The Underwater Palace
Due to Laras

The days I went through normally like most Junior High, my routine was not far from playing, doing schoolwork, helping Grandma and watching my favorite cartoon series. Until I graduated Junior High School and sat in High School. This time I was separated from Laras because we chose a different school but it did not break my friendship with Laras.

Through short messages we kept telling each other about what and how the atmosphere of our respective schools. Until one day Laras visited my house but this time he was not alone but with his classmates.

“Aya? Aya?” typical screams Screeching barrel.

“Come in Race!” my mouth went straight out.

“Come Win!” take Laras to the friend he brought.

“This is your friend's house that you often tell?” said it.

“Iya let's go in!” bring Laras.

“Aya, know this classmate I happen to be our neighbor also his name is Winda, I said earlier he wanted to go to your house he wanted to come,” tutut Laras while introducing his friend.

“Oh yes. I Maya used to be called Aya,” I said as I extended my hand to Winda.

“Winda. classmate Laras,” said briefly while shaking my hand.

Visible Winda was looking around my house, he looked at the floor he was on and the walls of my house.

“You're not sleeping bitten by a mosquito?” ask Winda.

“Ngak kok, we wear mosquito nets so safe,” sahutku while smiling.

“The kitchen does not have a door? Only in curtain cap?” he said while looking at my kitchen.

Coincidentally my kitchen was outside with a blue tarpaulin sheet as the wall of my kitchen was also directly connected to the river bank.

“Iya from the first time it was so,” sahutku while thrusting a pot of sweet iced tea.

“You are asking this keep drinking first!” say Laras while pouring the drink into the glass.

“Which word Yes?” ask Laras.

“Against Race, most soon go home. Do you want to come with me?” my many.

“Where?” ask Winda.

“Walk in the river,” sahutku.

“Hah? How?” 

“Nail jukung.”

In Banjar jukung language means boat without engine or can be said rowboat.

“You can?” ask Laras.

“Can dong, I am the expert,” I say with confidence.

“Since when? How do I not know?” Laras hesitated with my speech.

“Udah come! Mumpung river again deserted nih,” said me while riding on a boat.

Laras and Vinda followed me and sat cautiously holding on tight.

“Win you can swim right?” ask Laras.

“Could it, why?” sahut Winda's.

“No, I just want to make sure, so if this is a shipwreck we can save ourselves,” said Laras.

I began to paddle down every stream, if lucky sometimes I can meet endemic mammals such as bekantan even though now it is very rare I can see it.

“The river is very calm yes,” said Winda.

“Iya but there is a culture!” chirps Laras.

“Indeed you've seen?” Winda is starting to be vigilant.

“Say people are so,” says Laras.

“Aya here actually there is a whole?” ask Winda.

“Yes ... There is sih.”

“We're back!” Winda started to worry.

“Ya has also new we go up time to go back anyway,” protest Laras.

“Winda! Watch out in the back!” shout Laras.

“Laras! You don't do that later if we all fall into the river how?” my spoken.

“He-he-he sorry Yes, I was joking out Winda is really tense,” said Laras with a cry.

“Lagiannih yes, there is something more frightening than the river!” concluded Laras.

“What is it?” I asked while trying to rebalance my boat.

“Destroying crocodiles! Ha-ha-ha.”

Me and Winda could only stare at each other hearing the crisp joke from Laras.

“Laras! Your laughter please be controlled!” said Winda.

“Why the hell, anyways here quiet no one !” Laras ignored the reprimand from Vinda.

Baras continued to make noise, from starting to shake the boat with his body, pounding the water with his sandals to make Winda splashed with water.

“Eh ... This is how the boat is rocking anyway?” said Winda.

“Loh ... Ayaa. This why the boat?” Baras was surprised because the boat we were riding turned around by itself.

I tried to stay calm while trying to stop the boat with my paddle. I started to panic when my paddle touched something underwater by spontaneously lifting my paddle.

I saw the river flow becomes swift, but before it was very calm I was not even able to move the boat towards the river bank.

“Aya this is why? We are getting longer and further,” said Winda with eyes that began to glaze over.

“I don't know, suddenly the current is heavy I can't get to the edge!” I said while trying to paddle.

The current seemed to want to pull the boat we were riding towards the big river, my heart was pounding with fear until something surprised us.

There was something hitting the bottom of my boat hard it made us all speechless a thousand languages, Winda started crying as much as Laras looked very pale and frightened.

“Aya what?” said Laras slowly.

“I don't know Race, hopefully it's just a log,” said I tried to calm the situation.

The clash happened several times, making Winda more hysterical I also could not shake my mind anymore if under the boat we are now not a log but a creature that became a joke Laras before.

I kept on being careful that I was holding my paddle tight if at any time a crocodile appeared beside the boat I could hit it with my paddle, which was all I could think of at that time.

Until I remember the words from my Grandmother, if we are in the river we must maintain our attitude, words, and deeds and if something happens we must immediately apologize with a sincere heart. I also thought all this because of the jokes and sayings from Laras.

“Ras cepetan apologize!” I said to Laras.

“Hah? Same who? Who am I doing wrong with? Winda?” Laras frowned.

“Not. Same river let's spit!” seruku on Laras.

“You're kidding?” Baras looked at me with a face of disbelief.

“I'm serious! Come Race!”

“Yes we are in danger again! Don't be kidding rich gini!” Barrel raised his voice.

“I'm serious! My grandmother said that being in the river can't do and say bad!” I said while trying to row back.

“Ngak in katain directly is also okay, said in your heart but must sincerely admit mistakes!” my connection.

Laras was silent when he heard my words, Laras calmed himself while sighing many times.

“Datu. Laras apologized because Laras had joked very outrageous, Laras promised not to repeat it again Laras regretted,” said Laras slowly.

After Laras regretted his actions, the river current that was rushing slowly became calm as we first came I did not believe what I saw as well as Winda and Laras but that was the reality.

I hurried to turn the boat around and paddled with all my might towards my house. Laras seemed silent as if he regretted his actions. When he arrived, Laras and Winda quickly got out of the boat and into my house.

“Sorry me yes, because of me we are almost wretched,” said Laras.

“I'm sorry to you too, I shouldn't have to force you to come with me,” I say with regret.

“Already, the important thing is that we are safe,” said Winda while holding my shoulder and Laras.

“Oh yes Aya, this river waiter is indeed called Datu?” tanya Winda who happens to not be a native of Borneo.

“Not. Datu it's a term for ancestors, can still be used to call Mother of Grandmother,” said I.

“Oh ... I we're the name of the waiter.”

The sad face of Winda is cheerful again, as well as Laras while I consider the incident as an experience and learning when wherever we are we must remain polite and not just any