GROWINGS
7

"I'm home...!"

The boy who was watching his favorite cartoon, then turned to look with a sullen face.

"When you get into the habit, never say hello!" Say it with a sullen face.

"Asallamalaikum..." Then, his brother gave his greetings.

"It's late!" Tukas the boy again. Then, look back at the television screen, which was showing his favorite cartoon.

An old grandmother came from the back room with a bucket of freshly washed clothes.

"Just come home, Julian?" Asked the grandmother, with her voice slightly shaky.

The guy then wakes up and brings a bucket of laundry that looks very heavy. And it turns out to be true. Not supposed, his grandmother was carrying a burden that was impossible to carry by people his grandmother's age.

He really couldn't stand what his grandmother did. But he also can not do anything, other than by providing small and perfunctory assistance.

"Sir, I've dropped out to not have to go to school anymore.."

"You don't talk like that, Julian."

"Don't you have money?" Julian asked back. "To eat and pay the contract we've had trouble." He stroked while straightening his legs in front of the door of his contract which was not how wide it was.

"Educating is very important to you, Julian. Later let Grandma try to find money. Most importantly, you must continue to study, pray, and try."

Julian went inside. Wash her face, wash her hands and feet, and change her uniform.

He saw what was prepared by his grandmother. It's not better than yesterday. There was only a piece of cold fried tempeh, and a piece of omelet, covered in a serving hood, on the dining table.

"Have you eaten, Bay?" Julian asked his sister.

"Udah earlier, Bang."

"grandmother?"

"Already, Julian. You just eat there." Said Grandma as she passed back in with her empty laundry bucket.

Julian didn't eat. He slept near his sister. Watching a cartoon that he doesn't like.

"Eat first, Julian." Grandma came with a plate of rice complete with side dishes, and also a glass of warm tea.

"I ate this, Grandma. Mr. Yusron bought me something to eat."

"Don't bother him too often."

Julian took a breath. Who is troublesome too. The man who bought him food, because at that time the condition of his workshop was again crowded with visitors.

"Sir, this is my pay this week."

Grandma looked at the shabby banknotes rolled in her grandson's hand.

"You keep it."

"Grandmother aja. Buy rice with sugar."

"Grandma still has money, Julian."

"Bang, my shoes have been torn." the boy snatched with his innocent face.

"Wood, Grandma said, Grandma will buy it. Patience is.."

"But Bayu is ashamed, Grandma. Bayu bolong shoes.."

"Yes, tomorrow we buy at the market."

"Yes, Grandma!! Asi...!!"

Julian saved the money back. His salary is only paid ten thousand a day in the workshop Mr. Yusron, certainly very little.

But at least, the money he collected, can still be used to increase the monthly payment of their contract.

'If only my life had changed. I will definitely make you both happy.' Inner Julian.

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