Autumn In Kent
Sponsored Child

The Puti dormitory is located in one corner of Kent State University's campus. The dormitory consists of dozens of three-story buildings. Each floor has four units. Each unit consists of 2 bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchenette and a living room.

The unit occupied by Puti is located on the ground floor of one of the buildings, adjacent to the public facility building used for the office manager, post box, washing machine and minimart. Puti was in the unit with Emma Walden of Yongstown.

About 10 minutes walk from the scene of the incident hit by a bicycle, Puti arrived at his dormitory. Puti immediately reopened the bottom of his desk drawer that had not been opened for months. After rummaging through for a while he finally found what he was looking for. Lodgym . He had been taking off the soft lenses for a long time because his eyes were often painful. But now, after her glasses had broken, inevitably she had to wear them again. At least until he can afford new glasses.

While he was standing in front of a mirror to install soft-lens, the door of his room was knocked from the outside.

‘Log in, I didn't lock in,’ shouted Puti. A moment later the door of the room was opened. Through the mirror Puti can see who is entering.

‘Hey, Madam Tanti, how are you? Long time invisible’ reprimand Puti while turning her body. He blinked his eyes a few times to get the lens in position.

‘Why are your eyes?’ tanya Tanti did not answer Puti's question.

‘Nnothing just want to use the lens again,’ said Puti then approached Tanti and kissed her left and right cheeks. ‘Where have you been all this time, mbak?‘

‘At home alone busy taking care of husband and child. Why did you never come home?’

‘Lha if I was told to go home mbak Tanti would ride what? The street? Is that true? It was Tanti who had a car. Pick up dong, or how,’ protest Puti fiercely. Tanti laughed while sitting on the Puti bed.

‘You have an event later tonight, Put?’ tanyakanya.

‘Why? Want to grab dinner?’ sela puti fast. Tanti immediately shook her head.

‘Not now. Next time. Later that night Don and I got an invitation from Professor Miller. I mean.. if you don't have an event.’

‘You took me to Professor Miller's party?’ continued Puti ngawur while laughing. He already knew the direction of Tanti's conversation. Tanti shook her head while smiling.

‘You're all there is. Can you, Put? I can't refuse Professor Miller's invitation. I tried to find a baby sitter, but it didn't work. Anyway I feel uncomfortable if I have to leave Tino with a stranger,’.

‘But tomorrow morning I have a lecture.’

‘Kuantar,’ sahut Tanti fast.

‘Okay then. Indeed, the countryman must help. But strangely I always fall down the part to help him,’ comments Puti while taking a shirt from his closet and put it in the backpack.

‘Aduh, Put. Don't complain dong. I am always ready to help you, but you never ask for help yourself. How do I know you need help?’

‘Do not put in the heart, mbak. I'm just kidding,’ Puti said with a smile. ‘I have not needed any help. Later if I need for sure I will run to mbak Tanti and mas Don,’ continued while putting the books he had borrowed from into the backpack. Once all is ready, Puti immediately writes a message for Emma.

Emma, I'm not coming home tonight. Stay at the Tanti. Phone number (330) 425-4355. The message was then placed on Emma's bedroom door.

☘️

‘Here I will install a knee-high space blocker. Otherwise from bamboo,’ thought Puti while standing between the living room and dining room. ‘And the wall decoration I will move to the corner so that the corner has a romantic impression. ‘

As she fantasizes about her dream apartment, Tanti calls from inside the room.

‘Your parents have returned from Tanzania?’ tanya Tanti from inside her room whose door she accidentally opened.

‘Already, a week ago,’ replied Puti. ‘Where do you know they went to Tanzania?’

‘I read it in Ohio Post a few days ago.’ Tanti appeared from her room. She's done dressing up. She looks so beautiful with longdress batik green moss with a yellow eagle. Her husband trailed behind her in black pants and a batik suit similar to the one Tanti was wearing.

‘Wow!’ exclaim Puti praised.

‘Eh, Put, glad you have a diplomat adoptive parent who often visits here and there? Of souvenirs for you unique-unique,’ comments Don.

‘Actually the term adoptive parents is less appropriate for them. Sponsored parents I think it's more appropriate. But the most appropriate is the candidate-in-law,’ Puti corrected while laughing loudly.

Puti is not the adopted son of the Gray family. There is no formal adoption process. Although Puti called Nancy and William Gray Mom and Dad, and he has been their dependents since he was seven years old until now, but Puti remains free to use her real name without the Gray frills behind her name.

It all began with a fatal collision outside Cirebon between a bus that Puti and his family boarded with a train. The collision has killed dozens of people. At the time of the accident, husband and wife William Gray was visiting Indonesia. They took the time to go to the Hospital to see the victims of the accident. Their attention was immediately drawn to Little Puti who was struggling to maintain his life. The little one who had no one else in this world except his old grandmother who was crying by his bedside helplessly. They were so impressed that they asked for more special care for Puti and bore the entire financing.

Since then Puti became ‘anak sponsor’ family Gray. Every month he would receive remittances for his living and school expenses. Puti himself had never seen his helper. He knew them through the letters they sent that were read out by his neighbors. Puti was proud when she was in seventh grade and wrote her first reply. Communication between them went much better.

The first time Puti met Nancy and William Gray was when Puti's grandmother died. They deliberately came to Indonesia to entertain Puti and all offered Puti to attend school in their country. Because there were no more relatives he had in Indonesia, Puti finally decided to accept the offer. Be she went to America and attended the University of Kent.

‘When will you and Mike get married?’ tanya Tanti diverted the conversation.

‘Entahlah. We haven't thought about it,’ Puti replied as she sat on the sofa and hugged the pillow.

‘Hurry up, Put. Aren't you guys engaged a long time ago? It's been almost a year, right?’ tanti's Advice.

‘Ah is better this way. Rarely get together so there is a feeling of longing for everything. If you continue to gather lest you get bored,’ reply Puti while smiling funny.

‘If he's stolen man how?‘

‘Ah, no. He loves me too much,’ Puti denies.

‘It was eight and a quarter, Tan, leaving yuk,’ asked Don to his wife after accidentally staring at the clock on her wrist. ‘Titip Tino yes, Put?’ instead of Puti. Puti nodded while getting up from her seat.

‘Oh yes, Put, if you want to eat it there are some pieces of fried chicken that I accidentally left in the oven,’ Tanti offers then rush to catch up with her husband who is already standing at the door.

‘Don't worry about me. Later if hungry I can find it myself,’ said Puti while driving Tanti to the front door.