Golden Dog Fight

Mr. Kreo is nicknamed by the children as a ghost storyteller because he likes to tell scary stories. But Mr. Kreo is smart, in hope the children are not afraid to hear the story, he tell the story by peppered with funny things. One day Mr. Kreo talked about dogs. It is said that dogs can see ghosts. "When a dog sees a ghost it will bark or howl. Have you ever seen a dog barking when no one was there? Well, at that time the dog was looking at the gendruwo." Gendruwo is one name of ghosts in Indonesian.

"Maybe the dog was playing fun," said Nini.

"Or the dog is out of work," added Piping. Cipo elbowed the two of them, so as not to disrupt Mr. Kreo from telling the story. It is fun when he tells the story, so they often look forward to seeing the storyteller have free time. Mr. Kreo works as a mason. But, is the story true? Fierce dogs do like to be kept by miserly people so that no beggars come to their house for donations.

"There's also people who is always barked by dogs wherever he go," said Mr. Kreo. "Why is that person always being barked by the dog? Instead, the dogs will follow the person until the person actually leaves the village where the dogs are. The person is a searcher dog or dog dealer, who always catches dogs or buys dogs. Indeed, in some places there are sellers of dog satay, it said for medicine or herbal medicine. Even if the person has stopped catching a dog he will still be barked."

"Why so?" asked Jalu.

"Dogs are grudges, apparently," said Mr. Kreo. The children laugh. "Why, that's true. A dog that doesn't know the man as a dog dealer will bark at him, even when he has quit as the dog trade for twenty years. Maybe the smell of sweat is distinctive, so dogs are familiar with it. That is the advantage that God has given to dogs. The smell of dogs is very good."

"Maybe because his sweat smells like dogs, he is considered a dog and is challenged to fight," said Ndul-ndul.

"Then Cipo and Jalu are also considered dogs, because they were barked by a dog yesterday!" exclaimed Piping. Cipo once witnessed a dog dealer, after paying the price of the dog he caught the dog himself, and it was not a difficult job for him. The merchant lures the dogs he bought. The bait is fixed in the middle of the rope noose that is laid on the ground. Dogs are stupid, so they eat the bait. As soon as the bait was eaten, the rope snare was pulled so that the dog's neck was choked and did not move. Then, the dog is put into a burlap sack with the end tied. Of course the dog continued to struggle. Pity.

Yesterday, Cipo and Jalu were chased by dogs. They don't know whose dog, suddenly the dog was already on the road they were on. They had to save themselves by sacrificing the cake they just bitten. Luckily, the dog turned attention to the cake, so that Cipo and Jalu could escape. Wow, it feels like being chased by a tiger. Jalu said, "Aren't dogs unclean to eat?"

"Yes, for Muslims. But for non-Muslims it might not be a problem," answered Pak Kreo. "But dogs are useful. In ancient times dogs were used for hunting. Now, there are bloodhounds to help the police. There is even a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad which states that it will go to heaven if someone is willing to give water to a thirsty dog."

The dog's nostrils are always wet as a very good sense of smell. A dog's smell seemed unmatched. Because of their smell, dogs are used by the police to help with certain tasks. Hence the name police dog, and never before have there been a police cat or a police tortoise. Yes, because only dogs can be used to track the whereabouts of criminals or other objects such as drugs. Even so, police dogs should be trained. There are schools for bloodhounds, of course not given math or reading lessons. When did dogs kept by humans? There's no definite records, but it's likely a long time ago. It could be since humans raise livestock. Dogs being raised can help guard livestock. While dogs and cats, anywhere in the world, are always enemies. Although dogs and cats sometimes get along well, it rarely happens.

One day there was a stray dog ​​in their village, the children chased it until the dog scampered away, terrified. The dog ran into Uncle Odar's garden. Knowing that the children were about to hurt the dog, Uncle Odar forbade it. "Hey, don't hurt! Pity!" By Uncle Odar the dog was caught. "Do any of you know who owns it?" The children shook their heads.

