Winarsih Waiting
Suspected Again

"Why did they die together? Died because of what? Sorry, Win, if you ask a lot." asked Mira again. I took a long breath.

*****

"Said the doctor who examined the aunt when she was taken to the puskes, the aunt died of food poisoning. Grandparents and grandmothers also died from the same. 

It is likely that the father's family died from the poisoning of the fungus they consumed. You see the time of the incident was found there was a mushroom that had been cooked in the hood of food, and the unprocessed ones were also still in the basket where the seasoning. Like the mushroom is a poisonous mushroom whose shape is similar to the usual mushrooms consumed. That's what dad said." After I told you, Mira no longer asked. 

Remembering this story of my father always makes me sad. Always imagined by the face of the father who was crying, his eyes full of longing pent up, which could not be poured out. Losing loved ones, makes dad fragile. 

Even when it comes to mother's death, father isn't that sad. Even I seemed to see a spark of disappointment from the radiance of his eyeballs. Maybe he was disappointed in himself who was unable to bring the mother to the hospital, which resulted in the mother having to die. Or maybe there is another disappointment, I don't know, my own father never told me about anything else. 

Dad used to say that I was my only precious treasure. Only I am his strength, which keeps him alive, which keeps him fighting so that he can give me what I want. That's why you love me so much, you always try to fulfill my every wish. 

But for some reason, I finally gave up fighting for me. My father left me forever, alone. Dad finally let me feel what I was feeling. Life without family, a family. 

Why did you just leave without inviting me, or at least, wait for me to live a successful and happy life first. 

Now, do you know my life is so miserable? Is dad sad? Or do you feel nothing? Or is your father happy, because there is me who also felt what he first felt? 

Unknowingly I was crying. It was like seeing my father lying stiff before my eyes, with his body covered in a long cloth. It was like replayed again. I saw myself crying hysterically, hugging my stiff body. Two mothers pulled my body to release my arms from my father. But I didn't want to let go, I kept hugging that skinny, stiff body. I want to stay with Dad. 

Maybe this is what dad felt when he told his old story. Like a movie replaying in his mind. 

"Win, Win!" Mbak Mira's voice calling. 

"Udah, don't cry. Sorry if I make you sad. Don't mean to be that." Mira's mother took my body into her arms. 

Some passersby looked strangely at us. It seemed like I had subconsciously caught the attention of the people in this park. 

After I calmed down again, Mira called Mas Dewa. 

"Where, Mas?" mama asked Mira, with a cell phone stuck to her ear. 

"Ohhh.. Yeah, we went there?" mama Mira said after hearing the answer from across. 

"OKs…. " So Mira cut off the phone. 

"Before we go home to eat meatballs first, yuk. Mas Dewa and mom are already there." take Mira while standing and pat her ass, clean it from the ground attached there. And I did the same. 

We also went to the place where Mira meant. 

"Loh Mira, have you gone home yet?" a mother of about thirty years old, greeted Ma'am Mira. 

"I'm really here, Ning! Not anywhere." 

"But said Mrs Sukma yesterday, the mother of the family wanted to leave the city. Want a family event, Mother." Mira frowned both her eyebrows.

"Nothing, Ning. Didn't you go home yesterday? There's a mother at home." 

"Kan Bu Sukma told me, Ma'am. He said no need to go home, because no one at home, want to get out of town. That's why I haven't been home this week. Mother said, later if you have come home in the phone." said the woman called Ning.

"Oh.. If so, from tomorrow you come like usually yes, Ning!"

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am! I think I was fired. Confused me, ma'am, if you get fired. The father of the children has not been able to work, Ma'am," said Ms. Ning with teary eyes. 

"If Ning hadn't been home this week, then who would've finished the house, Win? You yeah?" mama asked, looking at me. I just smiled wryly. 

It turned out that Madam Ning was the housekeeper at Mira's house. But she didn't stay the night, after her work was done, Ms. Ning was allowed to go home. That's why Mira did rarely meet with Mbak Ning, because when Mbak Mira came home from work, Mbak Ning has returned to his home. 

Ms. Ning has two children, aged five and three. He worked for Mbak Mira only a few months ago. Precisely after Mbak Ning's husband quit his job, due to the reduction of employees that occurred in his office. 

When we reached the place where Bu Sukma and Mas Dewa were waiting, it turned out that they had started to enjoy a serving of meatballs in front of each of them, while for us it was ordered by Mas Dewa. 

Ma'am Mira said, this meatball seller is their subscription. He's going every Sunday in this park. While on another day Mamang meatball sellers will sell around by using his cart. 

After enjoying the meatballs, we went straight home. 

At home I went straight to the room, changed clothes with a rather relaxed one. The plan is to wash clothes, rather than being told first with hurt language, better own initiative. 

"Ma, Mira had met Nining," was heard the voice of Mira Mommy chatting with her mother-in-law in the family room. 

"What's he doing?" 

"Nothing really matters, Ma. He just said he said, mama told him not to come here first," Still heard the chat in-laws and daughter-in-law into the room.

"Yes, my mom feels sorry for him. He said his son was sick at the time, so I told him to take care of his sick son."

"Oh. but she didn't tell Mira that her son was sick, Ma. So I told him to start work tomorrow, Ma." Mira said. 

After that, no more sounds were heard other than the sound of the tv that was there. 

*****

The next day, as usual I helped Mira prepare breakfast and for lunch. After Ma'am Mira and Mas Dewa left for work, I cleaned the dishes from breakfast. 

While I was sweeping, Sister Ning came. 

"Loh..k even nyapu, Ma'am! Let me just go here." Madam Ning took the broom from my hand. 

"No need, Ma'am! Let me just, other boys, ma'am."

"Let me, Ma'am! It's my job, if you're a guest here,"

"What guest, Ning, Ning, if that guest, three days at most. It's been a week to say guest." Suddenly Ms. Sukma came as we pulled each other a broom. 

I dare not say, Sister Ning is like that.

"Udah, Ning! Let him do it all. I told you, don't come here first. Wait for me to tell you, just come here." said Bu Sukma sewot. 

"But, Mom! Ma'am Mira asked me to come here, ma'am."

"Udah, you go home. Let me talk to Mira later." Bu Sukma kekeh asked Mbak Ning to go home. 

"But I need this job, ma'am. If I don't work, I get money from nowhere, Mom," said Ms. Ning. 

Sukma was silent as if he was thinking. 

Connect dula yes brother...