The Staircase
New Friends

The first month has always been a wonderful and pleasant start for our schoolchildren. Many new things that can trigger the spirit so there is no word alpa just a day even fever or ordinary pain is not my reason for permission.

Every day I get to meet and get acquainted with some people at school, among them getting closer to me without seeing status; new or senior child, and background. I give a chance to anyone who wants to be a friend, even my best friend like Budi.

This morning, like the days before. I went to school on foot. Yesterday afternoon I struggled with emotions. The sedan that drove from behind me passed through a puddle of water on a hollow road, splashing water at me, a white-blue wet uniform, fortunately today was Friday.

"Bud, get out quick." Urge me in front of the door of the room Indekos Budi. I pushed the door of his room.

"Yes, Ki. Undeterred. I just finished taking a shower." He shouted from behind the door.

Indekos Budi has always been my second goal after my father's stall. There are eight doors of Budi's indekos room, in front of each door neatly arranged flower owner's indekos. It was in this index that I was able to get acquainted with ninth grade, and eighth grade students. They greeted me.

"Hay, bro. Wait for Budi, will you?" Skinny guy, put his shoes on the doorstep of the room, third-grade student.

"You want to fuck with me, don't you?" White, tall, fat; second-rate student. Offering me a free delivery service, it just so happened that he and the third grader who had just finished tying their shoelaces each had a motorcycle.

Go out the door, "You're the same, Rian. Let me be with Yudi." Rian, third grade student, the smell of cigarette smoke in his mouth was getting stinging. I held my breath every time he spoke. But Rian never stopped telling stories. Even along the way, there was no other talk I heard other than Rian. She boasted of herself who had already successfully courted more than five beautiful women. Women who are white, black-sweet, roll over, and dimpled. I remember Nina.

"Which one is that guy?" I asked a little scream. Repeating the same question when Rian turned his head slightly, huh?

"The transfer boy from the city, Ki." The answer.

I exhaled, relieved. Rian was still boasting of his success of breaking many women's hearts. But I'm not hatching.

Behind us were Budi and Yudi, the two of them fighting each other in the crowd of strong wind, then laughing.

About a hundred meters from the school house, Rian and Yudi parked their motorbikes in front of the house. They both approached the mothers who were watering flowers in their yard.

"We'll park the bike here, ma'am." Rian. Mother did not pierce. Yudi approached.

"Good morning, ma'am." Shouted Yudi.

The mother turned to her, "Yes, what's wrong?"

"We're authorized to park the bike here, ma'am. Can't you?" Answer Budi.

"Oh, I can." While repairing the hearing aid, the mother pointed to the parking lot after seeing us in First High School uniform.

The school strictly forbids students to ride a motorcycle, many factors are the logical reason, one of which is because we are not old enough. Although Rian and Yudi were the age of a third-year High School senior, their First High School status remained attached.

"We wait here, I'm tired of gymnastics." Rian.

Friday is exhausting for some boys who do not like gymnastics like Rian and Yudi. They both refused my invitation, Budi occasionally also forced them to step foot into school. But they refused hard.

"First you two, we'll catch up. If you want to say geeky." Said Rian.

Just stepping forward, Budi immediately turned his head.

"Geeky?" Budi asked, suppressing the intonation of his voice.

"certain. Which slang kid dances in the schoolyard if not geeky." Reply Yudi. They both laughed out loud to see Budi who did not receive said geeky. I was silent, said aki-aki, geeky, or insulted even though I did not want to protest, because I was so. I thought in my heart.

"Just tell me I'm geeky." Go back to them. He refused my invitation.

"We go out there. Relax, I've got it, all right." Yudi.

The three of them headed towards the shady trees not far from in front of me. Around the trees it was clean of dry leaves as if here was indeed the headquarters of Rian and Yudi.

"Ki, here." Call Budi. He sat on one of the roots of a tree that rose above the ground.

"Hurry here! Finish gymnastics later we go to class. Don't worry as long as we're there." Rian. Yudi went into the forest, not long after he returned with a few simple leaves.

The three of them sat on the leaves. Yudi arranged the leaves very neatly.

"Well? School hours like this are coming in, Ki." Said Rian. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Yudi smiled broadly as he rubbed his hands on his pants.

