The Staircase
Which Goose is Again?

I covered my ears with pillows, eyes clenched strong, heart cursing very long-out there noisy. Motorcycles passed by, footsteps were stomped until the sandals screamed in pain, even my head anchored on a pillow felt in the ship in the middle of the rippling ocean, up and down. The sound of bargaining is simple; some do not accept, some agree, some are hesitant. Although the sound was faint, but the cool morning wind explained that they were very busy. My mother in the kitchen also sounded deftly flipping her fry panis that hissed loudly. Don't ask my dad, before I wake up, he'll be at the market.

The clockwork seconds also helped to pour out my eye bags that were getting stronger, giggling and the noise outside was getting louder.

The weeks of class breaks made me accustomed to waking up rather late, although sometimes aware that out there trying to tease me.

After a few minutes, I fell asleep again until the temperature in the room was hot. The sunlight entered on the sidelines of the board windows were tenuous.

"Wake, son. It's your first day, you know. Don't miss school?" Force mom while packing a messy blanket on the bed. I was moved by the blanket I pulled. "There will be new experiences that can make you think about it decades into the future." As if nostalgic, I must miss the memories of decades ago at the age of almost forty years. Any minute. June is his twenty-first birthday. Only one year apart from the father, the date and month of his birth are the same.

For almost two weeks, I took care of the school transfer certificate last month. Father said, Mad sir looks sad. He intends to register me for a math competition in the middle of the semester. But the hunt moved, Mad sir there was no choice but Randi and Budi.

Dad sacrificed a lot of time, energy, and money to take care of the school transfer which is no longer free. I didn't know my new school how it looked, how it looked, how it was, where it was - dad said it was far from the market, near the health center. I remember that I used to be about four years ago when I was on medication at the health center. They say around here and my old village there's only one puskesmas. It is not wrong that the puskesmas that I mean is the puskesmas that treat my blistered skin spilled with hot porridge first. That, straight in that direction. My father said yesterday pointing to the school.

Dad said at my new school there were a lot of students, classrooms were ceramic, brick walls, and a large yard. There are football, volleyball, and badminton courts. Even though all these sports are not very interested in me. I admit defeat in sports and art.

The school requires all students to use shoes and bags according to curriculum standards. Forced father and mother to dismantle her piggy bank yesterday afternoon and hastily prepare my school supplies.

Actually, four days ago I was in school, but my transfer file was only accepted yesterday morning; my father went back and forth to school to find out the clarity. The school almost rejected my transfer file. Fortunately, the value in the report card is quite convincing into his consideration.

"Oh, yes. Where's my school uniform, ma'am?" I get out of bed. Rubbing my misty eyes as if opening them by force. My question just now wasn't really to be answered, but it was just some exaggerated talk that I needed help. Ever since the long scolding that my mother echoes whenever I accidentally unpack clothes in cardboard boxes, it makes me reluctant to repeat it again - except for the chips.

"Urus took your bath, your school uniform let me take care of it." Sharing tasks that do not bother me at all.

It used to be bathing with rain water that was accommodated with a large barrel. Now bathe with water that is accommodated in a cement tub, cold. I'm shivering. Under my molars touching each other. I hurriedly wore a red white uniform, hat and tie-giving Aga.

I stared at the goal of the calendar stuck to the cement wall.

"Oh, wrong." Today is Friday. I don't blame my mom, it's natural to take the uniform-moms very rarely see the calendar.

I don't care how long Mom's nagging the clothes I've been tearing in the cardboard.

"Basic. Beware if you still dare to dismantle it again?" A very powerful threat. I dodged my mother's hand that was ready to pinch, angry at seeing the clothes on the cardboard messy.

"Are you ready yet?" Ask mom to make sure, get out of the room, get close to me. Anger subsides. Mother has never been angry for a long time at me, snapping it like not the goose of a vengeful Tibetan sir for years. But said the Tibetan sir, last week while delivering vegetables to my father in our rented; his goose had been killed by fire ants. It happened with the burning of our house at that time. In my heart I cursed the goose, Rasain.

I nodded flexibly while tying the shoelaces in the doorway.

"Be careful on the road, yeah. If you want to cross the road, do not forget to look left-right." A lot of passing vehicles made the mother look worried.

"Yes, mom. Aki's leaving, yeah." Grabbing my mother's hand, spontaneously kissing her. The smell of fried bananas was attached to his hand.

