After Two Decades
Grandpa Good

Morning was pretty bright today. The sky is covered with clouds, but the sunlight can penetrate and make the light of this small town. Among the people who began to move, vehicles that began to pass on the streets, I walked down a narrow alley. A rundown alley that doesn't matter. On the right and left side is a large wall belonging to a towering high building, while at the end there is a settlement.

After step by step adorned with morning air, I finally arrived at the end of the alley. In a backward settlement behind a tall building that stands mighty. A settlement consisting of building walled houses and plank floors, roofed leaves, the original characteristics of this area. However, his condition was old, dilapidated, weathered, and rickety. So sad considering that among the buildings that almost collapsed there is a group of life that still survives in the midst of many blows of reality. Living in lack. Shabby-dressed children who can't attend school, or limp-trained parents force their vulnerable bodies against fate. There are a lot of things I learned here. That two decades I lived a good life, but I'm not grateful. Biggest mistake of my life. So today, I visited this place. I wish I had made no more wrong decisions.

I walked down the row of houses, stopping at one of them. It was seen a little boy sitting pensively on his porch. The little boy looked at me. I stared back kindly. Realizing I looked at him and walked towards him, the little boy was surprised. He got up and ran into his house screaming in fear. I just smile.

Shortly after, the little boy came out with his friends. About six or eight people. Each of them looked worn and worn. I knew one of them, and he recognized me. He immediately greeted me with enthusiasm.

"Of Renato!" the boy how happy.

"Steven," I said as I sat at the base of the wooden ledge.

"Ultimately Om is really coming back, yes!" Steven came closer and sat down by my side. While his friends were confused, they had never seen me before. His face looked scared and alert. They began to retreat step by step back inside.

"Friends, don't be afraid. It's Om Renato!" said Steven.

"Np ... Renato?" Those innocent children were still glaring in wonder.

"Om Renato this is the person who yesterday gave us that much money!"

"Ooohhh," The children exclaimed compactly. "Om Good!"

"Yes" Steven replied.

"Hay, Good Om!" They began to greet me kindly.

I smiled back kindly. "Hay, good kids too!"

They smile and laugh cheerfully. Began to sit closer. One of them asked, "We're good kids, huh?"

"Yes, you're good kids!" I answered with a little wonder.

"But we never gave money to anyone."

I smiled holding back the laughter. "But never ask, right?"

"No," They shook their heads.

"Well, that means you're good kids" I said.

"Well, thank you, Good Om!" They answered compactly except Steven. He looked confusedly at his friends and me. If I look around again, among them all Steven is the oldest. Either because his posture is bigger than his friends.

"Eh, by the way, I already know how old I am" Steven said.

"Oh, huh?" greet me. "How old are you?"

"Say Grandpa I'm ten years old."

"Oh, ten years." I smiled kindly. Inside the heart was another feeling that rippled upon hearing the age of ten. The age at which I experienced a dark event. Which is even after two decades of unfolding facts are getting darker. Steven really reminds me of myself.

"Nr ...." Steven waved his hands in front of my face.

"Eh?" I gasp. Graze for a moment.

"Om what's coming here again? There's important business against bad guys again huh?" ask the little boy.

"You're right, I came here because there's important business" I replied. "But not to fight bad guys."

"Well, what's important?" Steven kept asking.

"The money's with you!"

"We're the bad guys, aren't we?" knock one of those little kids.

"But we're good kids?" the other timpal.

"No, it's not so!" I'm trying to explain. "Let's just say, can you call Grandpa Good?"

"Oh, I can" Steven immediately stood up. "Wait a minute!"

The little boy rushed into the house. There was a sound of her footsteps along the floor of the board. The other kids just looked at me with innocent smiles. They examined my appearance from top to bottom.

Not long after, Steven returned with an old grandfather. His age may be on the sidelines with Om Sunaryo. Her clothes were as shabby as those little kids. Pathetic appearance. His body is short. He walked over limping closer to me. He sat down with his sickly body. His wrinkled face looked at me full of days.

"You ... You're Renato?" ask her with a hoarse voice.

"Right, Cake," I replied politely. "I'm Renato!"

"Oh, then Grandpa would like to thank you very much for your help yesterday!" said the Grandpa.

