Healing
60. Gossip Hobby

Arrived Friday when Shaka had to go to school with so many luggage, from changing clothes, firewood, toiletries, tableware and various other items.

Papa takes Shaka to school because he has to leave early in the morning. He said there were some events in advance at the school, so Shaka's 6 o'clock had already left. Usually he just say goodbye to mom and dad, but this time he also say goodbye and greet me, even kissing the back of my hand just like mom and dad. It's been a little weird about Shaka's attitude lately.

I who was drying the laundry had to wipe my wet hands so as not to feel cold when Shaka was down.

" The spirit of scouts, may your days at the camp be happy and will be a great memory in your old days" I said as I let go of Shaka with a smile and an encouraging fist.

" Thank you Kak Raya, the spirit is also for my sister, hopefully today's vacation brother can rest comfortably" said Shaka while blinking one eye, I don't know what Shaka meant to do that.

Is he insinuating me because some Friday I can not rest, because I have to be busy taking care of the files and register at KUA. Or is there any other meaning to his eyes. I don't know...

I finished drying the laundry and deliberately sat back on the porch after making the sweet tea and hot steamed bananas that my mother had just picked up from the stove. There was a banana tree next to the ripe house. And it became a delicious menu before breakfast. Still too early for breakfast, only 6, while I used to have breakfast at 7.

Many mothers passed by in front of my house because they wanted to go to the river to wash clothes, most of them greeted me who was sitting alone on the terrace.

" A vacation again, Ra?, tumben clock this time already relaxing alone on the terrace?".

Two middle-aged mothers the same age as mama mama mamma mengaspapaku who was sitting relaxed while enjoying sweet tea and boiled bananas in front of me.

" Oh yes, another holiday" I replied briefly.

The two mothers continued walking, not too far away they stepped, they immediately talked about me.

" Seneng ya the Raya work at the restaurant, in demenin same boss restaurant owner who is still bachelor, lest the boss does not know if the Raya was a real girl. Later on the first night it was only discovered that the Raya girl was already hollow", said neighbor 1.

" Heh.. where maybe the young boss likes the same Kingdom until the whole thing, if it has not been asked to try, at least the same Raya has often been given service in the room before they married. Maybe because the service yahuuuut.

I could hear the two neighbors greeting me earlier, saying such a thing as they walked already far enough away from my house, maybe the mothers were one of the umpteenth hundred or maybe a thousand neighbors who were secretly talking about my vices behind my back.

Their faces were all friendly in front of me, while behind me they all kept talking about my ugliness, making their own stories according to their own versions. And sadly, I can't do anything. I can only listen to them gossip about my life.

Already from the beginning wrong, willing to do right like anything will still look wrong. Sometimes it makes me feel better to act and do as I please. Stupidity with other people's comments. It's up to the neighbors to talk about what I'm like. What is clear is that now I am immune to all that gossip.

For almost 15 years I heard all the insinuations and gossip, I was immune, and I didn't care. All this time I ate my own nyari and did not ask for them, and everything I got from a lawful job, so I did not care about the words of others.

" Why do you sit in front of the house this early in the morning, there are many more people passing by, you are so talked about again with them. Mama does not accept this Ra, let mama face the mothers one by one, let them not continue to badmouth you behind". Mama who ran out of the stall also heard the conversation of the two mothers who were about to wash clothes into the river.

" No need Ma, it's not important to take care of them either. Counting to reduce the sin of the Kingdom that is very much, is not the more they often talk about the ugliness of Kingdom , the sin of Kingdom becomes less" I said while sipping warm tea from the large cup made of stainless.

" I'm sorry, Ma.. because of the mistakes of the Kingdom in the past, mama must often feel the pain of being the subject of gossip and innuendo of others".

" But for Raya, those neighbors have been very kind to us Ma, at least they didn't throw us out of this house, and no one told Shaka the true story. He owes it to the neighbors".

