The Apple Girl and The Angel

In a shiny morning, The Owl is sleepily perching on a branch of her cherry tree. She is tired of wandering all night to magical places out of the Orchard.

She is in a deep nap when a little girl’s sobbing wakes her up. She opens one of her sleepy eyes and she sees a tiny young gnome girl, her height is not higher than a wide spread hand of an old man. She is crying sadly and rubbing her eyes. She is Lila, a fat short girl with a beautiful face and a pair of shiny green eyes.

But the face is now in a mess and those eyes are now red, and circled with ugly black eye bags.

“What happened to you, Sweetie Pie?” The Owl asks. Though she is terribly sleepy, she has to keep her reputation high among the young gnomes.

Lila is not surprised that she has wakened the Old Kind-hearted Owl up. It’s her intention to tell her burden to The Wise Owl.

“Dodo...hiks...and Dido... hiks... they are cruel. The said that I... I am porky... huhuhuhuuu..”

The Wisest of All Owl has faced many young girls like this before. “Hush now, hush now,” she says. “It is okay. You are not alone. In fact, there are many girls like you. They stop eating wild strawberry cake and cream pudding, but still they are fat... or they think they’re fat.

And she continues, “Once there was a girl who is really like you.”

“Really?” said Lila. “What happened to her?”

“Oh, she’s dead.” The Owl says immediately.

“What?”

“So here is the story...”

***

Adriana is her name. She is fat and beautiful like an apple. But she does not know it. A friend of hers, Dio, is an evil young boy whose mouth only can produce bad words. No good things can be said from his wicked mouth. Therefore, Dio is so fond of teasing Adriana and say bad things about her. Dio only can see her fat body. He cannot see that Adriana is so lovely in her plump posture.

Therefore, Adriana cannot take it anymore. She kills herself by drinking a bowl of yew poison.

Her hope is that she can tell God what happen so that He will punish Dio the most unbearable suffering.

Therefore, the first thing Adriana says to the first angel she meets is “Where is God? I need to talk to Him.”

The Angel says: “There are thousands of people, queuing to talk to God. It is easier to talk to me, who knows I can help you with my limited divinity.”

So Adriana tells the Angel her story of unhappiness. Unpredictably, the Angel laughs.

“Stupid little girl. Why are you sweet but full of hatred? Why do you choose to be lovely but thorny like roses, if you can be true and open yourself like Sunflowers? Anyway, God does not work on hatred. He is peaceful and full of love. But, believe me, He will work for justice.”

And she takes Adriana to a long queue of people who will be sorted to heaven or hell.

In her turn, Adriana enters the room and meets The Judge. The Judge examines her closely from top to toe. A scale in front of Him is moving up and down uncontrollably. And all of the sudden Adriana falls in a vortex that consists of the colors of times and places.

In her ears The Angel whispers, “See, Good is Kind!”

“Where am I? Heaven or Hell?” asks Adriana.

“Well... you can say, both.” The Angel says. “You are human, you are smart, you have reason. You can choose for yourself whether you want to live in Heaven or in Hell. You can choose your own hereafter. Let me tell you a secret: life is the hereafter. God is Kind.” And with that the Angel goes by.

Adriana thinks about the Angel’s words for a loooong time in her new place. The place is warm and comfortable, but it is so dark. Adriana has not understood the Angel’s words yet when it is the time for her to slide again in a vortex of colors. But this trip is a bit wet.

Afterwards, she cries so loud.

Oh! She is reborn!

In the process Adriana changes. She has forgotten her past life and becomes a new person. In fact, she is a boy now and her name is Dio. Dio has forgotten anything about Adriana. He even has forgotten the Angel. But one thing he remember, strangely, that he can choose his own Heaven.

He makes his life as happy as can be. Even when his Daddy is bankrupt, and they have to move to a slummy ugly house, and then his parents divorce, Dio always remembers to be cheerful. He always seeks for happiness from every of his sufferings. He always remembers to be happy and see everything from many angles.

And finally, in a point of his life, Dio meets a lovely chubby girl named Adriana. Dio is so in love with the girl. He does everything for the girl’s happiness, also with words of spirit and joy. Their happiness makes other people happy, so that the world turns to be a better place.

***

“So that’s why, Lila, never be down-hearted. Always be cheerful and choose Heaven for yourself.” Says the Owl.

Lila’s tears have dried. She is now seated on the grass and listening to the story while eating a ripe cherry that has dropped to the ground.

“So... so... actually Dodo and Dido likes me?” she says naively.

The Owl is gone a chapfallen “tsk tsk”.

“Could be yes or no,” she says, “perhaps they just have a real bad day at home.”

“But, Baby, can’t you see? Everyone is One. We are all sharing the same soul. When it comes the time, you will be me and I will be you, do you understand? It is difficult to see everybody else as yourself, but that is the reality. Treat people like how you like to be treated, because they are actually you. And make sure that you and they are in heaven, understand? Now go and do your role of this lifetime with the best you can.”

Lila gets up and feels happier. She strolls back to under the yew tree, and ready to share Heaven.

The Owl goes back on her deep nap.

Yogyakarta, June 28, 2012

 Gisela Swaragita

Gadis Apel dan Malaikat

Pada suatu pagi yang cerah si Burung Hantu sedang terkantuk-kantuk di dahan pohon cerinya. Ia lelah setelah semalaman berpetualang ke negeri-negeri ajaib di seberang Kebun Buah.

Sedang nyenak-nyenyaknya tidur siang, tiba-tiba ia dikejutkan suara isak tangis tertahan. Dibukanya satu matanya yang mengantuk dan dilihatnya seorang anak kurcaci mungil, tak ada sejengkal tinginya, sedang menangis sedih sambil mengucek-kucek matanya. Ternyata si Lila, gadis gemuk pendek, tetapi berwajah cantik dan bermata hijau berkilat-kilat. Namun sekarang wajah itu merat-merot tak karuan dan matanya merah berkantung.

"Ada apa anak manis?"tanya si Burung Hantu. Walau mengantuk ia berusaha menjaga reputasinya di antara kurcaci-kurcaci muda.

Lila tidak tampak terkejut ia telah membangunkan si Burung Hantu yang baik. Memang tujuannya lah untuk menceritakan bebannya kepada Sang Bijaksana Burung Hantu.

"Dodo...hiks...dan Dido...hiks...mereka jahat.. mereka bilang aku...aku gembrot! Hua...hua..."

Yang Bijaksana Burung Hantu sudah sering menghadapi masalah serupa. "Sudah, sudah,"katanya. "Tidak masalah. Kamu tidak sendirian. Malah, ada banyak sekali gadis sepertimu. Mereka sudah berhenti makan kue arbei liat dan puding krim, tapi tetap saja mereka gemuk... atau merasa gemuk."

Lalu lanjutnya, "Dulu ada seorang gadis cilik di Kota yang sangat mirip denganmu."

"Oh ya?"tanya Lila. "Apa yang terjadi padanya?"

"Oh dia mati,"kata si Burung Hantu langsung.

"Hah?"

"Begini ceritanya..."

