The Story of Sigma Men
4. Bicycles
Just one day for Zahid to learn two-wheeled cycling. He fell twice and had a leg wound from a thud touching the asphalt. The second day and the next Zahid cycling away, his desire in this school holiday can cycle with Uzlah.
This morning he went to Uzzlah's house. Arriving there, he found that Ms. Mirna was selling and serving several buyers. He was busy alone, fortunately now he is healthy and eager to make a living.
“Where Uzlah, Bu?” ask Zahid ngos-ngosan.
“Oh, Son Zahid. He's selling ice around on foot.”
“Where is bu heading?”
“Ke market direction. Just left her. Strain it.”
Zahid jumped on his bike again, paddling fast, through the winding path to the outside of the alley. A few times the little guy ran into a motorcycle. From a small age he was brave and not afraid of anything that would harm him.
Zahid drove around the bustling market. He glanced for Uzlah's whereabouts. And after a long time, he finally saw a little boy about six years old walking around the market, carrying a green ice bucket, limping around, shouting at people to buy his merchandise.
Zahid approached him immediately. “Says today you want to learn to ride a bike, come on!”
“Oh, Zahid, you apparently. Today I sell. Tomorrow too. Anyway during this holiday I sold. Later afternoon or afternoon if my trading runs out can only play.”
“Yes already then, Uzlah, later I will accompany you to sell. Let's get on the bike. We sell together.”
Zahid paddled his bike strongly, while Uzlah sat behind him in horror. New Zahid can also bike, worried later why-why. Uzlah put the ice bucket on his lap and hold it tightly, not to fall.
“ES... ES...” scream Zahid spirit. What they sell is banana-sized ice sticks with various flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberries, and oranges. It costs five hundred rupiahs. The money Uzlah collect for school fees, snacks, and all its needs. The rest he canisters.
A new mom finished shopping approached the two of them. “Mother buy four. All chocolate flavors. For the mother's child at home. Here is the money.”
Zahid opened the lid, then took his order and handed it to the mother. “Thank you, Mom,” so excited. Zahid was so excited. He was the one who screamed most and served the buyers. In less than an hour, twenty ice ludes were sold. Then Zahid drove Uzlah home.
Zahid asked Ms Mirna for permission to play with Uzlah. Before that, Ms. Mirna prepared a portion of pempek for Zahid. She's so full this afternoon.
Zahid continued to pedal his bike fast towards the playing field around Kampung Kampitan, on the banks of the Musi River. The debate opposite him was the plaza of Kuto Besak Fortress. Not far from there is the Ampera Bridge.
“Come on Uzzlah, go up, you can definitely!”
“I learned first yes.” Uzzlah sat on the small bicycle and his hands were firmly on the handlebars. I was a little nervous because it was the first. “Don't laugh if I fall.”
Zahid smiled widely. “I won't laugh at you, man. I fell down yesterday too. Here's the wound.”
Uzlah raises the sole of his right foot on the pedal, while his left foot tries to push the bike forward. Continue up to five times touch to the ground. The handlebars go left and right. Body rocking.
Uzlah stopped his bike, then returned to doing the movement as before. He sure can. Keep going to try. Until can. Fitting in the descent, his bike glided swiftly without a hitch, Uzlah managed to maintain his body balance.
The wind was beating on his funny face. While his hand remains firmly holding the handlebars and his fingers are ready to press the brakes. The bike was speeding. Once Uzlah turned him a little to avoid the pile of stones.
Suddenly...
BRRAAKK....
Uzlah hit the rickshaw, fight the goat.
Zahid from a distance saw the event just now. He ran fast in that direction. His eyes widened and was shocked to see Uzlah fell on the street. The rickshaw immediately woke Uzlah.
Thank goodness Uzzlah is okay. His elbows and knees were abrasive from colliding with the dry asphalt. For only two it's the wound. His head is okay. Zahid arrived there.
“This mamang how the hell can hit my friend?! Observe Mang, responsibility!”
“Don't be angry, Zahid, it's my fault. I'm still learning. I shouldn't have driven all the way to the big road. It should only be on that field.”
“This one will see. He should've stepped aside, didn't let it crash. Responsibility, Mang!”
The old rickshaw mamang finally brought Uzlah to Puskesmas. Zahid doesn't care about his nearly broken bike. It's a bit limp on the right. But soon he fixed it himself.
Uzzlah sitting limp in a rickshaw. Zahid continued to pedal his bike behind the rickshaw. Arriving at Puskemas, Uzlah entered the patient care room. The wound is cleaned, given red medicine, then bandaged.
