One night on my last holiday to Solo early this year
“Bu, was I ever a naughty kid?”
“Hm, I don’t think so. You’re just stubborn sometimes.”
“Have I ever stolen sugar cane from the field like mbak Yayuk or mas Sus?”
“Ohoho, no… You never do that. Anyway, had I known mbak Yayuk would do that, I would never allow her to go play.”
“I never do such “adventurous” things when I was a kid?”
“Haha… no. Never.”
“I guess I was a good kid after all, eh, Bu?”
“Yes, you were pretty much a good kid. But that was mostly because your elder brothers and sisters always keep an eye on you when Papy and Ibu were working.”
“Hm… I’m THAT good?”
“Well, not really. I remember your 2nd grade teacher told me you liked to read in the class. Children magazines and storybooks. Nothing related to the lessons.”
“Ah yeah. I remember that. Hehe…”
“Yeah… Ibu was a bit embarrassed. I mean, well, can u imagine, I was a schoolteacher, too. And my daughter read in the class during lesson…”
“Er.. sorry, Bu…”
“That’s okay. Kids do that. But the amazing thing is, you never failed any test. Maybe you read magazines in class because you were bored, maybe because you’ve known the lessons from what your elder brothers and sisters were always talking about at home.”
“Er… yeah, maybe. I guess so…”
“The teacher was amazed too. So she couldn’t punish you for anything. She could only give you warning not to read during lessons. Hm… you’re unique.”
“Ah, maybe that’s why mbak Yayuk and mas Heru always call me ‘Unik’! Hehe…”
“Well, maybe.”
“Bu, what did you like to do when you were carrying me?”
“Well, I liked to go outside in the middle of the night. Only to stand or seat on the bench in the front yard. Enjoying the night fresh air, looking at the trees and starry nights…”
“But what if it was cloudy and you couldn’t see the stars?”
“Well, I still did the same. I don’t know why, I loved doing that when I was pregnant with you. Unlike when I was pregnant with the other kids, somehow you made me loved to see the night sky.”
“I guess that explains why I always love looking at the night sky, stars, and sitting on the grass under the trees, and feeling the fresh night air caressing my skin…”
“Yes, true. But I never liked walking in the rain, mind you.”
“Haha! You got me there, Bu.’
“You are the weirdest of my children. Weird in a good way, thankfully.”
“Yeah… I guess Ibu and Papy raised me well. Thanks, Bu”
“You’d do the same if you’re a mother, mbak.”