What a Beautiful Divorce
61. Fish Fishing Festival

Prapto is quite in

In the slightly overcast daylight of the rainy season of October, the leaves and branches of the trees dance beautifully in the wind.

Nimo inspects the waterways of the garden and its plants and livestock. He noticed the condition of the two mother goats and their six children whom he had transferred with Prapto last night. They look healthy and not stressed.

Then Nimo opened the door where her female chicken incubated twelve eggs, which would hatch twelve cute chicks. Suddenly the brooding hen sounded loud. Nimo took a few steps back. "Good God, Parent Chicken! You're surprising me."

The young brown mother chicken stared at Nimo. Nimo came back to him. "I want to feed you, you yell at me. Here, eat a lot." Nimo put down a small box of chicken food. Then he turned around.

"Geez!" nimo exclaimed again, when she saw the three figures the boy had been standing in front of her. "When are you guys coming?"

The three boys laughed. "Not too long, Uncle. Since Uncle had a conversation with the hen earlier," said Lapen Oscario while pointing at the hen.

Nimo closed the chicken brood and stepped towards the table in front of the kitchen building. "Come on, we're sitting there!" bring him.

Lapen and his two best friends follow Nimo. "Uncle wants coffee?" ask Lennon, smiling.

"I should have offered you, Lennon. 'And my host. Yeah, four glasses, yeah. If any of you want tea, there's tea."

"Which Prapto uncle, Uncle?" taro asked after he looked around the garden.

"Bos Prapto to Jakarta with Pinaka, Taro."

Taro smile. "Uncle Prapto met Aunt Pinaka's parents because they were getting married, Uncle?"

Nimo laughs. "It's kind of like you understand the way things go before the wedding, Taro."

Nimo then sat down and lit her cigarette. "What are you doing coming in this slightly cloudy afternoon?"

"We're going to the river, Uncle, to fish with a new bait. I was asked to come here first to tell Uncle Nimo not to forget to teach Dad to bring a bike later" Lapen replied.

"Oh yes! I forgot, Lapen. I'll finish my coffee with your father" Nimo said. Then he seemed to think. "But, Lapen, why didn't Mas Stepen just call me?"

Lapen laughing. "Last night Dad fiddled with the phone settings menu, Uncle, then he accidentally pushed the factory reset menu. So, Uncle Nimo's number was erased."

The new Nimo, Lapen, Taro, and Lennon brought four cups of coffee on a wooden tray, laughing. They continued talking while drinking coffee.

***

On the porch of his house, the shoulder-haired Stepen wiped his new matic motor while whistling. He looked up when he heard footsteps and then laughed. "Your number is erased, Nimo. I'm wrong to push the factory reset menu.”

"Yes, Mas, Lapen said. Well, Mas Stepen bought a new bike."

Stepen smiles. "Yesterday afternoon came, Nimo. Sorry, yeah, it's a hassle to teach me how to ride a bike."

Nimo smile. "No hassle, really, Mom."

"Have a coffee, huh?"

"Just now I'm ready to make coffee with Lapen, Taro, and Lennon, Mas."

"Then, we start learning the bike?" Stepen stood up and put down his motor rag.

"Come, Mas!"

***

The weather in Jakarta, precisely in the residential complex area of Pinaka, the afternoon was sunny. Prapto, Pinaka, Pak Ramu, and Bu Esih have just finished eating the dish.

Mr. Ramu lit his cigarette and then looked at Prapto who was now igniting a cigarette. Mr. Ramu and Ms. Esih last night had chatted with their daughter over the phone. Pinaka says that today he and Prapto will come and Prapto will convey his desire to marry Pinaka.

Prapto raised his head while exhaling cigarette smoke. He was stunned to see Mr. Ramu watching him.

"Are you sure of your decision to marry our daughter, Prapto?" ask Mr. Ramu. There was a serious aura emerging from his words.

"Sure, sir," answered Prapto. A serious aura also emerged from Prapto's speech.

"You sure you won't be short on money after you get married?"

Prapto, who learned a lot from Mr. Oscar, said steadily, "I'm not sure, sir."

Mr. Ramu scrunched his face. "You're not sure you won't be short of money after marriage, then why do you want to marry my daughter?"

"Not having money doesn't mean we're going to starve, sir. I have rice fields, fruits, livestock, and many other crops that won't starve us and will instead eat delicious food every day, sir."

Bu Esih and Pinaka looked at Prapto in awe. They were amazed at Prapto who could answer smoothly without being intimidated. The answer was good and the tone of his speech was convincing. Mr. Ramu himself secretly felt amazed and proud, but Mr. Ramu did not want to show it because he was still not finished testing Prapto.

Mr. Ramu nodded. He smokes his cigarette while continuing to look at Prapto right in his eyes. "What if one day there will be a flood, or some other natural activity, that will cause your garden to fail to harvest and all your livestock to die? I hope it doesn't happen."