I'm staying away from home. Some were staring cynically and sneering at the other end; middle-aged mothers, fourth-placed houses of our contract. Ignored him.

Fifty electricity poles have been surpassed - I counted them in my heart. I put my foot down as fast as I could. I admit that my footsteps cannot beat the pace of the school-uniformed child bicycles that pass next to me. It seems we are one goal.

Behind me were four fellow students who were gossiping cheerfully while laughing, elbowing each other. In front of me, it means that only the five of us are left on this street. I slowed my footsteps, the four friends getting closer. They passed by without even poking, even asking me who, from where, would go anywhere. So arrogant of them. My ketus in heart.

I followed behind the four friends. Sometimes they looked back without a curious look, but as if frightened; they stepped foot very fast, away from me as if a ghost was behind him. Maybe I'm invisible. Batinku.

"You know, no. At school we have a new kid today."

"What class?"

"Say they're in class with you."

"Oh, yeah. Not that one, is it?" One of them glanced back, lowering his tone like a whisper. I will hear it.

"If it's not wrong he's your neighbor." Continued, whispered. But I heard it. Really am. As much as women gossip, it must sound too.

In my heart I muttered, they saw me. Chuckles softly. They are accelerating their footsteps. Women braided hair, white skin, at first glance I saw his eyes narrow, he walked the edge almost tripped stone. Luckily, one of the friends was next to him.

I've been trying to hold back the laughter, but the balloons that were pumped in for a long time, finally exploded. They hear.

"What do you mean?" The woman in the hair stopped, faced me. Honestly, from his posture he was more sangar and big than me. Her narrow eyes tried to open her wide, challenging me.

"sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you." Stammered.

"Already, Mil. Not important. We could be late. Just ignore him. It's not important, though." Tukas one of his friends.

The four of them turned around, continuing on their journey. I slowed my footsteps, trailing behind them about twenty meters away. Before the bell came in, I had arrived in front of the school. Only three poles apart from the puskesmas, the white paint school stood firm.

My father was right, exactly the same as he told me yesterday. Flocking hundreds of different face shapes passed through the school grounds towards their respective classrooms. Very large page. A very large school building. Impressive ceramic floor. The ball of the foot is kicked back and forth, badminton is parried back and forth, volleyball is hit as hard as possible, screams, goals, the ball goes into the opponent's goal.

This time I'm not confident, groggy. Even many times staring at my slightly dull shoes, while their shoes were clean and branded. Luckily I don't use a crisper bag anymore. This school is a favorite of smart upper class children. Going to class is enough. My mind is pessimistic about the great competitors that are waiting.

Toni was silent. "Deliver." The teacher's mother hugged my shoulder. "This is our new friend, his name is Aki." I blushed in shame. The woman who was facing me in the middle of the street was sitting next to the man whose name was Toni. They crumble while laughing.

"You're sitting next to Toni, yeah." Madam Teacher instructs.

I headed for the empty seat beside Toni. It was the only seat that was empty. In this school one chair for one table. Different from my school that used to be one table for two seats, so you can cheat to a friend next door. I realized dozens of pairs of eyes were stalking me, holding back laughter, judging my geeky appearance and my unique name, Aki. If my name is mentioned twice at the same time, it will be even more funny. Some were sneering, and some were staring cynically.

"Hey, new boy." I looked to the side. "I'm going to introduce you, my name is Toni." Without even knowing, I knew. Bad boys seem to be easily known. It is commonplace in school, bad boys, ignorant, diligent and smart will be dominant in the classroom, and teachers know more about such students.

"Don't believe the talk of the teacher up ahead, a lot of his chatter. He said that if we go to school, we will go to class. You know, I've repeated the class three times. I am diligent." His desire.

"His eyes are naughty, noisy." Sambar the woman who confronted me in the middle of the road. I don't know exactly what his full name is. In this class they call him, Mil.

"We're alike. You have class too, right." Toni stuck out a tongue mocking Mil while laughing out loud.

"Oh." Chalk write right about Toni's forehead.

"Get out!" The teacher pointed straight at the classroom door.

Toni was still massaging her forehead while coming out. Three repetitions of the class but not despair. Unlike my friend, Aga; just twice repeating the class immediately stopped. But thanks to Aga, I was able to go to school in this uniform. The woman he calls Mil is also repeating the class, Toni just teased. I think the school is targeting a lot of students no one is staying in class; it turns out a lot. Some of them prioritize appearance rather than the contents of the head. Just look at Mil's clean, tidy clothes, branded shoes, thick notebook covers, expensive pencils, hit hairstyles tied with colorful rubber. Same with Toni. It's chance! I cried in my heart while copying the scrawled teacher's writing on the board.

