The Staircase
Benjol

I arrived at the intersection of uncle's house as my shadow aligned with the body that was walking upright, sluggish. On the way home, I got unlucky. My tepos ass was almost pecked by a Tibetan goose. If I hadn't been expelled by the Tibetans, I might have been pecked by that goose. Sendalku to break up so scared chased by geese. I went home while carrying the sandal.

"Why your sandals?" Uncle asked when he met me at the crossroads of his house. Uncle is like a father's radio network, often drowning. Sometimes there is, sometimes not. You know what Dad does when the radio is disconnected? Is correct. Dad was banging and pulling his radio antenna until it broke. Dad has no substitute. In free time, the father is more meditating in the middle room.

"Decide, uncle." Reply panting. The fragrance of perfume pierced my nose which breathed in the flowers. Uncle's perfume is very fragrant. I was captivated by the smell. I don't know what scent, which is obviously very fragrant.

"Where's the uncle going?" I asked to look back. Uncle was about a meter away from me.

Uncle smiled broadly, "Regular." He answered leaving me.

The aroma of my mother's cooking is no less competitive than the aroma of uncle's perfume, evocative appetite. Which hungry person smells his mother's cooking that doesn't take the plate?

After eating I did the task that Mad sir gave me this morning. Mother approached.

"What are you doing, son?"

"Doing a job, ma'am."

I closed my book as my mother got closer. "Whose book is that?" I've guessed there will be this question.

"So Aga changed my book, ma'am. The book you bought yesterday was torn away by Aga." Mom nodded, agreeing.

I continued to do my job after my mother left the room. Mother came back again while bringing the lamp to the room because it was getting dark. I lay my body down on the plank floor, the occasional plank floor that dad stepped on in the living room prancing around, pinning my belly, ouch. I slide the pillow on the tenuous floor while scraping the pencil on the paper.

Fifteen minutes later, my job was done. But there's still punishment from Mr. Mad waiting for me to finish.

Fire pelita dancing as if comforting me to finish Mad sir's punishment tonight. One hundred lines less. I close my book every time my father and mother come to me, as if I would not be bullied and taught. They sit in the middle room while telling stories with the intonation of sounds that are deliberately slowed down. Unfortunately, there is no radio.

Mad sir's punishment was completed in less than an hour. Quick indeed. I wrote the same word in every line, I was not good at counting, writing that was not only like chicken claws, but also like a hot worm filled my book. If my mother had known, she wouldn't have been angry, I'm sure I wouldn't have been. But he would be embarrassed to see his son confess with such writing. It doesn't make sense in front of them that I'm good at counting, but in school I was punished instead?

Father and mother yawned many times in the living room. I packed up my book and pencil, put it in a crackle bag.

I can sleep quietly without thinking about Mad sir's duties and punishments.

The sound of an owl from within the forest resounded in my ears. We are used to hearing it. I went to bed until I forgot it was morning, not finding my mom and dad at home. They have gone to incense. This is the first time I've been left home alone. Safe. It's just that I'm still a coward. But luckily they left me alone in this house while I was still fast asleep, so I don't know what happened at dawn.

The house feels lengthened when there are fathers and mothers-home noisily blaring. After a shower and breakfast, as there was no pocket money today; before leaving for school I first hid the house keys in our secret safe. The fabric wrapped around the pole of the house, that's the safe where we hid the keys to the house. My mom and dad told me to hide it there. The keys to the house should be taken wherever we go. But there are no precious treasures in this house. Who wants to break it. Excited dad last month.

I walked to the school with the sandal that my father had fixed yesterday afternoon. The broken sandal strap is connected with the former pipette, the color is the same as if camouflaged with the sandal.

I saw Mr. Mad driving away with a serious look, riding his bike. Mr. Mad parked his bike next to first class, his feet agilely stepped on the bike's support. I came to school earlier than Mr. Mad.

I smiled, greeting Mad sir who walked straight past me who was sitting in the school hall chair, then Mad sir entered the teacher's room. Mad sir doesn't look at me. He passed by without returning my greeting in the slightest.

