While the Script is Drawn

Mosaic 14 - No Title 03

Begundals! Crazy one! Goddamn shit! Shithead! Jancuk! A human!

They, the dogs, the cats, the rats, the rats, dare to insult me! Just this time I received insults as low as ***. Begundals! Crazy one! Goddamn shit! Shithead! Jancuk! A human!

Listen to this, then you must understand if I become angry like the devil was told to respect Adam.

They say I'm human!

***

My emotions suddenly erupted like a volcano exploding hot magma. How not if suddenly I was insulted so badly. Says humans by them. Fucking shit! I don't want to be likened to a human being. As a monkey, I still accept it. Said to look like a smallpox wart in the ass, I'm still fine. But say they look like humans? No way!

Humans are the most despicable creatures. More despicable than monkeys, goats, ***, warts, smallpox, ***!

Those, those humans, are not the most cunning species that often overturn facts. They like to slander other species with indecent slander even though they themselves are the culprit. The trash yells rubbish! Damn it screams bastard! Aihs...

They, those humans, are also the wakhid number-destroying species on the planet. They cleared the forest. Polluting oceans. Spreading air pollution. Ground muddy. Killing other species to extinction.

They are endowed with the Most High by intelligence, but with that intelligence they are brutally destructive.

So when I am equated with humans, I muntab!

***

I am proud to have four strong legs, loud barks and a keen sense of smell. I also have soft feathers, though often shabby, a great sense of empathy and unquestionable loyalty. I am proud, I am a dog!

Why did they say I was human?

"Even you've forgotten how to bark" said Celista, a snow-white furred poodle. But because it is often exposed to dust, the fur is no longer white, so yellow-yellow gray. We've known you for a long time. He was a dog that his master (a human family) threw under an electric pole. A year ago.

He was the dog that the family loved. It was bought at a great price by a newly married couple from a pet store. Then, he became their favorite because it was very funny and adorable. But time changes everything. The woman was pregnant and a beautiful baby was born. Blessed they. However, when the beautiful baby girl was close to the dog, the baby suddenly coughed and raised spots all over his skin. The doctor said the baby had a dog allergy. The dog was just thrown away.

"Whatchu mean? Of course I can bark!" say I'm annoyed.

"Prove it!"

I took a deep breath, tightened my stomach and barked hard.

“Pff... Pfff..”

“Pff... Pfff..”

Is that all that came out?

Celista laughed. I'm intimidated. Then I tried again.

“Pff... Pfff..”

Add Celista curls. My face is red. Shame is immeasurable.

What's up with me? Why can't I bark.

"No, it's true. You've become like a man, Romeo," Celista said triumphantly.

No. gabe. It won't. Don't equate me with that destructive creature. Please no!

I left Celista who was now pawing in excitement with slow steps.

Seen a cat sitting scavenging for food scraps in the garbage. I lost my taste buds. Usually, I like to play with the cat, chasing as if to eat. The skinny cat ran away scared like a demon.

***

I am a mutt. My name is Romeo. Aih, what a beautiful name, right? That name I got from advertising flyers strewn across the streets.

Watch, the most romantic love theater of all time! The most famous love story in history! Romeo and Juliette's.

Nb. Prepare a tissue because your eyes will definitely water.

I don't know what kind of love story the ad leaflet has to offer. But when I heard Romeo's name from the mouths of men who read it, I was struck by a manly figure. Ro-me-o is. Aih, really macho.I am proud to put that name on me. Ro-me-o! Bravery sounds.

I'm a stray dog. Orphaned. Once upon a time, I had a mother. I don't know who my father is. I was raised by my mother until 6 months old. Mom died. Eating beef that has been poisoned by humans. I still remember how the mother was vomiting, convulsing, cawing like a dog with rabies, her mouth foaming and then sprawling lifeless. Since then I have considered humans to be the most dangerous creatures. The worst creatures who only think about themselves.

And when they say I'm human, I feel really insulted.

***

Nun, cornered in Pasar Rakyat, under the roof of May Berkah Jaya Abadi kiosk, kiosk selling household furniture of plastic, plastic dipper, plastic bucket, plastic plate, plastic cup, plastic chair, plastic chair, and other plastics, I curled my cold.

