P I T Y

THE LITTLE GIRL bowed sluggishly walk home to her graduation day, SD Nusantara 2. Her scout clothes were wet with sweat on her back. She didn't have time to feel the heat of the day. Alone along the deserted streets on the banks of the river hope the journey is still far so that she does not soon meet her mother.

Her mind was still racing about what happened at the school today. Between fears, sadness does not want to see her mother angry or disappointed. The incident was very heavy for her. How should I tell mom? She thought.

Arriving at home she usually says hello, meets her mother in the kitchen, kisses her hand then goes to the dining table, opens the serving hood, peeks at the lunch menu, then enters the changing room. But that day the girl entered quietly without greeting, directly entered the room.

"Tired, nduk?" The voice of the mother greeting her was like lightning in broad daylight so startled her. She didn't see her mother in the living room.

The girl didn't answer.

"How's the report? Ugly right? Or didin't make a higher grade?" The mom teased her.

The girl shook her head.

"Why sad?" Ask her mother attentively.

Shut up. Her mouth seemed to be locked so hard to open it.

But in the end, with a heart full of doubt, fear, and anxiety, she dared to tell the truth,

"The bike lost, bu."

Now the mother falls silent. Although her voice was low, the news she just heard from her daughter was quite surprising. The bicycle she bought from saving a little bit for a gift for her daughter's grade promotion when she was in sixth grade. Now on graduation day, the bike is gone. Just a year long

"Where's? At school? Have you reported to the teacher?"

The girl just nodded.

"Tomorrow, Ibu go to school asking what happened, okay." Her mother said trying to be wise.

The girl gave up. But her heart was a little relieved. What happened was not as she imagined. Turns out her mother's reaction wasn't as scary as she thought. The heavy weight had been reduced in her chest cavity.

***

The case of the loss of a bicycle has become a national issue at the State Elementary School. The incident was immediately handled by the principal of the school. In addition to the girl, there is a gardener, the cafeteria lady, and several of her friends who have been questioned directly about the chronology of the loss of the bicycle.

The school is still hoping that someone might borrow it and return it quietly. However, after waiting 2x24 hours for the existence of the bicycle there was no progress, finally, the bicycle was truly declared lost.

The current parking lot is quite risky. It is located behind the school, there is no barrier directly adjacent to the road. Across the road, there is a cemetery with very shady frangipani trees where the drivers or those who pick them up are waiting for the children to come home. The very shady environment is very welcoming and friendly.

With the loss of the bicycle, many parties feel they have to be vigilant. And to avoid the incident from happening again, the school immediately followed up by making a safe bicycle parking area for students and teachers. Circulars were also distributed to parents asking for donations. The bicycle parking lot marked the last time the girl left the school, and graduated from the state elementary school, 'SD Nusantara 2'.

***

However,

There is a secret that has not been revealed until now that the girl has kept tightly.

The afternoon before the loss, two of her friends borrowed the bicycle to buy scout equipment at a shop that is quite far from the school area, until it was time to go home the two friends never returned the keys.

The girl suspected that the loss of the bicycle was not at the school, but when it was borrowed by her two friends. The little girl couldn't bear to tell everything she knew to her homeroom teacher so that her two friends escaped interrogation.

The reason is PITY.

It had been many years since that incident, but now, every time I return to my hometown and pass that school, the incident is still vivid in my memory.

Yes, it's me, that little girl.

***

Just reminiscing about my childhood, suddenly a little girl my childhood age, got into the bus with a mike in her tiny hand, followed by her mother who was holding a baby and karaoke equipment slung over her shoulder.

Ummii...

Ummii...

Ummiii...

The little girl began to sing the song of Sulis with a lilting voice. Her mother stood behind her while adjusting the volume of the karaoke equipment she was carrying.

I tried to ignore it, but couldn't. I got off at the stop before they finished the song. There's only BK-Burger King in my bag for Bright. Without a second thought, the package immediately changed hands to the girl as I passed her, and stepped outside.

Forget what Bright will eat later...

***

I remember a game about boats and three sticks.

I was sitting in the boat during a big flood, and I only had three sticks illustrating a chance to save people by handing them over to get in my boat. On my boat trip, I met one by one people who came and go, they begged for mercy, and convinced me to give the stick to him and allowing get into my boat and save them. In an instant, my stick ran out for the first three people I met.

A moment later, came my buddy, my parents, and my brother show up asking for a stick... and I couldn't do anything. My stick runs out. I couldn't help them. I burst into tears watching the people I love drown in the big flood...

The only thing I'm grateful for is, that it's just a game

But in reality

That's how I've been operating my life.

***