The Foreign Taste

Painting Lessons

"Yes, Dad! Indeed, if playing to the house of non-Muslims can not yes?" Tanya Ranum suddenly.

"Who can't say? Can really. Be friends with anyone. But make a friend, from the best friend of the best only," said Nanda.

"So, is it okay, Anum played to Tika's house?" Tanya Ranum made sure.

"Can.. Tika's a good boy, right?"

"Well, Dad. We're sitting down too."

"Oh. But you tell me a lot about your friend whose name is Mira. Mommy think you're sitting like me with Mira?" Ask Mother with a surprised face.

"Ranum is sitting with Tika, Bund. But Anum is more familiar with Mira. Want tukers to move sit is not good. So yes it is. Tika is also good anyway," replied Ranum.

"O. that's."

"Nothing to be friends with non-Muslims. It is important to respect each other. And also have to know its own adab, if you are visiting each other," Nida advised.

"What's up, Bund?" Ask Kania.

"For example, do not say hello to non-Muslims. Or also say the day of their religious celebration" said Nanda.

"Well, how is that, Dad? Why that?" Kania asked with a slight tone of protest.

"Because.."

Nanda's words, suddenly cut off by greetings from outside the house.

"Assalamu'alaikum! Nan's! Nanda!"

"Wa'alaikumussalam warohmatullah!" The four family members who were still surrounding the dining table.

Then, immediately Nanda got up to stand towards the door. Also followed by his wife, Nida.

"Ang Eman? What's Kang doing here at night?" Nanda's voice asked Kang Eman.

Kang Eman is a neighbor whose house is not far from Ranum's house.

"You borrowed the bike, Nand. My wife is giving birth."

"God's Masya. Can Kang. Be able. I'll take the key for a while."

"Still, Nan. But if I could ask you to help bring the bike? Let me take care of you in the back. I'm nervous, Nand. Fear of accidentally passing gas," said Kang Eman honestly.

"Good, Kang. Then I'll take the jacket, too, for a second."

At the dining table, Kania and Ranum tidied up the dishes and glasses after the meal. They were also while listening to the conversation in the front room at the moment.

Shortly thereafter Nanda had already returned to the front room with a jacket and a motor key in her hand.

"Bund, Kang Eman's father was. Dad, take the kids!" Nanda told Nida.

"Yes, Dad. Careful yeah!"

"Yes. Assalamu'alaikum! Go Kang!"

"Wa'alaikum hail warohmatullahi wabarokaatuh!" Nida answered from across the door.

"Where to go, Bund?" Tanya Ranum who was already standing near Nida.

"Kang Eman, Num. He said his wife wanted to be born" replied Nida.

"Waahh! Means soon Safira wants to have a sister dong!" Kania comments from the middle room door.

Safira was a close friend of Kania during Junior High. His pity is now Safira continued school in the pesantren. He also lives in his boarding school in the city of Z.

Safira can only come home once every six months. And it's still a long time.

"God willing," said Mother.

"Kok God willing, Bund?" Kania Protest.

"Because it's not a lahiran. That means it's not certain. Only God can be sure of everything His creatures face, Yes. So we as God's creatures must often say 'God's inspiration' in the face of uncertain situations like today."

"But Mama Safira already want to be born. So it must be dong, Bund?" Kania said she would not give up.

"Oh! Nia understands what Mother means. That is, not necessarily also the birth will succeed huh, Bund?" Guess Kania.

"Husy. If you can, which is not good, do not say yes, Yes. Enough you understand, yes have not been discussed at length again. Say a prayer, son. So as much as possible, we should always say fine sentences, Num, Nia." explained Mother at length.

"Yes, Mommy.." Ranum and Kania choir together.

"Yes, now, please clean up the rest of the meal, son. Mommy wants to continue sewing a little more," said Nida.

"Good, Mother.."

***

The next day..

Today, there are fine art lessons. Mr. Ajat is explaining material about a realist image, or an image that resembles the object of his image. More often the realist image is known as painting.

In front of the class, Mr. Ajat gave an example of painting a portrait of a famous singer from abroad. Her portrait is seen from a poster taped to a blackboard.

Mr. Ajat managed to paint a portrait of the female singer with a near-perfect resemblance. And it was done in about ten minutes! Ranum was amazed when he saw it.

"Now, try painting a portrait of this singer in your book. Later I will judge them one by one," said Pak Ajat.

Then the following minutes, the state of his class Ranum became silent. Because all of his students were busy drawing the faces of the singers who were on the board.

About ten minutes before the bell ended, Mr. Ajat surrounded the classroom to see one by one the paintings of his students.

Ranum was focused on drawing. He really wants to be good at painting as well as Pak Ajat. Because of this he did not look even to Tika once. Because he wanted to make a painting that resembles a portrait of the singer who was exemplified earlier by Pak Ajat.

Then Mr. Ajat knew that he was standing next to Ranum's table. Ranum was initially unaware of the existence of Mr. Ajat.

Only after he heard the praise from his teacher that it was just the end of his Ranum raised his gaze.

"It's great that this painting is. You have a talent for painting!" Praise Mr. Ajat.

Ranum immediately smiled sumringah at his teacher.

But as soon as he saw Pak Ajat not looking at him, but to Tika, at once Ranum also realized that it was not him who had been praised by Pak Ajat.

"Who's your name?" Ask Mr. Ajat.

"Tika, sir," replied Tika bluntly.

"Tika yes. Often trained in his painting skills. Your painting style is pretty good. Just need to add a shadow line around the neck here, nih. So it looks more real," said Mr. Ajat while giving additional strokes on his painting Tika.

After finishing giving a sweep on his painting Tika, Ranum's painting turn is judged by Pak Ajat.

Ranum was nervous. Somehow he did not believe himself if his painting can get praise. Because after being observed again, the painting is more like a caricature. Or cartoon pictures.

And it's true. When Ranum saw the expression on Pak Ajat's face, Ranum immediately knew that his painting did not match what he hoped. Because he did not expect the next second he also received praise from Pak Ajat.

"You did your best too. Although this cannot be said to be a painting either. Maybe more of a cartoon or caricature. But it's okay. Art is about talent and effort. So you just have to try to do better."

Shortly after, the break bell finally rang. The lesson was over already.

"Num, look at this picture of Lo, shall you?" Todong Tanti suddenly.

"Err. My drawings are ugly, Tan. Tika's picture, huh?"

"No. I'd like to see a picture of Lo, Num. About it I had a glimpse. And the image Lo ingetin I made to one of the cartoon films," said Tanti.

Ranum finally showed the picture to Tanti. In addition, Tika and Mira also shrouded the image made by Ranum.

"That's right, it's really similar. Yeah Mir, huh?" Tanti said as she elbowed Mira beside her."

Ranum looked at Mira who was smiling.

"Where's the funny thing, Mir?" Tanya Ranum did not understand.

"Your picture, Num. Similar.."

"Whose picture is it? How does Dora look like?!" Serobot Agus suddenly. Know-how he had pulled the bench up to near his bench Mira.

***