The Underwater Palace
The Bamboo Tree

The clink of the school bell rings if the lesson is about to begin, my homeroom teacher enters the classroom. Not to start a lesson but to tell you something.

“Our school will hold camping activities, its location in a nature reserve precisely pine forest. I will give you a flyer that will be signed by your parents for approval or disagree you follow this camp activity.”

The teacher handed out the leaflets one by one to us.

“Yes you're coming, right?” ask Nia.

“Have to come but I have to get permission first,”.

“Do need me to go to your house so you can get permission,” Nia said.

“Absolutely you are allowed your parents?” my many.

“Pastilah origin I said first. Some of my parents are out of town later I ask aunt to sign the letter.”

“I go to your house once bored also I am at home,” continued Nia.

“But ... My house is not as good as yours.”

“Apaan anyway. What matters is the floor and roof,”.

“Ya will be home from school we go home together,” I said.

I did my usual study until school came home. Nia came with me back home coincidentally my house and Nia's line was in the same direction.

Since Nia was on a motorbike while I was only on a bicycle, I told Nia to walk first and wait for me in front of the entrance of my house road.

I scratched my bike a little faster so that Nia would not wait too long for me, until I reached the entrance of the road to my house this time Nia followed me from behind until I got home.

“That's great here the river is wide and there are still many trees,” said Nia.

“Iya here is still not too many people except in front of the museum there,”.

“Museum? Is there?”

““There. Beside the entrance there is a large house stage well that's the museum.”

“Oh that one. I thought it was just an ordinary house. What is it really? Have you ever been in?”

“There are many that are certainly relics during the colonization of ancient times. As I recall there are tables, chairs, red and white flags, photos, weapons and more.”

“Wah ... Take me there sometime yes.”

“Iya. Usually Sunday rame there, let's go in!” take me.

Nia took off her shoes and looked around my house whose walls were partially covered with banners.

“This why is covered by the wall?” ask Nia.

“This let the wind not enter. In the past it was not closed but in the cold so it is the same as closed using this,”.

“Ooo. That's kitchen? But who's outside?” 

“Let's be nice if you cook or wash the dishes.”

“Use river water?”

“Ya is not. There is plumbing,”.

“Your house is good yes you do not need to use a fan already a lot of wind makes drowsiness,” said Nia while yawning.

“You are relaxed. I made iced tea first.”

“Wahh really fit me again thirsty,” he exclaimed.

I put the bag into the room and walked to the kitchen to make a drink. 

“Nih drink first,” I said while thrusting a small teapot of iced tea.

“Place you rame, not rich in my area is very quiet make bored.”

“Iya here always rame Nia,”

“Oh yes where are you?”

“Again in the pond. Soonest home.”

“Pas go home directly request permission Yes.”

“Iya hopefully aki in permitin. Where is the pine forest?” I ask you who has never gone anywhere but to school and the market.

“Deket aja, 40 minutes until speeding. Last time I camped there when SMP the view was good but ...”

“But what?”

“Ah ... Everywhere there must be a waiter Nia.”

Nia and I talked until I came.

“Assalamualaikum.”

“Walaikumsalam,” we say simultaneously.

I approached him and kissed the back of his hand. When you want to go into the room to get a towel I hold it and tell you if I get a flyer I give it to you.

“This,” I said while giving a flyer.

“What is this?”

“Parent consent letter. The school held a camp event can Aya come?” my many.

“Where?”

“In the pine forest Bah.”

“Friends are all coming?” 

“I-iya Bah.”

“Must join Om, make add value,” Nia suddenly speak.

“Ya has where the pen is,” pinta abah.

I also gave my pen, without reading the contents, immediately signed the letter and went to the room.

“Nia why you lied!” my whiskey.

“If you can't fail camping!”

“Yes too anyway,” sahutku.

“Well my job is done, I go home first huh. I can play here again sometime, right?” ask Nia.

“Yes who can forbid,”.

Nia put up her shoes and walked towards her motorbike, Nia turned on the motor and drove away.

I went into the house and locked the door because soon the magrib abah will also be ready to go to the mosque. I will pray with my grandmother at home. 

*** 

The sound of the clockwork movement of the wall was clear even I could fuse the rhythm with the beat of my heart, my eyes were getting tired but my task was still not finished. Abah and Grandma had also fallen asleep, I got up from my seat and walked outside the room to grab a cold drink in the fridge while I was drinking I felt like I was out of the room and past me. Even his feet felt very clear.

It just so happened that the refrigerator was next to the room. I was curious and tried to see what I was doing in the kitchen. When I got to the kitchen I was amazed that the kitchen door was still locked.

'Loh ... Didn't you go to the kitchen?' muttered.

I opened the lock and opened the kitchen door but strangely there was no one there, I quickly closed the door and locked it again.

I walked into my room, it just so happened that my room didn't have a door, only old curtains to cover it.

I framed the curtains and saw clearly that I was fast asleep and quickly entered the room and locked the door. 

My heart raced fast even I myself had difficulty controlling my breath, my body trembled incoherently.

“Tadi who?” slowly say.

I'm done with my job, I close all the books and try to sleep. I tried to close my eyes as close as possible, but still I could not sleep even those who had been very tired eyes now became bright.

Sayup-sayup I heard something, like a ball that was bouncing on the ground, the sound was so clear that it made me very uncomfortable.

The habit of the children here if after playing ball, they will leave the ball under the guava tree in front of my house.

“Who's playing midnight ball like this?” my spoken.

The sound continued until 03:00 pm I could not sleep at all. I went out of the room and saw who was playing football. I saw it behind the curtain but the ball was still in its original position under the tree and as I checked the sound it stopped as well.

I also intend to go back to my room, just a few steps back I heard the sound quickly I opened the curtains.

My eyes widened when I saw the figure standing under the tree. His body was small like a child but his face was very old and also stooped, his eyes were bright red. He grinned while facing me as if knowing that I was watching him, I quickly closed the curtains and ran to the room and locked the door.

“What was that? What tuyul?” my spoken.

“But what is it?”

Finally I could not sleep at all until 05:00 am I woke up and took a shower. Without caring about the icy water I continued to flush my body until I shivered in the cold.

connect first gangs do not forget the support yes thank you very much