Women of Choice

Poverty Tests

***

"Ma, I'm leaving for njai. Friends are all on the pocket money," said Fathan, wearing a carry-on bag on his back and extending his right hand to kiss his mother's hand.

Miss Lastri, the mother who was not holding a dime looked confused. The mother-of-two also tried to find coins in a pencil box, in the pocket of pants and clothes, between the wallet hoping there was money tucked away. But, Nihil.

Bu Lastri tried to talk to a boy who is currently 6 years old. Trying to give understanding to the actual situation.

"It's okay, Mom. I left without having to bring money. Not jajan is also okay, the important thing is to die njai," he said with a reassuring smile.

Hearing her statement, Miss Lastri's heart felt sore. No tears began to pour down her cheeks. Although trying as hard as possible so as not to spill in front of his eldest son, but the clear drops were shed as well.

While the innocent boy chose to immediately run outside the house mingling with his friends and immediately left for the njai place. Leaving the mother who was still as excited as she wrapped herself in bed. Imagine the child who can only see his friends who are enjoying various snacks. Bu Lastri's chest felt tight.

Not once twice has Miss Lastri experienced something like this. Being at the lowest nadir point so as not to hold a penny rupiah when his son asked for snacks. Not because he did not want to work to help the family economy. But, there is a 5-month-old baby who still needs his presence.

***

After Najai Fathan asked permission to go play. When gathered with some friends there was a traveling hawker passing by and stopped right in front of them. The others immediately crowded around to buy it while Fathan just sat and watched from a distance.

A grandfather approached her and asked with a look of pity.

 "Son, why don't you join your other friends?"

"I don't have any money, Cake," he replied innocently.

The grandfather then reached into his pocket and stretched out a piece of paper money of ten thousands.

"Where to buy!" later decree.

There was a pain in the mother's chest when she heard the story of her first child.

"Alhamdulillah. Fathan said thank you to Grandpa?" his tanyanya held a sense between nelangsa and haru.

"Why is Mom crying?" fathan asked when he saw his mother's tears.

"Patience, yes, Son ... May one day we be fulfilled by the Supreme Regent of Life."

Bu Lastri clutched the tiny body of her baby tightly.

Bu Lastri's household with her husband is almost 8 years old. People say if it has passed 5 years of marriage usually the economy will improve. But, it turns out that the Almighty is still giving a test through the economic situation in the couple's household.

As much as possible Bu Lastri tried to survive and be patient with the conditions he currently has to live. Economic hardship does not make it to pawn faith that has been firmly embedded in the heart. The strong woman tried to multiply her patience.

In accordance with the commandment of the Qur'an which means:

***

"Mama, what will I break my fast for drinking?" ask Fathan who is learning to fast at the age of 7 years now.

A few minutes the mother can only be silent trying to find the right answer for a child her age.

"Father the same mother later drink it with water so that you are healthier, Fathan too, yes?" said Bu Lastri at once asked his little bachelor who had sat in the first class of SD.

"But, ma'am, I'll drink it later, I'll want the same milk," she bargained later.

The mother also fell silent again.

"Yes, later Fathan can, really, drink the fast using milk. But, wait for tomorrow if you've gone to work and got money." The woman tried to give her understanding.

Because today until Sunday tomorrow Mr. Agus, his father Fathan is on holiday. I'll be leaving for work on Monday.

Fathan did not answer. He walked to the room and locked himself up. Lastri continued his work in the kitchen peeling yams for breaking the fast today.

Bu Lastri paused the activity that began to wash the yam when he heard the sound of nit ..nit from the front. To make sure the woman stepped onto the terrace that is still covered with land. Right enough. The sound was indeed coming from his own home KWH which turned out to indicate that the electrical pulse would soon run out. Bu Lastri was only able to sigh deeply. As if he wanted to slightly loosen the tightness on his chest.

Now, the mother's mind turned into a wallet that only had a piece of paper money with a nominal of twenty thousand that he planned to buy rice for stock in the next 3 to 4 days.

Because of a dead-end mind. He was forced to head to the house of Ms. Lusi to seek a loan so that he could buy electric tokens while buying the firstborn milk.

"The job search is just one side so. Where to go and succeed. Therefore, the work dong, so the wife should not just rely on income from the husband. Let the child can be snacked," said Mbak Lusi, the older sister of her husband.

At first glance it is true with what was spoken by his brother-in-law. But, either because of his presentation that seemed to be softened to make Bu Lastri's heart feel like a dagger sliced.

In his heart he was eager to answer Bu Lusi's spicy words. 'I also want to work and be able to make money, but what about these two little kids. They still need me.'

Her body is not normal like most people. Bu Lastri who was a child has a history of asthma if the fatigue is slightly directly congested. With a little dust or smoke his chest felt heavy. The woman's mentality was slumped with the pressure she always received from various directions from people who could not understand her condition

All this time he could accept the state of his household that has not been able to like the people out there. Do not blame the husband who works as a building porters whose income is not more than a million in one month.

However, that makes Bu Lastri can not stand the words that cornered even blame because he was just an unemployed wife who did not makin produce rupiah to help the husband's income.

"I was, uh, yes, a time when life was lacking like you. Never bother another family. Never ask for help from parents or relatives. All the trouble I swallowed myself without anyone knowing. Not like you. Who intermittently complained about not having rice. Tell me I don't have any money." The answer from Bu Lusi when Bu Lastri recounted the state of his family that was being tested with economic pressure. At first Bu Lastri revealed his heart like that to be able to reduce the burden a little and can get support from his family part. But, it was even insults, slurs that he had to swallow.

***

As time goes by. Now Bu Lastri's life is getting better after her children became teenagers Bu Lastri can work according to her talent of sewing clothes and receiving catering orders from people around and from far away. Already have employees who help her sew and cook on a large scale.

Let the bitter experience of the bitterness of his life he saved and for learning so that he did not demean and cornered others especially his own family when stricken with distress.