It rained very hard tonight. Sky blaring. Cold simmering. Although my body is hairy but cold this time to make teeth chattering.

Grrr...

This People's Market if the bad rain is not playing. And the smell, aih, just like TPA. But I'm used to it. Me and the other stray dogs, as well as the cats, the rats, the mosquitoes already regard this stinking market as home.

Home is where you can go home.

Home is a place where someone is waiting for you to come home.

That's what I know. At this rancid smell I went home, scavenging for food scraps to eat, sleep and occasionally make love if there are females who are high. In this rancid place too, Celista, Bogel, Togel, Gentong Pawong, Maryati, Cyntia, Sufiah, the village dogs and the cats and rats and mosquitoes do the same. Unbeknownst to an old man named Mbah Sabari, the homeless waiter of this Village Market.

In addition to the smell of rancid and mishandled for mercy when it rains, this market is also often used as a place to party for humans who have been entangled in persuading Satan to curse. Free pervert place than the hassle of renting a jasmine hotel. In the dark corners they are guerrilla. Women dress up menor with inter-provincial bus drivers. Transvestites with sand truck drivers. The single organ biduanita with the foreman brothers porters factory. Couples chili-cabean and eggplant that can not stand against lust. Om-om recruit potty who sodomize street children with the lure of fifty thousand. Aih, their behavior is just like us, the animals. Even more empty. More despicable. More animal.

Aihs...

***

In my eyes, man is an incomparable troublemaker. Unequalled. Nonexistent. There are exceptions to everything, though. Including the look of the human in my eyes. Mbah Sabari is the exception. He is the only person who is not human. Aih, the old man was very kind to his understanding.

Even though I am a dog, I know what is good, what is true.

I will tell you who Mbah Sabari is. He's an old man with no relatives, a house to go home and a chant to make love. He lived a kara, just like me, Celista, Bogel, Togel, Gentong Pawon, Maryati, Cyntia, Sufiah. It is, as I said above, the waiter of this smelly Kampung Market. He slept in a musala near a public toilet provided by the government. He guards there. The toilet guard market is his profession. Pissing two thousand. Three thousand. Piss plus defecate three thousand (Aih.. if you also piss must piss!).

Mbah Sabari, as the name implies, is very patient. Do not want to stand on my hands begging for the mercy of other humans. He was five time. He likes to share even though he is very lacking. He likes to share not just with other people. Against us anyway. Exile dogs, shabby cats. He likes to share food with us. Sometimes I can't see it.

"That's why you've become human-like" said Gentong Pawong, who is possessed by Celista, Bogel, Togel, Maryati, Cyntia, Sufiah.

Gentong Pawong is our leader, PAPK, Kampung Market Dog Association.

"What do you mean, Tong?"

I don't understand what Gentong Pawon said.

"You're starting to look like the old man that's the keeper of the outhouse, man!" gentong Pawon Exclamation.

Nguiks... Nguiks... Celista, Bogel, Togel, Maryati, Cyntia, Sufiah agreed to Gentong Pawong's speech.

Do I look like Mbah Sabari? Isn't that nice. He was the only human in this village who did not look like a human. Not destructive. Not making trouble. Not evil. No nista. Not perverted. Not insulting. Not kill. Not corruption. Lovingly. Patiently. Lovingly. Full steadfast. Full sharing. Devoutly. Aihs... I don't understand my dog friends.

"Remember, you're a dog! Not human!" gentong Pawon said ending the meeting tonight.

Nguiks... Nguiks...

Aihs... I still don't understand.

***

I like to listen to Mbah Sabari reverberating beautiful sentences that I do not know what it means. Gradually I knew he was teaching, echoing the holy verses of the Qur’an. Its beauty crept all the way to the recesses of the heart. A liver? Aihs... Do dogs have hearts? I don't know. But I feel that way.

I've never heard the beauty of such sentences before. Usually Mbah Sabari recited the beautiful sentences after magrib, midnight under the petromax lamp and after dawn. Sometimes he also read the meaning of the sentences so that I understand a little.