***

Adriana adalah nama gadis itu. Ia gemuk dan cantik seperti apel, tapi ia tidak tahu. Seorang temannya, Dio, adalah anak laki-laki jahat yang hanya bisa berkata-kata jelek. Tak ada hal bagus yang keluar dari mulutnya.
 Maka Dio senang sekali menjelek-jelekkan Andriana. Dio hanya mampu melihat gemuknya Adriana. Tak mampu ia melihat bahwa Adriana cantik dalam gemuknya.

Maka Adriana pun tak tahan. Ia pun bunuh diri dengan minum racun cemara.

Harapannya, Ia bisa mengadu pada Tuhan dan meminta-Nya menghukum Dio seberat-beratnya.

Maka hal pertama yang ia katakan pada malaikat pertama yang ua temui adalah, "Di manakah Tuhan? Aku ingin berbicara pada-Nya."

Malaikat itu menjawab: "Ada ribuan orang mengantri untuk berbicara pada Tuhan. Lebih mudah bicara padaku, siapa tahu aku bisa membantu dengan keterbatasan ilahi-Ku."

Maka diceritakannyalah masalahnya pada si Malaikat. Di luar perkiraannya, si Malaikat tertawa.

"Anak bodoh. Mengapa Engkau manis tetapi penuh kebencian? Mengapa memilih cantik tapi berduri seperti mawar jika bisa tulus dan membuka diri seperti bunga matahari? Lagipula, Tuhan tidak bekerja dalam kebencian. Ia damai dan penuh kasih, tapi percayalah Ia akan menegakkan keadilan.

Lalu dituntunnya Adriana ke suatu antrian panjang di mana orang-orang disortir untuk menuju surga atau neraka.

Pada gilirannya, Adriana masuk dan bertemu Sang Hakim. Sang Hakim mendelik, memandang Adriana dari atas ke bawah. Neraca di hadapannya naik turun tidak karuan. Lalu tiba-tiba Adriana jatuh ke suatu pusaran yang terdiri dari warna-warna ruang dan waktu.

Di telinganya si Malaikat berbisik, "Tuh kan, Tuhan baik!"

"Di mana aku? Surga atau Neraka?"tanya Adriana penasaran.

"Yah bisa dikatakan keduanya."kata si Malaikat. "Kau kan manusia, kau pintar, punya akal. Kau boleh memilih sendiri mau hidup di Surga atau di Neraka. Pilih sendiri akhiratmu. Kubocorkan padamu ya, hidup adalah akhirat. Tuhan itu baik."lalu si Malaikat berlalu.

Adriana merenungkan kata-kata itu lamaaaaa sekali, di tempatnya yang baru. Tempat itu hangat dan nyaman, tetapi gelap. Adriana belum mengerti ucapan si Malaikat ketika tiba saatnya untuk meluncur lagi di suatu pusaran warna-warna. Tapi perjalanan kali ini agak basah.

Setelah itu ia menangis keras-keras.

Ooh! Rupanya ia telah dilahirkan kembali!

Dalam prosesnya Adriana berubah, Ia melupakan hidupnya yang lama dan menjadi pribadi baru. Ia menjadi seorang anak laki-laki kali ini, dan namanya adalah Dio.

Dio sama sekali lupa pada Adriana. Ia bahkan lupa pada si Malaukat. Tapi anehnya ia selalu ingat bahwa ia boleh memilih Surga.

Hidupnya ia buat sebahagia mungkin. Bahkan ketika ayahnya bangkrut, mereka harus pindah ke rumah yang kumuh dan jelek, lalu orangtuanya bercerai, Dio selalu ingat untuk bergembira. Ia selalu mencari kebahagiaan dari segala deritanya. Ia selalu ingat untuk bergembira dan meliaht segala sesuatunya dari berbagai sudut pandang.

Akhirnya di suatu titik hidupnya ia bertemu seorang gadis gemuk cantik bernama Adriana. Dio sangat menyukai gadis itu. Selalu diusahakannya kebahagiaan Adriana, salah satunya dengan kata-kata penyemangat dan kegembiraan.

Kebahagiaan mereka pun menulari orang-orang lain sehingga dunia menjadi lebih baik.

***

"Demikianlah Lila, maka jangan pernah patah semangat. Selalu bergembiralah dan pilih Surga untuk dirimu sendiri." kata si Burung Hantu.

Lila telah mengering air matanya. Ia duduk mendengarkan di atas rumput sambil makan sebutir ceri yang jatuh.

"Jadi...jadi... sebenarnya Dodo dan Dido menyukaiku?"tanyanya lugu.

Si Burung Hantu berdecak kesal.

"Bisa ya atau tidak."katanya."Bisa saja mereka sedang punya masalah di rumah."lanjutnya. "Tapi intinya, Sayangku, tidakkah kau lihat? Semua orang itu satu. Kita semua satu jiwa. Pada gilirannya kau akan menjadi aku dan aku akan menjadi engkau, mengerti? Memang sulit melihat orang lain sebagai diri kita sendiri, tapi itu lah kenyataannya. Perlakukanlah orang lain seperti kau ingin diperlakukan, karena mereka sejatinya dirimu juga. Dan pastikan kau dan mereka berada di dalam Surga, mengerti? Nah sekarang pergilah dan mainkan peranmu dalam kehidupan yang sekarang sebaik mungkin."

Lila pun bangkit dan merasa lebih gembira. Ia kembali ke bawah pohon cemara, siap berbagi Surga.

Si Burung Hantu kembali nyenyak dalam tidur siangnya.

Yogyakarta, 28 Juni 2012

Gisela Swaragita

Tuan yang Suka Menuding

Dari semua makhluk di kebun buah, si Burung Hantu-lah yang paling bijaksana dan paling punya banyak cerita. Walau pun ia selalu tampak mengantuk di siang hari, namun ia sangat hidup di malam hari.
Burung Hantu terbang ke kota-kota di malam hari, mengamati jati diri manusia setelah mereka melepas topeng pencitraan yang mereka pakai di siang hari. Di malam hari itu lah ia mengumpulkan banyak cerita kebijaksanaan untuk ia ceritakan pada anak-anak kurcaci, di sore hari setelah ia bangun tidur siang.

Di bawah ini adalah ceritanya yang sangat penting, yang ia ceritakan pada anak-anak kurcaci yang sudah mandi dan berkumpul di bawah pohon cerinya.

***

Adalah seorang pedagang yang sangat suka marah-marah dan sok kuasa. Pedagang itu seorang lelaki tua berperut buncit, tetapi kakinya tak cukup panjang atau lebar untuk membuat bentuknya seimbang. Kaki-kaki malang itu hanya dapat menampung tubuhnya yang tambun dan menyangga kepalanya yang licik dan kadang-kadang mereka bergetar karena beratnya. Rambut pedagang itu lebat tetapi sudah memutih akar-akarnya. Alis dan kumisnya juga lebat, akarnya putih tetapi ujung-ujungnya masih semburat hitam kemerahan.