" If someone tells Shaka and makes Shaka hate Raya, Raya will be very sad for Ma"

Mama sat down next to me, rubbing the back of my hand slowly. His gaze looked like he wanted to convey something, but did not dare to reveal it. For a few minutes she kept wiping the back of my hand in silence.

" Come in, have breakfast first, you can be bloated if filled with tea mostly. Mama has made sambel terasi same ngrebus leaves cassava metic behind the house. Your favorite menu".

" Come Ma, let's have breakfast now. Mom is the best. Thanks ma, just know Raya already miss the same sauce made by mama". I walked in with a cup and a plate of boiled bananas in both hands.

Finished breakfast I just sat around leisurely in front of the television, accompanying mama to see the morning infotainment discussing the life of the capital artist.

There is news of the artist's wedding that will be broadcast live on one of the private television broadcasts tomorrow, there is more news from the breakthrough of the talent search event that turned out to now move into a YouTubers. And the latest gossip discusses one of the band personnel who was caught using methamphetamine.

It was a very unimportant broadcast to me, but according to my mother it was important as a conversation when shopping at the vegetable maker. And that reason makes me laugh because it's funny.

But it's true, at 8 am when the vegetable maker in front of my neighbor's house, I heard from inside the house, the mothers were talking about the rumored artist gossip in the infotainment earlier. I became tekekeh myself at home when I heard the mothers seem to know the artists of the capital and talk about them with excitement.

What is it like is the hobby of mothers today, gossiping at every opportunity. Well, if it is so, it means to be grateful for the artists whose sins are lightened, so often become the talk of the mothers.

One thing that surprised me this morning. There was an honored guest who came early in the morning, she was Bu Ara, the midwife who helped me when I gave birth to Shaka.

I let Ms. Ara into the house, she came alone, still wearing an official batik shirt, he said stopping by after attending a gathering at the puskesmas.

" I heard the news that you're getting married soon, right Ra?", asked Bu Ara as we both sat in the living room.

I nodded in agreement. " It's just a few days away Mom, at 9 o'clock the plan will go to the health center for immunization as laden before marriage, then to KUA submit a certificate of immunization from the health center" said I explained.

Ms. Ara nodded, "I'm sorry if I go straight to the point... Does your future husband already know that you and Shaka.", Ms. Ara seemed to pause the sentence.

" Already know Madam Midwife, future husband Raya already know all the stories of Raya's past, and she accepts", Mama came out of the house carrying a tray of sweet tea and boiled bananas as a treat to talk.

" Thank God, mother, as someone who cares deeply for you and Shaka, does not want you to get the wrong partner. But it seems like the man who will be Raya's husband is a very good person", muttered Bu Ara.

My mom and I nodded almost simultaneously.

" I actually heard this news from Shaka's grandmother, Midwife Herni, because we were following the same group. Did you and Ms Herni ever see each other again after they came back here Ra?", asked Ms. Ara.

" No ma'am, we never met, maybe he was looking for information about my life. They're rich, and it's easy for them to get someone to find information about our lives, they'll know that Shaka is their granddaughter. I'm sure it's Miss Ara", guess me.

" It's true that you said Ra, Ms. Herni already knows that Shaka is your son. But her son will soon be married just like you, to a dentist" Ms Ara said, trying to provide information.

Maybe Ms. Ara thinks I don't know about it yet, but her future wife Yoga has even come to this house.

" May their marriage be happy", that's all I can say.

Mom Ara and Mom's expressions were both confused as I prayed for Shaka's biological father to live happily with his wife.

" You're not hurt, or anything like Ra.... He doesn't care about you and Shaka at all?", Ms. Ara thought about my feelings.

" No ma'am, I'm fine, it's possible that this will be better for our lives. Everything that has happened I have tried to make clear, now my only priority is to raise Shaka and make him a successful person, which can be the pride of everyone, especially the family" he said.

Ms. Ara seemed to be teary-eyed hearing my words just now. " May your life ahead be filled with happiness Ra. because the back is full of tears" murmured Bu Ara.