SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Revenge of Miss Lastri

It's been the patience of Miss Lastri that she harbored since yesterday. The news of Ki Purnomo's death made his heart crumble dim, even dark in the eyes. According to him, the death of a subscription shaman is the end of his achievement to become a rich man. He really doesn't accept.

In a hurry, he went to the Hajj Gufron contract to meet Sukma. His face was red as if turning him into a creature, plus the makeup of his menor. The scorching heat of the sun was burning anger in the woman, then spread to the crown. Soon his anger will explode like a time bomb.

BOOOMM ... DUAAARR ... JEGEEER!!!

Upon arrival at the Hajj Gufron rented area, Bu Lastri did not want to linger to reduce his irritation. With grousy, he approached Sukma who was playing dolls on the rented terrace with Atikah. The woman with the thick makeup stood before Sukma, shaking her waist.

"Stand you!" order Bu Lastri with high tone.

At once Sukma closed himself to Atikah, who was equally afraid of the woman's arrival. A stocky body with an unwilling face, making Bu Lastri more frightening in the eyes of Sukma, than the supernatural creatures of his send. While grunting loudly, Bu Lastri pulled Sukma's hand from behind Atikah's back.

Sukma cried when his hand was gripped tightly by Bu Lastri. Her cries sounded so loud, that it made Bu Inah feel anxious. He rushed to the terrace to see something happening to his youngest daughter.

How surprised Bu Inah to find a woman with a bad face, was pulling the hand of the youngest by force. Without excuse, he released Bu Lastri's grip. His eyes were no less staring intently at the woman who owned the stall across the street.

"Do you have a problem with my child? If you're upset with my son, by the way! Don't play this rough!" bentak Bu Inah glared at Bu Lastri.

"It's all because of your son, Mom! Because of him, I failed to get rich!" shouted Miss Lastri.

Their quarrels immediately invited the other neighbors to ask. One by one they came out of his residence, to watch the debate that took place between the fat-bodied woman and Bu Inah. Meanwhile, Mr. Risman who has since cleaned catfish, was curious about something that happened in front of his residence.

"What did my son do until he was accused of being the cause of Mother's failed fortune, huh? Did he steal Mom's money? No, right?" reply Mom Inah yelling.

"He did not steal my treasure, but he killed my source of wealth" replied Bu Lastri in a tone no less high.

"What's Mom's source of wealth, huh? My daughter's mischievousness, she never glared at treasures. Understand?!"

"Allah! Just defend your daughter to death! I don't care! He should be in jail now for killing my shaman!"

So astonished were all those who witnessed the clash between the two middle-aged women. Lina Tea's mouth gaping as wide as possible when knowing Bu Lastri playing shaman. Atikah was also surprised to hear the words of Bu Lastri. Likewise with other neighbors, who were flabbergasted it was difficult to believe the ugly woman's words.

In the midst of their quarrel, Mr. Risman came to break up. Although his body was thin, but his courage was greater than anything else. The middle-aged man stood before Bu Lastri with a calm face.

"Mom, we better talk inside. Shame if you scream here, even watched by many people," said Mr. Risman meekly.

"ah! I do not want to go into your narrow house. Anyway, now I want to make the same calculation of this child! I don't want to know, lives have to be paid for!" deny Miss Lastri.

"What do you mean you talk like that? Mother wants my child dead? Before you do anything with my son, face me first! Come on!" challenge Bu Inah to get rid of her husband.

Sukma cried so much, seeing his mother quarreling with Miss Lastri. He increasingly close his body to the brother, to make Atikah pitya. Atikah hugged Sukma's body shivering in fear due to Bu Lastri's anger.

Amidst the commotion, Haji Gufron came to the rented area. The man looked unhappy if there was an outsider who had gotten into his contract just to make a fuss. In a hurry, Haji Gufron walked over to the two middle-aged women who were fighting.

"What is this, Miss Lastri? Why are you doing so much in my contract?" ask Haji Gufron grumbling.

"Well, this is what makes the atmosphere more unpleasant" said Bu Lastri pointed at Haji Gufron. "Heh, Gufron, I can't accept that you're using this child as a means of revenge!"

"Revenge? What revenge? What's this mother talking about, huh?" haji Gufron asked with a frown.

"Allah! Don't pretend you don't know, though. How dare you tell a child to interfere in our affairs. Don't you know that my shaman died because of him?" cerocos Bu Lastri with fast tempo.

