The Van Til House: STRAF SABBAT
Proloogs

Van Til Hogeschool is a vocational high school owned by a group of plantation companies that once belonged to a Dutch landlord, Mr. Stiller Van Til's.

The school building was once the home of Van Til's extended family - the largest owner of rubber and oil palm plantations in the far reaches of Banten. But after this country declared its independence, the company was expelled back to his country and the plantation officially became state property. The house was then used as an official house for the staff and foremen of large plantations that mutated into this village.

The house is now uninhabited. No one dared to occupy it again after a series of events that killed many people.

But the building is still used as a plantation administration office, cooperative, clinic, kindergarten school and vocational-high school-Van Til Hogeschool.

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Van Til Hogeschool, 1992.

"I warn you, children," said Miss Pinkan as she sat across the hall and stared at the entire class. "I can't wait to see students who don't want to learn. You hear that, Michael?"

"I?" Michael asked half in protest. "Kok me anyway?"

"I know what you're doing, Michael!" review Miss Pinkan. At first glance his eyes glanced at the pile of cards of the disciples on his desk. Miss Pinkan is the new teacher at the school. But, "I know about all of you," he added. "You smart kids. But you're all slackers. Listen, yeah. In my class, you guys can't escape!"

Michael smiled grinning.

Miss Pinkan looked at him. From the look of his sour face, it is certain that he was not too happy with what he saw. "You have to do your PR every night" he continued. "Otherwise, please get ready to go to Special Training Classes!" 

"Special Training Class?" One of the female students asked nervously.

"If you don't collect PR tomorrow morning, you'll know, Gabrielle," said Miss Pinkan.

The whole room sounded groaning.

"Where is the PR teacher on the first day of school!" michael's Protest. It was their first day of school after the semester break. The start of the new school season in all schools. "You must be kidding me!"

"I'm not kidding" Miss Pinkan said. "Let's start learning!" repelled.

The next day, Gabrielle's hand trembled as Miss Pinkan scolded Michael. From his expression it was clear that something was completely wrong.

"Your PR, Michael," demanded Miss Pinkan.

"You must forgive me, this time!" michael replied half-begging.

Miss Pinkan raised her brow next to him, "Pardon you?" tanyanya cynic.

"About all, Miss!" Michael began to reason. "Look," he said. "There was a car alarm sound kept outside my room window. His voice was so loud, I couldn't concentrate. Time there are people matiin—"

"It's too late and you have to sleep?" cut Miss Pinkan.

"Ah—haha.." Michael crybaby. "Ng.. that's not it, anyway," he admitted with a silly look.

"Okay," Miss Pinkan bought it. "Perhaps you keep working on your PR, but when you wake up in the morning, your cat has eaten it to the end. That so?"

Michael laughed uneasily. "At least, that's how it is," he said.

"Sorry, Michael. I can't forgive you!" Miss Pinkan. "Now it's time to go to Special Training Classes." Then step into the corridor.

Michael went to see Miss Pinkan. At the door he stopped. "I forgot my book" he said, turning around.

Miss Pinkan suddenly smirked. 

What a creepy grin!

"Special Training Classes are not the place to study, Michael!" Miss Pinkan told.

"So what's dong?"

Miss Pinkan did not answer.

Michael shrugged, then followed Miss Pinkan into the corridor. The sound of their footsteps grew increasingly faint.

Shortly thereafter, Miss Pinkan returns without Michael. 

The same thing happened to Leo. "I didn't get to," he said reasoned. "I'm one of the players in the Little League."

"so. So, the Little League is more important than your school?" snarled Miss Pinkan coldly.

"It's an important game" Leo explained. "My team is very dependent on me."

"Go to Special Training Class, Leo!" hardik Miss Pinkan doesn't want to understand.

"What do you think is in Special Training Classes?" Some students started whispering.

"There's Michael!" one of the male students.

"Funny!" Some female disciples snorted cynically.

"That's bad not to be afraid," another female disciple grumbled. "The two are honestly afraid. The cave never goes to PR. But often forget to bring PR in a hurry."

"Alesan you're just left behind" the joking male student sneered earlier.

Some students laughed.

The female students glared. "Why is this abis your turn?" scorn one of them.

"Why is this abis the cave's turn?" Another female disciple chimed in with a grim face.

What if it's my turn? inner Gabrielle.

The sound of footsteps came closer.

The entire class simultaneously fell silent, looking straight at Miss Pinkan with a tense look. Some kids look paled.

Miss Pinkan cleared her throat as she circulated the gaze throughout the classroom, observing one by one the faces of the disciples.

The disciples held their breath.

"Gabrielle!" 

DEG!

Gabrielle swallowed with difficulty.

Miss Pinkan looked at him.

The girl stuttered and looked around, then moved from her stool a little dazed.

"You're not working on your PR. Yeah, right?" terka Miss Pinkan's.

"Sa--i. worked on it, really!" Gabrielle was bowed before the teacher's desk and held out her PR book with trembling hands. 

Miss Pinkan snatched away her PR book and examined it with a wry look on her face. Then raised his face and growled. "Two questions only?"

"But. but.." Gabrielle stammered.

Miss Pinkan tightened her jaw.

"I've tried" continued Gabrielle.

"I don't think you're trying hard enough, do you, Gabrielle?"

"But I'm going to do my PR, Miss," protested Gabrielle. "I'm not like Michael. I'm not trying at all!"

Miss Pinkan let out a short sigh, then picked up her PR book. "Two things, Gabrielle!" snarl. "That means three tasks that are not done. In this class, the number three is sacred."

The class held its breath.

"Please clear your books and go to Special Training Classes."

"I beg you, Miss Pinkan!" Gabrielle screaming. "Don't send me to Special Training Classes! I Please!"

"Come, Gabrielle," said Miss Pinkan. "You don't want to disappoint the others, do you?"

"You know, I can do better than that, Miss Pinkan!" Gabrielle is nervous.

Miss Pinkan didn't press her. He stepped to the door and waited.

Gabrielle looked at the whole class. Some kids looked back at him. Their eyes were full of fear. But the others bowed their heads deeply to their books and pretended not to know what was going on.

"You don't care, do you?" Gabrielle shouted at them.

No one answered.

Gabrielle tightened her jaw and moved with trembling knees, then disappeared with Miss Pinkan.

At recess, the three did not appear. Even until the time to go home. Or the next day. Or the next day again. Or any time.

No one feels lost. No one feels sorry for them.