THE RELIGIOUS SHORT STORY GROUP
THE DRYING SWEAT

By evening, I set foot on a steep and dry trail due to the long dry season, hoping to arrive home soon and be welcomed by my beloved wife and children. Naked feet I can no longer foot on the ground that still feels smoldering. Mundah gulana hooked the chest, because it could only go home carrying a handyman tool that used to accompany me to work, without a dime of money tucked in the pocket of pants.

"Will Darman go home now?" ask my friend, Sarmin, who used to be a co-worker of builders all this time.

"I wait for Mr. Gatot first, Min," I replied as I packed the equipment into a shabby bag and it was torn here and there. "Today ..today, right, it's time to receive a wage."

Sarmin snorted loudly. "What do we wait for? I saw Mr. Gatot go with his friend."

Gatot is a building foreman who used to give work directions, as well as who gave wages on weekends.

"When?" my question is a bit disappointed, because it is certain that today will not be a payday.

"So, just before we get it right," answered Sarmin with a sour face.

"What's not the nitipin money or what? Kan, he should know, today is the time for our rights to be paid ... " The more tight this chest feels, because the plan later in the evening to bring my son who is sick hot to the doctor will fail miserably.

"Yes, I don't know his habits, Mang? Money business, he always sneezed, but if you give the order kudu done at that time, "sarmin could not hide his frustration. "Tell a bit, the threat's fired! Fired up! Fired up! Suwe, bye!"

Suddenly this esophagus feels dry and painful. The shadow of my baby who was lying drowning at home, had to wait until tomorrow evening for treatment. Just this morning when he was about to leave work, his body temperature was very hot. I could only tell my wife that the child was compressed first, and promised to take her to the doctor when she got home from work. Because sure, today must be payday. Actually ....

"So you haven't received the money today?" ask my wife when I just got home.

"No, Madam .... "

"Then what about our only child, sir? The heat has not subsided, even worse, you know. It was noon till the nosebleed a few times. I'm worried about—"

"Maybe we can borrow some money from the neighbors, ma'am?" I feel so guilty for not being able to keep my promise this morning.

"I've tried it, sir. They are just like us. No money," concluded my wife, "if you can get a loan, maybe already since noon I brought our child to treatment. After all, the sorenya can be directly paid once you go home .... "

I can't say anything more. Can only be silent while watching Izran, my only son, rubbed with a paled face.

"We'll wait until tomorrow morning, ma'am. As soon as I meet Mr. Gatot later, I will ask for a wage and immediately give it to you."

"Can't you just go to Gatot's house now, sir? Our son must be taken for treatment immediately."

I took a heavy breath for a moment. "Mister Gatot's house is far from here, ma'am. Besides, I don't have any money at all for the cost of getting there."

Wife whining. Seemed very worried about the condition of Izran who has not yet dropped his body heat.

"We still have rice, don't we, Mom?" I asked after a moment of silence.

He shook his head. 

Yeah, God! It feels like today, the three of us will have to fast until tomorrow afternoon. Only water can fill the stomach, when the sound of hunger continues to whack. At least, that will be a tetabuhan entertainment during the time lying down, in the eye, and felt overnight.

"Well, I'm going to the garden first, ma'am. Who knows if there are bananas that are old and can be boiled to prop our stomachs."

My wife didn't answer. His face bowed while toying with the tip of his shirt. I know, he must be disappointed because his hope to be able to bring Izran must be delayed, because of not receiving salary money.

With the sweat still running through the body, I lower the banana's pelvis from the shoulder. Then cut into pieces to form units and ready to be inserted into a pan filled with hot water. Immediately I approached the wife who was inside the house ....

"Sir, our son .." said he as soon as I entered the front doorway of the house.

"Why Izran, Mom?" I looked at the sedu sedan wife.

He did not answer, but immediately ran over and embraced me firmly. Instantly the container of bananas that are ready to be brought into the kitchen, released unconsciously from the hands. Falling over the dry, dusty floor of the ground.

"Yes, God .... "

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

"Why are you late? What time is it, Darman? If you don't want to work, say it! Don't make my work molasses like gini!" snapped Mr. Gatot as soon as I arrived at work, not as usual. "How much loss should I cover? Because of you, my plans have become chaotic and neglected!"

I just bowed my head, not daring to look into the eyes of the foreman of the building. "I'm sorry, sir, I .... "

"Sorry .. sorry! You think apologetically, you can make up for my loss?" exclaim Mr. Gatot does not want to lose.

Sarmin, who was working alone, could only see us from a distance.

"Once again I'm sorry, sir." My throat hurts more and more to speak. "I have a family need first."

"What need, anyway? Your obligation is, yes, his real work here. Family business, right, can be done if your job here is done, Darman!" Mr. Gatot's tone remained unchanged low. "I don't want paychecks, I want them to be on time. Turn of duty yourself, negligent!"

I saw Sarmin looking on pity. "It is precisely because yesterday has not received salary money, I was late to bring children to treatment. Now— "

"Your son is sick? Why don't you tell me from yesterday, Darman?" Mr. Gatot was aghast and immediately took out an envelope from inside the small bag that was coiled around his waist. "Nih, your salary money last week. Now, take your son for treatment!"

"No need to seek treatment, sir," I replied, taking the envelope with wages from Mr. Gatot's hand.

"Why? If the child is sick, yes, must be quickly brought to treatment, dong, Darman! What kind of parents are you?" Mr. Gatot snorted in annoyance.

I looked down sad until I could not feel a few drops of tears falling down and wetting my clothes. "My son died early this morning .... "

Mr. Gatot was stunned, "Yes, Lord .... "

Sarmin who heard my words just now, came straight over and hugged. Not long after, the young man turned to face Gatot.

BUKS!

One hard blow, landed on the mandator's jaw until it fell.

"Try from yesterday you give us our rights! Mang Darman will not be late in bringing his child to treatment, *******!" shouted Sarmin while spitting thickly right on the face of Mr. Gatot who began to pour fresh blood.

Sarmin pulled my hand away from the foreman, walked and walked away from the job that had been living for us.

FINISHED