"What's? Uh, Mom! If you think about it first! How could a child as small as the Sukma Deck kill a shaman-like parent I mean! I should be ashamed, the rich man is a business! Not playing shaman!" haji Gufron won't lose.

Momentarily Bu Lastri was speechless coming out of Haji Gufron's mouth. The refutation of Haji Gufron was justified by those who witnessed the quarrel. Ms. Inah was happy, because someone helped her when she was cornered. Sukma and Atikah close the body to her mother, then hide behind Bu Inah's body.

"Mom, stop. It's not good to be rowdy in front of people's houses. Aren't you ashamed, seeing a lot of people like this?" persuade Mr. Beni with a lethargic voice and punctuated by breathless breathing.

"Mom doesn't care, sir! I'm ashamed of that kid!" said Bu Lastri while pointing at Sukma who hid behind the body of Bu Inah.

"Easy, Mom. Let's just go home. It's not good to keep fighting here. Come on!" said Mr. Beni trying to be firm.

"Yes, go home! I have made my contract not sell, even light up the commotion here. Hurry up, go home!" hardik Haji Gufron.

"Shut up, Gufron!" bu Lastri snapped while glaring at Haji Gufron and pointed at him.

Mr. Beni embraces his wife to immediately leave the rival contract. The people who from earlier witnessed the commotion, cheered Bu Lastri. In fact, not a few of them who throw oaths due to his actions to associate God.

While the crowd began to disperse, Haji Gufron approached Mr Risman's family. His gaze was fixed on Sukma who was as bothered behind her mother's back. The little girl occasionally looked towards the gate, making sure that the woman who had already gripped her hand had left.

"Not to be afraid, Dek Sukma, the mothers are gone" Haji Gufron said.

Sukma. "If he comes back, what? Dedek is afraid, Mr. Haji."

"No, Deck. The mothers are afraid of the Father. He won't be coming back" Haji Gufron said.

Slowly, Sukma and Atikah showed themselves to Haji Gufron. Although still trembling due to the clash and shocking rude actions of Bu Lastri, Sukma tried to ventured to approach Haji Gufron. The middle-aged man smiled, then stroked Sukma's short hair gently.

"Sir Haji, he's Mr. Beni's wife, huh? Come here, why, no fuss? Where my son was treated harshly anyway," asked Bu Inah slightly grumbling, while looking towards the gate.

"Yes, he's Beni's wife. Besides being known to be greedy and arrogant, he is also a culprit of gossip in our area. I am patient, yes," Haji Gufron said.

"Ouch, Sir. Actually I was afraid that until he did anything else my son, let alone to be yelled at all like that. Still mending that Sukma Deck play at home, safe. But if it's Sukma Deck's turn to play outside, how?"

"Mom don't worry. I am sure, residents here will protect Sukma Deck, especially after hearing the rambling of Bu Lastri earlier. They know who's wrong and who's right."

"Yes, Mr. Haji. Hopefully Dedek will always be protected by anyone who is here" Bu Inah said.

"Most importantly, ask God for protection. Hopefully He will always take care of both Mother's daughters, wherever they are."

"Yes, Mr. Haji. We always pray for our two daughters."

Mr. Haji said goodbye to Mr. Risman's family, while Mr. Lastri was still in his anger. Despite sitting quietly in the middle room, his anger was still explosive. Mr. Beni who tried to muffle the wife, made helpless.

Nevertheless, Mr. Beni does not want to give up just like that. He brought a glass of water to his wife. However, Miss Lastri who was still angry at the incident a while ago, deflected the glass offered by Mr. Beni until it fell to the floor and broke apart.

"Mom, can you, really, stop getting angry? There is no point in getting angry just because of small children," said Mr. Beni grumbling.

"Mom can't stop being angry, sir. Anyway, I have to teach that kid a lesson. Because of him, we failed to get rich!"

"Mother doesn't know either, yes. Said Mr. Haji, the sustenance-"

"Allah! Mr. Haji's victory only makes you leha-leha aja. Don't be horrified! We're looking for another way to get rich, and teach the boy a lesson."

"Ouch!" Beni sir patted his head. "Mother, there's no kapoknya, yes."

"Mother won't be kapok before she gets rich, sir. Anyway, I'll do anything to the kid. If you can, do it!" said Bu Lastri while looking sharply, to make Mr. Beni goosebumps made.