The House 1937's
10. Across the House

Papa had just bought a unit of red duck motorcycle that he had bought 'second' from one of his friends who at that time wanted to sell this motorcycle. After agreeing on the agreed price, papa did a test drive in his friend's spacious yard and finally he took the bike home and was greeted with joy by his grandmother and aunt. Papa really looks proud of this new motorcycle, because at that time the motorcycle was still considered a luxury item and indeed rarely anyone who has a motorcycle.

"Well we have a new bike Koh.", my half-storied Tante saw the motor parked on the front porch of the house.

"Yes dong Neng, so if everywhere the cave will not bother anymore", replied papa proudly in front of his sister.

"Jun, later you anterin Enah to the market use a motorbike only yes, let cepet.", Grandma appeared from the front door of the house and observed the new motor papa. He was quite happy because one of his sons was able to manage his own finances well so that he was able to buy a motorcycle that was at that time very rarely people had it.

"Yes Well, gapapa later ride the motor only yes", replied papa while folding the old cloth he had used to wipe the motor.

Grandma was still watching papa's new bike and remembered that today she had to take her bacang order at Babah Acek stall in the market. Bacang or Bakcang is a traditional food of Chinese descent in the form of rice wrapped with triangular bamboo leaves with varied fillings, the filling can be chicken, pork or oncom. At first glance similar to lontong just long-shaped lontong, wrapped with banana leaves and for stuffing usually contains vegetables or oncom. And Babah Acek, which was meant by my grandmother, was a Bakcang maker who was quite famous among the descendants like us because the baskets were really very tasty.

"June...Enah new keingetan, if today Enah should take pesenan bacang to Babah Acek in the market. You can go to the market to take it?, Lu right now there is a motorbike so desperate to take it. Ntar Love the money...",

"Oh can Well can.., Jun who was there deh.", my father approached towards grandma. And my grandmother took her wallet out of the fold of her danger and gave papa some money to pay back her order. My aunt who stood behind my father actually had to whine at my grandmother to come to the market. But grandma didn't allow it because papa went to the market just for a moment to take her order. Grandma then went inside the house, while papa and Aunt were still busy continuing the chat on this front porch.

"Koh.., it was right when Koko left, in front of the house there was an accident.", Alin, Alin, tanteku opened the conversation by telling me about the yellow truck accident that happened in front of the house a few hours ago before papa arrived on this bike.

"What accident is Neng?", papa reflex looked towards the front of the house.

"Look at the tree in front of it, abis cut because it was hit by Ama yellow truck ko. Very cool ko nabraknya, the truck was almost back.., the driver died immediately ko, the blood is very much. Lin was afraid.", my aunt held onto papa's arm.

"Oh that, yeah. Earlier Koko did not ngeh if the tree had been cut down.", Seeing the tree that was cut down, papa immediately shuddered in horror at how fatal the accident had occurred, even to the point of swallowing a death.

"Yes Lin. Koko wants to go to the market first take her reading order. Now it's late afternoon, don't forget later if you already want Maghrib lock Windows and doors.", message papa on my tantam while starting the motor.

"Yes Koko is also careful, do not speed around the new motorbike.", they both laughed together then my father retired and began to advance his motorbike leaving the front porch of the house.

*****

"Enah...Alin..., open the door.." papa kept knocking on the door with a hand that was already cold.

From inside my tanti opened the door with a puzzled face from looking at the sweaty and frightened looking papa.

"Why did Ampe yell that?",

"That's across.", my papa's almost out of breath.

"That accident was still standing across the house....",

*****

Jun (Father)

Alin (Auntie)

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