Pedagang itu tinggal dengan istrinya yang bertubuh kurus dan jangkung. Tubuh itu nampaknya semakin memanjang seiring pajangnya kesabaran yang ia butuhkan untuk menghadapi suaminya itu. Di rumah mereka juga tinggal seorang gadis juru masak yang merangkap pelayan segala macam, dan seorang pria asisten urusan perdagangan yang juga merangkap pelayan segala macam ketika tuannya menghendaki.

Tak bisa dipungkiri jika mereka bertiga; sang istri, si juru masak, dan si asisten; tidak menyukai Tuan mereka karena sifatnya yang cepat naik darah dan nada suaranya yang selalu memerintah dan merendahkan lawan bicaranya. Di tambah lagi, Tuan Pedagang itu suka sekali menuding dan menunjuk-nunjuk orang. Mungkin ibunya dulu tak pernah mengajarinya bahwa menunjuk-nunjuk dan menuding orang itu tidak sopan.

Dengan jari-jarinya yang gemuk, Tuan Pedagang menuding-nuding orang, menunjuk-nunjukkan kesalahannya, dan mengolak-alik kegagalan orang sebagai bahan tertawaan. Lidahnya yang tajam dan mulutnya yang lebar senantiasa menusuk dan menunjuk, menjelaskan dengan diselingi tawa mengejek, apa yang tak bisa dijelaskan jari-jarinya yang tak bisa berkata-kata. Uniknya, Tuan Pedagang selalu menunjuk orang dengan kelima jari tangan kanannya. Ternyata Tuan Pedagang adalah orang yang percaya dengan pepatah, “Ketika kau menunjuk orang dengan telunjukmu, keempat jarimu yang lain menunjuk dirimu sendiri.” Tuan Pedagang memutuskan jalan keluarnya dari pepatah ini ketika ia tetap ingin menuding orang adalah dengan menggunakan kelima jarinya itu. Lama-kelamaan, hal ini menjadi kebiasaan. Tuan Pedagang merasa telah bebas dari keempat jari yang akan menuding dirinya sendiri ketika ia menuding orang lain itu dengan cara mengerahkan kelima jarinya untuk menunjuk orang yang ingin ia hina, di dalam ruangan ataupun di depan umum. Memang, kadang ia melakukan itu untuk memberikan kritik yang membangun, namun lebih sering ia melakukannya hanya untuk hiburan saja.

Orang yang paling jengkel dengan keadaan ini adalah Si Asisten. Ia sungguh bosan dan muak ditunjuk-tunjuk dengan lima jari gemuk, lalu dihinakan di depan rekan-rekan bisnis atau para pelanggan. Gurauan favorit Tuan Pedagang adalah mengenai rambutnya atau kulitnya. Si Asisten adalah pendatang dari timur yang kulitnya gelap dan rambutnya keriting kemerahan, berbeda dengan Tuan Pedagang yang rambutnya halus dan berkulit terang. Agar dirinya tidak tampak terlalu mencolok, Si Asisten menganggarkan sebagian gajinya untuk membeli Eliksir Pemutih Kulit dan Eliksir Pelurus Rambut, yang juga dijual di toko mereka.

Sampai pada tahun keempatbelasnya ia menjabat menjadi asisten pedagang, Tuan Pedagang menghinakan Si Asisten di depan seorang Raja dari Timur Laut yang datang untuk mengekspor beberapa barang. Raja dari Timur Laut itu kulitnya merah liar dan rambutnya ikal awut-awutan. Dengan sopan dan sedikit menjilat Tuan Pedagang menawarkan Eliksir Pemutih Kulit dan Eliksir Pelurus Rambut mereka yang terbaik. “Eliksir-eliksir terbaik yang dapat Anda temui, Paduka. 99 dari 100 orang yang mencoba mendapatkan kulit terang seperti matahari dan rambut lurus halus seperti serat sutra. Hanya saja, mohon maaf, Paduka, mohon jangan melihat apa yang terjadi pada Si Asisten hamba ini. Ia lah si 1 yang tidak beruntung daripada 100 orang yang menggunakan Eliksir tersebut.” Ujarnya sambil menunjuk Si Asisten dengan kelima jari gemuknya.

Raja berkulit merah itu tergelak-gelak geli. Melihat Raja senang dengan gurauannya, Tuan Pedagang melanjutkan kata-kata pedasnya dan menunjuk-nunjuk kekurangan-kekurangan fisik Si Asisten. Dengan jari-jarinya yang gemuk ditariknya Si Asisten yang malang supaya mendekat. Jari-jari itu kemudian menyibakkan rambut yang tumbuh lebat seperti semak-semak itu, menunjukkan betapa keritingnya manusia jenis ini. Dikatakannya pula bahwa dulu Si Asisten ketombean dan rambutnya lebih merah daripada air buah pinang, sebelum Tuan Pedagang menyuruhnya memakai Eliksir Pelurus Rambut. “Lihat, yang begini saja sudah kemajuan pesat, Paduka. Dan lihat pula kulitnya yang sewarna kopi susu pekat ini. Dulu warna kulitnya sehitam kopi tanpa susu, Paduka.”

Raja itu tergelak-gelak geli sampai terbungkuk-bungkuk. Ketika ia dan rombongannya meninggalkan tempat itu, mereka membawa sekereta Eliksir dan meninggalkan sepeti emas serta sebilah pedang bertatahkan permata khas negerinya sebagai bayaran.

Si Asisten tidak ikut senang dengan transaksi yang sukses besar itu. Sebaliknya, dadanya menyimpan dendam yang sangat hebat. Dendam itu makin berkecamuk ketika Tuan Pedagang mengulang gurauan itu di meja makan malam karena mengira istrinya dan Si Juru Masak juga mengira gurauan itu lucu. Kedua perempuan itu hanya sanggup pura-pura tertawa sambil memandang Si Asisten dengan iba ketika Tuan
 Pedagang mengulang cerita tadi siang sambil menghinakan Si Asisten.

Seusai makan malam, Si Juru Masak membereskan meja dan mencuci piring sementara sang istri masuk ke ruang kerja untuk membukukan transaksi besar tadi siang itu. Tuan Pedagang masuk ke kamarnya dan naik ke ranjang dengan perasaan lelah tetapi puas. Tak seberapa lama kemudian, Si Asisten yang sedang gelap mata dan dirubung dendam itu masuk ke dalam kamar. Tuan Pedagang telah terlelap dan sedang bermimpi indah ketika Si Asisten meraih pedang bertatahkan permata dari pajangannya di dinding. Si Asisten lalu menebas kelima jari gemuk yang telah mengoyak harga dirinya itu dengan pedang.

Jeritan Tuan Pedagang terdengar sampai seluruh penjuru desa. Istrinya dan pelayannya tergopoh-gopoh membantunya, sedangkan aparat desa berdatangan dan menangkap Si Asisten. Si Asisten turut dengan patuh.

“Biar kutebas jari-jarimu yang keji itu, Tuan, agar jiwamu tak ikut masuk ke neraka terseret oleh dosa-dosa mereka!” begitu ucapan terakhirnya pada majikannya sebelum aparat desa menjebloskannya ke dalam penjara.
 

