The Neglected Pearl
Part 12 Enjoy the palace dishes

“I once threw him with leftover rice, when he came to collect the rest of the rice in my shop.” Said a Mother.

That is, sometimes we do not realize that the person we despise and harassed so far, it is he who has the most valuable potential.

That is why religion forbids people to demean each other. Because it could be the person we have been humbling for so long it turns out he is better than us who demean him.

“I also once doused him with a glass of water, when he passed in front of my meatball stall ! If only I knew he was an economics scholar, I would not have abused him !” Said a traveling meatball saleswoman. At that time he once doused Fatma's face with a glass of water.

A month after the news circulated about Mang Ojo and Fatma's family, then someone came to see Mang Ojo at his home, the man was greeted by Mang Ojo with friendly.

It turned out that the man conveyed, an invitation from the president of the Republic of Indonesia, so that Mang Ojo and his family came to the State Palace as guests.

Mang Ojo was surprised that his tears flowed down his wrinkled cheeks, embraced by his wife and five children. There was nothing to say at that moment except the feeling of haru and the happy teardrops.

“Which way do you think we should meet this invitation ?”

“Everything we leave to the Father, because the decision of the Father is better than us.” Answer Al Huda.

“But if according to Mother, it is a very valuable opportunity, rarely you know, an opportunity like this we can.”

“Alright, how if the opinion of Mother, for this time we follow, who knows we get blessings from her good intentions.” Mang Ojo said to his five children.

“Alright, we will follow the plan of Mother.”

The next day, Mang Ojo and his family came to the palace, his legs were already weak and trembling, felt stiff when stepping on the floor of the palace, then the sound of applause accompanied the footsteps of the president who came to him.

“Very awesome criticism.” The president said while greeting the family's Mang Ojo.

“Thanks, Sir !” said Mang Ojo with a wide smile.

“Come, please sit down ! president says.

“Iya Sir, thanks.”

“In this room there is no president and stewed nutman, here we are all one family, so do not hesitate with me.”

“Iya Sir !” replied Mang Ojo in a soft voice.

“I am amazed at the Father and family, at such a dusk age you can still bring out a brilliant idea. If I could know, how old are you?”

“I am 54 years old while my wife is 52 years old, we are only two years apart. And these kids, they're sitting in college, High School, Junior High School, and SD.” Mang Ojo explained.

“Waah ! You are extraordinary, from the results of selling boiled beans and the work of the mother as a scavenger still able to send children to college ? What a wonderful example, Father and Mother can be made a good example.” Praise the president with a sweet smile on his lips.

"Thank you, sir."

“O Yes ! there is one more thing I should ask ?”

“What is Sir ?” asked Mang Ojo curiously.

“This, my Mom's problem ! is it true that you have worked abroad ?”

“Iya, correct Sir ! my wife had worked abroad, as a director of a bank, but she resigned, all because her parents did not want to part with their only daughter.”

“After in Indonesia, do you no longer want to work ?”

“That desire is sir, even my wife has tried, put a proposal in the Bank that is around our area, but still rejected with various reasons.” Mang Ojo replied with his head lowered.

"It's a pity, why don't they consider it first."

“One more thing I want to ask ? is it true Mr an artist and has a myriad of achievements at home ?”

“Ya, right Sir. But that was when I was still sitting on the bench SMA.”

“Then how about the kids ?”

“They also perform according to their respective school levels. But all that is inseparable from the will of Allah Swt.”

“Ya, true it is !” president says. “ Yeah, thank you very much for the presence of the Father and family here, all the criticism and suggestions from the Father, we will consider.”

“Ya,sama-sama Sir.” Mang Ojo said as he greeted the president.

“My criticism and advice, very good, I really like, along with the staff and ministers, we will carry out deliberations later, he said, who knows in the way you want everything can change as expected.”

Then the President then left Mang Ojo family, escorted by several generals, they all headed to the dining table. That's where they hang out together.

At that time Mang Ojo, trying to fight for the residents who were in the Slums at that time.

“Pak, there is one more I want to ask for, it may be very heavy, but I have to reveal it.”

“What problem is it Sir ? just say, you do not need to hesitate, because this is an opportunity for the Father of the family to talk directly with me.”

“Sorry so much, in fact I only ask the government to relocate the slums where I live into livable flats.”

“O, so yes.”

“Iya sir, I beg you to consider my greeting this.”

“Alright, input from the Father we have received, for a while the input will we consider first.”

“Good Sir. Thanks.”

After finishing eating the dishes that have been provided, Mang Ojo and family are given souvenirs and savings books, each of which contains money worth ten million rupiah.

I don't know what Mang Ojo felt in the family at that time, his feelings raged erratically, a sense of happiness mixed with water emanated from the glazed look of his eyes. Because not just anyone can set foot in the state palace.

“Today we and our family have set foot in the palace, have been able to breathe fresh air in it . As well as walking on beautiful tapestries made of expensive silk, and enjoying delicious dishes, hopefully this is not a dream, yes Bu !” mang Ojo says to his wife.”

“Iya Sir, hopefully this is not a dream.” Fatma replied while patting her cheek.

After the end of the event, Mang Ojo and his family were allowed to return home. With slow steps they came out of the palace.

What a precious memory that Mang Ojo and his family can get, a happiness that they can not say with words.

“Let's go home, Mom !” take Mang Ojo to his family.

“Come Sir !” fatma replied, holding the hands of her two daughters

The eye and bankbook cendra that the president got kept in his bag, very carefully.

After setting foot a few steps, then someone greeted Mang Ojo from behind.

“Let's go up, Sir and the others, this is Mr. President's order.” Said the man.

Hearing the words of the command, then Mang Ojo family, directly into the car that had stopped on his left.

Seriate...