What a Beautiful Divorce
37. Pinaka

The men began to cut down the necessary materials. The main materials they are looking for are bamboo and round wood. Boys of Lapen's age play more than they do for materials. They chase butterflies or invite squirrels and other small animals to talk and play.

"How to hold the hilt is not so, Boss," Nimo told Prapto, as he saw Prapto holding the gun's hilt slightly upward. "Let's down a little bit, boss. Later if the wound 'the Pinaka is also a bother."

Prapto smiled at Nimo. He corrected his hand and continued the cutting without answering. Not far from him, Prpato could see Pak Ino, a cousin of Mr. Rodi who used to build his board house, was cutting down bamboo very quickly.

"Nimo, I think the wood cutting machine lost to Mr. Ino," he said after turning to Nimo.

Nimo laughs. "Pak Ino is indeed faster than a logging machine, Bos.” Nimo then turned to Lapen who was about to pass where he stood. "Lapen, are you here to getong royong or to play?"

"Two-duamya, Uncle. Later we help lift it up, yes," said Lapen as he continued to run around a little followed by Taro, Lennon, and other children their age. They are chasing butterflies to discuss which butterflies are the most beautiful.

Prapto noticed one of Lapen's friends. "Nimo, what kind of haircut is the Beatles guy called?"

"Lennon, Boss," Nimo replied, laughing. "Lennon's father has all the album collections of The Bealtes."

"Geez!" Prapto.

"Lapen, if you want to play some distance from here, you will get a weapon.” There was Mr. Oscar's voice as Lapen passed by beside him. The old man was stopping to cut down to ignite the shell.

"Yes, Cake."

***

It was late in the afternoon and it seemed like the clouds would no longer hold rain. All the cut down materials have been finished collected and tied up. Now it was time to bring bamboo and wood, and other materials to the village hall.

Mr. Oscar cleared his throat. "Let's take these materials to the village hall. After that we eat, coffee, and nagging while waiting for the rain to fall," he said.

As he told Nimo, Lapen invited a boy his age to help lift the materials that had been cut down. Fathers and men of Prapto age can each lift up to two bamboo slats per person. While Lapen and his friends need the energy of three children to lift a bamboo.

The materials are then placed in front of the forest door. Some people then went to get a wooden cart. After all the materials were all finished raising, they stepped in while alternately pulling the cart.

Prapto and Nimo pulled the wagon together. As they passed the clear banks of the river, Prapto asked, "I just found out there is a river bigger than the river where we wash our clothes, Nimo. A lot of fish here?" Prapto continued to gaze at the cool-looking river with a stretch of grass and trees on its banks.

"I forgot to take you around here, boss. The river where we washed it came down to this river. Much, Boss. Boss likes fishing?" Nimo asked back.

"Like. I also like to eat fish. Let's go fishing sometime, Nimo!" bring Prapto.

"Okay, Boss. But, fishing in the river is different from fishing in the pond, Boss, and of course fishing in the river is more exciting."

"I guess so too, Nimo. I want to eat river fish, like when I went to Grandpa's farm first" Prapto said, smiling.

Nimo moved his head to the left. Then he said, "Three boys are great fishing, boss. Fishing pole is bait and hook throwing place. Well, the boys seemed to have a special instinct in making bait and looking for a place to throw a hook. I often fish with them."

Prapto turned his head towards Nimo. As he expected, the three boys Nimo meant were Lapen, Taro, and Lennon. Because no other boy who went everywhere was always the three in this Kejora village other than them.

***

After all the wood and bamboo were taken down, the male citizens sat down to rest. Their wives or daughters approached to deliver drinks and snacks. Arini, with a sweet smile and her pigtailed hair, approached Nimo who was sitting next to Prapto.

"This, Sister Nimo. Drink and eat first" Arini said.

Nimo smile. "Thank you, Arini. Have you eaten yourself?" tanyakanya.

