atikah worriedly.

"Head of Dizzy Grandpa, Tea. Dedek's body feels so hot. Can you, yeah, Dedek didn't take a shower first?"

Atikah touches Sukma's forehead. The look on his face became more anxious when he found out that his sister's body temperature was very high. Immediately he laid Sukma on the mattress, then brought a glass of warm water from the kitchen.

Actually it's not strange for Mr. Risman's family. Each time the hair is cut, Sukma suddenly has a fever. He will fall ill for seven days and seven nights, after which he will recover as he was. However, Atikah who rarely handle this, sometimes feel nervous. He acted as his mother did to Sukma. Give him warm drinking water, let his sister rest, and give paracetamol to relieve his fever.

"Drink warm water first, Dek," said Atikah, helping her sister lean for a moment.

The sukma drank the warm water. He exhaled, then lay back down.

"Sir, why, anyway, do you like every hair cut or nail like this all of a sudden? Feeling, Teteh is fine if it's been cut hair."

"I don't know, either, Tea. It hurts so much. My body lemes, until it is difficult to wake up," explained Sukma with a raucous and weak voice.

"Then I shouldn't have cut your hair."

"But Mom likes to sulk if I don't want to get a haircut. He said it was like a dirty kid. And we're not bad, are we, Tea?"

"Of course not, Deck. We have a house like everyone else's" Atikah said, enveloping Sukma's body. "Already, Deck. You better be bobo, yeah. Teteh buy porridge for you."

Sukma closed both his eyes. Cold sweat poured down from his forehead. Along with Sukma, the dedemites who inhabited the pavilion left. They disappear with every strand of Sukma's hair that has been cut. However, there was one such wayward creature. The old woman who crawled into the wall, still inhabited Mr. Risman's family room.