From afar, Budi and Randi followed. Today they went to school on foot. He greeted me, raised his right hand as he approached me, sitting beside me. Randi went straight into the classroom.

"Randi scolded her mother, Ki." Budi said while embracing my shoulder as if telling me to understand Randi's cold actions.

"Yes, Bud. I got it. Enter the class, yuk."

"Yuk. It just so happens that my job is not done. Is your job done?"

"Here you go, Bud." My answer is standing up.

"Teach me dong, Ki." Smile like sugar.

Pull my hand towards her desk. Randi lowered his head, moving his pencil. The book is full of scribbles. Move the chair next to their table.

"Sit down, Ki." He picked up a book and pencil from his bag. I also took my book from the plastic crackle.

"This is my answer, Bud. I don't know if this is right or wrong." Budi copied my answer in his taskbook without hesitation.

Sometimes Randi glances at Budi's book. Write the exact same numbers as my answer.

"I'm sorry for what happened yesterday, Ran." Say slowly. Randi nodded.

From the door of the Aga gelagat class like a debt collector walked up to the three of us. He just pulled a chair, sat next to me. Without further ado, Aga copied my answer.

Cheating is a fast, practical and economical way. This is what the three of them did. Like a round-table conference, they surround my book, alternately. Aga took my book from Budi's hand by force.

"I first. You guys haven't finished yet. Nulis what so." His words made Budi angry.

"More." Give up the book. It's starting to ronyok.

"Have cheated, belagu again." Said Randi offending Aga.

"You're also cheating. Don't say that, dong." Aga stood up, pulled the collar of Randi's clothes, stepped over Budi's head who was bowed silently.

I tried to break them up. Randi's hand on his head was strong. Their bodies are just as small. Both do not give up. Budi who was a little bigger than the two of them just kept quiet, lowered his head under Aga's armpits that were still pulling Randi's collar, ready to launch his fist.

Randi first aimed at Aga with his hand. It sounded like durian falling from a height, right on my forehead. Aga was about to reply, but stopped for a moment because I was already complaining of pain. Aga took his hand off the collar of Randi's shirt.

I wriggled in pain as I held my banged, reddened forehead. Ears buzzing. Crowded class swarmed over me, curious. Aga and Randi apologized. Embrace me who almost fainted.

"Sorry, Ki. I didn't mean it." My words the day before were repeated Randi. Now he knows what it's like to beg. I grilled slowly, enduring the pain.

"It should be your responsibility, Ran." One of those standing in the crowd instantly became the Prosecutor.

"Yes, here. Origin tonjok. That's why emotions are held back. Patience." Budi scolded Randi. Be right. Randi is easily provoked by emotions.

I was pushed to my seat. My forehead was compressed using the ice chips he bought at the stall. The ice that most school children are after, is used only for my forehead.

Not many people have refrigerators. In this village only Tibetans and canteen owners have. It also uses a diesel engine to turn on its refrigerator.

The pain in my forehead began to subside. Randi stayed close to me, feeling guilty. Aga stood beside me, unsettled.

One by one returned to their seats as white hair appeared from the nako window. "Seek my chair, Ga." Pinta, the owner, pulls the seat in front of Aga. Next to the one who asked for the chair was waiting for the chair I was sitting on.

I stood holding the ice, towards my desk. Mr. Mad looked at me and Aga as if playing around in class because the others were already sitting neatly, while me and Aga were still walking from back to front. Appreciate the way we both walked slowly, side by side while carrying my crackle bag.

"Why your forehead?" Ask Mr. Mad.

"Fall sir. Crush the table." My word. Aga does not accept. His gaze was sharp, angry at me who was lying.

Aga wants me to tell you the truth. He hopes Randi gets the right punishment. But I don't want to. I lied for the good of Randi, Budi and Aga. If the two of them get caught fighting over my cheating, then the four of us will be the defendants. As a result, if not the law, must be given the task of how many hundred lines more.

"Why, Aga?" Ask Mr. Mad, suspicious.

