Why So Soon???

Short Story 2

“Why So Soon???”

T

hat is a fine afternoon, just nice to go for either indoor or outdoor sport practice. Andy and Lita are ready for having their exciting time. In the family room Aunt Ima is busy do all the cleaning.  With a feather duster on her left hand and a broom on her right hand she tries to complete the job as soon as possible. Afterwards, she has to cook dinner.

“Aunt, where’s my shoes?  I’m in a big hurry”, says Andy.
                “How about my dress? My friend is waiting out there” exclaims Lita.

In a weak voice Aunt Ima answers “Sure, but in a minute, please”. 

The boy and girl look impatient. They show a view of anger on their face as well.

“Can’t you work a bit faster?” Andy said.

Mrs. Jeny, their mother, hears and comes close to them. She can’t stand getting mad over their children’s behavior.

“Andy, Lita, you must be more polite to adult” she said.
“It’s Okay” Aunt Ima interrupted.

“Let them be so, children are children”, she added.
                  “But I have to practice football” Andy said.

“And I can’t miss the party” Lita exclaimed.

Mrs. Jeny tries to make them calm down by suggesting Andy to put on the other pair, and Lita to wear another dress. Even though she manages to control them, they still feel angry with Aunt Ima. And when they have gone Mrs. Jeny asks aunt Ima.

“Why do you look so pale recently?

Are you sick?” Aunt Ima doesn’t say a word. There looks like something she must keep a secret. Because of Mrs. Jeny doesn’t get any answer, she goes and thinks Aunt Ima must be fine.

Days change. Aunt Ima must endure the hard times. Almost ten years she has worked at the family. And she finds herself already being a member of it. Both Mr.Bram and Mrs. Jeny treat her very well. However, she feels guilty that she doesn’t tell them the truth. There must be something she has to reveal. Yes, that she has suffered from a serious disease. The one that is incurable. But, she won’t keep the family in a deep mourn of her.

Is it possible?

When’s the right time?

How is it done?

Or will she be retired?

Those are questions that occupy her mind all the time. There is, however, an even greater question.

Does the doctor say an honest thing?

That her life will last in no longer than two months?

Everything is complicated that she leads her life in desperate. One thing she can’t deny is that she has to entrust all this just merely in God. That is why her belief in God is growing be stronger now. She thinks her remain short life must be spent on charity by doing a lot of favor to others.

It is 2 p.m. now. Andy and Lita already back home from school. Having done the washing, they head for the dinning table. It seems there’s nothing served for lunch. Soon Andy calls his servant.

“What’s the food for lunch?” he said.               

“You’re a neglecting servant. Go out of this house. You’re fired” Lita remarked.

“Calm down kids. I’ll give you a surprise”. Aunt Ima answered calmly.

“What do you mean SURPRISE?” Andy asked curiously.

“We’re very hungry. We can’t wait any longer. Come on give us food!” Lita exclaimed.

Aunt Ima explains she intentionally does not cook the lunch because she would like to treat them. She knows well what they like to eat; chicken- meat balls with curry. The seller with his wheel barrow often passes by the house. And this proves to be true when they hear his call out to offer.

“That’s coming” Andy shouted.

“Five bowls, please!” Aunt Ima said to the meat balls seller.

“Why five?” Lita wondered.

“Today I want to share my happiness with anybody in this family. I’ll pay all” Aunt Ima answered.

Mr. Bram, Mrs. Jeny and the children feel something unusual with Aunt Ima’s conduct. But they can not deny her offer. They enjoy the meat balls. This is a very special moment they never had before. They still do not understand. Usually the family treats her, but this time Aunt Ima takes her turn to pay. More surprisingly, she takes something from her bedroom after the meals.

“See, I have another one. It’s for you Andy, and this is for you, Lina” she said.

“Wow, it’s wonderful. Thanks” Andy said to Aunt Ima.

 “It’s great. Thank you Aunt” Lita added.

Aunt Ima, the servant, gives a special gift to the children. A cute dress and a new leather ball. Andy likes foot ball, and Lita likes dressing up. Those are matching. The children feel badly spoilt. It is a really unforgettable moment in their lives.

Morning has come. Mr. Bram goes to the dinning table for breakfast, but he finds nothing on it. Then, he heads for the kitchen where Aunt Darmi works. But, she is not there.  He tries another room, in her bedroom. He calls her out. On his view, she is still soundly sleeping. But she does not say a word. In curiosity he comes closer and wakes her up. The woman is lying weak with her face getting so pale. Mr. Bram calls his wife. Andy and Lita hear and follow her. Now they are gathering in aunt Ima’s bedroom. They feel deeply pity to see her condition. The loved servant looks dying. In her soft voice the woman whispers.

“My time’s come” then she closes her eyes forever. In a big tear they cried

“Don’t leave us, Aunt Ima. We do love you!”

THE END

Just 4 u,,Grandma

Short Story 1

Just For You, Grandma

A

 boy and a girl sit alongside each other on their own chairs, together with the other children. They seem to enjoy drawing on A3 paper. In the middle of the blackboard and on the top-right side of every A3 paper there is a text written, "My Dream". The teacher is going around observe the work of students in the class.