"We don't know," replied Ndul-ndul. "What will you do with that dog?"

"I will take care of it until the owner comes. If not uncle brackets later you will chase and hit with stones. Don't be like that, dogs are also God's creatures, like us."

"Will uncle brackets where?" asked Jalu.

"In the chicken coop. Let me keep the dog there for a while," said Uncle Odar. Surprisingly, the dog didn't really like eating rice. Uncle Odar was confused. However, when the children were throwing the bread, it grabbed it. Wow, the dog was so arrogant, just loves bread. Uncle Odar shook his head. One day Cipo read a newspaper and saw an ad about a missing dog. Cipo paid close attention to the dog's photo. It looked a lot like the one at Uncle Odar's house.

Cipo rushed to Uncle Odar's house. "Uncle, it turns out that the dog has an owner. Maybe the dog is belong to him?" said Cipo. Uncle Odar studied the newspaper that Cipo brought. Comparing it with the dog he keeps. "Right, it looks like this dog is what he's looking for. There's a phone number. Try calling the phone number, say that his dog is here." Cipo saw the telephone number. "But, it's the Jakarta number. Why did the dog get here. Could it be walking down the tracks, following the train?"

"Ah, you like nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Odar. Cipo called the telephone number. There was an answer, the person gave the cellphone number, Cipo wrote it down. "We keep texting, we will go there to pick it up. My name is Rick, who are you?"

"Uncle Odar," replied Cipo, "please write down our address." Cipo gave their complete village address. "Yogyakarta?"

"Yes, it is true."

"Why did our dog get there?" the man was surprised. "I thought you lived in Jakarta."

"Then it's not your dog. Or it could just fall from an airplane," said Cipo, who heard a laugh.

"Tell you what, if you can help me, please the dog be photographed. Then you send the photos by post or the internet to our address. Can you use the internet?"

"Martians can surf the internet too. But it's expensive, we don't have money, "said Cipo.

"We'll replace it, even if it's not our dog. Please take good care, we will be there soon."

"Fine," replied Cipo.

"How?" asked Uncle Odar.

"We have to take a picture of this dog, then send the picture via the internet," replied Cipo.

"Oh, how come it makes a headache," exclaimed Uncle Odar. "You have a camera, not just for the rookies. Come on, hurry up and take a portrait of the dog!" said Uncle Odar. "Take your camera, boss!"

Cipo ran home to take the camera. "What's the matter, in a hurry?" asked his father. "Photographing dogs, Dad."

"Dog?"

"Yes." Cipo told about the dog. His father would even help. "Let me take the picture with my camera. Let it be sent quickly." The father and son went together to Uncle Odar's house. Cipo's father took a picture of the dog from the front, top, and side. Finally, with the help of Cipo father's computer, which was already online, they did not need to go to the internet cafe, the dog's photo has been sent to the address. Not long after, Rick contacted Cipo and stated that the dog really belonged to him. Rick will come to their village, asap.

But before Rick came, someone in a red jeep came to their village. That person was accompanied by someone, Mr. Mul, a resident of the next village. Mr. Mul overhears a radio broadcast about someone looking for his lost dog. It seems that Mr. Mul knows that Uncle Odar had caught a dog. Mr. Mul then contacted the person. "My name is Danto, the owner of the dog," said the man and looked arrogant. The man shows the cathedral. Uncle Odar, Cipo, and the others were confused. "The dog was released when our child was off guard, forgot to close the cage door. We searched here and there. Until finally we got word from Mr. Mul that a dog had been found in this village. It's been half a month my dog ​​has disappeared."

The man who identified himself as Danto then approached the chicken coop containing the dogs. But once it got closer, the dog just didn't want to get close Instead, move away to the corner of the cage. Of course, it made Uncle Odar, Cipo, Jalu, as well as the people in the place hesitate. Dogs will not show such attitudes to their owners, even if they have been separated for a long time. People who claim to be named Danto knew that he was not believed to be the owner. "I recently bought this dog," said Danto.

