The Sun Becomes a Star
(Not) Manny Girl
“Wake May ..” Papa shook – shake my body. One of the things I don't like about Papa is that he never gets soft when he wakes me up. My eyes opened slightly looking at Papa who was sweating with an odor that could not be said to be pleasant. The smell of ‘jalan’ that Papa gets because every day he has to go back to Malang – Surabaya with his big motorcycle. “Tuk Pa, very tired ..” I want to close my eyes again.
“Don't keep it sleepy same tired. Life has to work for May. There will be no place left for slackers and Papa hope you are not one of them..” Papa started again with his sermon.
“You're still not right – really feel how hard life is for people out there. You should be thankful that you still have Papa. Other people who are not as lucky as you do not even know the faces of their two parents “ Papa is always angry after he comes home from work. Especially if the house is not in a clean state aka collapsed. Papa must have exploded. But after he had taken a shower, made coffee for himself and spent some time with me while looking at one of the Discovery Channel episodes, Papa must have turned soft.
“May ?!!” Papa shouted as if in disbelief. “Can – usually you sleep again. Today khan you should give tutoring. Papa said a lot you didn't listen to ?“
As soon as I heard the word ‘les’ I immediately woke up. I saw the clock on the wall showing six o'clock in a few minutes. On the HP screen, I saw a message coming in. From Tonia, my tutoring student.
Ma'am May, give me les khan today?
“Why Papa won't wake May ?” I quickly – quickly to the bathroom. Shaking my body around it. Soaked my body and brushed my teeth almost at the same time. It's complicated, but it always works with the Sun.
“Papa don't wake you ?” Papa is right – really annoyed when heard from his voice. “Ngapain Papa ngomel – ngomel not because May. That ngomel needs power.”
“Iya, but Papa khan can immediately say that this is tutoring time without being given a preliminary assortment – kinds,” I came out of the bathroom while wrapped a towel in my hair.
“What should Papa say in order to be right in front of you May ?” I heard Papa's voice from behind my door. I quickly – quickly put on jeans and snatch any t-shirt I could reach with my hand. Use a little powder, comb the potluck hair and go fast – fast with my old bike.
“Depart Pa” I pedal my bike fast – fast. Fortunately, Tonia's house is only a few blocks from my house.
“Sorry, there was a little problem with my bike earlier,” I said to Mama Tonia when I got home Tonia.
“Sooooooooooo Ma May,” says Mama Tonia. Thank goodness, Mama Tonia does not give a sour look even though I believe that the sentence ‘gak what – what Mbak May’ is also not necessarily not what – what. There must still be a bonus sprains and mangkels that he did not state with the word – he said. I oftent think that if – people around me can freely say what is in their hearts and minds, there may be goodness and may also happen things that are not desirable. Like a coin that has faces on both sides. I ever dreamed of – angan if only everyone could be debated without angry feelings like those in the movie – American films. A student asks for a reasonable explanation from the teacher freely and freely, and the teacher also considers it a learning process. Not as a rude act.
I quickly – quickly went into Tonia's room and greeted her with a smile that I polished in such a way that it looked friendly and warm. I should seem always happy and carefree when giving lessons. No matter how I feel or what problems I face, I must seem patient, pleasant and ready to face all possibilities. That's what we call professional attitude. The word – does not come from my own mind. But because Papa repeated – repeated tell me.
I give English lessons twice a week to Antonia every Monday and Thursday. Not only Antonia lesku students, but there is another one, Dodo who tutored every Tuesday and jum’at. With my savings from tutoring, maybe I'll be able to get a motorbike before the age of 21. From tutoring too, I can buy HP with Papa's subsidy of course. For every item I buy, there must be a part that is universal from my own business. Before I had HP, I always argued with Papa about this.
“Why won't Papa buy me HP?”
“You still don't need.”
“Papa didn't raise you to be that kind of person” Papa said.
“Papa, I'm a 17-year-old girl. I am a social creature, so I cannot close my eyes to what – other teenagers of my age have and do. Especially if until someone looks and talks to me ‘oh, you do not have HP well? Sorry..” with a look full of regrets.
“Well, May knows Papa. But at least Papa was 17 years old and Papa needs to stuff – certain items to appear confident”
“Papa knows and in line with time, Papa only needs brain and self to be able to appear confident”
“Papa needs time. Means there is a process not ?”
“Bar” Papa replied unwillingly. As if – would she already knew what was going to come out of my mouth.
“Let May go through the process like Papa ever experienced so that someday May is right – is really aware of what May needs to be able to appear confident”
Papa inhales in – deep. Sort – sequence meeting between the base of his nose and forehead. Trying to weigh – worry something. Seeing the good and bad.
“You must try if you are right – really want Hp May” There is a bright point arising in the words of Papa.
“Means Papa ?”
“Papa will give money” I smile happily …
“Eit .. eit .. don't be happy just yet. Listen Papa,” I nodded.
“Papa will give you money. But not entirely. Only partly. The rest you have to find yourself and Papa does not want to be fussed about the problem of filling your HP pulses every month. That's all Papa can offer. How ?” Papa's eyes were so serious that I didn't dare to smile even though I actually wanted to.
“Papa, that's enough ..” I hug Papa. Maybe not many girls embraced her Papa without feeling uncomfortable in my neighborhood, and I was happy that I was one of them.
Papa's answer like that I guessed in fact. Because from my childhood, every time I wanted something, I had to do what I could and Papa paid for the lack of it.
I faced Tonia who was working on the training I gave her. This child never complains and is always eager to learn. If I observe true –, actually Tonia does not need additional English lessons. Only his parents forced him to get additional tutoring this and that. Just to convince themselves that his son is smart. I care less about that. As long as Tonia herself doesn't mind and I can finance part of my life with that .. what's wrong ???
After an hour I grabbed the drink Mama Tonia had prepared. And I came home, free for today's duty.
