The Winter Promise

Chapter 59: Home of the Village.

Right now, my family and I are in the middle of a traffic jam in Cipularang. As far as the eye could see, I only saw cars and cars, there was nothing interesting in front of me. Every fifth second maybe our car only runs ten meters from where it was before.

My family and I left home after the dawn prayer. At first the journey felt ordinary, but when entering the Cipularang toll, the car queue was waiting in front of us. At first my father tried to pass through the usual path but we abandoned our intention because we saw in Boogle Maps that the ordinary road was as jammed as the toll road.

“It's exhausting once.”

I also tried to find entertainment on my phone to eliminate this boredom. Fortunately, I had enough cell phone batteries and additional batteries, so I didn't have to fear that my phone would die in the middle of the road.

Though this is the second day after Lebaran, but there are still many people who just went to go home.

“Will you have a snack?”

Nadira offered me a loaf of bread that she was eating.

“No thanks, I ate a lot earlier.”

“Enhance Mar, his name is also homecoming must be like this.”

Said my father playing his cell phone.

It is normal to play the phone while driving is very dangerous, but at the moment because our car is not moving at all so it is not a problem.

“Amar, from yesterday I wanted to ask you but forgot. Where can you meet his son Dian?”

Why my mom still questions that now. I think yesterday was done about that.

“I accidentally met him when I came home from buying stuff for practice exams in Jatinegara. At that time I accidentally met him on the train, and because of a problem that made me get acquainted with him.”

“What's the problem about Miyuki's phone that someone stole?”

My mother already knew that.

“That's.”

“Great once you Mar can catch a thief like that.”

Praise my father to me.

“Actually the one who caught the thief was not me, but Riki. I just accidentally got there.”

“Again sister said like that. If he says it usually he's hiding something.”

This one sister is so annoying.

“But I'm glad you're close to Miyuki. Do you have any taste with her Mar?”

“Of course not, although she has a pretty face but I don't really care about it.”

“So you admit that Miyuki is beautiful kak?”

“Loh is she beautiful?”

I don't think anyone would mind if I said that.

“Kagaya also turns out the person is nice to talk to. I thought it would be awkward to talk to him at first, it turned out that he could follow my conversation.”

My father and father Miyuki's relationship seems to be going well too.

Since I thought that no one else wanted to talk to me, I immediately used my earphones and immediately tried to fall asleep. Who knows when I woke up to my grandfather's house. Yes, at least if it has not arrived, we are free from this traffic jam. Because it's so boring.

After a long and exhausting journey, I finally reached my grandfather's village. The house of my grandfather was in a small village in Tasikmalaya, a lot of rice fields around the village and there was a hill behind it. Before entering the village, we had to pass through the forest first.

At that time, we reached Grandpa's house in the morning.

“Welcome, how is the trip?”

My grandfather has welcomed us in front of his house along with my grandmother and aunt.

“Alhamdulillah smoothly Pak.”

My father immediately shook hands with everyone who was there as well as me.

“Where are the items, let me help you bring.”

My grandfather offered help to my father. Even though my grandfather is old, he looks fresh and energetic. I think my strength is still losing to him. I also helped my father and grandfather move the items we brought from Jakarta into the house.

“You must be tired after the trip, right, you guys just rest first.”

Grandma also served us warm tea.

“I want to pray first Nek.”

I also went to the bathroom for the booze. Because when on the way when it was close to the grandfather's house, I had heard the dawn.

I also touched the water in a large jug in the bathroom.

“Brrr.... It's cold!”

I shivered as I washed my hands with the water.

Indeed my grandfather's house has a fairly cold temperature, probably because the area is at the foot of Mount Galunggu which makes the atmosphere cold.

The water inside the jug has a different taste to water in general. The taste of the water in the jug is sweeter, but the sweetness is not as sweet as sugar, but the sweetness is very sweet.

After performing the dawn prayer, I immediately slept in the room that my grandmother had provided. Just like before, I immediately fell asleep when my head touched the surface of the pillow.

I was so tired, I was on the road for a day. Usually if I visit grandfather's house is not in the condition of holidays, it only takes six to seven hours, but now it is almost one day.

***

“Euuhhh..”.

I also stretched all my limbs to relax the stiff parts. I looked at the wall clock there and the time showed ten.

I went straight to the living room to see what I could do. It turned out that when I got to the living room, I didn't see anyone there. I just saw my grandfather who wanted to leave the house.

“Where to Cake?”

I rushed to him as well.

“Grandfather wants to pick some coconuts for lunch later.”

My grandfather had also brought a machete which he slipped on his waist.

“I'm with Kek.”

Finally I went with my grandfather to pick coconuts. In my grandfather's village there are indeed many coconut trees embedded here, but according to my grandfather not all coconuts we can take because some belong to others. Grandpa and I went to a river that was not too big but deep enough, depth

the river was equal to the height of my knee. Right next to the river, there is a coconut tree that has a lot of fruit.