Di pengadilan, Si Asisten mengakui kesalahannya dan menerima hukumannya dengan ikhlas. Hakim memutuskan menghukum orang berbahaya ini dengan menenggelamkannya ke dalam danau. Si Asisten berdoa sebelum ditenggelamkan, “Semoga jiwaku direngkuh oleh Tuhan, dan jikalau aku dikembalikan ke dunia, biarlah aku menjadi orang berkulit terang berambut lurus tanpa jari-jemari jahat untuk menghinakan orang.”

Dan tenggelamlah ia di kedalaman danau.

Sementara itu, Tuan Pedagang sembuh dengan cepat dalam perawatan istrinya dan Si Juru Masak. Ia telah kehilangan jemari tangan kanan, dan ia sekarang harus mengajari jemari tangan kirinya keahlian jemari tangan kanan, seperti menulis, menusuk makanan dengan garpu, dan menghitung dengan kalkulator kayu. Kelima jemari itu terlalu sibuk untuk belajar menuding dan menunjuk, tetapi Tuan Pedagang tak kurang akal. Ia menggunakan dagunya untuk menunjuk dan menuding orang. Lagipula ternyata dagu dan mulut letaknya lebih dekat jadi mereka lebih mudah bekerja sama. Sindiran-sindirannya menjadi lebih tajam dan ucapan-ucapannya menjadi lebih kasar. Dihinakannya istrinya yang setia dan Si Juru Masak yang telah meracikkannya makanan bergizi supaya ia cepat sembuh.

Si Juru Masak rupanya lebih pendek sabar dibandingkan istri Tuan Pedagang. Pada waktu itu telah setahun setelah jemari Tuan Pedagang ditebas dan sekarang ia telah sembuh. Tuan Hakim datang berkunjung untuk makan malam sambil menyelesaikan urusan administrasi kasus setahun yang lalu itu. Si Juru Masak diharuskan memasak masakan yang mewah untuk menyambut Tuan Hakim. Ia juga harus mebukakan pintu ketika Tuan Hakim tiba, menyimpan sepatu dan mantelnya, dan melayani mereka makan.

Tuan Hakim mengetuk dengan sopan ketika ia tiba. Si Juru Masak membukakan pintu dengan sopan pula dan menyimpankan sepatu dan mantel Tuan Hakim. “Puan, Tuan Hakim sudah datang,”ujarnya sambil mengantar Tuan Hakim ke kamar makan. Sang Puan yang sedang mengatur piring mentega supaya terlihat lebih cantik menyilakan Tuan Hakim duduk di sisi meja di sebelah Tuan Pedagang, yang sedang menunjuk-nunjuk dengan dagunya makanan apa saja yang ia ingin makan.

Acara makan segera berlangsung dengan ceria. Sang Puan menaruh makanan banyak-banyak di piring setiap orang. Si Juru Masak berkeliling menambah anggur di cawan mereka ketika telah habis. Lama-kelamaan, pembicaraan menjurus pada Si Asisten yang telah menebas jemari Tuan Pedagang setahun yang lalu.

“Sayang sekali, anak baik sesungguhnya, dia itu,” kata Tuan Pedagang. “Tapi tentu saja kita kan tidak tahu apa yang ada dalam otaknya. Ternyata dia itu gila. Untung bagimu kan, eh, Juru Masak?”

Si Juru Masak yang sedang menuang anggur di cawan Sang Puan terkejut. “Maaf, Tuan.” Katanya. “Apa maksud Tuan?”

“Untung bagimu rupanya Si Asisten menunjukkan belangnya bahwa dia itu ternyata gila sebelum kalian melangsungkan rencana kawin lari kalian itu, yang pasti akan sangat memalukan.”

“Apa maksud Tuan? Saya tidak mengerti.”kata Si Juru Masak.

“Oh ya, Tuan Hakim,”kata Tuan Pedagang, dagunya meruncing menunjuk Si Juru Masak. “Si Juru Masak bodoh ini telah yakin Si Asisten itu dulu mencintainya, aku tahu mereka pacaran diam-diam. Di kebun, di padang rumput, di belakang lumbung. Kalian pacaran diam-diam dan si gadis bodoh ini telah termakan rayuan orang keriting gila itu. Aku tahu mereka akan menikah dan pergi meninggalkan negeri ini. Oh aku tahu. Tapi kemudian si gila itu malah menebas jari-jariku, dan meninggalkan si bodoh ini tanpa perasaan. Ha ha ha ha…” Tuan Pedagang tertawa terbahak-bahak. “Tambah anggurnya, Bodoh! Ha ha ha ha…”

Pipi Si Juru Masak bersemu merah sekali. Yang dikatakan Tuan Pedagang itu tentu saja benar, tetapi ia simpan rapat-rapat. Ia tak pernah sedikitpun meneteskan air mata ataupun mengeluh setelah kekasihnya meninggal dihukum tenggelam. Dendam pun berkecamuk di hatinya, sama seperti waktu itu di hati Si Asisten. Dengan galau ia melanjutkan melayani tuan-tuan dan puannya. Tak sepatah kata pun ia ucapkan untuk membalas.

Malam itu, Tuan Hakim yang baik pulang setelah berkata pada Si Juru Masak ketika ia menyerahkan mantel dan sepatunya, “Jangan masukkan ke dalam hati ya, Anakku. Orang yang sakit dan cacat seperti itu memang emosional sekali.” Si Juru Masak hanya menjawab “Ya, Tuan. Hati-hati di jalan, Tuan.” sementara batinnya masih perih karena ucapan jahat majikannya tadi.

Setelah meja dibereskan, Sang Puan masuk ke ruang kerja untuk mengarsipkan dokumen-dokumen kasus yang tadi diserahkan Tuan Hakim setelah makan malam. Tuan Pedagang masuk ke dalam kamar. Si Juru Masak mencuci piring. Tetapi ia mencuci piringnya cepat sekali, dan ia lap pula piring-piring itu dengan kecepatan kilat. Setelah itu, ia mengambil pisaunya yang paling besar untuk memotong daging. Ia mengendap-endap masuk ke dalam kamar Tuan Pedagang yang telah terlelap. Ditebasnyalah dagu Tuan Pedagang dengan pisau daging itu.

Tuan Pedagang menjerit sejadi-jadinya. Sang Puan tergopoh-gopoh masuk ke dalam kamar dan membantu suaminya yang sedang berdarah-darah itu. Dalam sekejap saja, aparat desa termasuk Tuan Hakim yang waktu itu masih dalam perjalanan pulang tiba di rumah Tuan Pedagang. Mereka menangkap Si Juru Masak dan menejbloskannya dalam penjara.

Tuan Hakim sendiri menjadi saksi dalam kasus ini, karena ia menyaksikan betapa kejamnya dagu yang telah tertebas itu mengulik-ulik kisah cinta memalukan Si Juru Masak. Ia tak tega menghukum gadis yang sebenarnya baik itu. Tetapi masyarakat tidak ingin ada tukang masak jahat yang membawa-bawa pisau daging untuk menebas dagu orang sembarangan. Maka mereka menghukumnya dengan memasukkannya ke dalam tungku api.

