The Journey
Part 3
"If there's a road in front of you, even if it's just a small, narrow path, take your step"
The flashback
Cring cring...
The bell sign starts the teaching and learning activity sounds. One by one the students stepped into their respective classrooms. Not with that little girl. Still fixated on staring at the small building that will be a place of learning three years into the future.
The building looks shabby, not storied. Three rooms he believed to be 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade rooms were lined up facing a large street near the beach. Without a school guardrail, the building stared straight at the open sea in front of it. Beside the building were three other rooms. One room was like an unused warehouse, another one looked like a library room but there was no information on its doorstep. And the last one looks quite large is the principal room, concurrently the curriculum room, Business and teacher room.
In front of the building there is a wooden board that says SMPK 6 ROKATENDA . The board was not far from the flagpole with Sang Saka fluttering above it. There was a large courtyard in front of the principal's room. This scene is not so beautiful as the Junior High of all children's dreams. But this was enough for Line to learn. At the center of Line's attention is a beach fringe with white sand extending in front of the School.
"Yep, this will be my study, "he thought to himself.
The girl had long waist curls, tied to a horse, with a white collared shirt and knee-length jeans. His appearance is still random like other tomboy kids. The many-robed mountain sandals were wedged neatly at the feet. A small face with a plain oval shape without a base of powder, grasping a notebook in the hand with a pen tucked in a knotted hair.
Confidently stepped into the headmaster's room to register according to the message of the principal of the Junior High School a few days ago. It is still clear that he had to report back to the school.
On Saturday morning, in the library room SD Line.
"Line, you're a smart kid. Come join the SMP pante. The father will guarantee you acceptance. And line just needs to report back if line includes new students at school."
Mr. Vinsen, a principal of the only Junior High School on the island of Line at that time, invited Line to continue his studies, when he found that Line was guarding the library at the Line primary school.
"But sir, I don't have any money, and I don't have a Junior High uniform either. How can I join?" Line who realized the situation glibly replied to Mr. Vinsen's statement.
"For that matter, there is no need to worry.While you can use free clothes for school. Because it just happened to be a week this semester is running. Let mama Line buy it into town. For money problems, you just need to try to become a general champion. Then you can be free of school fees." said Mr. Vinsen as if trying to convince Line.
The eyes of enthusiasm and happiness were clearly visible in Line's eyes. That smile cannot be hidden. "Finally, I can learn again" His heart was like dancing.
"Okay sir, thank you for this opportunity." Quickly kissed Mr. Vinsen's hand and asked permission to return home and tell Line's parents this news.
Run to the garden where his father and mother worked everyday. After notifying the news, Line and the family prepared a small amount of Line goods to take Line to live in the coastal area near his new Junior High School. Line decided to get into a new school on Tuesday. Because Line does not yet have a school uniform and can not follow the Monday ceremony without a blue and white uniform.
tok tok tok tok
"Excuse me, I'm sorry Line Emero Pio, a new student at this school. I was asked to report myself here before class." Said Line while she was in the Headmaster's room.
"Oh yes. Line. We've met before. You remember Mr Alo, right?" replied a teacher who clearly remembered Line because he was often a judge of the race that followed Line during Elementary School.
Not yet able to answer, Mr. Alo again said that he had received a message from the principal about the existence of additional students from the mountain area. He also explained that he was the homeroom teacher of Line, before he thought that Line would participate in school activities starting Monday. Line is not present.
"Alright, since you've come, come join the father to class, your registration was done by your brother-in-law yesterday. " Take Mr. Alo while lifting a book from the table where he was standing. Just as he was about to leave the room, a teacher came over while throwing a warm smile at Mr. Alo and entered the room. Line bowed respectfully and followed Mr. Alo to his classroom.
Inside the room
"Good morning sir", as well as the voices of the students welcomed Mr. Alo's presence. The faces were full of question marks from the students when they saw a girl in plain clothes and a pen tucked in her hair entering the classroom. Many of them do not know the Line. Except for the three disciples who were secretly looking at the warm line.
