The Staircase
Symbiosis Mutualism

Soon to graduate Primary School. The national exam a month ago confirmed that it was the last time we sat in the sixth grade - in case we graduated; today was the last time I also met Toni and Mila.

Toni's father intends to send Toni to a private school to a large urban area. Last week, Toni was visiting our contract, her father came in the evening, picked her up. His father said that private schools away from parents would make Toni self-study. Toni's face looks disapproving, but her father's wishes have been absolute.

Mila also said that they would move countries, meet her father who works in a city called Bamboo Curtain Country.

Mila's mother and my mother have spent the last four months talking together on the porch. Mila's mother apologized for her temperament which honestly did not like the comfortable position of caring with the Tibetan sir was removed - even though at that time Mila's mother was collecting money to follow her husband.

Mila's mother explained the reason why she took the money from selling vegetables for Tibetans; it was because she needed funds for her husband to return to his home country. From that moment on, my mother bluntly repeated the reason Mila's mother had been to the Tibetan pack. Until finally, the Tibetan sir understood and added money to mother Mila to follow her husband. Thanks to my mother, Mila and her mother were forgiven by Tibetans and given extra money to go to other countries. They thanked my mother, and Mila thanked me too.

And so did Toni, her father said he would never forget my kindness that changed his son's life. Ever since making friends with me, Toni has been diligent in reading, going up to class - until now; we both remained solemnly listening to the Headmaster's speech that had just begun in front of the students' parents.

I was so glad I didn't get upset to see my dad arrive at the schoolyard on his onthel-bike - even though he came a little late. Tibetan clothes and shoes still fit, my father wore them on my special day. Looks like I know it's an onthel bike who, unmistakably, it's uncle's bike. I approached my father in the parking lot. Dad parked the onthel bike next to a row of motorcycles. The black-striped white one was Toni's father's motorcycle that his father used when he picked up Toni at our rented house. On Toni's father's motorcycle hanger was a black parcel.

"Thank God dad came. Over here, yeah. Remember, Aki's name is only one in this school. So it's impossible to switch." I reminded my father not to forget. Dad chuckled softly then followed the directions. Dad knocked on the door of the meeting room, nodding and the sweet smile Headmaster dad repeated-like when we smiled and nodded in front of the mirror; the nod and smile of my father made the Headmaster smile kindly at my father, they were like best friends. I entered the room and sat in the back seat. I went back to that long seat, then anchored my ass next to Toni.

"Ki, I'm gonna miss this school. It felt like I wanted to repeat the class again, not wanting to part with you." Toni's eyes are glazed.

In the schoolyard, Mila and her three friends embrace. Mila's black, straight and long hair that was freely parsed was mesmerizing, making it easier for me to recognize her even from a distance. Mila approached me and Toni.

"Ki, thank you, yes, for the valuable lessons we've been through together." Mila stuck out her hand, I stood up and I greeted warmly - we both shook hands. I nodded flexibly.

"We are, right, symbiotic mutualism." Toni cried, standing up while hugging me and Mila. Tears dripping on the ceramic floor. The shadow of the three of us hugging each other was bouncing on its glittering floor.

"My dad has a special gift for you, Ki." Tony looked at me seriously.

"What gift?" I asked as if I refused. But actually I want to, it's just that I'm selling a little expensive. I used to be. When Aga gave me the uniform I wear now, I initially refused. But Aga forced me to accept it, I was happy to thank him. Rejection sometimes we need to do, the goal is nothing but to make sure that the person who gives us sincerely or not. Yeah, I always have been.

"The name is special too. It wouldn't be a surprise if you knew first." Mila nimbrung's. We chuckled softly.

The three of us sat in the long chair in front of the meeting room of the teacher and the parents of the students. My mother was right, not decades ago I missed first class memories with Aga, Budi, Randi, and Nina. Where are they? My inner.

Back then, in the same sitting position, me and my three first-class friends waited attentively. Every word we hear is like saying our name. Even today, Toni was praying incessantly.

