Mom, I Want School
3. HOW DOES SCHOOL FEEL?

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There are those who are using bicycles and chatting with their friends using red and white clothes typical of Indonesian school children, wearing hats, holding a bag that is so beautiful. I don't even know the name of the character in the bag.

I was made to smile at them. I also want to be like those who wear red and white school clothes in uniform, wear a bag, wear a hat with a white bird on it, wear a red tie, black shoes and white socks.

How does it feel like that? What are they doing at school? Ari was honestly very curious about it.

Maybe I can ask my father. He may have the answer to my question.

"Mr!" call slowly.

"What's wrong?" sahut fast.

He immediately asked that. I could hear her voice accompanied by a slightly dull breath. I knew my age would add to the burden my Father had to carry when riding a bicycle. The more the load the stronger he was riding his old bicycle.

"How does school feel?" I asked so curious.

A small laughter sounded. My father laughed when I asked him that question. I was so confused, what was so funny about my question.

"What's up, sir? Why?"

"Why are you asking like that?"

"No, I just wanted to ask. Ari sees there are many people who go to school every day without any boredom."

"What are they doing at school?" continue me.

There was no answer from the man sitting in front of me until I finally decided to shut up. Is my question wrong.

Not long after the bike was stopped right in front of the house.I stepped down from the bike, standing in front of him while waiting for my father who was leaning his bike on a pole of the house that was a bit weathered. I even fear that this pole will collapse at the end of the year where the rainy season and strong winds threaten.

My father who wanted to step into the house was restrained his steps found myself still faithful standing.

"What's wrong?" he asked me, but I knew my father was not angry.

"Ari wants to ask."

"Why?" askaku who stepped in the footsteps of the father who entered the house.

"Because you don't know."

"Why not know?" enough of me made astonishment.

How do I not be surprised because every question I must always answer the father but somehow at this time this one question can not be answered by my father. Is this question too difficult to answer? What trouble?

"Sir! How's school feel?"

I asked again, I hope you don't hit me after asking like this. The old man seemed to take a long breath. It seems heavy enough to answer this question. The more you don't answer my questions, the more curious I become.

He put a cup of coffee on my mama's table this morning. He looked at me as if he wanted to swallow me at this very second.

"Father doesn't know what it's like to go to school because you never go to school either. If you were in school, maybe our lives wouldn't be like this."

It was the answer I heard from his mouth and it managed to keep me quiet and silent. I read the words spoken by my father.

School and life, what is the relation of these two words. It was quite confusing after hearing it. What that means is if we don't go to school then our lives will be like this.

It's not just that I think I was born into a pretty poor family. I can see the evidence. One of them was when the red light was only me alone who used an ugly bike while the other used a beautiful vehicle big and luxurious. No need to bother moving all the energy to run it.

After hearing that answer I decided to sit on the embankment staring at the river flow that flows so clear I moved a little to monitor the water movement that seemed to be passed by small fish however, it was a little, then my mind returned to my father's answer.

If the father of the school maybe he will not live like this then at that time I concluded that the school seemed useful. If my father went to school then our lives wouldn't be like this.

You will not live in an old house with walls porous, no suburban living, and every day hear the sound of a truck shaking the floor of my bed. Meaning school is pretty important maybe very-very important.

I also don't understand why I could make that decision so quickly and now I don't wonder why there are so many kids who are almost my age who go to school every day.

I drew in a deep air and exhaled it slowly smelling the scent of mud that was still being worked on over there. Must pass through the river that is not too deep if passed on the right side to go to the rice field area. I often go there to help Mr. Santoso to repel small rice-eating birds.

Regarding the school, it seems like I also have to go to school, yes it is possible.

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