" Good Morning kids. Today we have a new student. Please introduce yourself. " Said mr. Alo.
"Good morning everyone. My name is Line emero pio. Can be called Line. I am from the Calalo SDK. Thank you." Thank you." Line introduced himself briefly.
"Please Line, you can take an empty seat behind it" said Mr. Alo while pointing to the direction in question. Line's eyes were fixed in the designated direction and engraved a thin smile on the line's lips. "At the same time, I sat next to Didi "Smacked little while stepping towards the chair and warmly welcomed by the hands of friends and duet friends in a race to represent the sub-district.
"Hey. Welcome to being a beach". Didi's short speech and only answered a nod by Line. The two schoolgirls sitting at the second table in front of Line turned around and whispered softly. "Welcome home." Both of them are friends of Line who was known when participating in the race between SD and have been friends ever since. Line just did not expect that, the three clever students will be in the village and not in the city.
The lesson was over and the break came.
Line invited his three best friends, Vin, Diana and Didi to explore some small stalls that sell drinks and snacks. SMP Line does not have its own canteen so students will split up looking for snacks in the village area around the school. After finishing and then continue the lesson until it is finished.
Teaching and learning should be done . Line already knows the school environment, his new residence. Line also wears blue and white scouts and an olaragah uniform. Only one has not changed. Holds the book in his hand.
Three years running. Line studies hard to be able to become a general champion in Junior High School and get a scholarship free of tuition until completion. Although occasionally Line had to exchange positions with Didi who incidentally was a smart student. Everything went well, sometimes Line went back to the village to get drinking water. Because in the coastal area, most residents get drinking water from the stew of well water that feels somewhat salty. Line is not accustomed to it, so prepare your own water from his village which is distilled water.
Distilled water is water that is obtained from the distillation of earth steam using bamboo and accommodated in a water reservoir jerrycan. Not all villages in the mountain area have this refining area. Only in Line village are still diligent in distilling water. The manufacturing process is not easy. Starting from preparing bamboo is reduced to be plugged into excavations that have earth vapor. Then the bamboo is reduced to medium length which will be attached to the middle of a large bamboo as an intermediary in turning steam into water droplets that will fall from the tip of a medium-sized bamboo that is deliberately made pointed, which is deliberately made pointed, and the falling water droplets will be accommodated in the jeringen water reservoir that has been prepared. At the beginning of the two days of distillation, distilled water will be discarded because it contains a lot of sulfur odor and does not taste good. But after that, water can be consumed as drinking water without having to go through the cooking process.
The activity of taking firewood from his village also Line lived for three years of his school trip. Until UN arrived and determined the fate of third-grade students who only amounted to 25 people. At the graduation ceremony. Line gets the best score for its SMP. However, the SMP line's graduation rate is low. Of the 25 students who graduated only 9 students. Line and his three best friends and their 5 other friends.
The haru atmosphere enveloped at that moment, the wailing of some students also sounded. Line can only say goodbye to his friends by hugging warmly and returning to his residence with a sad face. Not unhappy, but seeing the failure of those who struggle together turns out to be so heart-wrenching. They had even planned each other's departure to the city together to study at the High School level. But the plan, the plan. Sometimes, it is difficult to change the line, even though the self is determined to try. Or, it may still be less hard to force the ability of self.
Recalling his childhood, with a slow breath Line thought inwardly. " If only, there were no angels in human form like Mr. Vinsen was visiting the SD Line at that time, maybe now Line is just a village girl who was sitting in the house baranda while weaving ties or a housewife who came home to the garden while carrying firewood ". The life-choice changes offered him back then, making Line the present one.
Flashback off
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***For distilled water images can be viewed on the internet.👉 "Water distillation process in palue island"👈
*Sorry if there is an error in writing. hehe. Author is just**.
*Criticism and suggestions are urgently needed😊😊