 "Why do you look at me?" A girl says

"I don’t look at you. I look at your picture. Your picture is so beautiful. And so you are." A boy answered

"Yours too. Your picture is good looking. What exactly that is?" the girl asked while point at the picture.

"It’s a robot. I like robot and I really want to be an engineer. Later I will make robots to protect the earth. Beside the earth, you will too. Emy, what are you drawing?"

"I'm drawing a big house and a nice car. I want to be a famous singer one day so I could buy a house and own car. Later grandpa, grandma, you and I can play together. Your robot can join too." Emy said while smile.Listen

Read phonetically

 "Andre, Emy, silent please!" A teacher said to them

"Yes, Maam!" Andre and Emy answered together

 Andre and Emy smile to each other. Since that day they become friend.

Andre and Emy were graduated from kindergarten together and continued their study in the same Elementary and Junior High School. Andre's father is a successful businessman. His father has successfully developed a small store before Andre was born become a large company that has many branches in various areas. Emy lives with her grandma and grandpa since she was small. Her parents had died when she still 2 years old. Emy's grandfather is a building contractor. Emy often went to the building project for a visit or brought food for his grandfather.

Andre and Emy become a best friend until the Senior High School.

J J J

“I have a dream, a song to sing

To help me cope with everything

If you see the wonder of a fairy tale

You can take the future even if you fail

I believe in angels

Something good in everything I see

I believe in angels

When I know the time is right for me

I’ll cross the stream I have a dream…”

“Emy,,” 

Emy is singing a song when Rhiana called her in front of their class. Rhiana is one of Emy’s friends in the school.

“Hei, what’s up?”

“Have you seen a new announcement?” Rhiana said while point toward the announcement wall.

“Not yet. What is that?”

“Singing contest will be held next week in Senayan. You have to join the contest and show your talent.”

“Wow… It’s good news. But are you sure I can join the contest?”

“Of course Emy. You have melodious voice to sing. So, please try and show your talent.”

At the rest, Emy meets Andre who is busy reading a book and smile alone. Andre likes to read humorous story and when Emy has a problem or in sadness, Andre always comforts her by telling a funny story.

“Hi,, Andre! Why do you smile alone here?”

“I’m reading Nasreddin’s story. It’s so funny, you know.”

“What’s the story?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yeah. Why not”

“Ok. I will tell you this story.”

“One morning Nasreddin and his friends had a chat at a cafe. After a while they said that they were very hungry. Soon Nasreddin invited them to have breakfast at his house half an hour later. Then Nasreddin went home. At home Nasreddin told his wife that he had invited his friends to come and have breakfast there. His wife was very upset because they had nothing to cook.

“Why did you invite them to have breakfast here?” We don’t have anything to cook,” his wife explained.

“Sorry, I didn’t remember it,” said Nasreddin.

Then they saw from a distance that Nasreddin’s friends were coming. He went out through the back door and hid behind the house. A moment later the guests knocked at the door. His wife opened the door and said that Nasreddin was out.

“But I saw he was here just now”, said one of the guests.

Nasreddin’s wife was so confused that she could not answer. Nasreddin heard it. He felt a pity on her. Then he said through the back window, “You are right. But I can go out through the back door, though”.

Emy laughs after Andre finish tell the story. J

“So, finally Nasreddin was founded there. It’s so funny. Emy laughs again. By the way, I want to tell you something. There is singing contest will be held next week”.

“Wow,, it’s great. So, you want to join that contest?”

“I’m not really sure”.

“Come on, Emy. You can do that. I will be your true supporter.

Emy just smile. She figures out how to tell her grandparents that she wants to join a singing contest. When she reached home she goes straight to her grandma who is cooking his favorite meals in the kitchen. Grandma is pleasure to see her came home from school. She prepared lunch for Emy directly.

In the night, Emy stares up at the plain white ceiling in her bedroom. She’s dreaming and thinking how her grandparent’s response if they know she will join the contest. She remembers when her grandma told her that should not become a singer. Emy puzzled why her grandmother forbade it and did not give any reason. Emy wants to find out the reason but she does not dare to ask her grandma. But she really wants to join the singing contest. She has long waited for an opportunity to show her talent in singing. In a long thinking, finally she decides not tell her grandparents about that.

J J J

The sky is blue and there is a light breeze coming up from south. Emy is just two hours into her journey, and already having second thoughts. New things are always a little scary at first, and her decision to join the singing contest give her pause to consider what happen later. At the same time, Emy takes comfort in the familiar scenery around her. Over the course of her kid,  she’s ridden that trail many times, and knew it well, but as much as she tries to concentrate on the trip itself, towards Senayan which contest be held. When she arrives at the Senayan building, she looks at many people who are pacing around the building. By rather heavy steps, Emy enters into the building through the back door. She looks at some of the participants who are ready to perform with confidence. This view makes Emy feel growing nervous.

Listen

Read phonetically

There are around 30 contestants will be her rival. Emy gets fourteenth number to perform. Before her turn to perform, Andre came to give her support.

“Do your best, Emy!” Andre said and pat on her shoulder.

