What a Beautiful Divorce
25. Crop Cover

"What's the matter, son? Your voice sounds sad."

Pinaka wanted to cry again because he heard a loving voice across the phone, but he held her back.

"I'm fine, Mom, just a little cold. I want a story, Mom. I have resigned from the Flying Horse Corporation" Pinaka replied.

Ibu Pinaka let out a long breath. "You serious? But thank God, son. I'm glad to hear that. Your father used to tell me how the company operated. They're sneaky. We let you work there just because your position is not a decision-making position.

Are you still going to continue your career, Pinaka? Think about our words again! You trade at home like Mom, or you sell online."

"Maybe later, ma'am," replied Pinaka, "now I will be a librarian first in a village. From Jakarta to the village it's about two hours by car."

"Huh?" there was a voice crying out in shock across the phone, "since when did you want to stay in the village and since when did you like the library, son? Don't you hate reading books?"

Pinaka had expected that there would be his father next to his mother, because every time he called at night, his father and mother were always together.

Pinaka was silent for a moment. "That's, Dad, I think I'd love life in a cool, quiet village. Jakarta is too noisy and there is a lot of pollution. I read books a lot now, Dad. Reading that book was fun."

There was the sound of laughter from Pinaka's father and mother across the phone.

Pinaka's father said, "Son, you can't lie to us. We know very well with you. But, yes, if you don't want to say it now, you'll have to tell us later. We're glad you're out of that sneaky company. We're also glad you're living in the village. At least, the influence of the mindset of modern people in the village is not as strong as in the city.

"You're a big boy, Pinaka. If you keep up with modern women, we're afraid you won't get a real man's husband, or you won't get married. Looks like you need to talk to your mom, huh? You guys talk first! I'm gonna smoke outside."

After her father came out of the room, Pinaka's mother asked, "Is there really anything you want to talk to me about, son?"

"Yes, Mom," Pinaka replied hesitantly.

"Why doubt that? Say, Son!"

"Mom, what is love and why do you love me?"

After hearing his son's question, although he did not understand it as a whole, but Pinaka's mother could guess why the child wanted to move to the village and become a librarian.

Pinaka's mother was convinced that her husband had also suspected this. And that's why he smokes outside so Pinaka and his mother can chat together.

***

As usual, that morning the Lapen Oscario left for school on foot with two friends. The three friends will both complete the compulsory study of Kejora village.

"Lapen, once we've smoothly read and count later, I'll go to the library often while continuing to learn to paint and raise from my father. I've also marked painting lessons and breeding books" said one of Lapen's friends whose hair was cut in the middle.

"You're serious, Taro? I thought you wanted to be a writer, too" replied Lapen.

"What must be learning to raise chickens. But I want to raise ornamental chickens. It still seems that I will learn how to cultivate fish" Lapen replied.

The two friends of Lapen nodded.

Must be many who wonder why children the age of Lapen, who are usually only second grade in elementary school already want to explore a certain field. It was also what initially made Prapto astonished.

But in fact, in the village of Kejora there is no formal school at all. Compulsory learning in Kejora village only learn the basics of raising and farming, which will be very useful for survival, and must learn to read and count so as not to be deceived by people.

Nimo also became a member of Prapto, not past the diploma path. Prapto himself employed him as a driver and file delivery man. They meet when Nimo helps Prapto fix his broken car and they become friends.

But, despite not studying in a formal school, the villagers of Kejora are intelligent and skilled citizens. Because after being good at reading and counting, they immediately learn from the experts, so they do not need about sixteen years (school+kuliah) to master a particular field of science or skill.

Since the village of Kejora was formed, the first village chief as well as the community agreed to reject the existence of a formal school. Their decision was not without reason. The village chief argued that formal schools would build the mindset of children to choose to be employees, rather than business owners or businesses.

You could say, Kejora village is the same as a village inhabited by the Baduy Dalam tribe, which is in a neighboring country, namely Indonesia. The difference with the Baduy Dalam tribe, Kejora village does not reject electronic goods such as television, mobile phones, and so forth.

***

Early in the morning, after finishing feeding the cattle, Prapto and Nimo immediately visited the garden of Mr. Dwipangga to ask about the purpose of the father of Nimo was to plant ornamental plants. Once there, they first helped Mr. Dwipangga harvest some plants.

The three of them were now sitting in front of the kitchen building and had just finished eating the dishes served by Bu Kinasih

"I forgot to tell you. And Nimo didn't ask me, either" said Mr. Dwipangga after starting his cigarette, "i grow ornamental plants not only because I like them, son."

"I thought Dad planted it just because he liked it. So, what's Dad for?" asked Nimo curiously.

Mr. Dwipangga laughed. He said, "The term is a cover crop or cover crop. The point is, so that the grass that grows does not get sunlight and they will die. So, you will not have trouble weeding the grass again. Your garden will look more beautiful.

"In addition to the grass does not rise, the function of the cover crop is also to make the soil more fertile. A good crop cover is a crop cover that has nodules on the roots, which means there are rhizobium bacteria, which are bacteria whose presence and activity make the soil fertile."

Prapto and Nimo nodded. "It is fitting that your crops are better and heavier than our crops. Thank you, Mr. Dwipangga for the information. Later we will look for the types of plants that are suitable for cover crop in yutub," said Papto.

"What did you just plant is sweet corn or corn for animal feed?" ask Nimo to her father.

"Cute guy, Nimo. Later if it's harvest, you take Nak Prapto home! I'll make a corn griddle."

"Aman, Mr. Dwipangga. I love to eat" answered Prapto laughing.

***

That afternoon, Prapto received a short message from Mr. Oscar, who said that Pinaka was at his house to report his arrival. Prapto pedaled his bike immediately. He took Nimo first and then they cycled together to the house of the village head whose name was westernized.