"I'll make a living the other way, sir while rebuilding the garden. I can find firewood in the forest to sell, I can trade, I can learn certain skills like concocting medicine or making children's toys and then sell, obviously, I can learn, I promised that our kitchen would remain smoky and our rice pot would never be empty."

Ms. Esih looked at Pinaka with a look that seemed to ask, 'How can you find a man this cool?' He looked at Prapto. His appearance is not conspicuous with jeans and a shirt. His tan skin is bright brown, a sign that he is a diligent farmer, who is not just sunbathing in the garden.

Last night Bu Esih had also discussed with her husband about the smart and innovative Prapto, which was the initiator of business cooperation between Kejora village and three companies. According to Mr. Ramu who also works as a businessman, the Kejora village business will be more successful in the future.

Pinaka also looked at his mother with a look that seemed to say, 'Great 'is the mother's child looking for a ghost?' He was proud of Prapto. As Bu Intan said to her, that great husband is the one who makes you proud as her woman.

Mr. Ramu who leaned against the wall of the pendopo, which was shaped like a wooden fence, nodded back. Prapto seemed to be waiting for the next question. He understood Mr. Ramu now not just asking, but his future father-in-law was testing it. While waiting for Mr. Ramu's next question, he took a sip of his cold coffee.

"That's how a husband should be, Prapto," said Mr. Ramu. "I'm not asking you rich and I'm going to marry Pinaka. I just need a daughter-in-law who is not lazy to make a living.

"Now, if one day Pinaka has a toothache or is jealous of another woman who suddenly sends a love statement message to your phone, then Pinaka gets upset and reduces her attention to you, what are you going to do? Scold him or persuade him?"

Mr. Ramu smiled. This is both the final question and the ultimate question. Twenty-six of his married friends he had asked, and all were wrong in answering this seemingly straightforward question.

Bu Esih and Pinaka looked at each other again, but this time they were both confused. The question seems easy, but they are well aware that Mr. Ramu is unlikely to ask an easy question to test a man who wants to marry his daughter. They wait for Prapto's answer.

Cold sweat descends on the Prapto temple. His intelligence makes him understand very well that Mr. Ramu's question is not easy even though it seems easy. He smokes cigarettes while thinking about Mr. Oscar's advice. Prapto found that Mr. Oscar never talked about this.

make dizzy by Mr. Ramu's question. He looked at Mr. Ramu for a moment, then looked at Bu Esih and Pinaka. Prapto knew that he should not give a long answer or Mr. Ramu, and even Bu Esih and Pinaka would doubt the steadiness of his answer.

Suddenly Prapto got the idea after rethinking all the advice Mr. Oscar had ever splashed on him. He can find a conclusion to answer Mr. Ramu's question.

"I will joke with him or not respond to Pinaka's chuckle" Prapto replied breaking the silence. "I will not be angry nor will I persuade him."

Mr. Ramu smiled with satisfaction. "From now on you call me Father, not Father again" he said. He got up and hugged Prapto.

***

Mr. Gumiro smiled as a senior from one of the supermarkets where he supplied the natural crops of Kejora village praised the swiftness and accuracy of his company. Mr. Gumiro nodded. "Thank you, Sir. We will continue to do our best and will continue to improve.

The fat-bodied supermarket official nodded, smiling. "It should be, with this good quality, the company of the Kejora is bigger and grander." They then both stood up and shook hands while nodding.

Mr. Gumiro shook his head smiling. "No, Timo. He came to ask for additional supplies in the upcoming harvest season. He also praised the quality of our company."

Timo smiled. He put black plastic on his father's desk. "I bought Dad some green bean porridge" he said.

"Tumbens? There's gotta be something you want." He then brought the green bean wrap to his nose and nodded. "It must be delicious."

Timo laughing. He then leaned forward. "I want to propose to Nesia, Dad. Although I haven't known her for a long time, but I'm sure she'll be a good wife" she said.

"When you invited her to visit the house, your mother and I could see that Nesia was just like you mentioned. It doesn't take long to get married if you're sure, Timo. Now I ask, are you really sure?"

"I'm sure, Father," replied Timo steadily.

"Well, let's go to his house, what else do you want?" asked Mr. Gumiro, laughing.

"Mother, Dad. Please tell Mom."

Mr. Gumiro laughed loudly. "You think your mother seriously banned you from getting married before five years after you divorced Tini?"

"Yes, Mom was angry like that, Dad, how could I not have thought that his speech was serious? I was scolded all out. He said, we told you Tini was not fit to be a wife but you said you love to die. I won't let you get married five years from now" Timo said, mimicking his mother's tone.

"Timo ... Timos. How could your mother seriously forbid you from getting married before five years after getting divorced. That's why the old man's words are considered, not to let love blind your eyes and heart" said Mr. Gumiro.

"Yes, Dad. But please tell Mom, yeah, Dad." Timo looked at his father with a pleading face.

Mr. Gumiro pretended to think for a moment. He then shook his head with a grim face.

"Dad," said Timo. "Please, Dad."