“Thank you so much but I’m nervous”

“I’m sure you can”.

Emy sing a song by Miley Cyrus, “Forgiveness and love”.

“Imagining you're far away
Searching for the words to say
I feel it when you fall apart
our lives are our greatest art
I dont wanna change you mind
Cuz i accept you for everything you are
and we'll be
Stay here with me now….”

Emy starts to sing. All of the audiences are silent to listen and concerns to look at her performance. After she finishes the song, the audiences give applause loudly. Nobody knows that a new star has been born at that time.

“Emy, you do your best”, Andre said alone among the crowded audiences.

At the end of the contest, the decision is announced and Emy be the runner up. She feels proud and so happy.

After the contest, Emy gets many offers to sing in some event. Andre and the other friends support her to accept the offering. Since that moment, she gets busy in her schedule.

J J J

Emy is quick lunch after back from school. She is invites to sing in a party. Grandma surprises to see her but ask no question. Emy goes to Rhiana’s house and prepares herself to go to the party. And it’s happen continuously till her grandma feels something strange with her. It makes grandma curious to know it.

In the party, Emy looks beautiful. She wears blue dress and high heel shoes. Her dress fitted like a glove with her skin. She knows many people there and sings a song.

Emy faces the way in a long time.

It’s a nice day at the outside. Grandma has just finished cook and has cleaned the living room. She sits on the chair while thinking something. Suddenly, with big curiosity, she steps her leg into Emy’s room. She looks the whole room which is not too large. The room looks nice with pink walls. Then, her eyes fixed to a desk. She opens the drawer of the desk. There are many pieces of paper and a photo album. She takes the photo album because it’s never seen before. She opens one by one of the pictures till look at the one of them which makes her surprise and opens it continuously until the end. That’s all about Emy’s perform when she sing. 

J J J

Emy goes to Hospital in a hurry. Grandpa calls her and tells that grandma shocked and brought in a Hospital. It’s 2 o’clock when she arrives in the Hospital and meets grandpa directly. She cries when she knows grandma was shock caused by know that she is becoming a singer now.

Grandma looks so weak. It makes Emy sadder. Emy tries to say to grandma but it’s no response. Doctor comes to check grandma again.

“She’s in critical condition now”. Doctor said to her.

After some minutes, doctor comes out and says that grandma can’t be help.

J J J

      “Your mom was a singer when she met your father”. Grandpa starts to tell Emy about her parents.

      A melodious voice was heard in a party. There was a beautiful lady sing a song. She was famous singer. Almost every day she went out of the town because she invited to sing. The singer was Emy’s mother. At the time Emy was around 6 months. She seldom got careness from her mom. It made grandparents feel so pity to her. At the night, when the party finished, her father came to take her mother. On the way there was a traffic accident happened and they passed on.

Since that day, grandma didn’t want if Emy was a singer like her mom someday. That’s the truth!

Emy just cries for some days. She so regret why that’s must be happen. There are many questions come in her mind.

      “Why do I have to be a singer?”

      “Why do I have to lose mom and dad?”

      “Why do I know the truth after I lose grandma?”

At the same time, Andre comes to look at her condition. He’s sad to see Emy in that condition. He tries to make Emy happy again.

“Emy, have you known the story about Nasreddin when he tried to save the moon?” Andre tries to make Emy talk something.

“No, I haven’t”, Emy answer.

“Do you want to listen to me? I will tell you the story. Oh, no! I don’t need ask you because you have to listen to me and I’m sure you will laugh after that”.

  One day Nasreddin was walking home alone. The evening was coming and it was getting darker. Nasreddin thought it was the time for a Moslem to take a pray. So he looked for some water to wash his face. Unfortunately, he only found a well near the street.

He looked into it to see whether there was any water. He was very surprised to see that the moon was there. Actually, it was the shadow of the moon. He thought that the moon was lost in the well. And therefore, he thought it was very dangerous because the night would be completely dark.

      “I have to save the moon”, he thought

      “If I don’t, it will stay there and the whole world will be dark this night”.

Then he looked for a pole but he could not find any. Instead, he only found a long rope. He held one end of the rope and dropped the other one into the well.

“Hold the rope firmly and I will pull you up” he said.

Unfortunately, the rope got entangled with a big stone in the bottom of the well. So, Nasreddin had to work hard to pull the rope up. He thought that he pulled the moon. He could hardly pull the rope with the stone. When the stone was about to com near the lip of the well, it fell down again to the bottom of the well. Because he lost his balance, Nasreddin fell backward with the rope in his hands. At that time he saw the moon was shining in the sky.

Nasreddin smiled happily and said, “Finally I can save you. Now the whole world will not be dark any longer”.

“Ha….ha….ha…., it’s so funny right?” Andre laughs after finish the story.

“Yeah…..!” short answer from Emy with little bit smile. J

“However, Nasreddin or whoever can’t save grandma.

And she never comes here anymore.

She can’t listen and accompany me at all.

It’s too late for me to aware.

Grandma, I know you will calm there although I can’t see you.

Thank you so much grandma. I will not be a singer again, just for you!

THE END