Mamang rickshaw apologized for the incident. Zahid was still angry. Uzlah was patient and did not comment much. Until finally the rickshaw brought Uzlah to his house.
With forced Uzlah must first take off selling for a few days and also take a break to learn to ride a bike with Zahid.
One week later.
He recovered and returned ready to learn cycling. Unlike Zahid who is attractive and energetic, Uzlah is a bit awkward and his movements are a bit slow, because it takes more than a week for him to be able to cycle.
Go home from school on a bike. Cycling ice sales. Told Ms. Mirna to the cycling shop. Buy cycling food. All by bicycle. Riding a bike and even cycling. That's a great bike.
***
One afternoon in late December. High tide. After cycling with Uzlah, Zahid stood on the edge of the fence facing the Musi River. Folding his hands on his chest, the snot boy watched the ships parked on the edge of the river and leaned around the dock.
There were some people fishing around the river. While the people of the ship are busy here and there carrying merchandise from the market to be placed on the ship, the goods will be taken outside Palembang, one of which is Sungsang area.
Those sent from Palembang to the outside of the area include rice, sugar, wheat, oil, snacks, all kinds of factory drinks, cigarettes, cooking utensils, clothes, and other beverages, and all sorts of household and anything in the stalls.
Because the food and goods are not only consumed or used personally, but will be resold there. Freight porters, both at the port of Pasar Sixteen and the dock around the area Seberang Ulu are many in number.
Oh, Zahid thrust his gaze toward this yellow-brown river. Then he looked back and found Uzlah sitting down and drinking red bean ice, maybe he was tired.
“I want to take a shower!”
“Zahid, can you swim?”
“My house is close to the dam, there is a small river in my village Uzlah. If the tide is big, we are there to take a shower. Because I'm used to it of course I can swim.”
“Later teach me yes. Shy people Palembang can not swim.”
“Ready, my friend! But now I want to go first. It was afternoon too. Let's go home wet. Take a shower at home.”
Zahid the little one climbed up the iron fence that was as tall as his body. He stood for a while on the fence. For about two seconds he was able to stand up and spread his arms as if he was in a circus.
Then he jumped high. So energetic this one. Fitting hovering in the air, he shouted loudly, “Aaaaa..” His mouth was gaping and his face was grinning happily. As he was about to touch the water, he folded his body into a stone, his hands clutching those bent knees.
Uiiigg...
Byyaarrs....
Zahid sank three meters. His small body pierced the murky water. The bubbles from his breath rose upwards, huddling with excitement. Then he swung his legs and hands so that his body floated upwards while his eyes remained closed.
His head was nosed while spitting water that had entered his mouth and nose, then the water slid rapidly into the air. Zahid then draws a lot of oxygen through his mouth and exhales a lot through the nose.
Uzlah immediately ran to the fence and attached his body to the fence. He was amazed to see Zahid struggling on the water. It was amazing that he saw Zahid hovering above the water.
From under Zahid hewed it.
Uueekk....
“Zahid, teach me to swim!”
Sontak Zahid took a strong breath through his nose, then drowned his head. Five seconds Zahid disappeared. Then Uzlah held his head in confusion of astonishment. Where is Zahid? Did he drown and take the stream?
The water is in big tides now. The waves from upstream to downstream are also very heavy. Indeed, around here many ships and boats are leaning, so the waves on the edge here are not as tight as in the middle of the river there.
But still Uzlah worried. Zahid, the six-year-old boy, bathing in Musi River? Uzlah circulated his pandagan here and there. Then he shifted his body to the left, his gaze fixed down, looking for Zahid.
10 Seconds Zahid still did not appear. Uzlah just more cautious. As the day grew longer and later in the afternoon. Maghrib time is soon. Their parents must be worried because until now they have not come home.
15 seconds!!!
Uzlah panic. He wanted to cut himself apart but it was impossible. Uzlah shouted at someone in the direction of the ship, but the man did not hear. He wanted to help the people who were there. More panic.
Oh, that little Zahid....
20 seconds!!!
Still not nongol. Uzlah leaned back limp holding this rusty iron fence. His eyes darted, still watching around the river. Where is Zahid?
Suddenly, from there, about twenty meters from the position of Zahid sinking earlier, appeared the head of a small child, his face was very excited, while spitting water from inside his mouth into the air.
Byyuura....
Zahid. Uzzlah straightened his shoulders and saw Zahid from a distance. “Jeez this kid!!”
“Ha ha ha.” Zahid mimics Squidward's laugh. Then he went up to the dock and approached Uzlah.