“Kutebas dagunya agar jangan jiwanya terseret ke neraka karena kejahatan dagu itu,”jawab Si Juru Masak. “Namun kurasa sekarang aku akan jatuh ke neraka karena dosa hati dan kedua tanganku. Semoga Tuhan mengampuni jiwaku!”

Dan terbakarlah ia di dalam tungku api.

Tuan Hakim terkoyak perasaannya karena ia tak dapat berbuat apa-apa untuk gadis itu. Maka ia menjual semua miliknya dan mengajak keluarganya pindah ke negeri yang jauh, di mana orang-orang sopan pada satu sama lain.

Kini tinggal Sang Puan dan Tuan Pedagang di rumah mereka. Seperti yang dapat diduga, Tuan Pedagang tidak menghilangkan kebiasaan menuding dan menunjuknya yang menyebalkan itu. Mulutnya juga tetap tajam dan durjana membalikkan apa-apa yang jelek dari orang lain. Kini setelah ia kehilangan jemari dan dagunya untuk menunjuk-nunjuk, ia menggunakan kedua matanya untuk menunjuk. Ditemukannya bahwa ternyata bola mata adalah alat yang sangat berguna untuk menunjuk dan menuding, melirik dan membolak-balik kesalahan, kegagalan, dan kecacatan orang lain. Ternyata bola mata dapat berkilat-kilat jahat dan dapat menyipit tajam dan dapat pula mengedip nakal untuk menekankan kesan pada gurauan-gurauannya yang kejam dan kritik-kritiknya yang keji.

Betapa hebatnya Sang Puan, tubuhnya sampai melar begitu jangkung karena panjangnya sabarnya, dan tubuhnya menjadi semakin ramping karena banyaknya tugas yang harus ia kerjakan. Kini ia juga adalah asisten pedagang sekaligus juru masak bagi rumah tangga itu. Bahkan, kini ia juga menjadi Puan Pedagang, menggantikan Tuan Pedagang yang telah kehilangan jari-jari dan dagunya yang kini hanya duduk di balik meja kasir di muka toko. Sang Puan menggantikannya dalam hal menawarkan dan menjelaskan fungsi-fungsi barang, tawar-menawar harga, dan berkorespondensi dengan rekan-rekan bisnis di seluruh dunia.

Tuan Pedagang yang duduk-duduk saja menerima uang dan memberikan kembalian kerap kali melontarkan kritik pedas atau gurauan menyebalkan ke ujung ruangan di mana istrinya sedang melayani pembeli. Matanya mengikuti gerak-gerik istrinya ke mana-mana. Ketika Tuan Pedagang ingin istrinya pergi ke sana, ia berteriak dan menunjuk ke sana dengan matanya. Ketika Tuan Pedagang ingin istrinya ke sini, ia berteriak dan menunjuk ke sini dengan matanya. Lama-kelamaan para pelanggan menjadi muak dengan sikap Tuan
 Pedagang pada istrinya. Tuan Pedagang itu sangat besar mulut dan sering mengumbar kelemahan istrinya di depan umum. Mereka tidak tega melihat seorang istri yang telah tumbuh begitu jangkung karena panjangnya kesetiaannya dihinakan di depan mereka. Akhirnya, tak seorangpun datang ke toko mereka. Para pelanggan memilih pergi ke tempat lain yang mungkin lebih sempit dan tidak mewah tetapi pemiliknya sopan dan ramah.

Di antara para pelanggan yang pergi itu, ada seorang pelanggan yang tetap setia datang, seorang gadis kecil berpipi merah jambu. Ia datang setiap hari untuk membeli sebungkus permen jahe seharga setengah perak. Setengah perak adalah uang sakunya untuk sehari, dan ia belanjakan setengah perak itu untuk permen jahe kesukaannya. Ia selalu datang ke tempat itu karena di situlah satu-satunya yang menjual permen jahe yang rasanya pas di lidahnya. Sungguh disayangkan, pelanggan yang tinggal satu-satunya itu pun menjadi incaran cecar mata tukang tuding Tuan Pedagang. Mungkin karena tidak ada lagi orang lain untuk ditunjuk dan dituding, maka ia lampiaskan nafsu menunjuk dan menudingnya pada seorang gadis kecil takbercela yang datang padanya untuk membeli sebungkus permen jahe dengan uang setengah perak.

Tudingan, cecaran, dan hinaannya sangatlah keji untuk diucapkan kepada seorang gadis kecil sehingga takpantaslah untuk ditulis. Pokoknya, pada hari itu si gadis menangis tersedu-sedu karena hinaan Tuan Pedagang. Sementara Tuan Pedagang tertawa terbahak-bahak sampai perut buncitnya terguncang-guncang di belakang meja kasir. Anak kecil itu menaruh uang setengah peraknya di meja Tuan Pedagang dan mengambil permen jahenya sambil menangis.

Sang Puan yang dari tadi berdiri mengawasi dari sudut ruangan pun menjadi jatuh iba pada anak kecil itu. Sementara Tuan Pedagang masih tergelak-gelak sampai matanya terpejam karena tawanya dan air matanya bercucuran karena gelinya, Sang Puan meraih toples besar berisi permen jahe dan mengejar si gadis kecil itu. Di serahkannya toples penuh permen jahe itu pada si anak gadis sambil meminta maaf atas kelancangan suaminya. Gadis kecil itu menerima toples jahe itu sambil masih tersedu-sedu lalu berterimakasih pada perempuan baik hati itu.

Sang Puan pun kembali ke dalam tokonya yang sepi itu, mengambil pensil dari atas buku neracanya, dan berjalan ke meja kasir. “Tuan, lihatlah saya,”ujarnya pada Tuan Pedagang yang masih terbahak itu. Tuan Pedagang, masih menyengir geli, membuka mata menatap istrinya. Sang Puan pun segera menancapkan pensil tersebut ke dalam kedua mata Tuan Pedagang yang masih berkilat-kilat karena kegelian.

Tuan Pedagang segera berteriak sejadi-jadinya. Tetapi Sang Puan segera meraih kain pembebat dari rak pajangnya dan membebatkannya ke mulut Tuan Pedagang yang keji itu. Kini Tuan Pedagang tak lagi dapat melihat, berceloteh, maupun menunjuk-nunjuk.

Aparat desa segera datang untuk melihat keributan itu dan segeralah mereka menangkap Sang Puan yang baik hati dan panjang sabar itu. Sang Puan ikut dengan menurut. Kasihan Tuan Pedagang, walaupun aparat desa menangkap pelaku penusuk matanya, tak seorang pun di desa itu yang menolong atau pun merawat Tuan Pedagang, melepaskan bebatan mulutnya, atau pun memapahnya keluar dari tokonya yang sepi.

Masyarakat memutuskan Sang Puan berbahaya karena ia terbukti mampu menusuk mata orang-orang tanpa ampun dan bahkan membebat mulut korbannya supaya jangan berteriak. Mereka memutuskan hukuman minum racun adalah yang paling tepat. Sang Puan tidak berbicara apa pun di depan umum sebelum ia meminum racunnya. Mungkin ia berdoa dalam hati, dan rasa-rasanya berdoa di dalam hati memang lah yang paling tepat.

