SHE IS MY BRIDE

From earlier the lightning was like a bomb that exploded producing a flash of light in the sky. It had been raining heavily for an hour. People started to make their way through the rain from waiting too long. Zephaniah, a ten years old little boy, was peddling the umbrella he was holding. While other people could enjoy thick blankets and warm food, the boy was waiting in front of the department store hoping that someone would use his umbrella service.

If the weather was sunny, Zephaniah would sell tissues in the parking area. But if the heat was replaced by rain water, then the poor boy would take two umbrellas and switch professions to become an umbrella boy who offered his services to get people into the car.

"Little kid, come here!" A 40-years-old woman waved her hand to call Zephaniah who was cold because he wasn't wearing a jacket.

"Ma'am, do you want to use my umbrella service?" Zephaniah immediately approached the woman and ignored his cold little body.

"Yes. Please take me to the car."

Zephaniah opened a black umbrella until it expanded and was ready to use. He gave one to the woman then used the other umbrella to follow the woman from behind.

"How much, boy?" the woman asked after she sat in the back of her car.

"It's up to you, ma'am. I never set a price." The woman looked at Zephaniah's clothes. The fur on the little body stood up as a sign that he was cold.

"Come in, kid! I will take you home." The woman opened the car door for Zephaniah To enter.

"I still have to find the money, ma'am. Otherwise, I can't eat." Between wanting to be pitied or really hungry, but in fact Zephaniah needed money to survive.

"I'll pay for it later. Come on in! You can get sick."

"Just a moment, ma'am." Zephaniah ran to a hut and took a box containing a pile of dry tissues. Then he came back and got into the car. "Sorry to bother you, ma'am." Zephaniah saw water droplets coming from his shorts and car carpet got wet because of him. He also did not want to lean back because the back of his shirt was also exposed to water.

"No problem. Have you eaten?"

"Emmm…" Actually, Zephaniah's small stomach has asked to be filled. This morning he only ate two fried cassava.

"Let's stop at my regular Nasi Padang stall." The unnamed woman gave orders to her private driver.

It took fifteen minutes for them to arrive at the desired place. Jakarta was always jammed no matter the rain or the scorching heat. It had become its own uniqueness in the capital city.

"Sir, please prepare two nasi padang with rendang as a side dish! Don't forget the two hot sweet teas!"

"Okay ma'am."

After ordering two servings of food, the woman approached Zephaniah who was already sitting on a wooden chair. His eyes watched every customer who was talking while eating the typical West Sumatran food.

"What's your name, son?" The question awakened Zephaniah from daydream. What kind of kindness had he done before made him be able to eat well in a comfortable place like this?"

"My name is Zephaniah."

"Are you in school?"

"I went to school, ma'am. But after papa died I couldn't continue anymore."

"Papa?"

"Yes, ma'am. I live with Papa. During my life, my Papa was a scavenger and always worked hard so that I could go to school. But now papa is gone. I have not been able to earn money like papa. That's why I dropped out of school."

"Where's the rest of your family?"

"I don't have any family, ma'am. When I was little I only had my father."

"My name is Tabitha. You can call me Mama Tabita. Since when did you quit school, son?"

"A year ago, ma'am."

"Do you have a school report card?"

"I have it, ma'am."

"Okay, finish your food and show me your report card!"

Two plates of nasi padang and two plates of warm tea were served on the table. Zephaniah immediately grabbed his glass and took a sip of the sweet drink until it was finished. After washing his hands he ate the rendang rice voraciously. It felt like the coconut milk sauce was like heaven's food for him.

"Are you still hungry?" Mama Tabitha asked again.

"Very full, ma'am," Zephaniah replied after finishing two servings of food. Yes, after finishing the rendang rice he also ordered curry chicken rice. Where could he find a chance like this? Not necessarily tomorrow he could meet a good angel like Mama Tabita.

"Because you are full, now I will take you home."

"But my house is shabby and smells very bad, ma'am."

"You promised to show me your school report card. Now show us the way to your house so the driver can take us there."

In Zephaniah's direction they stopped at a slum. The car could not enter because to go to Zepha's house, they had to pass through a narrow alley. The smell of pitch black sewer water was so strong that Tabita almost threw up.

They arrived in a small box with thin plywood walls. Zephaniah wanted to invite them in, but he was at a loss as to where to sit. The little boy had to let his guardian angel wait outside. Not long after, Zepha came out with a thin report card in his hand.

"This is my report card, ma'am."

After the report card was in the hands of Mama Tabitha, she opened each sheet and looked at each lesson score listed there. Fantastic! All scores were near perfect. No one was lower than eight. Satisfied checking the book, Tabita looked at Zephaniah's face.

"Do you want to go back to school?"

"I want, ma'am but I have no money."

"Stay in the orphanage where I live. There, you will have many friends and you can continue your education. You will waste your intelligence if you spend your time in front of the mall. I will ask permission from the leader of this place so you can come with me. You want it, right?"

"Is it true that I can go to school again?" Zephaniah's eyes flashed happiness. That means he could fulfill his father's wish.

"Yes, son. Promise me that you will study hard so that you can get a scholarship and you continue your education to college."

"Zephaniah promised you."

"Don't call me ma'am. All the children in the orphanage always call me mama Tabita."

"Y-yes, Mama." Zephaniah was still awkward, but he had to get used to it.

***

A small body wrapped in a wrinkled t-shirt, shorts, and legs decorated with flip-flops was standing in front of an orphanage building called Abba Love. This was his new home. From today Zephaniah would stay there and start a new life. He wanted to be a successful businessman just like his father wanted him to be.

"Come on in, kid! Papa Charles is waiting inside," Tabita said when the woman got out from her car. She put her arm around the boy's shoulders and they entered a room. There was a grown man waiting who was none other than papa Charles, mama Tabita's husband.

"Mama Tabita told me about you, son. I'm Charles. From today onwards you can call me papa Charles. Let me introduce you to your friends.``