What a Beautiful Divorce

90. The Sendu Harmonica

After sitting down, Mr. Oscar looked for a moment at his home pendopo. It seems that all the residents who have learned how to make natural clothes have sat with manual fabric making tools in front of them and fabric making materials are placed on the right.

Mum Rena stood up and began teaching. He took a spinning tool, took natural fibers, and then exemplified how to spin it. All the residents noticed, including Mr. Purnomo who was sitting in front not far from Bu Rena.

Mr. Oscar ignited the shell. He sighed first, then said, “Natural fabrics are stronger and resistant to ironing. Compared to fabrics whose manufacture is mixed with chemicals, natural fabrics are also much more convenient to use. Natural fiber is soft and has excellent air circulation, able to absorb heat on the body and able to absorb water.

“And also, natural fabrics are much safer for health. Some types of natural fiber are hypoallergenic, so it is suitable for sensitive skin sufferers.”

Prapto and Nimo nodded.

“What are the materials that will be spun later, Mr Kades?” ask Prapto.

Mr. Oscar stared at the roof of the terrace, thinking. “Wool fiber, derived from sheep. Wool fiber has a high level of warmth, often used as a jacket material. This makes me want to invite Kejora village farmers to raise sheep all even a little.

“Then there are cotton fibers that come from cotton plants. Cotton fiber is very strong, although it quickly tangles. Cotton is plentiful in the gardens of our village. Then the jute fiber, the fiber that comes from the bark of the tree trunk. Jute fibers are often used to make carpets, rope, paper, mabel chair upholstery, and curtains.

“The last one is hemp fiber. Hemp fiber comes from hemp plants. Hemp fiber can be processed into yarn or cloth to then become clothing. Hemp fiber is very strong, shiny, and able to absorb water well.”

Prapto and Nimo nodded again.

“Then, Mr Kades, after the fiber is spun, made into yarn, what will the yarn be made into?”

Oscar laughed at Nimo's words. “Weave into fabric, made pattern, then sewn into clothes or other fabric preparations such as jackets, bags, wallets, and so on, Nak Nimo.

The three of them continued chatting while waiting for their respective wives to finish studying. Prapto and Nimo did not just briefly see the natural fabric making lessons, because they were interested in seeing Mr. Purnomo and Ms. Rena teaching, and also because they wanted to chat with Mr. Oscar.

***

“Then I gave you the keys to our house, yes?” prapto asked as he checked his clothes. They just got back from Mr. Oscar's house.

“No, Mas,” Pinaka replied. “Try Mas check again.” Pinaka also checked his clothing pockets but did not find the keys.

Prapto steps onto the bike. Then he laughed. “In the motor key is located, I was united with the motor key,” he said.

Pinaka shook his head while smiling. “Throw, Mas, let Mas see my greatness catch the throw. Dad used to throw keys and I always managed to catch.”

Prapto. He took the key from the circle of the key chain of the motor and threw it towards Pinaka. Pinaka retreated a little and raised his hand, but his leg hit the porch seat so that the key escaped his catch and fell on the doorstep, sliding into the house through the space under the door.

For a moment, Pinaka was stunned, as was Prapto. They looked at each other for a moment, then both laughed after Prapto laughed first.

“Sorry, Mas,” says Pinaka. “We can't get into our own house. Duplicate we keep in room.”

Prapto stepped back onto the terrace. “We sit first Pinaka. We think about how we got in.” Prapto laughed again. He sat down and started a cigarette.

Pinaka also sat down. They are both thinking now.

***

“You heard?” ask Lapen to his two best friends.

Taro nodded. “Try approaching sound source.”

“This is not an animal sound,” said Lennon.

The three of them stepped in the direction where there was a faint sound. The longer the sound became clearer, making their steps slower with caution.

Lapen who walked ahead stopped his steps, raising his hands so that his two friends stopped. “It sounds harmonica, isn't it?” ask without looking.

“Seems like yes.” Taro closed his eyes to sharpen his hearing.

Lennon's face changed, as his mind drifted into a distant atmosphere and place, which he felt familiar but could not express. “This song ...”

Lapen and Taro turned to Lennon. Their faces frowned at Lennon's expression.

“What's up, Lennon?” ask Lapen.

“I think I know this song. I played it on youtube. A song that brings a distant atmosphere, but I can't express it.”

Lapen and Taro were stunned for a moment to digest Lennon's words just now.

“Yes already, we just look for the source of this harmonica sound, later we think about the atmosphere far from you, Lennon.” Lapen continued his steps.

They continue to leave the banks of the river whose surface begins to turn yellow over the sun before dusk. At a large tree, six steps away from them, the Lapen Oscario stopped again and raised its hand.

“Behind that big tree,” said Lapen in a lowered voice. Both of his friends nodded.

“Why are you talking in whispers, Lapen?” asked Lennon, who finally decided to keep the voice down.

“The harmonica sounds more sad, the person must be drifting with the song he played. What is clear, behind this tree is the villagers of Kejora. We can't disturb his mood. We'll wait here until the song is done.” Lapen took two steps and sat down.

Taro and Lennon also sat down. The three of them closed their eyes, and swept themselves into the sad groove of the harmonica.

The twilight breeze blew more and more, making the leaves, tree branches, and grasses on the banks of the river move gently like drifting into the atmosphere of harmonica singing.

No one saw how beautiful the dried leaves that were falling because both Lapen and his two friends and the person who played the harmonica, closed their eyes. The fallen leaves fell on the ground, on the grass, and on the surface of the river and drifted away like a small boat.

The harmonica stopped. Slowly Lapen, Taro, and Lennon opened their eyes. After rubbing each head to move the dried leaves, they stood up.

Lapen looked at his two friends in turn, nodded, then turned around and coded for Taro and Lennon to follow. They stepped slowly while guessing who was the person behind the big tree.