What a Beautiful Divorce

98. The Summer Festival

“What's up, Nak Prapto?” ask Mr. Oscar, astonished.

Prapto, looking at the car, turned around. “Aninda will be sitting next to the wheel. Lau, who's gonna sit on the back bench in the middle? The bench, ‘kan is not installed,” Prapto said, laughing.

“Truely too,” said Mr. Oscar. Then he thought.

But not yet finished Mr. Oscar thought, Nimo volunteered. “I'm it, Mr. Kades.” He looked at Bu Rara. “There is foam wrapping or cardboard cutout, Bu?”

Ms. Rara went inside, and shortly afterwards returned with the wrapping foam commonly used to pack electronics.

They also returned to the village of Kejora.

***

That afternoon, Pinaka and Arini were already at Bu Rine's house. They help Bu Rine cook and prepare a room for Aninda. Bu Rine looked so happy waiting for the arrival of her adopted son.

“Thank you so much for helping, Pinaka, Arini,” said Bu Rine. The three of them sat on the terrace waiting for the arrival of their husbands.

“Sama-sama, Ma'am,” said Pinaka. “So, both Aninda's parents have died since she was two years old, Ms Rine?”

Bu Rine nodded. “Betul. Died of disease outbreak. Grandparents, uncles, and aunts, and other families are not clear where. Either do not know, or deliberately avoid.”

“Poor, yes, Mom,” says Arini. He then ate boiled cassava.

“That's, Arini. Hopefully Aninda likes the village Kejora.” Bu Rine also took boiled cassava.

Pinaka smile. “He sure likes the village Kejora, Bu,” he said. “There will soon be a summer festival, Aninda will definitely love it.”

“Ia will also love toy shopping and hear the story of Mr. Kuncoro,” added Arini, smiling.

Mr. Rodi's black sedan car arrived and entered his yard. Mr. Rodi first went down with Aninda, then Mr. Oscar. Prapto and Nimo down last.

Mr. Rodi introduced Aninda to his adoptive mother, to Pinaka and also Arini. Aninda seems to be able to judge her adoptive mother is a good person. He chatted for quite a while with Bu Rine who asked questions.

They all then ate the dishes.

***

Ever since Stepen taught them how to grow wheat through the book The Straw Revolution, every day Lapen and his two best friends have been in the garden early in the morning, often even coming before Stepen.

“Enjoyed once they, Lastri. This hour they are already in the garden, coming earlier than the birds chirping,” said Stepen.

Lastri smiled. She then tossed a plate of biscuits and a cup of coffee in front of her husband. “Iya, Mas, often I pay attention. But they will wait long enough to wait for the wheat to be harvested. They must have been impatient to process wheat into food.”

“Perhaps not much different from the harvest time with rice, Lasri. Three, four, or five months.” Stepen thought for a moment. “Lama. After the summer festival later, I will order wheat for them, so that they can study at Pak Krik.” soon

Lastri smiled. “Good idea, Mas,” said.

After breakfast, Stepen went to the garden. He smiled seeing Lapen, Taro, and Lennon playing a chase. They stopped running as soon as they saw Stepen coming and went straight to him.

They were very happy and seemed excited to hear Stepen say that after the summer festival they would soon be able to learn to process wheat on Pak Krik.

***

Prapto and Pinaka arrive in the town of Keladi. They went straight to Timo's car dealership. After a long time weighing, Prapto finally chose an old model sedan car. The Prapto choice is dark blue and ensured healthy engine by Timo friends.

“How, Mas?” pinaka asked as they were on their way home. They were escorted to the keladi city by Nimo and Arini who all wanted to go on an excursion with Pak Uto's car.

“Iya, Mas. I think so too. Not bad, yes, Mas discounts.”

Prapto. “Iya, Pinaka. After the summer festival, let's go to Jakarta. It's been a long time since we went home.”

Pinaka nodded. “Good, Mas. When is the day of summer festival, Mas?”

“Two days, Pinaka. Yesterday I asked Mr. Kades.”

“What's the event, Mas?”

“Said Mr. Oscar, who is related to food, and two new things in Kejora village, Pinaka.” Prapto looked at his wife. “We ate there, what do you think?”

Pinaka. Prapto stopped the car in the parking lot of a simple restaurant located in the middle between the village of Kejora and the city of Keladi.

The restaurant was not crowded visitors, probably because it was still near noon, where the office people still did not enter the break.

In front of the restaurant there is a banner that reads the mainstay menu of the restaurant, ‘Itiak Lado Hijau’.

Prapto and Pinaka get out of the car. Prapto chose a table near the window.

“What's green lado, Mas?” ask while looking at the menu.

“Itiac is a duck, Pinaka. So, fried duck sprinkled with green chili. That's Minang.”

Pinaka. “I order that menu only, Mas. What would you like to eat?” Pinaka recorded his order and Prapto's order.

Pramusaji came, which is a middle-aged woman with an accent of Minang. “Awaited, yes, Mas, Mbak,” said.

***

The next day, after hours of gardening, the residents came to the village hall to take royong to prepare for the summer festival. At every village festival Kejora always held a competition, and at this summer festival will be held a painting competition.

In addition to the painting competition, the mothers and women will also exchange food they have cooked from home and will be eaten at the village hall.

The theme of the race painting set by Mr. Purnomo is about the natural scenery of four seasons that will be chosen one by the competition participants. The four seasons are summer, winter or winter, autumn, and spring.

Mr. Oscar and Prapto sat on the terrace of the village hall after lifting some tables and chairs. Prapto then called Mr. Reynaldi Hijau, Mr. Gumiro, Timo, and Mr. Handoko to invite them to the summer festival that will be held tomorrow.

“They can all come, Mr. Kades,” Prapto said after hanging up the phone.

“My reservation?” ask Mr. Oscar.

Prapto. “Aman, Sir,” said. “I already called earlier, he said later this afternoon will be delivered. How much money for that order, sir?”

Mr. Oscar delayed igniting his shell, thinking. “About five million rupiah, Nak Prapto. Hope the Kejora village children like my gift.”

Prapto was a bit surprised to hear it, but more importantly he was proud to have a village head who was not stingy and always thought about the welfare of its citizens. “They will definitely like, Sir,” Prapto said.

Nimo came with three cups of coffee. “All preparations are done, Mr. Kades.”

Mr. Oscar nodded. “I didn't see Krik today, did he have a fever?”

“There, Sir. Mr. Krik went straight home after gotong royong. He said he wanted to prepare a place to bake bread because after the summer festival he would teach Lapen, Taro, and Lennon.” Nimo lit his cigarette.