"N-no, sir." Answer the Aga.

"Gather your duties. I don't want to know. Who hasn't put together the task!" Mad sir paused for a moment. His right index finger on the neck then moves it from left to right.

Everyone was afraid of not getting stuck, including Aga.

"It." Gave my book to Aga. Let him copy it as long as Mr. Mad looks for a wooden ruler. Back and forth around the table, the blackboard, Mr. Mad yet to find the ruler.

"Wait a minute." Said Mr. Mad, making the students happy as if winning from the match, but without a sound.

Starting from Aga, my cheat sheet spread to the corner of the class. They were very compact, until Mr. Mad was back in class, they just smiled widely.

Mr. Mad bounced the wooden ruler on his palm while walking from front to back, left to right side. Every student that Mr. Mad passed his face was tense.

"Now gather your duties at my table." Said Mr. Mad near Budi and Randi. "That sentence gets two hundred lines fixed in place."

Only two people were still sitting on the chairs, while the others flocked carrying books to the front desk - Me and Budi were sculpting awaiting instructions. Looks like there's a new surprise. I murmured in my heart.

Budi lowered his head very deeply, staring at his book. The ruler of the Mad pack was still bouncing around in the palm of the hand.

"Where is your two hundred line duty and punishment?"

You're shaking, "Here, sir." Offering the book to Mad. The hand that had begun to wrinkle was snatching Budi's book.

"Do you want to add to this punishment?" Ask Mr. Mad who spontaneously made Budi shake his head great.

Mr. Mad is headed for my desk. Walking slowly a little curled up to see me who really looks funny, holding my forehead. Aga shifted my book. Almost got caught by Mad.

"Where do you sound? Don't tell me there isn't." Mr. Mad stood up while shaking his waist.

"Here, sir." I gave my book with my left hand. Not intentionally. I forgot because my right hand was holding my forehead.

Mad sir is mad at me. "Bad. It's not polite to you." His impact. The ruler in Mad sir's hand was a little more floating in my left hand. I pulled my hand as if the ruler had hit it.

"Sorry, sir. I was not intentional." While shaking my hand as if in pain.

Fortunately Mr. Mad would accept my book even without feeling pity. Boro-boro is pitied, even cramped on my forehead like a joke, inviting laughter for anyone who sees it. Except my uncle, mother, and father. Although the first time they saw it they held back laughter, but when they found out I was in pain, they enthusiastically helped treat it. I've compressed my bangs eight times tonight with lukewarm water. Dad also did not stop talking about his youth first. Sometimes the mother cleared her throat, making the father change the storyline.

"You know not. This father was a hotshot at school. Even like this." I know the meaning of the word, like this. It clearly described his thin, dry body the effects of sleep deprivation. How not! I was still sleeping well but Dad was awake, she said.

"There was a friend of my father who used to beg for mercy. He's been trying to get close to daddy's girl." My mother cleared her throat again the umpteenth time. "Female daddy means. Yeah, girlfriends." I chuckle softly. Mom changed the compress water.

"Dad fought with the boy. Dad stuffed his nose into a nosebleed. Yes, nosebleed." Dad answered my incredulous look.

"Since then he has not dared to bother your mother anymore." I flirted with my mom. Makes mom blush in shame.

"Oh, mom. Don't press too hard. It hurts." The lump on my forehead felt more and more swollen. The mother took a deep breath, then let out a slow hissing. I saw my mother like something was stirring her mind. Pensive, looking at me who is compassionate.

"You're grounded, huh?" Ask mom for doubt.

"No, ma'am." I answered shortly after thinking long.

"Don't lie, I know what you did yesterday."

This time I can't avoid it. Before leaving to incise, I was sure mom had unpacked my crackle bag. Writing, I am not good at counting, makes my mother speechless because I have denied.

"Yes, ma'am." I answered while blinking slowly. I didn't explain why. Silent home. Mom turned her gaze to my father, disappointed.

"Next time don't get punished again, yeah. Whatever the reason!" Father message.