"What are you doing, man?" ask Gentong Pawon. Maybe he was curious to see me sitting quietly near this rickety market musala.

"Listen to the teaching man, Tong," I replied.

Gentong Pawon shook his head while yawning. "Stupid dog!"

Mbah Sabari also likes to buy a pack of rice and share it with us, the dogs and cats without man, who are always lonely and malnourished. What a noble heart this one man. And added to my admiration.

I finally decided to become Mbah Sabari's student. Wherever he went I followed him. I was inspired by Qithmir, a dog who entered heaven in Ashabul Kahfi's story. How can I tell the story about the dog Qithmir? Sabari often read it. The story of Ashabul Kahfi and his dog in the verses of the Qur’an.

"Why are you so often around me, dog?"

“Pff... Pfff..”

"I don't know what you're saying but I'm glad to see how you're doing. You're different from the other dogs."

“Pff... Pfff..”

"You're not just a dog. You're like a human being."

“Pff... Pfff..”

***

I was worried to see Mbah Sabari lately looking pale and coughing. Looks like he's sick. I was confused what to do for him. I'm just a dog, I don't understand how to make drugs, what kind of drugs and what kind of cures. I also don't know how to get him to the hospital. Aihs... I'm just a dog.

I can only pray. Do'a to God. I have never met God. But from the way Mbah Sabari adored him every time I learned, I know and believe that God is the Almighty. Power over everything.

Lord, give healing to this poor, kind man. My prayers.

Mbah Sabari did not improve.he was still pale and coughing. But he keeps the market toilet, pees two thousand, defecates three thousand. After the quiet market he curled up in the musala. I'm standing guard outside.

A week passed, Mbah Sabari still did. I saw him. I can't bear to leave him. But my stomach wants to ask for his rations. Hungry my nian. Want me to scavenge for junk looking for anything to eat. But then again, I can't leave him.

"Dog, don't wait for me. Find food. Your stomach must be hungry. I'm sorry, I can't buy you rice." Sabari knows what I feel.

“Pff... Pfff..”

"Ah, you are like a human, a dog," Mbah Sabari chuckled.

“Pff... Pfff..”

So with a heavy heart I left Mbah Sabari to scavenge for leftovers. I haven't eaten in two days. Stomach hungry right. I sniffed like a dog. I could not find any food around the market. I also did not see Celista, Bogel, Togel, Gentong Pawon, Maryati, Cyntia, Sufiah. Where're they?

I kept walking while sniffing. I didn't feel like I was far from the market. Not really, I was gone a long time ago. The night is getting night. I decided to go back to the market.

Once there, something felt strange.

Lots of market mood. Humans are taking water from everywhere. The flames are everywhere. A second later I realized, the Fire Village Market. The first thing that came to my head was Mbah Sabari. I rushed through the flames.

The abode of Mbah Sabari partially burned. I was barking in panic. Miraculously, this time I could bark. I immediately entered the musala. Mbah Sabari was helpless. His feet were in ruins.

Woof, woof, woof...

"Dog, you came to save me," Mbah Sabari said with a slight smile.

Aih, still smiling. I tugged at Mbah Sabari's trouser cloth with my mouth all my might. His feet were not yet out of the rubble. I barked even harder, hoping someone would come to my aid. The flames grew more and more crazed to the point of burning Mbah Sabari's clothes. I tried to put it out with my body. Aih, hot...

I don't mind that heat. I keep trying to put out the fire. The fire was also extinguished. My body feels hot. I'm pulling as hard as I can. I howled loudly.

Come on, anyone, please...

Woof, woof, woof...

I was almost desperate. If only I were human, I would be able to quickly help this old man. What is my power is just a dog. The fire slowly spread in different directions. I try to get harder. Howling is getting crazy. Until the humans find us.

"Hey.here is a man and a dog. Quickly put out the fire. Rancid fleas, fire extinguisher catapulted once."

Please hurry, man.

Woof, woof, woof...

“Pff... Pfff.”

My hair feels burning.

.

.

.

Finished

(This Short Story: They Say, I'm Human)