"Here you go, Ki. They can even get angry if they know we're late." Budi. She looked at me, her gaze I knew her point, she wanted me to prove that we were not geeky like Rian said.

Alright. They smiled sweetly, Budi shifted his body, leaving a seat for me.

"It's free for both of you. Bud, you're a regular, right?" Tanya Yudi, Budi's arm is very stiff. Then Yudi's gaze turned to me, the same arm I did. Yudi patted his eel.

"severe. Cigarettes this expensive you are not interested in trying it. If you buy maybe your pocket money is not enough. It's free of us." Yudi. He gave a cigarette to Budi. Without thinking long, Budi took the cigarette while bringing the tip of the cigarette closer to the match that Rian lit. I tried to remind Budi not to smoke with my eyes. But for free, the gaze he did not see, Budi was busy interviewing Yudi and Rian about the experience of smoking.

"A chaotic mind disappears instantly, Bud. Try." Reply Yudi.

Cigarette smoke is like an orographic cloud, the longer you pull the smoke, the more it billows upwards. The more often you pull cigarette smoke, holding it for a moment in the throat - the more foggy around us.

Budi stuck his cigarette to me, "Try, Ki. It's delicious, right." His word.

I refused with both hands on my chest, "Try. Just a little." Rian Imbuh. Yudi picked up another cigarette, Rian lit a match. With ease, Yudi exhales cigarette smoke; round shape to dozens of. Rian raised his thumb in front of Yudi.

I still refused even though Budi offered me many times. Three puffs of cigarette smoke, one offer. That's how Budi is unceasingly offering me.

"Try me. You're curious about how it feels, right? Don't be sorry not to know how comfortable it is after feeling this cigarette smoke." Budi said, pulling deeply into his cigarette smoke. Yudi and Rian alternately, their cigarettes both run out faster than Budi's cigarettes.

I still resisted with the same hand position while shaking violently.

"A little bit." Said Yudi. His eyes intimidated me.

Give me a cigarette in his hand after I move a little. Just little. I murmured in my heart.

"How does it feel?" Ask Budi. Rian and Yudi looked at me curiously.

It's true that they say, this cigarette eliminates my worries that haven't arrived at school. I pulled out a little cigarette smoke, then exhaled it with a feeling. Like enjoying a cup of coffee, cigarettes make the nerves in the head tense instantly relieved. I returned the cigarette, nodding in agreement that it was no less delicious than a cup of coffee. The three of them smiled broadly.

A pack of cigarettes ran out, the three of them were satisfied, our surroundings were full of cigarette smoke, not even mosquitoes dared to approach.

"Tomorrow I bring a little more than this." Yudi.

"Buy where are you, Yud?" Ask Budi while moving.

"There's. If you want to come with me, we're going to the market in the middle of the night." Reply Yudi.

"I dare not, Jud. You go, Rian." Budi refused, Rian nodded in agreement.

The four of us walked to school. Some people in front of his house shook their heads. Rian and Yudi stepped leisurely, the two of them as if they were used to it, no matter how many tens of pairs of disapproving eyes.

"I would if my parents didn't force it." Yudi broke the silence. "No school." Further.

"Yes, Yud. I am also lazy to go to school again. Yesterday my neighbor I finished school. But I said I don't know." Pause. Rian looked at Yudi. "They said there was nothing to replace, all the work profession has been filled with experts in certain fields. There's nothing we can replace. Then I thought there was a point too. Why do we go to school if we are unemployed." Rian.

Budi and I listened, not knowing what to say, the new student did not have much experience in this. But the occasional gaze of Yudi and Rian seemed to ask for our opinions both.

"I finished High School the most." Budi nimbrung's. I still didn't budge as I stepped foot.

"If I see, this Aki who will later go to College." Yudi optimistically proclaimed. Nod Budi and Rian bending.

I thought for a moment, contemplating the word College. Until now, I have struggled to save, and sacrificed those savings to qualify for school registration administration. All my wishful thinking that is engraved in the savings must be done. Looking forward to buying my dad a radio and mom new clothes for his birthday, I have to bury him deep. I'm not sure what Yudi just said. As optimistic as anything if there are no supporters, can not be realized.

Arriving in front of the school, we were able to enter freely, gymnastics had just ended.