Shepherd's Stick

The rain had stopped, the sky had begun to open up to reveal its enchanting true face, while the western sky was starting to turn orange, as if tempting humans to stare at it, before the darkness exchanged greetings.

But that wasn't something that appealed to someone who had just lost. Moreover, the day has been destroyed by the sky rained, or just a form of regret from a carelessness, so that everything seems no longer charming.

Still in the same place as when he started the morning, daydreaming about the events that he had to go through today, daydreams of regrets that were getting worse, fear also enveloped him, now he had thousands of types of bad feelings.

But, the day was already changed into night, it was enough for him to be restless in silence, it was necessary for him to have the courage to go home, I don't know what happened later it was all up to God.

Passing through the deserted streets holding a shepherd's staff in his right hand, his vacant gaze was still able to see the darkness of the road. His heart was broken because he had to endure today's tragedy. His mind was confused about what might happen.

Surely the following days would be very unimpressive to him. Today's tragedy seems to rob everything. Apart from feeling guilty for his failure to carry out his mandate, he had only been worried about his mother's sadness and his father's anger.

The closer he got to the house, the more his heart pounded. The pounding got louder when he saw his father from a distance. He was standing staring intently, leaning on the pillars that supporting the canopy roof of his porch. Waiting for his son to come home is not something his father usually does, but coming home when it is dark is not something his son usually does.

Abdul's steps were getting closer, then his father ran to him and grabbed his shepherd's staff roughly, then broke it.

"This shepherd's rod that you are holding will mean nothing to you without a herding animal to lead...!" his father snapped after breaking the stick with both hands and knees.

Abdul was very sad and afraid to see his father's anger, especially when he saw his teary eyes as if holding back tears. He had never seen his father this angry.

"I'm sorry, Father...! Forgive me...! I'm sorry...!" Abdul suddenly grabbed his father's leg and kneeled down, crying loudly.

His father seemed hypnotized by the attitude of his son who suddenly kneeled at his feet. Although he knew exactly how this was a powerful way to invite sympathy, but this time he would really calm his own anger more.

"Sorry at the end, can't heal the wound, kid!" said his father holding back tears, while lowering his voice.

"Did you know?" asked Abdul.

Before his father could answer, suddenly his mother came out of the house.

"Mom... I'm sorry, Mom!" Abdul pleaded with tears, who then came closer and immediately hugged his mother.

"That's it, son, that's it ..." his mother soothed in her soft voice as she patted her son's back while hugging him who also reflexively burst into tears.

"Come on, let's go in and talk inside," said his mother.

The family, which only consisted of Father, Mother, and one son, gathered in a house whose walls were still half-concrete and woven bamboo. In the living room, Mother and Son sat on a ribbed chair with a simple old design, while his father sat on the opposite chair, bordered by a wide and tall table.

"Mr. Cipto came to the house this afternoon, telling him that our ducks had drifted in the Pemali River," his mother explained.

"How come?" continued his father hoping his son would answer soon.

"I am apologize, I was negligent," said Abdul, looking down.

"Someone saw you sleeping in the hut, it's not negligent, it's lazy and careless. Don't you think a little? What if someone steals?" his father chimed in in a slightly angry tone.

"It's usually always safe," Abdul replied boldly.

"So, you sleep often? In every day? " asked his father again. "Listen, son, people can do bad things because they see an opportunity, and it's easier to do it when they know the victim is feeling safe," continued the father, who was trying to give advice to his son.

"The ducks are our family's main income, Son. The income from selling their eggs to the market is what has sent you to high school. Your Father's job as a laborer in the sugar cane plantation is not every day, He is called to work when the company need him only, and sometimes only when it's harvest season and just plant it," continued his mother to remind him.

"Don't continue, it's even more painful for you to know about your behavior today, Dul. At least we still have two goats. If the rice runs out, we'll sell the males," said his father who got up from his seat and then went to sleep, followed by his mother.

Abdul looked down depressed, sad, and very sorry for he did. He had never think that today's incident had hurting his parents.

***

As usual, before the dawn call to prayer sounded, it was a mother who always got up early, as well as the mother of a young man named Abdul.

The custom in the people of Kali Gintung Village is that at dawn, all the doors of the house are opened wide, with the intention and hope that it will be easier for fortune to enter the house.

It was time for the wife of this sugar cane farmer to open the door of her house, but she was surprised to see that the door was not locked from the inside. In the custom in this family, the last one to sleep is the one who locks the door, now this mother remembers very well last night that it was her son who slept last.

"Abdul...! Abdul...! Why didn't you lock the door last night, son?" his mother called Abdul in his room.

No answer was heard, indeed Abdul is usually never on time when he wakes up, the mother immediately went to Abdul's room, with the intention of waking him up.

The door to his room was opened, and it turned out that he was not in his room, his mother was a little relieved, maybe Abdul went to the mosque before dawn, in his mind said, "it seems that yesterday's events were able to change him to be closer to The God."

Mother's love is forever, her child's messy bed makes her unable to bear to immediately clean it up, it doesn't take long to tidy up her small room with a simple bed that can only accommodate one person In between when he was cleaning up, suddenly a piece of paper fell on the floor.

It says 'To Mother and Father.'

***

"For Mother and Father

By the time you read this letter, I am already outside the village of Kali Gintung.

I'm sorry your son let you down. It's really very regrettable.

My Departure was never meant to run away from responsibilities, but also to clean myself up for dirtying your mandate. I don't want to bother more.

I really understand your love always fully, but now is the time for me to find a living on my own.

glad that after this i did something you can be proud of, i will definitely go home.

from your son,

Abdullah."