Baby Amber
Pulang Kampung's

The sound of the crowing rooster is mutually unpretentious, welcoming the sun that will soon appear on the eastern horizon. I, who can't wait to go home, have been busy packing since this afternoon. Before dawn I started packing the clothes that we would bring to the village. Even some of the stuff I put in the trunk of the car.

"Are we all moving, Mom?" asked Ratih when I saw me put in a lot of luggage that I had packed. I who heard my wife's question just laughed. To be honest, I want to stay in the village for a long time. I hope to be able to escape the distractions that have lately disrupted our family life. I also intend to go to smart people or anyone who can help me out of this problem.

The house was walled by boards and had a fairly spacious courtyard it looked deserted. Although the conditions are still the same as they were a few years ago, it is exactly where I left this village.

"Maybe Mom is praying inside." I muttered as I saw the solid beside the house looking wet around her. That place we usually use for ablution when going to pray or before going to teach to surau. In the past, I was not so diligent in teaching. I'd rather play with the other kids and make mom angry. He would come in a hurry to walk with a small wooden branch to whip me if I refused to go home and teach, and the other hand is used to lift the tip of the line that he wears to the knee to make it easier for Mother to walk quickly. I rubbed the tears that accidentally dripped considering the past.

A woman who already looked very old came out after opening the side door. Maybe you heard the sound of my car stopping right next to our house. With a squint, Mom watched us from behind the door. His smile expands when he learns that he has the long-cherished arrival of his son. Sobs rang out as I hugged her old body tightly.

I used to go back to the village to visit him. But since the pandemic and everything is limited, I have never been home again.

So happy Mom welcomed our arrival, asking me and Ratih to come in and prepare everything she had.

"That's his friend who wasn't told to come in?" mother asked me to look. I looked towards the door where Mom was pointing towards the door that was wide open.

"Nobody, ma'am" I said, sipping the water that I always keep in a jug of clay.

"Who are you looking for?" many ensure.

"That's you, your friend might. I saw you get out of your car. But lately." said Mother made me aghast.

"Mother seriously?"

Mom nodded confidently, There is no way that Mom would lie to me. My body went limp for a moment, my heartbeat racing with a force making the flow of blood quickly flow throughout the body.

Apparently, Mom is still curious. Even after me and Ratih cleaned up all our luggage, Mom was still looking for the figure who said my friend and came home with me.

"It is not permissible if the family has a close relationship with other women. Especially bringing him home. What do the neighbors say?" mother whispered as I was relaxing in the yard next to the house. The page was lush from when I was a kid. The mango trees and water guava seemed bigger than the time I left this house.

"What do you mean, Mother? Hadi didn't bring anyone here except Ratih. You may have seen it wrong." Mom thought for a moment. Then, rubbing his neck, he left and left me inside the house.