FIZAH (Female Kolong Garbage)
Part 39 "The Story of the Blessed Child"

*Nizami's Ibban

In Tulungagung.

It's been two months since I've urbanized to a city of people. Leaving my mother who often sulked longing. I resigned to Mas Bayu to take care of mother as long as I am not at home.

I live in a small rented house owned by a farmer whose son had long been TKW in Brunei Darussalam. Than nobody wears it. Contract conditions are also still good and well maintained. Half a year was emptied. It is only opened once every two days when the owner cleans the rooms. The rent is cheap. The owner does not look at the work of lecturers who seem to be much more earning. The owner of the contract actually said the lecturer was a poor man. Meanwhile, the work of the cost owner itself only takes care of the garden and rice fields.

The location of my rented house happened to be on the edge of the rice field. Not with the neighbor's house. I want to go back to my teenage years. Self-directed learning without more attention from a mother. It is also part of seeking further life experiences. One cannot be a more fortunate person if one does not learn from the lives of others. I learned a lot from a woman named Mini Mother.

Mini lives with her three children. Her husband died a long time ago. No different from a mother who worked hard after father's death. Every day Bu Mini sells to the market with his children. His two children no one went to school after graduation from Junior High School because of the difficulty of finding school fees up to the level after. Apart from seeing her struggle alone with two sons, I was also persuading Mini to agree to my offer. I want his daughter, the Eldest, to go to college at the college where I teach now. However, Bu Mini complained about the vehicle that will be used by the Eldest. The Eldest himself apparently prefers to stop until SMA only.

Now I'm heading to the market to meet the three of them. At half-seven they were as usual at the stall. Most of the Eldest are still left behind because they have to take care of the house as requested by Bu Mini. Turn back to the Mini's house first. As soon as I got there, I heard the Eldest scream from inside the house.

"Sawwhy are you?"

The Eldest was watching television the only entertainment at home carried by debt collectors. He had no power to ban the two men. He was holding the pain in his hand. Looks like the debt collector has hurt him with a gun.

"Surge, move!" yell at the two addicts.

"Wait a minute."

I hunted them.

"What else? You're who?"

"I can report you on the basis of violence against women. Give me back the television now!"

"What right do you have to interfere in my dealings with that boy?"

"I can report you. There's a video here." I picked up the phone.

"Quick return!" I repeat it again.

"Pay the debt first. The July installments are still hard."

"How many arrears?"

"Six hundred thousand."

I took it out of my pocket. I used the money I was supposed to give to the landlord. Six red money twins changed hands.

"Return!"

The television was returned. But before leaving, they both threatened to come back again and did the same if they could not pay the debt according to their schedule. At that instant, the Eldest hit me. She was crying in my behavior. He sniffles.

I told him to sit down. I sat him in the chair. I gave him a glass of water.

I'm sitting down. "It's big not to cry. He's already gone. Where's your injured hand?"

"This, Brother."

"The wound is deep enough. It is not enough if only given red medicine and bandages. I'll take you to puskesdes. Come on!" I'm rising.

"Sister, don't tell my mother."

The Eldest lowered. Then, shame. Sejurus. He said, "Sister, but I promise I won't owe you any more. I'm khilaf, brother. Kapok."

"What's the money for?"

"Buy clothes."

I let out a breath. "Know what the consequences would be if dealing with them? You could've been hurt more than this."

"Yes, Brother. I thought I'd get a job soon, then I could change the money."

"You better go to school or focus on selling your mom. Don't make your mother difficult, Eldest. You think it's easy to pay for two kids alone."

"If my sister had sent money, I wouldn't have it, Brother."

"Be a smart kid. It's been. I'll take you to the puskesdes."

Firstborn pulled my hand. "Promise not to tell my mom, yeah."

I nodded.

After the puskesdes, the Eldest refused to take it to his mother. He was afraid of being scolded for accounts receivable unknown Mini Bu. Obviously he would be advised. Life is hard still to owe for pleasure. I'm delivering back home.

"Thank you, Brother. I'm troubling you."

"No problem. Take good care of the house. Remember. Your mother's burden is too much. Reduce your burden, Eldest."

"Yes, Brother. But.."

"But, why?"

"Sometimes I'm angry at Mom. My mother loves my sister more."

"You are independent. It's been great to take care of yourself."

"Sister, but from the first mother's treatment was different. Mom always said my sister's a blessing-bearer's son. That means I'm not, is it?"

"I don't know. That's your own conclusion. Not from your mother. Why don't you ask why your mom is?"

"Said Mom, My sister is different from me. My sister is reliable, and I'm not."

"That's the problem" I said.

"I've been trying to be like my sister. But, still in my mother's eyes, my sister is special."

In the early days of my arrival here, I met Mini Mom at the market. I went there several times to buy food until I became a regular. Ms. Mini also memorized my name after previously asking me who and where. He said, my speech is different from that of the people. If the Bu Mini merchandise is quiet, I am told to accompany. The Bungsu usually ngider to the stalls of people throughout the market.

I listened to the life story that Bu Mini shared voluntarily. Thought I was like his son so that Bu Mini spoke very freely without a partition. Bu Mini tells of her second daughter. The boy was smart and adorable since childhood. Every time Bu Mini did good to her second child, she felt that blessing envelop her heart. Ms. Mini said she was lucky to have such a child.

Not only Bu Mini, her late husband also loved his second child. He never distinguished his children. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, Bu Mini did say that his second child was like having its own special privileges. Although special is commonplace as usual in general, it must be admitted that Bu Mini is very proud. Since childhood, her second child has raised her name and her late husband. At least those who are poor are not seen as bad because of the existence of their second child. While still in school when taking a report, Bu Mini received appreciation for the achievements of her second child.

Happy feast day 'Idul Adha.. Sorry for all the shortcomings I have given you. 🙏🙏 Thank you for still faithfully following the story.