Dan tewaslah Sang Puan yang baik hati dan panjang sabar itu karena minum racun.

Sementara itu, Tuan Pedagang yang kini hanya punya lima jari tangan kiri, tak punya dagu, matanya buta, dan mulutnya terbebat kain, berhasil merangkak keluar tokonya yang sepi itu. Ia tinggal di teras tokonya dan membisu sepanjang sisa hidupnya. Ia tidak melatih sisa anggota tubuhnya yang lain untuk menuding dan menunjuk. Masyarakat tidak membuka bebatan kain di mulutnya. Mereka rasa itu yang terbaik. Tuan Pedagang hidup dari belas kasihan orang lewat yang melemparkan makanan dan sedikit perak. Masyarakat kini menyebutnya Si Pengemis.

Gisa, Yogyakarta, 3 Agustus 2011

***

"Ceritanya seram sekali,"kata Pipo yang masih terbelalak ngeri. Bedak yang ia pakai sehabis mandi jadi cemong-cemong karena keringat dingin.

"Tapi aku suka sekali!"komentar Dodo, si gemuk yang pura-pura kekar, sukanya membuat pedang-pedangan dari jerami untuk menggoda teman-temannya.

"Apakah kau akan mencari cerita-cerita lagi, Burung Hantu?"tanya Lila dan Fusia yang manis, penakut, tapi sebenarnya suka sekali mendengar cerita-cerita seram.

"Mungkin,"kata si Burung Hantu. Ia menyisir bulu-bulu sayapnya, bersiap-siap terbang jauh ke kota yang lain. Mencari cerita-cerita tersembunyi untuk diceritakan kembali.

Ketika matahari tenggelam, anak-anak kurcaci berombongan kembali ke bawah pohon cemara raksasa. Si Burung Hantu terbang melintasi malam di bawah cahaya bulan yang keperakan.

A Man Who Likes to Point at People

Among the other creatures in the Orchard, the Owl is the wisest. She has the most stories to tell. Though she is always sleepy during the day, she is very much alive after dusk. The Owl flies through cities and town, learning human after they take off their masks of images that they wear during the day. At night, The Owl collects stories of wisdom to tell to the young little gnomes. The gnome kids gather around her in the afternoon, after she wakes up from her nap.

The followings are one of her most important stories, that she tells to the young little gnomes, who are clean and bathed, who have gathered under her cherry tree.

.

There was a merchant who was really bad-tempered and arrogant. The merchant was an old man with big tummy, but his legs were not long or wide enough to balance his shape. This unfortunate pair of legs could only hold his enormous body and support his cunning head, and from time to time those legs were trembled for the weight. The merchant’s hair was thick, but the roots were already white. His eyebrow and moustache were thick too, the roots were white but the tips were still tinged with reddish black.

The merchant lived with his thin, tall wife. The wife’s body seemed to grow taller and taller every now and then, as she grew her long patience that was needed to live with such a husband. In that house also lived a cook girl who also serviced as an every-business-maid, and a man who was the merchant’s assistant, who also serviced as an every-business-servant when his master wanted him to.

It was undeniable that the three of them; the wife, the cook, and the assistant; did not like their Master due to his bad-tempered nature, and due to the tone of his voice which was always arrogant and underestimated his fellow human. Moreover, Master Merchant liked pointing at people. Maybe when he was young his mother never told him that pointing at people is not polite.

With his fat fingers, Master Merchant pointed at people, showed their mistakes, and announced their failures as something to laugh at. His tongue was sharp and his mouth always thrust and pricked, cruel words explained what cannot be explained by his mute fingers, accompanied with cruel laughter. Strangely, Master Merchant always pointed at people with his five fingers of his right hand. Apparently, Master Merchant was a man who believed at the aphorism, “When you point at people with your index finger, your other four fingers will point at yourself.” Master Merchant decided that to get away from the aphorism was to point at people using his five fingers when he wanted to point at people. It became a habit within him. Master Merchant felt free from his four fingers which will point at himself by pointing the person he wanted to humiliate, in a private room as well as in public. It was true that he did that to give a critical suggestions, but most likely, he did it just for his hilarious entertainment.

This bad way of humor annoyed The Assistant the most. He was bored and even nauseated when Master Merchant pointed at him with his five fat fingers before humiliating him in front of his business partners or customers. Master Merchant’s favorite joke was about his hair or skin. The Assistant was a migrant worker from the east whose skin was dark and whose hair was curly and reddish, different from Master Merchant’s silky hair and fair skin. To make his appearance less contrastive, The Assistant spent some of his wage to buy Skin Whitening Elixir and Silk-Straight Hair Elixir, which were on sale in their shop.

In the fourteenth year of his duty as a merchant’s assistant, The Assistant was humiliated by Master Merchant in front of The King of North East who came by to export some goods. The King of North East was a man with wild red skin and a bush of messy, wavy hair. With a bundle of nauseating politeness, Master Merchant offered him his best Skin Whitening Elixir and Silk-Straight Hair Elixir. “The best bottles of elixirs you can get, Your Majesty. 99 of 100 people who tried the elixirs get their skin fair as the sun and their hair silky as the finest silk fiber. However, Your Majesty, please do not see what happened to my poor Assistant. He is the unlucky 1 from the 100 people who used the Elixirs.” His five fat fingers pointed at The Assistant.

The red-skinned King was fat with laughter. Seeing that the King liked his joke, Master Merchant continued his mean words and pointed at The Assistant’s physical ugliness. With his fat fingers, he pulled The poor Assistant closer. The fingers then ran at the bushy thick hair, showed the King how curly the hair of this kind of human had. He also mentioned that The Assistant used to have a lot of dandruff and how his hair was redder than thick essence of areca nut, before Master Merchant commanded him to apply Silk-Straight Hair Elixir. “Look, this bushy messy hair was such a progress, Your Majesty, compared to how it was before. And look at his cream-coffee-color tone of his skin. It used to be as black as coffee without cream, Your Majesty.”

The King nearly rolled over the floor by the way he laughed. When he and his lot left the place, they took a carriage full of Elixirs and gave a chest full of gold as well as his country’s signature sword plated with diamonds as the payment.

The Assistant was not as happy as his master for the successful transaction. In the contrary, his chest contained a terrible grudge within him. The grudge became worse when Master Merchant replayed the joke in the dinner table later that evening because he thought that his wife and The Cook considered it as an extraordinary funny joke as well. The two women could only give a fake laughter while they took a pitying glance at The Assistant when Master Merchant told the humiliating story all over again and insulted The Assistant.

After dinner, The Cook cleared the table and washed the dishes while the merchant’s wife entered her office to put a note about the big transaction of the day in her ledger. Master Merchant entered his room and lied on his bed with a feeling of exhaustion but also content. Not long after that The Assistant, who was blind with grudge and fury, entered the room. Master Merchant had been asleep and was having a nice dream when The Assistant took the sword plated with diamond from its place on the wall. The Assistant then cut the five fat fingers which had ripped away his dignity.

