Self Healing
Episode 29 The Clothesline Incident

Three months into my stay on the oil palm plantation, I was able to adapt to the silence during the day and the sudden calls outside of working hours for problems at the clinic. I'm getting used to being left behind because of emergency calls because of either work accident or other problems, which knows no time.

Waiting for the vegetable is a moment of socializing me with the mothers of the garden, yes that is how I call it, the mothers of the garden or the wives of the assistants of this oil palm plantation.

"Mom Lina, what's cooking today?"

Standard questions I hear almost every day.

"Don't know what to cook, at most if you've taken lunch time meet the idea to cook," I replied casually.

"If the two are still relaxed, later if there is a baby, have started to set the menu."

Then in the afternoon, the sight of children running around or racing bike rides around the housing complex, has become a separate entertainment for me.

But there are times when things happen that are unusual and quite upsetting to me.

This morning, I just finished washing the sheets and towels. Then, as usual, I hung it in the backyard. Uniquely this housing complex is we share a backyard with other houses. The houses I occupied were in the middle, among the 2 assistant houses. About 200 meters back, there are 3 more assistant houses. For that we share a backyard that is used to dry clothes or talk on cots that are attached in the middle.

Vegetarian who came 3 times a week, will hold his merchandise in the backyard. So it can be said, there are no secrets from our backyard, coupled with the absence of a dividing fence or house divider, making this housing complex open.

So open, that anyone can enter, even though there is a warning board is prohibited from entering the residential area of PT. Light Golden, in addition to the employees but still, the natives of the village around the plantation are still herding her buffalo and goats to the Light Golden residential area.

Like today, after a lunch break at home, Tyo still had to return to the clinic.

"Just go to work again, yeah. Honey rest, do not make a snack, later Mas stopped by the store to buy bread," said Tyo shortly before leaving for the clinic.

"Well, which clinic is scheduled this afternoon?" tanyaku, because in addition to the practice in the main clinic, Tyo also had to go to clinics in other divisions, which were quite far away and the trajectory was not smooth. So it takes the fastest travel time about 30-45 minutes.

"This one's in division 2. Sweetheart just rest, hmmm or want to come, let's see the clinic there?" bring Tyo.

"No, I slept at home. Anytime if bosen," I replied.

"Yowes, I'm leaving first, yeah. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam."

After washing the dishes and tidying the dining table, I also rested in the room, before long I fell asleep.

Moments later I woke up hearing a loud noise from the backyard.

I then headed to the backyard to pick up the clothesline this morning, as well as checking what events were making the crowd. But when I opened the door, it felt like crying to see the sheets and blankets that were still on the clothesline filled with mud stains.

My left neighbor, Bu Bambang who was also taking his clothesline also fared the same as me.

"Well, this must be because of the buffalo shepherds who passed in this area!" his gerrick.

"So there's a buffalo through here, Mom?" my many.

"Usually if a buffalo passes through here, it must be a victim of clothesline. Look at it, so it's full of mud like this" replied Bu Bambang.

Then I took all my clothespins and put them in a bucket. Not finished with my annoyance, suddenly the sound of someone banging on the front window. I immediately ran to check it, my legs were again limp, after seeing the view on the front porch through a glass window. A group of forest monkeys were playing on the terrace, they were jumping around and some were banging on the window.

I just stared at the window, it was an incredible sight that never crossed my mind.

My heart was pounding because of the fear that arose, watching the free zoo attractions on the terrace of the house. A moment later the security officers who were on patrol immediately drove the monkeys away.

Then, I walked slowly to the sofa in the living room. I also sat leaning back while looking at the TV that I deliberately turned on to accompany when I was alone. I don't care about the show being played, I just need a vote after today's consecutive incident.

Shortly afterwards, the sound of Tyo's official car entering the front yard. I immediately prepared a drink for him, and I prepared to welcome him.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam," I answered while kissing the back of Tyo's hand.

For some reason, I suddenly cried.

"Lho Yang, why? What's up?" tanya Tyo with a face full of worry for seeing me who suddenly cried sobbing.

I couldn't answer the question, I just kept crying and crying. Tyo hugged me without saying anything, then he took me to the room and put me on the bed.

Tyo said nothing, he just hugged me and stroked my back. After I calmed down, I took her to the bathroom where our washing machine was placed.

"Look, a gift from a buffalo," I pointed it at the sheets and blankets that were smeared with mud.

She smiled and hugged me back.

"Dear tired, huh? Help wash again, then we will snack on the Songo Block, will you?" said Tyo who was trying to cheer me up.

"It's late afternoon, is it?"

"I mean tomorrow morning, tomorrow is Sunday. Tomorrow morning, I help you wash it and we can find food in Pinang City or in Songo Block, how?" said Tyo.

"Deal!" reply spirit.

The next morning, according to Tyo's promise, he helped me wash the dirty sheets from the buffalo, then took me to breakfast in Songo Block, which is located quite far away, about 50 km and takes about 1 hour to get there.

"You want some vegetable lontong, skunk noodles or rice?" ask Tyo.

"What's wrong, what's important is that I'm hungry" I replied.

"OK, mas pesenin lontong vegetable, then later the noodles are wrapped, all choose a side dish to eat today, so darling rest do not need to cook," tyo said softly with his sad eyes on me.

"Thank you, Mom," I replied with a smile on her face.

But when the food that had been ordered was served on the table, I suddenly lost my appetite, but during the trip, I had imagined this simple and delicious dish landing in my mouth.