Folklore And Legends
FOLKLORE IS MAGICAL

In a village called Penurun, located in the Land of Gayo, lived a family of farmers who were very poor. They consist of a father, mother, and two young children. Her eldest son is seven years old, while her sister is still breastfeeding.

Because his life was so poor, every day in his spare time after farming, his father hunted in the forest and caught grasshoppers in the rice fields. The grasshoppers are then put in and collected in the barn. Usually, the farmer's catch grasshoppers are processed into food by his wife. These grasshoppers are very helpful to meet their daily food needs, as well as when the lean season comes. Because their rice fields which are only a few plots produce nothing. This is what makes farmers feel confused looking to support their families.

One day, he went hunting into the forest because he had no other choice to support his family. Before leaving, he said goodbye to his wife, "Mom, take care of the children at home! I'm going to hunt into the woods. Pray that I get a big game and enough animals for us to eat with the family."

Finally, he went hunting, while his wife kept her children at home. It was noon but the father had not yet arrived home carrying the hunted animals. In fact, his two children were whining to hold the hunger. Seeing her two children crying, the mother was very sad. He rushed to the kitchen to find something to eat.

"In the kitchen there is no more food that can be cooked. Well..., how is this? My children are very hungry" said the mother in her heart. Not long after, she remembered the grasshopper her husband had locked up in the barn. The mother called her eldest son. Son, help you get the grasshopper that's in the barn! I'll make you some food, "the mother's shortcut. "Well, ma'am" said his oldest son.

The boy went to a barn not far from their home. Open the door slowly. Hap! A grasshopper was caught. Then, another one and another one of the grasshoppers he put in a bag that had been prepared before.

"But why do the grasshoppers I saw so much now have so little left?" ask in the heart.

Apparently, unwanted things happen. The boy forgot to close the barn door. After opening it, the boy was immediately engrossed in catching the locusts flying in the barn. As a result, release all the locusts in the barn that the father had collected every day, "Color! I forgot to close the door," cried the boy.

Then, the boy returned home crying. He was very afraid of being scolded by his parents. But, inevitably, he had to say it to his mother.

"What's my son? Why are you crying? Where are the grasshoppers you asked for?" ask the mother gently.

"Sorry, the trunk's all gone, ma'am. I forgot to close the barn door after opening it" said his son in tears.

Not long after, the father returned from hunting. He looks annoyed because not a hunted animal he got. "Today I'm really unlucky, Mom. Not even an animal I managed to hunt. Could it be that they all already knew of my arrival and hid in his lair? Ha. I'm so tired. Be today we only eat grasshoppers, "said the father take plunge his body in the chair.

Seeing the exhausted and upset father, the mother was confused, not knowing what to say. She could not tell the truth to her husband. But, inevitably he had to say it too.

"Sorry sir, today we cannot eat grasshoppers either. Earlier, when I was about to take some grasshoppers to cook, I forgot to close the barn door so that the grasshoppers came off. I'm sorry, sir." said the mother who lied to cover up her son's mistakes.

"What, those locusts coming off? Don't you know how long I've been collecting the locusts? You sloppy," cried the father.

The father was very angry. Unconsciously his hand floated into his wife's face. The punch landed on the body of the wife who looked skinny. His wife was dragged out of the house by her husband. Crying sobbing, the wife left the house. She did not expect her husband to pay such a price.

With a faint heart, the wife went to Atu Belah who could swallow anyone. That said, Atu Belah will swallow someone if the person says words while singing in Gayo. Unconsciously, her children followed from behind. His brother carried his little sister.

It seemed, the determination to eat Atu Belah was already round. In front of Atu Belah, the mother sang many times in Gayo. Miraculously, not long after that the stone opened. The mother went into the mouth of the rock that was wide open. Slowly, the mother's body was no longer visible.

"Mom...mom...don't leave us, '" cried her son. But, the mother's body has been swallowed by Atu Belah. Only seven hairs remained. Out of nowhere, suddenly the weather was bad, the sky was dark, and it was raining heavily. The earth trembled watching Atu Belah swallow the humans. Seven strands of the mother's hair were then used as amulets by her children.

Gayo people believe that Atu Belah is a large rock located about 35 km from Takengon, Gayo. They believe this story really happened in their area.

Moral Message: This story can teach us a lesson that one's carelessness can have a devastating impact on oneself and others.