Master Merchant’s scream was heard to the entire village. His wife and his cook ran to him immediately and helped him, while the village authorities came and caught The Assistant. The Assistant came willingly with them.

“Let me cut off your mean fingers, Master, so that your soul will not be dragged into hell by their sins!” was his last words to his Master before the authorities put him into jail.

In the hearing, The Assistant admitted his faults and accepted his punishment quietly. The Judge decided to punish this dangerous man by drowning him into the depth of a lake. The Assistant prayed before being drowned, “Let my soul be held by God, and if He put me back into this world, let me be a fair-skinned, straight-haired man without mean fingers to point and insult people with.”

And drowned he was into the depth of the lake.

In the mean time, Master Merchant was healed fast, thanks for the good treatment paid by his wife and The Cook. He had lost his right hand’s fingers, and now he had to teach his left hand the right hand skills, such as writing, using fork to eat, and counting using a wooden calculator. Those five fingers were too busy without being used to pointing at people and laugh at them, but Master Merchant was a clever man. He used his chin to point at people. And moreover, as the matter of fact, the chin and the lips were placed closer, therefore it was easier for them to work together. The insults were becoming crueler and his words were becoming meaner. Master Merchant liked to insult at his loyal wife and The Cook, who had cooked him nutritious food so that he was healed faster.

The Cook apparently was shorter in patience compared to Master Merchant’s wife. It was a year after Master Merchant’s fingers had been cut off and now he was totally healed. Master Judge came by for dinner and to finish the administration business about The Assistant’s case. The Cook was to cook fabulous menus to greet Master Judge. She was also to open the door when Master Judge came, to keep his coat and shoes, and to serve them the meals.

Master Judge knocked politely when he came. The Cook opened the door politely also, and kept his shoes and coat. “Mistress, Master Judge is here.” She said while taking Master Judge to the dining room. The Mistress, who was putting on the butter plate, greeted Master Judge and told him to sit down next to Master Merchant, who was pointing with his chin the meals he wants to eat.

The dinner was cheerful. The Mistress put heavy meals on everybody’s plate. The Cook added more wine to their goblets. At the time, the conversation was pointing to The Assistant who had cut off Master Merchant’s fingers the year before.

“A real unfortunate. Such a good boy, he was, actually.” said Master Merchant. “But surely we cannot predict what happened in his mind, can we? And apparently he was mad. Good for you, eh, Cook?”

The Cook who was pouring wine into The Mistress’s goblet was surprised. “I beg your pardon, Master.” she said. “But what does Master mean?”

“It’s a real fortune to you that we figured out that The Assistant was a real mad man, just before you two madly flee to a wedding, right? Oh, it would be madly embarrassing.”

“What does Master mean with that statement? I completely do not understand. ”said The Cook.

“Oh yes, Master Judge,” said Master Merchant, his chin sharply pointed The Cook’s face. “The dim-witted Cook had been assured that The Assistant was madly falling in love with her, I knew that the two had been in a relationship for so long. They spent their time in the orchard, in the prairie, in the backyard of the barn. You two had kept the secret of your dumb love affair, and this stupid girl had given herself to the mad curly-haired. I know they planned to wed and flee the country. Oh I knew it. But then the mad man cut off my fingers, and left the dumb girl without a word! Ha ha ha ha…” Master Merchant laughed . “More wine, Dumb Girl! Ha ha ha ha…”

The Cook’s cheek blushed heavily. Of course, what Master Merchant had said was all true, but she had kept the secret with her life. Never had she shed a tear, never had she complain after her lover died in the lake. Remembering all of these put aflame a terrible grudge within her heart, just like the grudge within The Assistant’s heart in the night he cut off Master Merchant’s fingers. With a black cloud covering her heart, she continued serving her masters and her mistress. Not a word slipped from her lips to reply the insult.

That night, the good-hearted Master Judge went home after saying some comforting words to The Cook when she handed him his coat and shoes, “Please don’t let any of his words bother you, My Girl. Being ill and handicapped can turn everybody emotional.” The Cook only replied “Yes, Master. Safe journey, Master.” though her heart was still bleeding from her master’s fierce words.

After the table was cleared, The Mistress entered her office to put the case files from Master Judge into neat folders. Master Merchant walked into his room. The Cook washed the dishes. However, she washed the dishes quickly, as fast as she can. She also wiped the dishes in the speed of light. Afterwards, she took her biggest butcher knife. Tip-toeing, she walked into Master Merchant’s room. He was deeply asleep. And she cut off Master Merchant’s chin with that butcher knife.

Master Merchant’s scream was so terribly loud. The Mistress hurried into the room and helped her bleeding husband. In a blink of an eye, the village’s authorities, including Master Judge who was still in his way home, came to the house. They captured The Cook and put her in jail.

Master Judge himself became a witness of the defense in the hearing, because he was there to watch how cruel the bloody chin was to explore The Cook’s embarrassing love affair. He didn’t have the heart to punish the girl who was actually good-hearted. However, the society didn’t want an evil cook walk around with a butcher knife in her hand to cut people’s chin off. So they punished her by putting her afire in an oven.

“I cut off his chin so that his soul won’t be dragged to hell by the sin of the chin,” said The Cook. “But I think I will now fall into hell for my heart and my hands’ sins. May the Good Lord forgive my soul!”

And aflame she was inside a fire oven.

Master Judge’s feeling was ripped for he cannot do anything to help the girl. So he sold all of his possessions and took his family to move house abroad, in a far away country, where people were all polite to each other.

Now The Mistress and Master Merchant were left in their home. Just as predictable, Master Merchant didn’t throw away his horrible habit of pointing and insulting people. His mouth was still fierce and insidious to explore anything bad from other people. Now that he had lost his fingers and his chin, he used his two eyeballs to point at people. He found that eyeballs were magnificent instruments to point and insult, to perforate and investigate the mistakes, failures, and stains of other people. Apparently eyeballs were able to be meanly flashing, sharply glancing, and naughtily blinking to stress the points of his cruel jokes and mean critics.

The Mistress was an amazing woman, her body was stretched so tall for her long patience, and she became much slimmer too because she had a lot of works to be done. She was now a merchant’s assistant and also the cook for the household. Even, now she was also the Mistress Merchant, replacing Master Merchant who had lost his fingers and his chin. He now spent his time behind the cashier desk near the entrance door. The Mistress had replaced him to offer goods, explain the goods’ functions, price bargain, and correspond with business partners who spread all over the world.

Master Merchant, whose activity was now just to receive money and give change, often threw mean words or nasty jokes to wherever corner of the room where his wife was serving a buyer. His eyes always followed his wife’s movement. When Master Merchant wanted his wife to go there, he yelled and pointed there with his eyes. When he wanted his wife to go here, he yelled and pointed here with his eyes. Slow but sure, his buyers became sick of his attitude to his wife. Master Merchant was a boaster and he liked to show his wife’s weakness in public. The buyers cannot stand anymore to see a wife, who had became so tall for her loyalty, be insulted under their noses. In the end, nobody came to their shop anymore. The buyers prefer another shop which was smaller and humbler, but the owners were polite and friendly.

