Ode To Latitude
where is Dad?

One by one the participants of the race collected yesterday forward submitted the form to Mr. Piter. Mia sees them coming out one by one with an enthusiastic face while telling her the other school has ever won in an early age sports race.

Mia was the last person to submit the form.

Mr. Piter received the form while flipping through the paper.

“Mama I do not permit Pak” said Mia slowly.

“Oh yes already. Then you're not coming. The form I gave to others” said Mr. Piter.

Mia nodded and left immediately. Since last night Mia went on strike speaking out as a sign of protest to her mother and Bi Nina. Mia who was cheerful and asked a lot looked glum. Bi Nina was aware of Mia's change in attitude. Bi Nina tried to invite Mia to talk but only responded to Mia with the words “ya” and “not”.

“You think with a strike talk like that mama will follow your will” asked

Regata on Mia.

Mia just looked down annoyed at her mother's question.

“If you want to participate in the race should be the Math Olympiad open the Sports competition. What's the point of you joining the kayak race so” Regata is not out of thought with the attitude of his daughter.

Mia's eyes again heated up hearing Regata's words. Why didn't his mother also understand that he hated Mathematics and didn't want to be a Doctor like his mother's dream. Their conversation was always about that and would end in a fight. Now Mia understood better she did not respond to what Regata said.

Regata left Bi Nina and Mia after a phone call from the operating room to help with the C-section.

Doctor Mira, the Pediatrician asked him to replace himself as a Doctor

“Bi Nina knows who Mia”'s father is, Mia asked Bi Nina after confirming her mother's car sound away.

“Why suddenly ask so?” Bi Nina frowned.

“My father is still alive, not dead?” ask Mia again.

“Bi Nina doesn't know. You don't have your mama?”

“Udah. He said my father was in a far away place. Mama also never leave when I ask, so I do not ask again”

“My grandmother's grandfather Bi Nina knows no?” ask Mia again.

Bi Nina was surprised, for approximately eight years she worked as an assistant in this house, she did not know her employer's background at all. The first time Regata came, Regata only said he had just moved from Java. Bi Nina had once seen Regata ID card and there was listed Regata's birthplace in

Jakarta.

Bi Nina looked at the disappointed face engraved on Mia's face. The only document Mia has ever seen is her report that her mother was born in Jakarta. They are not indigenous to Manado, because the face of his mother and the dialect of his mother is not like the dialect of Manado in general.

Their home has also never been the arrival of a guest from far away or his family. Is in this world the only family Mia has only her mother? it feels impossible, from what Mia heard people – people always say medical college is very expensive. Their home is also better than the home of friends whose parents are government employees, all Mia needs are met, and can tutoring in expensive places.

Mia thought, there must be something her mother is hiding. There may be clues about his mother's family or his father's other family.

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