The Story of Sigma Men
3. Education
Zahid prepared and was well dressed in the company of his father. The father turned on his Legend duck motorbike and briefly heated it in the yard. Before leaving he had time to sip black coffee first. He had permission to the Head of Service that today was a little late to leave for work.
“We pick up Uzlah first, Father.”
Zahid then sat in the rear bonbar, hugging his father tightly. The journey from Zahid's house to Uzlah's was not so long. If you use a motorcycle and there is no traffic jam only about five minutes. Which makes it a bit hampered most streets around the market especially in the morning like now.
The legend stopped near a modest selling lodge. Today Ms. Mirna is not selling and cannot accompany her son to take the school report card because of his relapsing illness. For some days he is home more.
Zahid jumped from the motorcycle, then ran towards the door of the rented house where Uzlah lived. He held a plastic bag with a homyped. Zahid found that Uzlah had just finished wearing clothes and was about to leave the house.
“Wear these shoes,” said Zahid spirit.
“What is this Zahid? My birthday has come a long way.”
“Gift for students ranked one. My dad bought this for you. Wear Uzlah! There are socks too.” Though the report card has not been shared, but Zahid believes he is the one.
Uzlah is very happy to feel. He immediately opened the shoe box, then put on his socks and shoes. Pas! Only today he when walking is not in trouble. Yesterday Uzlah if walking can not be fast, if the wrong movement just a little, then the shoes are released.
Zahid's father turned on his motorcycle engine again. Zahid ascended, followed by Uzlah sitting in the back seat. Strong winds pounded their bodies during the trip, their bodies reflected fitting through the uneven road.
Arriving at the school gate, Zahid and Uzlah said goodbye, while his father Zahid waited around outside the school with the parents of other students. The two children entered the class together. Classes are not yet fully filled by students. There's still a lot of people who haven't come.
Shortly after that, Emilia arrived with a pile of reports of students. He smiled proudly to see his students can complete all the lessons in this one semester. Eventually over four months of study, they will receive their learning outcomes.
Emilia's mother advised, “Later semester two of her studies should be more diligent huh. If you can all rank one.”
In the row of the back and corner seats, Zahid pushed Uzlah's shoulders while saying, “I'm sure you can rank one, Uzlah.”
Uzlah just shut up. He was not confident even though the entire class and Emilia's mother had judged that she was really smart. In this first semester Uzlah looks dazzling in every subject, be it language, counting, religion, art, everything except sports on the field, but when sports theory he remains number one.
Always do PR. If given a training assignment, he's the first one to collect the task. If the teacher dictates and writes something on the board, he must have recorded it and not a single letter was missed. When at home Uzlah will learn it again, memorize and remember it.
In addition to sports practice, one thing is lacking Uzlah, that is he does not have the guts to show his teeth in front of the class, there is no confidence when the teacher tells him to write something on the board or say something in front of his friends. That's the minus of him. The rest will all be cut off.
Furthermore, Emilia mentioned one by one the names of students based on the alphabet and distributed reports to them. He left three names, namely students who are ranked three, two, and one. Three proud disciples.
He called thirty disciples and left four more. At this moment Zahid was rather curious, roughly whether he entered or not in the top three. While the order of absence is the last among students. Oh, certainly not in because the top three has no name with the initials Z.
For Zahid, being able to enter the top ten alone was already proud, let alone the top three. He didn't care much about class rankings. Since early age Zahid has had the concept of an independent educational curriculum, which is the education obtained is most important substantially, not formality. For him, ranking is just a formality, not the practical side of an education.
But then again, is it possible that he still has a chance to enter the top three? A belief system embedded since childhood, the paradigm of his education, for him ranking or champion, or what he calls it, according to his perspective it is not a goal and achievement, all is not a goal, but the real meaning of education is how to be a student who is able to think critically, have broad relationships, dare to speak, be creative, and not accept all educational curricula. That's Zahid.
He is apathetic about class ranking even if he gets number one, yes still Zahid the little one does not care. However, suddenly Emilia's mother forgot something. One of the students forgot to be called. Name's Hermawan. Name tucked.
Now the remaining disciples who had not been summoned were three.
Mean.....
Yes, there was Zahid, Uzzlah, and another disciple named Anggi.
Zahid. He entered the top three. But he had no joyful expression at all. Zahid has no expectations about class rankings, so when he is not ranked as proud as rank one, of course he will not be disappointed and heartbroken. Rank is not a priority for him.
Zahid was very happy because he believed Uzlah would get the first rank, but now he will be his best friend's competitor. Now Zahid is silent and it is Uz who is happy to see Zahid can enter the top three with him.
In addition to that nature, Uzlah had always told Zahid to continue to appear in front of the class. It was Uz who sought answers when given a question, but Zahid who came forward to work on it. Yes, because Uzlah was ashamed, and he wanted Zahid to compete with him.
Uzzlah pushed Zahid's body hard petrified. “And you're smart Zahid. You'll get rank one. Great!” Never was this happy. He was never this happy at school. “It's okay I got a rank three. As long as you get a rank one, Zahid!”
Ibu Emilia continued, “Before Mother congratulated our friends, the disciples of Mother who had made it into the top three. Not that others are not smart. Everyone is smart and everyone must continue to study. Alright I mentioned the rank three class.”
All the students were silent listening.
“Zahid, let's move forward class!”
All students congratulated and applauded. Zahid advanced forward and took his report card, continuing back to his seat.
“Second rank..... Anggi!”
Zahid then embraced Uzlah tightly. “Uih, right, you got rank one. Great of you, Uzzlah!”
After the completion of the report card division, his father Zahid brought the two young children to the Sixteen Market. He was touched by her heart when he found out that Uzlah was an orphan. He did not come to heart when he knew about Uzlah's life with his mother and sister.
This morning he went around the market. He intended to buy various school supplies Uzlah so that the child would get the attention he should get. Miris. He will buy whatever Uzlah asks.
“Gift because it has been ranked one,” he said lovingly.
“Dad,” said little Zahid, “I also want to buy new clothes. I'll get a rank of three.”
He smiled a little.
Zahid's father, who was still wearing an ASN uniform, entered several stores, bought something and went to other stores. For over an hour the three of them went around the market. He bought the two children ice cream and snacks.
Uzlah got a gift of white school uniform and green pants, scout uniform and tie as well, cocoa clothes, peci, sandals, a notebook, a box containing writing supplies such as, pencils, pens, pens, eraser, typex, ruler, calculator.
Uzlah also got a gift of picture reading books, mostly about calculations and science. He was more pleased with such a lesson. Zahid's father gave toys to Uzlah. He considers Uzlah like his own son.
Uzlah happy not to play today. Zahid also whined to buy a bicycle. Oh, his father's not stingy at all son. “Let's use this bike to pick up and transfer Uzlah school,” his orders. Zahid nodded in pleasure.
He stopped by the fruit shop and bought oranges, apples, grapes and melons. Everything was given to Uzlah, later to be eaten with his mother and sister. He also bought bread and milk, yes to the Uzlah family as well.
Goods and food were full around his motorcycle. The hands of Zahid and Uzlah are also difficult to carry plastic bags that contain all kinds of school needs. And when he arrived at Uzlah's house, Zahid's father immediately said goodbye because he would immediately go to the office of the Provincial Education Office.
Mirna's mother is very grateful for all these gifts. Before leaving, Zahid's father gave two million rupiah, money for treatment and additional selling capital. Zahid and his father went home.
On the way, on the bike, his father said wisely, “Dad sure Uzlah will be your close friend and your competitor from childhood to adulthood, My son.”