Among the buyers, a loyal buyer stayed. A little girl with a pair of cheeks in the color of pink cherry blossom. She came everyday to buy a bar of ginger candy for a half of silver coin. A half of silver coin was her daily pocket money, and she spent that half coin for her favorite ginger candy. She always came to the shop because it was the only place where she can find ginger candy in her favorite taste. It was a real unfortunate that Master Merchant’s cruel eyeballs found the only buyer as a tasty target to insult. Probably he did that because there was no other person to humiliate so he did that to a flawless little girl who came to him with a half of silver coin to buy a bar of ginger candy.

The humiliation, fierce words, and insults pointed at the little girl were too mean to write. Shortly, that day the girl sobbed terribly after Master Merchant humiliated her. Master Merchant laughed uproariously so loud that his big tummy shook up and down behind the cashier table. The little girl was still sobbing when put her half of silver coin on Master Merchant’s table and took her bar of ginger candy.

The Mistress watched the whole scene from the corner of the room and she felt pity for the little girl. While Master Merchant still laughed so loud that his eyes shut for laughter and his tears dropped heavily for the amusement, The Mistress took the big jar containing ginger candy bars and ran after the little girl. She gave the jar full of ginger candy bar to the little girl and apologized for her husband’s impudence. The little girl, still sobbing, accepted the jar of ginger candy and thanked the good-hearted woman.

The Mistress walked back into her deserted shop, took a pencil from her accounting book, and walked to the cashier table. “Master, please look at me,” she said to the still laughing Master Merchant. Master Merchant, still grinning amusedly, opened his eyes to look at his wife. Immediately, The Mistress thrust the pencil into Master Merchant’s two eyeballs that were still gleaming in laughter.

Master Merchant screamed so loud. But The Mistress quickly grabbed a wound bandage cloth from the shelf and bandaged it to Master Merchant’s cruel mouth. Now Master Merchant cannot see, talk, or point at people.

The village’s authorities immediately came to see what caused the disturbance and they caught The good-hearted and patient Mistress. The Mistress came quietly. Poor Master Merchant, though the village’s authorities had captured the criminal who pierced his eyes, none of the villagers came to help or to take care of Master Merchant, none of them came to open the bandage that shut his mouth, or to take him out from his deserted shop.

The society decided that The Mistress was a dangerous person because she was proven has the ability to thrust people’s eyes without mercy and furthermore to bandage her victim’s mouth so that the victim cannot scream for help. They decided that the best punishment is to drink poison. The Mistress spoke no words in public before she drank her poison. Probably she prayed in her heart, and praying in one’s heart is indeed the best way to pray.

And die did The good-hearted and long-lasting patient Mistress for a bowl of poison.

Meanwhile, Master Merchant now only had five fingers in his left hand, he had no chin, his eyes were blind, and his mouth was bandaged with cloth. He managed to crawl out of his deserted shop. He lived on his shop’s veranda and he lived as a mute man for the rest of his life. He cannot train the leftover of his body to point and to insult. The society did not open the bandage cloth in his mouth. They felt that it was the best. Master Merchant lived from other people’s mercy who threw him some pieces of food and some silver. The society now called him The Beggar.

Gisa, Yogyakarta, 3 Agustus 2011

The translation done in Yogyakarta, 22 August 2011

***

"Such a creepy story,"says Pipo, his eyes are still wide open for his fear. Baby powder he applies on his face are wet and messy because of his sweat.

"But I like it very much!"says Dodo, the fat boy pretending to be muscular, he is fond of making swords out of straws to teas his friends.

"Are you going to look for other stories, Owl?"Lila and Fusia ask. They are sweet little gnome girls who are easily frightened, but they like it when they are told creepy stories.

"Perhaps,"says the Owl. She combs the feather of her wings, getting ready for another midnight flight through other towns. Looking for hidden stories to retell.

When the sun sets, the little young gnomes go home together to their mushroom houses under the giant yew tree. The Owl flies through the night under the silver moonlight.

Gadis Pemain Cello

Di dalam kebun buah ada sebuah tempat bernama Musim Gugur. Pohon-pohon di sana semuanya tertutup daun-daun dan buah-buah sewarna api. Ada satu barisan panjang pohon-pohon ginko kuning and satu bukit kecil yang penuh pohon pinus jingga. Daun-daun merah dari sulur-suluran anggur menjulur di mana-mana. Selain itu tanahnya tertutup daun-daun gugur yang sewarna api.

Si Kepik dan Gajah sedang jalan-jalan sore ketika mereka sampai ke sana, dan matahari sedang tenggelam dalam warna-warna yang menyala. Kedua hewan itu penuh dengan melankolia ketika mereka melihat senja dalam beragam warna-warna jingga, merah, jambu, nila, dan bahkan biru.

"Dulu ada seorang gadis pemain cello," Kepik memulai ceritanya. "Dan ia sedang dipeluk musim gugur seperti ini  ketika ia membuat keputusan terpenting dalam hidupnya."

***

 The girl was standing under a tree whose leaves have gone orange. The autumn shade brightened her dark face. Her black eyes had just dried from tears.

Gadis itu berdiri di bawah pohon yang daun-daunnya sudah merona jingga. Cahaya musim gugur menerangi wajahnya yang gelap.

Nah.



Kedua tangannya menggenggam leher cello itu dan mengangkatnya tinggi-tinggi. Ia telah menjual sapinya, sapinya satu-satunya untuk membeli cello ini -yang paling murah di toko musik. Cello itu telah membelikan sapinya kembali. Ia bahkan telah punya lebih banyak sapi sekarang, lebih banyak dari yang pernah ia punya, dari uang yang ia dapat lewat bermain cello. Cello itu telah memberinya ketenaran, teman-teman baru, pengalaman tak terhingga . . . dan cello itu telah membawanya ke banyak tempat di dunia yang tidak akan pernah ia datangi jika ia tidak bermain cello. Kekayaan dan ketenaran, itu lah yang telah diberikan oleh cello itu untuknya. 

Dengan wajah datar, dibantingnya cello itu ke tanah. Cello itu pecah menjadi serpihan di atas lapisan dedaunan jingga, kuning, dan merah. Dipatahkannya bow cello itu menjadi dua. Dilemparkannya di atas tumpukkan serpih kayu cello. Ia mendesah. Ia mulai berjalan ke rumah untuk memulai lukisannya. Lukisan yang selalu ia gambar diam-diam di dalam kepalanya, di tempat yang sama di mana ketakutannya bahwa tidak akan ada yang mempedulikan lukisannya bertumbuh.

Akan tetapi, ia tahu bahwa dari awal yang selalu ingin ia lakukan adalah melukis. Bukannya bermain cello.

***

"Gadis konyol,"kata si Gajah.
"Memang,"kata si Kepik. "Tetapi ia akan menjadi lebih bahagia. Ia akan menjadi tua dan bahagia."