"Yes, Cake. I'm glad I could help."

"But the money you gave me yesterday is too much, son!" said this Grandpa.

"Ah, yes, Cake?"

"Yes, son," he answered. "The money is still a lot. We don't know what money to buy. So since you happen to be here, I'd better give the money back, how?"

"Eh, no, Cake!" sangkalku. "The money is for Grandpa and the kids. Grandpa's needs and they must be many. Just put it all on, spend it if you need to. Less later let me add more!"

"Son, no!" said the Grandpa. "Grandfather did not dare to hold too much money. We hard people are used to a little money, which is important enough to eat."

I smiled knot. Then he said, "Sir, I actually came here to tell Grandpa something."

"Something? What's something, son?" Grandpa looked at me confused. The little children were now looking at me seriously with curiosity.

In response, I smiled wryly.

***

That morning I had a long chat with Grandpa Baik and those super innocent little kids. We talked about a lot of things and relaxed topics. They are cool people to talk to. Until I convey my true purpose, I come to visit them.

So, I convey the intention to help them change their lives to make it easier and live a good life. I offered them to move to a more decent home and live with all their needs completely fulfilled. I'm gonna find them a house, and they're gonna move out of this slum.

At first Grandpa Good was surprised not to play. He refused many times, and felt bad for me. However, with the ability to speak that had become my job, I managed to convince this Good Grandfather. For Steven and his friends, enough lure to buy clothes just now they are enthusiastic not playing. After some discussion, the Good Grandfather was finally willing to accept all my help to move to a better home and leave a life of poverty.

We started planning and doing what we were going to do. Since I'm not a native of this place, I need someone else to help. I don't know anything about Sawu Island and its contents, so I have to ask for the help of the natives here to take care of things. So after chatting a lot with Good Grandpa and the kids, I left. To find someone who can help us with this.

Luckily, it wasn't hard for me to find the person I needed. Is Kaka Danu, a middle-aged man who is a local community figure. His figure is very recognizable and has a very broad relationship. He has contacts everywhere, all over East Nusa Tenggara. He was a wealthy businessman at a young age. His hobby is walking everywhere, not being able to stay in one place. It looks busy and has a lot of business, but in fact it is just a walk to visit many places to satisfy yourself. Seeking out lots of experience and expanding relationships.

How am I supposed to meet this guy? So, to reach my goal, I called my business partner out of town. I asked them one by one whether they knew anyone in East Nusa Tenggara, especially Sabu Raijua who already knew a lot about this place. One of them suggested that I look for Kaka Danu. He sent me his profile and complete information about this man named Kaka Danu and as well as the address where I could find him. So I took that advice.

So this afternoon, Kaka Danu and I had lunch together at a famous restaurant in the city. Kaka Danu is a typical greeting to him by everyone who knows him. His real name is Danu Alkatiri. He's a few years older than me. After lunch and a casual chat, I concluded that Kaka Danu is a person who is very friendly, likes to talk a lot, insightful, cool to talk, and easily familiar with new people. In fact, he knew me before I knew him. As a businessman, of course Kaka Danu knows who I am and my football is in the business world. More recently there was some business that brought me to this place.

We talked a lot, until I told him my true purpose. I asked for his help, to take me where to find housing ready to live and the people in question that I have to meet. I don't know anything here, so I need him to drive. And I'm really not mistaken for a person, Kaka Danu is a native of this place. This land is his homeland. He poulted once the ins and outs of the entire island. Moreover, this small town on the edge of the harbor, has been a playground since childhood. It is easy to get things done with him. Whatever I want to do here, Kaka Danu always knows where I should go and who I should meet. He was familiar and close to many important figures in this city. It can be said, Kaka Danu is the Jan of Sawu Island.

That afternoon we also left. Depart from the city's famous restaurants, to the most popular housing complex among coastal residents. Kaka Danu was a fun person, along the way we again chatted a lot. Besides, I emphasized one thing to her, that don't tell anyone that she met and had any business with me here. I asked him to hide my existence here. And that person, casually responded.

"Just calm down, Ren. Even if you don't want to tell me why, I'll take good care of it. No one will ever know that you're here. Just relax!"