Arini nodded. Nimo then turned to Prapto who seemed to be looking at the rice fields across the street. Nimo then said to Arini, "Arini, if you don't mind, please bring some food and drinks for Mas Prapto, yes." He then whispered, “Pity him.”

Arini laughs. "So I want to bring you guys, Brother, but said Kak Pinaka let him bring it to Mas Prapto."

Prapto looked at Arini. "What did you say, Arini?" tanyanya.

"Sir Pinaka, huh?" ask Prapto, laugh. Arini and Nimo laughed.

Shortly after, Pinaka came to bring Prapto food and drinks with a slightly timid face. "Drink first, Mom," he said. "The food was also eaten. I helped Miss Intan make it."

After drinking, Prapto picked up the pastel. "I'll try it first, Pinaka. It's delicious not your cooking," he said.

Although he only helped Bu Intan cook, but Prapto's words just made Pinaka deg-degan. He waited for Prapto to finish chewing.

"Lezat, Pinaka," said Prapto. "It looks like you'll be Miss Intan's mainstay student."

Pinaka laughs. A sweet laugh from the kahyangan that is very liked by Prpato. "Of course, Mas. Student Ms. Intan is not just me. I went to where the mothers used to be, Mas Prapto, Mas Nimo. Miss Harni again story, the story is exciting. Go, Arini!" bring Pinaka.

Prapto looked at Nimo. "Nimo, Miss Harni, how do you have so many stories?"

Nimo laughs. "Maybe he's often googling the news, boss. But what makes the mothers and women of Kejora village more interested in the story of Bu Harni is the unique story style. That's see, Boss. Pinaka and Arini were very enthusiastic about listening."

Prapto laughs. He then took his phone out of his shirt pocket.

"Hello, Prapto!" greet Timo from across the phone.

"Yes, Nimo. You miss me?"

"Sorry, Bro. I don't miss you anymore. There's already someone I miss."

Prapto laughs. "You're making up the most, Timo. What the hell are you calling me?"

"When we met I told you, Prapto. Now I want to say that I and Dad bought a truck."

Nimo saw Prapto's face looking pleased.

"American or European model?" ask Prapto.

"Of course America!" exclaim Timo. "Alright, Prapto. It was a long time ago, yeah. I'll send the picture to your whatsup."

Prapto opens his whatsup. He then showed a photo of the black American-modeled truck to Nimo. "Pak Gumiro and Timo had bought a truck that would be used to pick up crops and processed food from Kejora village, Nimo. Cool don't you think the truck is?"

"Cool, Boss. I like the color too" Nimo said.

"It's raining, Nimo. Come on, let's go home!" bring Prapto.

Before returning home, Prapto and Nimo show the black truck to Mr. Oscar first.

***

That night Prapto got a call from Mr. Gumiro. Nimo's father said the business he had designed and invited Prapto to discuss it together.

"Tomorrow afternoon I will go to the village of Kejora, Nak Prapto. We will discuss it with Mr. Oscar and Nimo" Gumiro said.

"All right, Mr. Gumiro. Sounds cool. I also have some ideas for our business cooperation."

"Okay, Nak Prapto. I can't wait to hear your idea. I'll see you tomorrow."

Prapto got out of bed and opened the door of his board house. He was looking at the speck of night rain that he could faintly see due to the light of the porch lights. Prapto ignites cigarettes. He had been in Kejora village for almost five months but never got bored.

What else after Pinaka's presence. Pinaka's changed feminist attitude and mindset made Prapto more like him. He was quite impressed by Pinaka's willingness to learn to cook and deliver food for him, which is very anti-feminist women such as Silvi, Rini, and Tini.

Prapto wants to get married, but he knows that his mission is not yet complete. He wants to see the running of business cooperation between Kejora village and Pak Gumiro company first. Later, if the sale of the first crops and processed foods had been brought by the American black truck, Prpato would probably have started thinking about getting married.