“What is this tree can be picked up Cake?”

I looked at the tree and thought about how I would pick up the fruits there, because the tree was so tall.

“Of course, grandfather often takes his fruit.”

Quickly, grandfather immediately climbed the coconut tree very quickly. There wasn't even a five-minute grandpa's been up on that tree. I was amazed by him, even though I was young, but I couldn't do what he did.

“Awas Mar! Don't be down there, you just wait in the river to pick up the weather.”

Grandpa began picking his sheep one by one and dropping them into the river. I who was in the river immediately took and collected the coconuts that had been picked by grandfather into one on the riverbank.

I was very happy when I was in a clear, flowing river. I like to spend a long time here. According to the story of my grandfather, when I was a child I often spent time playing in the river. I bathe in the river more than at home. Although I finally rinsed it again in the bathroom of the house.

Grandfather had finished picking his sheep and now he started coming down from the coconut tree. Even the time he needed to descend was much faster compared to when he was riding.

“This is the dark I've collected Cake.”

“How about we open one first.”

Grandfather took one of the coconuts that were there and then he started to split it.

“This Mar.”

Grandpa gave her the coconut she had split and told me to eat it.

I immediately drank the coconut water in it and instantly my body became very fresh. You remember that I just woke up and when I woke up to go here my body was still very weak, but after drinking water my body was immediately powered.

“Is it good?”

“Very wisdom Cake.”

“Spend-spent.”

“Grandpa doesn't want?”

I also offered the coconut to grandfather.

“Kakek mah is tired of drinking coconut water.”

Grandpa said with a smile to me.

After I drank all the coconut water in it, Grandpa split the coconut in half and made a spoon from the skin of his sheep. Then he gave it to me again for me to eat the meat of his sheep.

It's delicious, what a young coconut taste is this fresh.

“Oh yes Cake, where did the others go?”

“They all drove grandma and Rohmah to the market for shopping for lunch later.”

Rohmah is the name of my aunt.

“Hmm..”

I also returned to my shoes.

“How are you doing yourself Mar?”

“Alhamdulillah good Cake.”

“Do you have a boyfriend now? Isn't it now that you're in High School, surely you already have a girlfriend.”

Is there no other topic of conversation to talk about other than that. Like how the school is, what is taught in your school, how your friends at your school. Such a topic is a lot.

“I want to focus on learning first Kek.”

“That's great.”

Grandpa started tying the coconuts that were there into one for easy when brought later.

“How about the goat that grandpa kept?”

So two years ago, I bought two pairs of goats to my grandfather for him to take care of and my grandfather immediately made a goat cage in the garden that was behind the house. You do that because he thinks goats are an endless business, because every year there must be Eid al-Eid and he wants to develop the business.

“The goat is fine, even two more children have been born.”

“I want to see it.”

“Later when at home will grandpa show his goat boy.”

I also spent my night.

“Is the meal done? If so let's go back home.”

“Already cake.”

“Amar, you're already big huh?”

My aunt who just came out of the house immediately greeted me.

“Of course, my childhood continued.”

“Amar, sometimes put it outside only.”

Grandpa also went into the house.

When I entered the house, I saw the father who was giving grandfather a large plastic bag containing fish in it. My dad and dad went somewhere.

“Where are you Sir?”

“We want to go to the jar to put these fish.”

“I'm coming.”

We went straight to a jar owned by the grandfather who was behind his house. Balong owned by grandfather is not too big and on top there is a saung that is suitable to be used to relax while enjoying the view of the rice fields around it. I also saw a goat house not far from

sana.

“Goats where is Kek?”

I asked my grandfather because I didn't see any goats in there.

“His goat is a freelance grandpa foraging.”

“Detachable? Will it not disappear?”

“Let's relax, later also when by late afternoon they will go home by themselves.”

I just found out that goats can be that smart, I think there must be someone to take them back so as not to disappear.

I saw the grandfather who released the fish that had just been bought by the father into the jar.

“Why is the fish released again?”

“Of course to be fished later.”

Huh!

“What makes release the fish that will later be caught again?”

“Hahahaha... It's like that Mar, if if if grandpa has a fish, maybe your father does not need to do this.”

“Why do grandfathers not keep fish too?”

“Too many grandfathers take care of, so there is no time.”

That much?

After putting the fish in a bag, we went back home for lunch first. Although it was daytime and the sun was currently very hot, but I did not feel the slightest bit of the stinging heat, it was covered with cold that enveloped around here.

I also immediately petrified the grandfather who was splitting coconuts. I separated the coconut meat and the skin

using the spoon.

Maybe a little science for you, when you eat young coconuts the meat you have to separate is the meat that looks a little transparent white and soft textured, soft, while the white and hard flesh that you can use to make coconut milk. Actually, the white meat can be eaten as well, but the taste of meat with a soft texture is much more delicious if eaten with plain water, especially plus sweetened condensed milk, making it taste fresher.