Gumiro laughed again. "Yes, yes, I'll tell your mother. In the meantime, you tell Nesia about your intention to propose to her. Let him tell his parents."

Timo smiled broadly. "Thank you, Dad," he said. "Tomorrow I'll bring you another breakfast of green bean porridge."

"Your own father bribes you," said Mr. gumiro, laughing.

***

Lapen looked at the fishing rod buoy with a serious face typical of children. To the left and right of Lapen, Taro and Lennon also noticed their buoys with the same facial features. They had not made a sound since they started fishing, only the ripples of the river and the sounds of the overcast wind were heard.

"Sometimes I'm surprised by these new fish" said Lennon, opening the conversation, while still staring at the floater.

Taro asked without looking, "Why wonder?"

"They prefer bait from raw fruits rather than cooked food" Lennon replied.

Lapen laughing. "Don't fish, Lennon, you're just picking food."

Lennon did not answer. He stood up and pulled the fishing rod. "Can, Lapen," he said.

Taro and Lapen put the fishing rod and stood by to watch Lennon pull the fish.

"New type!" lennon exclaimed while putting the fish he got into the bucket.

"Remember, Taro!" lapen. "For this fish the bait is raw guava."

Taro picked up his notebook and started taking notes. "Then we win" he said excitedly.

***

The day awaited by Lapen and his two friends came, namely the thirty of October, where a new festival in the village of Kejora was held, the fishing festival began. Although the morning was overcast and the weather was quite cold, Kejora villagers still welcomed the fishing festival with enthusiasm.

Along the banks of the river, it appears that the participants of the fishing race have prepared with a fishing rod in each hand. They looked at the river looking for the right place to throw a pass while waiting for the start of the race.

Not far from the banks of the river, the wooden stalls that were built had reflected smoke. Mothers and fathers who sell are cooking fried foods, crackers, and other snacks to sell. And not far from the stalls, have lined stone furnaces complete with firewood.

The stoves will be used to grill the catch donated by the contestants after the winner of the race is announced.

Mr. Oscar was the one who wisely set the rules for the donation of fish. He knew not everyone would get enough fish to eat, because he was not good at fishing. Many times Mr. Oscar only brought two three fish after the river, and more often did not bring a single fish.

The fish that have been roasted with the best concoction seasoning will be distributed to everyone present at the fishing festival.

Mr. Oscar who had just ignited his shell turned his head, when he saw with the corner of the eyes of four people who were not Kejora villagers came. He smiled and approached them.

"It's very exciting, Mr. Oscar," said Mr. Gumiro, shaking hands.

"That's how it is, Mr. Gumiro. I'm glad you and your family are here. Ah, Mr Gumiro has a daughter apparently?" asked Mr. Oscar after greeting Timo, Miss Tari, and Nesia who now lowered their heads to hear Mr. Oscar's question just now.

Mr. Gumiro smiled. "The ghost candidate, Mr. Oscar," he said, glancing at Timo's misbehavior.

Mr. Oscar laughed. "Thank God. You guys love each other so much that you're both misbehaving" he said.

"Sir Oscar!" cheers of an old man wearing a green suit. He walked side by side with a man his age whose glossy hair was combed all the way back.

"Sir Reynaldi Green, Mr Hann!" exclaim Mr. Oscar. They all shake hands.

"A lively and cool festival. What else he called in the river that many green scenery," said Mr. Reynaldi Hijau.

"Yes. I love the atmosphere on the river. Clean, cool, and beautiful," added Mr. Handoko. "Oh yes, Mr. Oscar. We did not come with our wives. Mr. Reynaldi's wife could not come because one of his family members was married. And coolly, the couple of the family members of Mr. Reynaldi's wife is a member of my wife's family." Then he laughed.

Mr. Oscar laughed. "By the way, Mr Reynaldi and Mr Hann are not in the race?"

"Ah, we forgot, Handoko," said Mr. Reynaldi. "Of course we're coming, Mr. Oscar. I'll take our fishing line to the car first."

After Mr. Reynaldi Green returned, Prapto came to greet them and chatted for a while. He then returned to the Bu Intan stall, where Pinaka was also there to help Bu Intan cook. Pinaka copied the bakwan into a plate and sat down next to Prapto.

"Enhance, yes, Mas," said Pinaka.

Prapto. "Yes, Pinaka. I didn't expect the fishing festival to be this lively."

Mom came to put a hot cup of coffee on the table. "This is the coffee, Nak Prapto," he said.

"Thank you, ma'am," said Prapto.

"Mas, the grandparents who sold toys in L300 cars were Kejora villagers?" pinaka asked, as he looked towards the forest door that was close to the river.

"Name Kuncoro, Pinaka. He's a traveling toy trader. I don't know where he lives. The village children of Kejora from the days of his son-in-law Mr. Oscar always look forward to his arrival in the village, which only comes twice a week.

After the village children buy the toys, Pak Kuncoro will tell the story of the swordsman to the children."

Pinaka. Then he said, "Mas, I have a request."