Autumn In Kent
The Bicycle Rider

It turned out that grief stayed long in Puti's heart. For days he was on another planet. He feels alien to his surroundings. He even felt alien to himself.

Emma was being extra sweet towards him. Back at work he always brought his favorite mushroom pizza and ice cream. But Puti himself was not passionate. He's not hungry. He doesn't feel anything. Blank. Hollowly.

Lecture Puti was abandoned. If only he had not been ashamed of Billy McCroom who had struggled to find a job for him, maybe he would have left his job. So even though he was not excited he forced him to come to Belmont every afternoon.

Good Mrs. Belmont is not as chatty as Emma. If he was exactly the picture of Emma first, Puti would have been fired for often neglecting his duties. Like that afternoon he did not realize that a customer had long been standing in front of him ready to pay. Puti only realized after Mrs. Belmont shouted his name.

‘I’m sorry,’ regrets Puti while forcing yourself to smile. The young man in front of Puti replied with a smile as well. Suddenly the young man widened his eyes.

‘At last I found you,’.

‘Sorry?’ puti did not understand.

‘You don't recognize me? The goggles? A squirrel? The autumn leaves? I hit you with a bike and broke your glasses. You forgot?’ The young man tried hard to remind Puti.

Puti watched him for longer. Now he just remembered. Blue eyes as bright as the sky, platinum blonde hair and the most handsome face he had ever seen. How could he possibly forget such a perfect face? Yeah, he remembered. The young man was the young man who hit him a few weeks ago.

‘Yes. I remember now,’ Puti said with a smile. The first smile she didn't force.

‘That time you promised to wait for me. Why did you break your promise?’

‘Eeer ... eer, that time suddenly I realized that I had a lecture,’ replied Puti stuttering. He did not expect to meet again with the young man so he never prepared the right reasons.

‘I went back to that place and didn't find you. I'm traveling around campus looking for you.’

‘But my efforts were in vain. Every day I return to the same place in the hope that you will pass. But you never showed up again

‘I'm sorry,’ said Puti while taking the young man's belongings and counting them in the cash register. Nine dollars thirty-five cents,’ he said as he stuffed the items into a paper bag. The young man held out ten dollars to Puti.

‘Well, now tell me when you have time to find a replacement for your glasses,’ asked the young man while waiting for the change

‘What?’

‘I want to replace your glasses that I broke.’

‘Forget it,’ says Puti. ‘I don't need glasses anymore. I can still see clearly even without glasses,’ he continued while extending change. The young man counted it then his laughter exploded. If he laughs like that his blue eyes that are as bright as the Kent sky are getting sparkling.

‘What's funny?’ reprimand Puti.

‘You said you still see clearly. But why did you give me seventy-five cents back when I was only entitled to sixty-five cents?’ tease the young man. He returned 10 cents of his surplus. Puti smiled wryly while shaking her head in regret for herself. God, I'm not careful anymore. If it keeps on like this, Belmont can go bankrupt.

‘So? You have not set the time,’ urged the young man.

‘I told you I didn't .. ‘

‘I've heard it,’ cut the young man fast. ‘But I really want to change your glasses. Before I replaced it I was as if I were being pursued by sin. Let me change your glasses. I know a great eye doctor. We go there first to get the right lens size. When do you have time? Tomorrow morning?’

‘No. I can't. ‘

‘Lusa?’

‘I can't either. ‘

‘When?’

‘I don't know,’ says Puti dongkol.

‘ Okay .. I'm here again tomorrow to ask for his certainty,’ the young man decided. ‘See you,’ he continued while walking away from Puti. A few seconds later he was back again standing in front of Puti with a big smile. Puti only realized that there were dimples on both cheeks when she smiled. How could I be irritated to see such a smile, thought Puti

‘We are not yet acquainted,’ replied the young man. ‘I'm Steve. Steve Caroll,’ he mentioned his name while extending his hand.

‘Puti. P..u.t..i,’ reply Puti while spelling his name.

‘Whose leg?’

‘Only Puti.’

‘Number phone?’

‘I don't have.’

☘️

The next day Steve Caroll actually came to Belmont. He pretended to buy a brush and pasta. Once the queue at the Puti cashier was empty he immediately approached her and paid for her shopping. When he asked when Puti had time, Puti managed to dodge with all sorts of reasons.

Steve Caroll never gave up. He kept coming and coming again until Puti realized he couldn't possibly dodge constantly.

‘So tomorrow afternoon you will come again buy brush and toothpaste?’ Puti asked when on the fifth day Steve appeared in front of her to pay for her groceries.

‘You mean?’ Steve asked, holding a smile.

‘You're less creative. Let it be clear that you should buy something else. Do not buy the same item every day,’ Puti explained.

‘You are insensitive,’ said Steve. ‘I deliberately buy the same item every day let you realize that I am not here to shop.’ Replace the Puti who hold a smile.

‘Lantas for what?’

‘When can you go find glasses?’

‘Date of November 2,’ he finally gave up.

‘Why should be dated 2?’ Chase Steve.

‘Because only that day I spare,’ lied Puti. He did not want to say that the previous day he would receive his weekly salary. Without that salary Puti is not sure that the whole money is enough to cover the cost of the eye doctor who famously strangled the neck.

☘️

31 Oct. Last day of October. Americans call it Halloween. Millions of ghost nights. In every yard of the house people put pumpkin that has been emptied of its contents and carved to resemble a human skull. Inside the empty pumpkins were installed small lanterns that light up so that the light can come out through ‘mata, nose and mouth’nya. The haunted impression really wants to be shown.

Halloween Night. All kinds of ‘hantu’ will be running storm to the houses of the people. They even entered the shops. Trick or Treat screams echoed everywhere.

The Belmont Drugstore was targeted. Puti who stood in front of the cash register many times had to gasp in shock when suddenly a creepy little ghost appeared and put his hands towards him asking for a piece of chocolate. Mrs. Belmont enjoyed the ghosts so much. His laughter was heard when he saw a ghost dressed in strange clothes. He purposely provides many kilometers of confectionery for them.

‘Bring a few pieces of chocolate, Put. Who knows you'll be intercepted by a bunch of ghosts,’ Mrs. Belmont suggested when she saw Puti wearing her jacket ready to go home.

‘Ah, no ghosts dare to bother me,’ please Puti. After saying goodbye to Mrs. Belmont he's out without bringing chocolate.

The atmosphere of the Arbor Circle had completely changed. The lights were all shining dimly.

Only the lights in the parking lot are brightly lit. And under the light of the lamp Puti can see a swarm of small ghosts who are comparing the results of their operation. Puti smiled at the incident . Not to mention his smile missing from his lips an all-black-clothed shadow stood in his way.

‘Trick or treat,’ threaten the shadow. Puti was shocked to death, fortunately he immediately remembered that the man dressed in the style of Count Dracula with a pale face was just a fake dracula.

‘I have no chocolate to give,’ replied Puti.

‘How about a kiss?’ dracula was bidding. Puti was really furious at hearing that harassing sentence. But he realized that if he showed his anger, the ghost in front of him would tease him even more.

‘The availability of my kiss is up,’ replied Puti trying to suppress his emotions.