Nadira also came to us to give red sugar that they had melted and a large teapot.

“What did you guys do in the market earlier?”

I asked Nadira who was going to the kitchen to help her there.

“Of course shopping, what else.”

“I know that, I mean what you bought there.”

“So mom bought a few pieces of chicken, vegetables, and other ingredients. Why Kak?”

“Bi! Will today's aunt make seblak?”

I asked my aunt who happened to be passing by there.

“Of course, since Amar and Nadira are here, I'll make it up to you both.”

“Yeay!”

Nadira seemed happy to hear that.

I don't want to exaggerate this, but my aunt's seblak is the best I've ever felt. I once bought a cloth that was sold near my house, but it didn't taste as good as my aunt's. In addition, my aunt can add any number of times and does not need to pay.

After lunch and prayer, I along with my father and grandfather went to the river to look for worms that will be used for fishing later. According to grandfather, earthworms love to live in moist, dark soil. Coincidentally the soil around the river is moist enough to become an earthworm habitat.

“Why don't you buy the bait at the fishing shop? I think they sell earthworms for fishing as well.”

“Finding worms is the art of fishing.”

I don't know where the art is from looking for worms.

I also looked for it using a small scope and explore the lands that are in the river.

Whoa! It turns out they are here.

I got some earthworms from digging me up here. I immediately put the worm I got into a plastic glass that I had prepared.

“What does sister do?”

Nadira came to me.

“I'm looking for worms.”

I also showed the worm I just got to Nadira.

“IIHh!!”

Nadira who felt amused immediately moved away from me.

“It's not that disgusting, look.”

I put the worm in my hand.

“Stay ridiculous, I want to go home first.”

Nadira returned home.

***

Enjoyinge..

Right now I am in a saung and enjoying the afternoon breeze that blows quite coolly. At this time grandfather, father, and Nadira were fishing the fish that had been released this afternoon in the jar. I let Nadira fish using my fishing rod because I want to enjoy the afternoon breeze and the view of the rice fields that make me very calm, I have not felt this for a long time.

“When will we go to Galunggung Pak?”

Nadira asked the father who was fishing while enjoying a cup of coffee.

“Tomorrow morning we will go there.”

Usually if I was coming here together with my brothers, I would go to the hot spring in the early hours to enjoy the hot water that had just been replaced.

As grandfather said, I can see the goats that belong to grandfather who came home to his cage in the afternoon. Grandpa immediately put the goats into his cage.

Even at night had arrived, I sat on the front porch of the house while looking at the many stars. Although electricity has entered my grandfather's village, but here is still very rarely a house that makes the situation around it still very dark. Stars can be seen a lot here.

“What are you doing here Brother?”

Nadira also came to the front porch of the house while bringing me warm tea.

“Thank you.”

“I've decided it Brother, I will go to SMK Sawah Besar.”

Whahuh? I didn't hear wrong, did I?

“Why is it like that?”

“I'm curious about what you did while at school because of the story of Miyuki Kak and Riki Kak.”

What did the two of them tell my sister so she could decide such a thing?

“I don't think you should rush to decide this.”

“I did want to get into the pharmacy department, but I was still confused as to which school to go to. It just so happens that your school has a major, so I want to go in there.”

“Well then, since you are unlikely to get a recommendation to that school, make sure you study for the entrance exam after graduating later.”

I can only encourage my sister on this.

Because Nadira attended school in Central Java, so he is unlikely to get a recommendation in Jakarta. Because the recommendation system looks at the location of the previous school.

“Actually I'm still curious, does big brother really have nothing to do with Miyuki?”

“How many times have I told you that I have absolutely no relationship with him. Our relationship is only limited to one school friend only.”

“I was surprised when I saw Miyuki, she looked beautiful and friendly. Even when silent she looks graceful and mature.”

Such was the opinion of the people when they first met Miyuki.

“Why such a beautiful person can be close to my sister if she does not have any relationship.”

“Why are you confused by such a thing? And also to be close to someone should there be a special relationship?”

“Not really.”

Well, just bother.

“But my feeling says that something is different.”

“I don't know how women feel.”

I also drank a warm tea brought by Nadira.

The heat!

“What is the relationship of Kak Rina and Kak Miyuki is fine.”

“They both are fine, even they both are indeed close friends.”

“Thank God then, I guess they will compete to get my brother.”

Nadira said something in a very low tone that made me unable to hear it. Because I was trying to enjoy my vacation so I didn't want to ask what he just said.

“How do we get in Brother? Now it is late at night and tomorrow morning we will go to Galunggung.”

“Good.”

The next day we went to Galunggu exactly to the hot spring. I also took a dip there and felt the pleasure of the hot water there.

This is more delicious than the hot water I cook at home using the stove. I suggest you to feel it too, it's very delicious.

the End Chapter 59