Autumn In Kent
Puti Doesn't Go Home to Salem

‘Thank you, Emma. But I guess I'll only disturb your family.’

‘Now!’ argue Emma. ‘They will be happy to receive your arrival. Come on, Puti, you've never been to my house, have you? I have stayed at Salem.’ dozens of times

‘I'll think about it first, Em,’ replied Puti. A moment later he began to get ready to leave for Belmont. Before leaving he stood for a long time in front of the window watching the snow drifting down heavily.

After thinking for a full day, Puti finally decided to accept Emma's invitation. He realized he needed a completely different atmosphere. He hopes hopefully with Emma's family he can find himself back.

☘️

Nancy, William and Mike Gray had finished dinner, but were still at the dinner table when Nancy's phone shook.

‘Puti...,’ whispers while turning on the speaker so that everyone can hear.

‘Hai, Son, tumben call night-night. There's your dad here, so I turn on the speaker,’ says Nancy purposely hid the fact that there was Mike at the table, too. Mike just arrived this afternoon.

‘Hai, Mom. Hi Dad...,’ Puti says hello. His voice sounded light without any burden. Mike took a long breath. There was pain in his chest realizing that Puti did not greet him.

‘I'm not interrupting right?’ Connect Puti.

‘No.no, we just finished dinner,’ replied William with a heavy voice.

‘Dad..Mom, I can't go back to Salem tomorrow. Emma took me to her home in Youngstown,’ Puti said. William, Nancy, Mike take a look at each other. Silent. They had expected that Puti would slowly step aside and leave their families.

‘Mom..?’ Puti asked when she did not hear the response from her parents.

‘Puti..not that you promised to go home?’ Nancy tried to remind me.

‘Emma has stayed at our house several times, Mom, I want to know her family too.’

‘But we used to get together on Thanksgiving, Put. Mike had also planned to come.’.

‘Mommy. Please let me go with Emma,’ pinta Puti weld. There was a cry in his voice.

‘Go to Emma's house,’ cut William Gray steady. ‘Last next week I'll pick you up on campus to go home to Salem.’

‘Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom. I’ll see you both next week end,’ Puti promise while quickly hanging up the phone. She was worried Nancy would try to persuade her to go home.

For a few moments the dining room was quiet. Mike's frozen. She looked at her mother, and saw her mother's eyes red in tears. Only William seemed calm. He took Nancy's hand and held it tightly.

‘Give Puti room to breathe. He'll be fine,’ whispered.

Mike got up from his chair. ‘I have to call my boss,’ his farewell to his parents and walk to his room.

In his room, Mike pecked in front of the window. Outside the snow drifted down. Puti's words were ringing in Mike's ear. Clear and stifling his chest.

‘Mommy. Please let me go with Emma.’

The shadow of Puti's helpless and tear-filled face haunted her. Mike tried to shake the shadow off his head. Not successfully.

‘Mommy. Please let me go with Emma.’

‘Thank you, Emma, for accompanying Puti in her dark days,’ whispered Mike. ‘Stupidly I assume Puti will berlapangdada release me go.’

☘️

‘I go to the Manager first to leave the key, Em,’ said Puti after locking the door of their apartment. Emma nodded and rushed towards the parking lot.

Out of the building manager, hape Puti reads. Puti didn't heed it. He thought the phone was from Salem. Must be his mother, trying to persuade him to go home.

When he approached Nick's car, his phone rang again, Puti took it out of the bag. On the screen is written dr. Conneally.

‘Doctor Conneally?’ muttered Puti. Quickly he answered the phone. Dr. Conneally explained that he had examined the photographs of Puti's eyes more thoroughly. From the results of the examination he found the possibility to cure Puti's eye through a small operation. She called Puti to ask Puti to come to her eye clinic Monday after Thanksgiving for further checks. So that the conversation does not drag on, Puti undertakes to come. But not on Monday.

‘My students are in college until the afternoon, doc. On Monday I called to make an agreement,’ promise Puti.

‘What's up, Put?’ asked Emma to stick her head out.

‘Nothing, Em,’ replied Puti as she got into the car and greeted Nick.

‘That was a call from your mother?’ TanyaEmma.

‘Not. That was from my eye doctor. He wanted to check my eyes again. I feel good about these glasses. So no more problems.’ Answer Puti.

The weather all the way from Kent to Youngstown is sunny. The snow that yesterday fell quite heavily today did not appear. All that remained were lumps of snow that had yet to melt by the roadside

It was already night time when the three of them arrived at Youngstown. After dinner with the Walden family, Emma's family, Nick immediately announced his intention to return home.

Puti continues her conversation with Emma and her family. A warm family, thought Puti. Emma's mom and dad both love to joke. Christy, Emma's little sister, just like Emma likes to talk. Suddenly their laughter exploded. Puti had never seen a house so full of laughter like the Walden family home.

When Puti wants to help Emma's mother clean the dining table, her help is rejected.

‘Christy, take Puti to her room,’ orders Emma's mother. ‘Let Emma help mommy.’

Christy who was sitting on the last bench of SMU drove Puti to the bedroom reserved for her. Typical bedroom guy. From the bed to the room equipment men. Study table with a wide monitor. CPU of translucent assembled computer. In the corner of the room hung several baseball gloves signed by professional players. Beneath it rests 3 batons.

‘Whose room is this?’ Ask Puti.

‘My brother's room,’ Christy replied.

‘Abang? ask Puti wonder. ‘I didn't know you had a brother. Emma never told me she had a brother.’

‘Ya .. no surprise,’ murmured Christy. ‘Emma doesn't match him. I don't know why. I remember they used to be compact. All of a sudden they don't talk to each other.’

‘You didn't come home this Thanksgiving?’ Tanya Puti was worried that the owner of the room had to evacuate because of him.

‘She rarely goes home,’ Christy says short. Then Christy showed me the bathroom located inside the room.

Before going to bed Emma checked if Puti was comfortable in her room.

‘One time, Em. This room is warm and soothing,’ replied Puti. ‘You're sure your brother isn't tired of me sleeping here?’

‘First, he never came home. Second, if you know you are sleeping in her room, she will be very happy,’ replied Emma. ‘So sleep well.’

‘What time does your family usually wake up?’ Tanya Puti plans to adjust to the habits of the Walden family.

‘You can wake up at any time, Put. My family is a very relaxed family. Don't feel like a guest,’ Emma suggested before exiting Puti.

Puti did not exaggerate when she told Emma that the room she was in was warm and comfortable. Also reassuring. As soon as he finished bathing and laying down on the bed, he felt an incredible calmness. Mike Gray and his heartache felt distant and insignificant again. He feels peaceful. He can sleep well. The anxiety that has always arisen the last few weeks is gone somewhere.