"Mila, try to complete these points." The woman in front of Toni's table looked up unprepared. Shaking slowly, glancing at me as if throwing the teacher's orders at me. The teacher kept pointing at Mila. Her name was Mila. Tomboyish guts, temperament. Mila walked like a man's footsteps towards the blackboard, standing without flinching. The teacher was curious, waiting for Mila's answer.

Mila repeated the class. The teacher looked angry at him. From that moment I saw Mila busy drawing on the first sheet of her book, not listening to the explanation ahead. The teacher seemed to already know who was not serious about the subjects. It's only natural that the teacher pointed at Mila.

Almost a minute passed, Mila was still unmoved, silent. Facing the blackboard, hands clung to the dots that the teacher-bu made - without movement. Ah, I remember my friend in first grade. Be like this first too. Just like Mila. Sculpting in front of the board.

"Who can answer that? Forward to the front."

"I, ma'am." Without ba-bi-bu. I raised my hand while standing up. Mila was welcome to sit in her chair, we both passed each other without a sound.

I'm scraping chalk. "Give an applause." The last scratch was greeted with applause. I smiled with relief. Tony peeked out the window.

"I think you failed to answer that, Ki." Toni began to get along with me after the first subjects ended. He bought me a bowl of porridge, a glass of iced tea, three fried bananas in the school cafeteria.

"I have homework, it will be gathered in the afternoon. Help me, yeah." His gaze was hopeful. Those who went to school earlier than me have been given assignments. Luckily I just got in today, so there was no need to bother finishing it in our noisy rented house. I guess I'll bother this time.

I turned my eyes, focusing on the fried food, porridge, and ice tea that were only the rest of the bowl and glass. Damnit. I murmured in my heart. I think it's free. There's no way I'm refusing to help her while I'm already indebted.

Toni and I went back to class before the entrance bell rang. Toni hastily pulled out her taskbook in front of me. Let me sit in his chair. As long as I understand the task and start working on it, Toni casually pranks friends in class.

"How, Ki?" Toni came to me after more than four minutes. The swearing in front of him shouted his name.

"Newly finished, Ton. We're even, yeah." My reply emphasized not to be used by Toni anymore.

"Thank you, yeah." I nodded and said, okay.

"You done, Ton?" Mila asked timidly at Toni who was about to step forward; intending to harm the others.

"Already, dong. Wanna?" Mila nodded.Toni gave his book to Mila.

The alarm bells filled the room, time to go home.

"If it wasn't you, I'd have been kicked out of class again, Ki." Toni put her arm around my shoulder. We both set foot, went out of class together.

During the lesson hours, Toni looked tense. He doubts his job is rejected, teacher. Toni said, sir the teacher of the last subject was quite fierce. If the task given is not in accordance with the instructions, then otherwise the book is torn; the task is rejected outright or expelled out of class. But in my opinion, the teacher was not as good as Mr. Mad who often munghukum me in first class first.

Expelled out of class as if Toni's routine at school. Three repetitions of the class did not immediately make him deterred from judging classmates, making fun of teachers, cheating, skipping school, even brawls.

"If there's any news of me, yes." Order Toni when she finds out I'm coming home from school on foot one way home with Mila. "Silent. As long as I'm here you're safe. Mila's? His style is so. Go home once in a while with their entourage so you know what it's like to be a girl."

Buset. Toni made fun of me with a very subtle language. It's like being a girl, I'm a fuckin' guy. My mind is in my heart.

Indeed along the way there was no walking but me and Mila with her three second-rate friends who walked ahead of me.

They slowed their footsteps, I also took pains to slow down, but got stuck in a circle of four ferocious women who were ready to pounce. It seems that they are asking me, maybe my mistake this morning is not over yet. Mila began to scorn me, her three friends wagging leaves at me.

"This is how it feels to laugh at people." Mila pointed her fist at my shoulder. I complained even though I wasn't too sick. I just wanted to tell them not to continue.

I dodged, if there was a spell to disappear, maybe I would. But I could only run as I could, away from those who laughed mocking me with excitement. Arriving home, my mother was amazed to see me sweat. Mom interrogated me immediately.

"Which other people are after you?"