"What's the dog's name?" asked Cipo. The person was a little confused. "Bengok! It's name is Bengok, but maybe it doesn't really know the name yet."

"You know, you should have known the dog's name when you bought it. The dog's owner will tell it's name,"said Uncle Odar.

"That was my fault, I didn't have time to ask its name," said Danto. "Can I take it now. I gave the money to replace maintaining it."

Uncle Odar refused. "I am not arrogant, sir. But the dog will also be taken by the person who claims to be the owner. That person will come here. He's from Jakarta." Danto looked at them.

"Then, you indirectly call me a fraud?" said Danto angrily.

Uncle Odar was confused to answer it. But a few moments his voice came out, "It's not like that, we were confused because there were two people who claimed to be the owners of the dog. Of course not both owners of the dog. "

"I don't accept it. That's my dog! " said Danto. "May or not, I will bring the dog home!" threat.

"Don't be like that, sir!" said Uncle Odar. But he could not do it arbitrarily, because now there were so many people in that place.

"I'll report it to the police!" threatened Danto. Then go with the car. "Sorry, Kang Odar. I don't mean to make it difficult for you," said Mr. Mul.

"Well, it's not Mr. Mul who makes me difficult," said Uncle Odar. Mr. Mul excused himself to return to his village.

"This is bad, that person will report to the police!" Uncle Odar hurriedly wanted to stop him.

But Mr. Jarot blocked his steps. "Just let him report to the police. The police will not be reckless to give the dog to an unauthorized person. " Uncle Odar nodded.

"Uncle, don't be confused. Uncle didn't steal the dog. It was Uncle Odar who helped the dog, "said Jalu.

"Yes, let Cipo represent Uncle when dealing with the police," said Ndul-Ndul.

Cipo becomes sullen. "Is the police bad so make Uncle Odar afraid? Do not worry. Isn't Uncle not even guilty?" The next day, after school, Cipo went to the police station. Meet Briptu Sanusi. "Sir, wether yesterday there was someone named Danto who reported that he loss his dog and the dog found in my village?"

"About the losisng dog? No, "said Briptu Sanusi. "It's better if you ask Briptu Andi. Who knows when I leave someone came here and report it." When Cipo asked Briptu Andi about it, it was also not there. Likely, that the mas was just confessing.

Two days later two men from Jakarta arrived. "My name is Rick, we already know each other even by phone." Rick turns out to be an Indo, of Italian descent. He came with his uncle, Mr. Pacini who is originally from Italy. "Where's Uncle Odar?"

"But, the voice is still a child on the phone?"

"It is not my voice, but Cipo's voice. This is the boy," said Uncle Odar, pointing at Cipo, who was appointed laughing.

"Can we see the dog?" asked Rick.

"Go ahead, the dog is in the kennel," said Uncle Odar. Rick then briefly talked with Mr. Pacini. Cipo don't know what they were talking about. Not in English, maybe in Italian. They rushed to the kennel where the dog was. What a joke, Mr. Pacini was very happy when he saw the dog. "Pizazo!" he shouted. Maybe the dog's name is Pizazo. The dog barked and circled around. As soon as Mr. Pacini extended his hand, the dog greeted him by rubbing its head against the hand. Wow, this must be the real owner.

Mr. Pacini talked to Rick, then Rick said to Uncle Odar. "Sorry, can the cage be opened?" Uncle Odar then unlocked the lock on the cage. Maybe Rick and Mr. Pacini laughed inwardly, when his dog was locked up in a chicken coop.

"I only can lock him up here. Please understand."

"Oh, that's fine," said Rick with a laugh. "The important thing is the dog is safe." Once out of the cage, the dog immediately jumped at Mr. Pacini, who was deliberately squatting and waiting for it. Mr. Pacini held the dog happily.

