The Thorn in the Family

Stovetop

...“Bismilbornrahmanirrahim”....

Tari swiftly stepped into the room that had been prepared for the interview test that morning.

Like job tests in general, this test is divided into several sessions, stage one interview, stage two write tests and stage three later user tests are directly faced with the respective division heads.

Three days Tari had settled temporarily to take the series of tests, until the last day of the determination to be accepted or not.

“How much salary do you want?”.

Ask one of the HRD on Tari at that time.

“Completed with the abilities and skills I have”.

“Five million base salary?”.

The bargain of the HRD.

“Can't go up again sir?”.

Betahri did not want to lose to bid, considering the needs of his family very much.

“Last offer six million base salary beyond overtime and bonuses and allowances. How are you ready?”.

“Available pak”.

The two of them shook hands and signed a contract.

Yes I was accepted to work in one of the ice cream companies in the Rungkut Surabaya area as a secretary with a salary of six million for one month outside of bonuses, overtime and other benefits. It should be with six million money to live in Surabaya is enough.

Long story short, I'll start working on Monday next week. The remaining few days I will use to find a place to stay. Because to get a comfortable and cheap place to live is not easy. Actually Fitri offered to stay together but I felt bad too much trouble.

***

☘️☘️☘️

If the salary I get is only half of my salary which used to mean I have to change the portion of the monthly allotment for everything, so that life can still take place. With careful consideration I will reduce the rations for mother and Ipul.

“Assalamualaikum ma how are you?”.

“Wassalamualaikum, good son how do you?”.

“Both dance bu”.

“Bu anyone want Dance say”.

“Bu sorry in advance, please understanding ibu”.

I paused for a moment my words.

‘What Tar just say”.

“Bu I now move to work in Surabaya”.

“Wah nice dong nak then, so near home you will often go home to visit mom and Ipul, so what understanding do you expect?. I'm so happy that I'll see you so often”.

Mother sounded so enthusiastic when she heard the news, I could not say the second news about the monthly ration.

“Bu pray Tari ya hope the work is smooth and bring blessings”.

“If you want to work smoothly and the blessing is easy Tar, often shodaqoh surely sustenance will be smooth”.

“Hem alms like what else I haven't done bu”. Dance in the Heart.

“Tar you it works what the hell son? Let if asked by the mother not wrong answer”.

“Secretary bu”.

“Ya already take care of health yes do not be tired, I want to rest first”.

I have no power to tell my mother to reduce her monthly allowance, but how can I live if my monthly allowance remains five million while the salary is only six million. My only hope is one - lots of overtime and extra work later.

For a moment I lay on the bed looking at social media hoping to find some entertainment there. I do have some social media, but I never take pictures there, I don't have enough confidence.

.

.

.

.

A few moments later.

One call in.

📞 Ipul

“Mbak so how does the money already exist?”.

“Still next month right deck?, mbak try first ya”.

“Mbak if there is none, don't force it. I don't know if I don't come to”.

Hearing the words of Ipul makes my heart feel in the iris.

“Kasian once you deck, why should be born in a family that is all deficient like this”. My mind is in my heart.

“Have not thought about your task of learning the right Pul, so that later if you are an adult can live in sufficient sustenance. About the cost for studytour doain there is a way yes later mbakakakan”.

“I kasian see mbak Tari”.

How can a child as small as Ipul already understand pity, while those who are the elders of the night arbitrarily like invaders.

“Pul mbak can ask you something?”.

“What's mbak?”.

“Is the Pakde family still eating at our house?”.

“Still mbak as usual”.

I returned with a heavy breath.

“Why mbak?”.

“No papa, yes you rest first there already night tomorrow school. Mbak tomorrow also has started work again”.

I closed the phone.

***

At Mother's House.

“Lo Mar Dance to where ya kok never seen again?”.

“Walah mas Tari has balek work from a week ago, yesterday the time to balek hurriedly picked up with his friend early in the morning”.

“Wah not polite the boy, cook not good first the same pakdenya, people go home also”.

“Tenang mas now Dance work moved in Surabaya deket here, so can often go home”.

“Enak lo Mar if deket rum”.

As usual, Pakde spoke while chewing the food on the dining table.

“’Mar, Dance does it work anyway?”.

Bude asked with a sip of warm tea that morning.

“Bethari it works in mbak offices, wear nice clothes so good. So secretary said mbk”.

“Waduh Mar wenak's. Definitely his salary is big enough Mar”.

“Sok the hell mbak?”.

Mother looked at bude with her frown.

“Iya Mar is a huge salary. Mumpung Mar unmarried, Tari was telling the real house, see your tile degenerate all, the house paint is also irregular in color, let alone the floor, the ancient motif".

Bude pointed to the precarious, the wall and also the tackle of my house.

“Bilangin Tari Mar do not waste his life, tell a lot of mourning or if you want the money to be deposited with me just to be safer”.

“Young people now if not told that, it is impossible to have savings must have run out for snacks just buy clothes.”.

“If you do not ask to buy jewelry like Tari, cook his son so his mother's secretary polosan no jewelry at all”.

“See Udin alone who only factory workers can buy me bracelets and necklaces”.

Bude showed her the necklace and bracelet she was wearing.

“Very good mbak”.

Praise mother by holding a bude bracelet and necklace.

“Yes good, my son is a pinter nabung Mar, even though he only works as a factory worker he does not want to snack outside. Money all I hold”.

“It's like how many grams of mbak?”. Ask the mother by pointing at the bude jewelry.

“If this necklace is twenty grams if the bracelet is fifteen grams”.

“Buruan there ask to Dance jewelry, if I am you yes Mar malulah cook her son so her mother's secretary bald brundul like this, where use rubber band pula”.

Mother nodded her head seemed to weigh bude's words.