The Child Ignored

Early on

In the middle of the trip, the bus passengers were lowered to just unwind, Riko also woke up and headed to a simple restaurant with other passengers.

After an hour of travel resumed, the night was getting late but his eyes refused to be closed because they felt amazed to see the lights2 city that was arranged so beautifully.

" Where's the sister going?" ask the man sitting next to Riko.

" I want to go to Jakarta, go to my father's house "

" Alone?"

"yes"

" that's very brave of you, son" he said with a smile

" dare not to dare sir"

"meaning?"

"so when I was little my parents separated, and I was entrusted with grandparents, and now my grandparents are dead, so I had to follow my father to Jakarta".

Silence shortly after Riko told his intention and purpose to the metropolita city,

"whose name is your son?" the question broke the silence again.

"Riko, if you're dad?"

"call me Danu"

"sir Danu, do you know where this address is?" he asked while reaching into his pants pocket.

Mr. Danu also took and read the address written on the paper.

"It looks like this is near the terminal, later I try to help deliver until your father's house yes"

"real father?"

"yes, you're asleep now, it's late at night"

"yes sir, thank you very much sir, you want to call me"

"yes"

Riko started closing her eyes and anchored in dreamland.

* * * * *

Morning arrived and the bus Riko boarded stopped at the terminal, in accordance with his promise now Mr. Danu walk along with Riko to the rice seller to fill their stomachs before continuing the journey.

It didn't take long for them to finish their breakfast. And immediately walked towards the address of the house that Riko was going to.

Mr. Dau took Riko on foot because the address of the house was not far from the terminal, precisely behind the terminal.

Half an hour walk finally they arrived at the address of the intended.a house in housing that is comfortable enough to be occupied. Mr. Danu looked back at the address listed on the paper carried by Riko to make sure it was not true. After being convinced that the intended address was correct, Mr. Danu knocked on the door of the house.

tock

tock

tock

"Waalaikumsalam" replied the person inside. Then the middle-aged woman opened the door. The woman looked confused and asked

" i'm sorry who's looking?"

" is this really the address here?" asked Mr. Danu to show the address he brought.

" that's right, what's needed?"

" i was just delivering Riko, he said this is his father's address"

" sthat mean?" the woman was increasingly confused because she felt she had never known the figure of the boy standing in front of her. Riko who saw also now started to open her voice

" my father, Mr. Haris, said he lived here"

Suddenly the woman felt shocked because the boy knew the name of her husband.

"Mas..Mas.. This is someone who is looking for you" he shouted still standing on the doorstep. Haris, who heard the screams of his wife, walked forward to see who the guests were coming this early and looked for her.

" Who is Ma?

"this, he says your son" said his wife.

"kid?" asked Haris while looking at the little boy who was still standing in front of the door.

"i'm Riko sir, your son whom you entrusted with Halimah's grandmother and Joko's grandfather" Riko explained.

"so you're Riko? forgive me for not recognizing you, for indeed we have only met once, even then It has been a very long time".

Haris embraces Riko's shoulder and invites him in, while his wife Bu Rima follows behind with Mr. Danu.

"you sit here first", bargained Mr. Haris and followed by his wife and Mr. Danu. "Ma please make us a drink",

"iya mas" replied Rima immediately sauntered towards the kitchen.

"Riko, who are you here with? and what grandma? who is in the village?"

" Riko from the village alone, happened to be on the bus to meet Mr. Danu and he helped me drive to my father's house. And grandma, she died a week ago from a fall and her head hit the table and it bled"

Haris who heard her son's words could only look down and rubbed his face violently.

"from now on you live here with your father and your mother and brother"

"yes sir"

then Haris turned to the man beside Riko who was just silent listening to the conversation of father and son.

"Sir Danu, I say thank you very much for your help, maybe if not for Mr. Riko must not have arrived here"

"yes sir, it's our duty to help each other, especially Riko's son is still a child, he is still a minor, I just feel I can't bear to let him roam alone"

After a little chat together, Mr. Danu resigned to continue his delayed journey. Similarly, Mr. Haris Rika's father, immediately went to work at his restaurant. Leaving Riko with her stepmother at home.