But that joy had to be undone, because a man who identified himself as Danto came. Now with several other people who are grim, maybe market thugs. When he saw the dog in Mr. Pacini's arms, Danto shouted, "Hey, what do you want with my dog?" Rick and Pak Pacini looked at each other, not knowing what the new man meant.

"Sorry, Mr. Danto also claims to be the owner of this dog," said Uncle Odar.

"I am the owner. I buy this dog!"

"Then you are a catcher of stolen dog!" exclaimed Rick.

"It's good, accusing people carelessly!" exclaimed Danto. The men were about to gang up on Rick. But the intention was abandoned, because the place was already full of people who wanted to know what had happened.

"We'll call the police," suggested Pak Jio. Danto did not agree with the proposal, but there was no other way. Briptu Sanusi and Britu Anwar soon arrived.

"What is wrong?"

"Fighting for a dog," replied Cipo.

"How about the problem? Tell us, "said Briptu Anwar. Uncle Odar then told him about the dog which he found. After Uncle Odar finished telling the story, Briptu Anwar said, "Is Mr. Danto have the dog documents?"

"Must dogs have a birthmarks?" Danto replied curtly.

"For certain dogs the answer is yes. And this dog I see is not a dog at random. Are you have the documents, Mr. Rick?"

"There is. But we didn't bring it, "replied Rick.

"He's lying!" exclaimed Danto's friend.

"Don't argue. It's easy to determine who the real owner of this dog, "said Briptu Anwar. "Can I borrow the dog?" Rick translated the words to Mr. Pacini, who next handed the dog over. "Let's go to the field!" exclaimed Brigadier Anwar. Everyone went to the field, but not the field but the rice field, which happened to be not being planted because of the prolonged dry season. "Mr. Danto standing here and Mr. Pacini there!" said Briptu Anwar. The distance between Danto and Mr. Pacini is about twenty meters. Brigadier Anwar took the dog away. About a hundred meters stop and ready to release the dog. "I will release this dog, who it will come to must be the owner!" said Briptu Anwar

"Bengok! Bengok, come here!" shouted Danto when the dog was released. Mr. Pacini is calm. But the dog ran fast towards Mr. Pacini. "The dog is your," said Briptu Sanusi to Danto.

"But I have bought it," said Danto softly. Rick approaches Danto.

"Tell me, how much you buy the dog. We'll change your money."

"No, you don't have to. I've been tricked by the dog seller. I bought it at the Jatinegara animal market, Jakarta. While in the capital, I saw angora rabbits there. At that time, a man approached me and threatened me to buy the dog, "said Danto. "How if you show me the specialty of the dog? Let me not be curious." Rick talks to Mr. Pacini. Mr. Pacini nodded, then handed the dog to Rick. Mr. Pacini went to a place, then he took a wooden branch. Stabbed the ground, about 50 cm deep, then put something in it. The land was then backfilled again until the soil was compacted. Mr. Pacini gave a sign with his hand to Rick who immediately let the dog go. The dog ran over to Mr. Pacini and then sniffed the land that was hoarded earlier. The dog digs the ground with its front paws.

"Pizazo! Pizazo! " exclaimed Mr. Pacini. The dog stopped the digging action. Mr. Pacini continued digging the ground and took something, which he planted earlier. "How, are you satisfied enough?" Rick asked to Danto.

"I apologize for all this incident," said Danto. He greeted Rick, Mr. Pacini and, Uncle Odar.

"Forget all that," said Rick. Cipo looks at Briptu Anwar. Silently, Cipo gave his thumbs up, Briptu Anwar laughed. Cipo then approached Rick.

"What did Mr. Pacini bury in the ground earlier, flesh?" Cipo asked Rick.

"O, you don't know how great it is? Pizazo is a hunting dog, "said Rick.

"Hunting wild boar, you mean?" Asked Ndul-ndul.