I calm the crying, worried Toni. "My dad must be embarrassed if I don't graduate school, Ki." Hugging and whispering in my left ear.

I also thought about the same worries as Toni. Not to mention the plan of Toni's father who wants to send her to private school, of course if the results today are not as expected, it is likely to make her father disappointed. I'm starting to not calm down. It's been six years since I went to Elementary School, just this time my dad took the time to pick up my report card. At first I thought I would be represented again. The arrival of my father at this school certainly made me start to worry. It's not worrying that I've preoccupied you with my request last night that forced you to attend. But I'm worried that I won't graduate. I came to think this way because of Toni who was first whiny, negative, and pessimistic.

"Kok, crybaby anyway." Mila makes fun of Toni. Mila's tomboy style remains the same. Just a few words of someone who accidentally offended him, then the style of the tomboinya did not hesitate to beat the person. "I brought this for the three of us." Mila opened her bag, then took out a large roll of white paper.

Really am. The paper made us curious. If Mila suddenly hid the paper scroll before it was seen to us, I and Toni could die of curiosity. Even Toni who had tried to wipe her tears so that she could not cry, immediately widened her eyes as if so translucent. The look on Toni's face seemed to ask me what it was. Then I turned my gaze from Toni to Mila.

"What's this?" Toni asked as she wiped her tears.

I unrolled the paper, Toni looked at him seriously, impatiently. Mila's three friends also joined the stand, Toni getting closer.

"I want to see, dong." Said one of Mila's friends while shifting Toni's head blocking their view. Again seriously like this still had time Toni berjahili friend Mila. My friend Mila shifted Toni's head. Until then Toni sculpted.

Waw. We were amazed at the same time. Mila in her combo style, Toni with her ignorant eyes, and me who was geeky, embraced each other on the white paper. Mila drew it so beautifully. Below the picture reads, symbiosis mutualism.

I remember that time, Toni bought me when I forgot to bring the pocket money; this is my classic excuse. The actual pocket money I didn't forget to bring, it's just that they didn't know my pocket money was all I saved at school. Just before the Headmaster's speech, I approached the teacher's mother while carrying my savings book. As per the agreement, savings can be taken if we have the final semester in the sixth grade.

And vice versa, when the task piles-I helped complete the task of both of them. But when the art lesson about drawing, Mila who helped me and Toni make the pattern of the picture, choose the color, and until the result of the picture we can ponten eighty. There are no other members of my group besides the two of them. Even Toni was willing to give up her pocket to buy my mother's banana fritters. We are a symbiosis of mutualism.

"It's a beautiful painting, Mil." Mila smiled broadly at my praise.

"Ah, it's not like I'm." Toni protested. It was just right from earlier Toni was grinning.

"Why? Something wrong with your picture?" Ask Mila, looking at the photo. Toni pointed at the picture of herself right in the mouth. "It's not a mustache, Ton. It's dried coffee grounds." Mila removed the black color in her painting.

Toni was shocked to see the teacher who had appeared at the door all of a sudden, Mila hurriedly decoded the painting to me. I had intended to have it, a memento. I murmured in my heart.

Me, Toni and Mila were together. We can't hear the name of who the Headmaster is calling. From the outside, the three of us peered through the glass window, one by one the disciple parents advanced forward.

"That's your father, Ki." Toni pointed out, "Your father advanced first, Ki. This means your other rank." Toni continued eagerly peeking out of the glass window while on her tiptoes.

I'm not too sure. Even before the exam last month, I often set aside time to read books in the library on how to answer exam questions. Thanks to the book I was able to answer multiple choices well, although the short hours of testing urged me, making me rush across the options I had given the point before.

Four years, I'm in this school, four times I can also rank one. But today, I'm not too sure. There were many of my rivals who were instantly diligent in the library during the lead-up to the exam.

Teacher opens the door, "Please, sir. Be careful on the road." The teacher was diving into the parents of the students who passed in front of him.

My father's face looked satisfied, happy, and proud. The letter written in print on the piece of paper gave a cheerful tidings that were greeted cheerfully by all the disciples and their parents. Posts, NO PASS, crossed out with one straight line black, horizontal.

"Yey, we pass, Ki." Toni shouted cheerfully, her father headed for the motor park after giving the sheet of paper to Toni.

The three of us jumped up and down, cheerful. Others do the same. Mila's three friends joined in. They greet me.

"Congratulations, Ki. You are indeed great. Rank one might be comparable to your efforts." Praise one of Mila's friends. Incidentally only rank one was announced by the Headmaster, rank one and two followed in their report card. But from the window we made sure after my father, Toni's father followed forward, and Mila's mother advanced third, after that followed the parents of other students. I thanked him and nodded, reflecting on his words that said, rank one is worth my effort. It does. I feel like I've been trying my maximum. I have read almost all the books about the exam. Day and night. Especially now that I don't need to study under a lamp fire, unlike five years ago. I also did not incline, of course, a lot of time after school and after helping father in the market that can be used to learn.

"Yes, Ki. If not you maybe I still live in third, fourth, fifth grade, don't even graduate right now." We laughed at Toni's words. He is not ashamed to admit it. It is true that half of our destiny is determined by others, especially friends and family. If family does not have a positive effect on us, then look for friends who influence it. My mother's message was one year ago.

My father at the other end was chatting with the Headmaster and some of the other students' parents. Every now and then, Dad glanced at the three of us, and he smiled happily.

Toni's father appeared in front of us a few minutes later. Toni's father's right hand tightly grasped the black parcel. The same parcel that was hung on his motorcycle earlier.

"Congratulations, yes. Toni told me a lot about you." Toni's father thrust the parcel while greeting me. I can't resist, Toni's father's gaze was undoubtedly her sincerity.

I greeted cheerfully as I said, "Thank you, sir. Thank you." Thank you." Toni's father nodded and joined my father. They shake hands, talk, and laugh.

Two hours later, the school is off, Toni says goodbye to me and Mila. In the parking lot, Mila's mother pulled out a rental motorcycle.

"Quickly. We'll miss the plane." Shouted Mila's mother, waving her hand. Mila said goodbye to me, then to her mother. They drove, and away.

I salute the Principal, thanking him. I approached them because there were no more friends I could talk to right now.

"I didn't think you could be what you are today. Success, yes." Father says.

"Thank you, thank you. Play at my house sometime, yeah. Not far from here. At least one minute has arrived. Over there." The headmaster pointed the way towards his house.

We're having a goodbye sign. The principal said I had to be upbeat and prove that I could. I definitely can. I cried in my heart.

On the way home. Dad told me a long story about the Headmaster. "We used to be a gang in school. There are four personnel. That Headmaster of yours; naughty, but diligent to school. The other two father friends were naughty, and lazy, the other one, they often skipped. Our goals were once the same. We want to be Headmaster. But only he succeeded." Under the hot sun, the father excited his bicycle. I was piggybacked in the back.

"What are you holding?" Ask dad.

"This is a parcel from Toni's father. He said a memento of who knew it was useful."

Dad took his bike, my dad stopped when the bike was on the descent. Arriving at home, although my breath was heard hunting fresh air, but curious about the contents of the parcel from Toni's father, made my father remain enthusiastic.

"Well, what a coincidence. Try wearing it." Dad's amazed.

I'm wearing the school uniform that Toni's dad gave me. What a surprise in time. I don't have to buy a uniform anymore. A few minutes later, my mother reached home and nagged at length saying the neighbors forgot their appointment, then fell silent to see me wearing my First High School uniform.

"Thank God, it just so happens that our money isn't enough." Said mom.

This is the true symbiosis of mutualism. I cried in my heart while acting like the ceremonial commander who saluted during the raising of the red and white flag.