"No, hunting mushroom," said Rick.

"Mushroom?" Cipo asked half in disbelief. "Straw mushroom?"

Rick laughed. "No, not just any mushrooms. But golden mushrooms. So the Pizazo is a very expensive dog. Not because of race, but because Pizazo is trained to hunt mushrooms that are underground."

The Italians not careless with "truffles" or mushrooms that grow underground. This type of mushroom business is very serious. This mushroom is highly sought after because it costs the same as gold, especially for food lovers and restaurants who love the taste of this mushroom. Yes, a class of swallow's nest. It is for that reason that mushroom hunters keep the location where the fungus is found very secret. That fear is understandable. Mushrooms produce millions of spores, when these mushrooms are found, they will reappear in the following years. And that means a harvest of money for its discoverers.

Mushrooms vary in size, from one-third of an ounce to three and a half ounces. About 1.1 kilograms of these mushrooms in Europe will cost 750 US dollars! Once it reaches America the price will be many times over. The problem is that it is difficult to get this fungus, because it only grows below the soil surface. It usually lives on the roots of a type of oak tree which is nicknamed the "truffle oak". Many have tried to cultivate it but nothing has worked well, so it is still very dependent on nature. Mushroom hunters accompanied by trained dogs or pigs. Dogs and pigs to sniff out the presence of mushrooms that are about 25 cm below the ground.

"Wow, Uncle Odar actually got very rich then," exclaimed Jalu.

"The fungus doesn't grow anywhere, it only grows in Italy. That is not all territory of Italy nor does it grow on all the roots of the oak tree. Only the lucky ones can get it, "explained Rick. "It's not surprising that trained dogs to hunt mushrooms are the target of kidnappers, because they are very expensive."

"So how much money Mr. Danto to buy the Pizazo?" murmured Cipo.

Rick answered. "It seems that the thief didn't know that Pizazo was a golden dog, so he sold him only at market price. Especially when viewed from the shape, Pizazo is not at all attractive when participating in a dog contest." Rick and Mr. Pacini would go back to Jakarta. But before that they gave money to Uncle Odar, but he refused. "Hasn't Mr. Odar been bothered by Pizazo, has also fed it," said Rick.

"Yes, but I only gave leftovers," replied Uncle Odar shyly. Even though he was forced to accept the money, Uncle Odar refused. "I'm happy to be able to save Pizazo.

Especially now that it has returned to its original owner " Seeing the persistence of Uncle Odar, Mr. Pacini finally took off his watch and handed it over to Uncle Odar while saying something. Rick translated it: "Take it, this is a memento. I will not forget this kindness." Mr. Pacini then pulled Uncle Odar's hand and put on the watch, slightly oversized. The people laughed at what happened. Rick and Mr. Pacini excused themselves. Before they left, Uncle Odar stroked Pizazo's back. The dog barked. Maybe say thank you, but it could be saying goodbye.

"Wow, Uncle Odar got a good watch!" tease the kids.

"It must be expensive," said Cipo.

"Hus, a gift can't be sold," said Grandma Imeh.

It turns out that the story of the golden dog doesn't stop there. In the afternoon someone came to Uncle Odar's house, Mr. Onggo, the leader of the orphanage foundation in the sub-district city. "Thank you for Mr. Odar's assistance to the orphans," said Mr. Onggo.

"What kind of help? I can't help the orphanage yet,"said Uncle Odar in surprise.

"There were two foreigners who came to the foundation and handed over aid, on behalf of Mr. Odar."

"Masha Allah! It's Rick and Mr. Pacini. The golden dog's owner," Uncle Odar said. Uncle Odar was indeed a man with a heart of gold, so God had blessed him. Cipo wrote about the incident and sent it to the editor of Kriminol magazine. Unfortunately, after the magazine was published, the news about fighting over the dog was only published a little. Cipo shook his head, It's as a sign that Mr. Soku's will collect his other writings. (*)