Written by Adindajilbaber
Ben put down her 387-page book and sighed, more like she was exhaling. The afternoon air felt so cold yet so fresh because the rain has stopped not long ago. Thanks to God that He gave the most refreshing air this afternoon after a long of scorching days before.
Ben had a stretch for her somewhat sore arms, after one and half an hour of flipping pages and writing the important parts. She would have a rest then continue to finish a chapter.
She had her head stretch as well, up to down, left to right. Glanced at the small ceramic glass beside her that was empty. Only tea stains could be seen.
“Okay listeners! Today is a good day to remember our good life as a child. You know, for me. When I was little, the iceman probably took part in my small box of happiness. Every time I heard the clinking sound from him, I would run like a dog seeing its master came back home and said “Mang1! Wait!” then turned inside to find my mom to ask 500 rupiahs to buy the strawberry flavor. She would not stop me because The iceman was waiting in front of our house and of course she wouldn’t chase him away.
That was the one… What a nice memory to remember. Especially the price of stick ice was only 500 rupiahs hahaha. To celebrate our days as an adult still counting to this day, I’ll play ‘Masa Kecilku’ by Dian Pramana Poetra, Payung Teduh and Pusakata. Enjoy everyone! and have a nice afternoon!”
The cheerful sound of the radio presenter filled the room with warmness. The song that played made Ben slowed her hand that stirred the second cup of tea.
”Terkenang… Masa-masa kecilku…
Senangnya… Aku s’lalu dimanja…
Apa yang kuminta. Selalu saja ada.
Dari mama. Dari papa.
Cium pipiku dulu.2”
A smile bloomed on her face. The song really caused her memory to flash in an instant.
After sat down back in her seat, she sipped the tea and glanced at the photos frame to frame displayed on the wall shelf on her desk while the song was still playing.
In the first row of photos. She was a little bun, her cheek was red because of coldness, and her yellow ski suits were in a contrast with the background, the white vastness of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. She was hugged by mom and dad.
Next to it was the photo of her high school graduation. Ben was smile happily holding the certificate. Her long and creme veil complements the brocade dress she wore that day. Mom was on her right side and Dad was on the left.
The last row of photos was Ben and her two friends who were covered in mud. No clean spot could be seen. That was when she was playing in front of her house.
The road construction was near the house. Big trucks that transport the road material came back and forth causing a trail of red soil on the road. That day was a rainy day so the asphalt was layered in red mud.
When Ben and her two friends carried the mud from the roadside to play in the garden, an unknown car was at high speed causing the sludge to splash them. They were screaming and freezing for seconds, the clothes and newly veil were red and dirty. They almost cried but seeing that their appearance seemed silly, the tears that almost fell was turned into chortling.
After that, they continued to carry the stuff to play cooking, mud became the main ingredient of their cake.
Ben didn’t remember who started it first, but someone was throwing the mud after they finished making cakes. The muddy war had begun.
Heard something happened in the garden, dad got out and shocked seeing the scene as if three monkeys were screaming and throwing, fighting for their territory. He then came inside to take his camera and captured it.
“Hey! Look at here everyone!” dad called them and captured their smile. Even Ben’s front teeth were grubby.
Ben smiled and chuckled remembering mom dark face after that. In the end, Ben was forced to clean her clothes by herself using hands.
Childhood is indeed a nice memory to remember. If Allah would give her extra day to time travel, she would definitely come back to childhood even for three days.
But well, being an adult was fun too. Though it was hard sometimes to deal with different kinds of people, adults could also have their own time alone. Buy things with their own money. Still, they had to do saving.
Seeing something from the adult point of view was good. The adult could learn something complicated as well.
No matter what, being who you are today was the best gift from God.
“Ding!” the notification sound’s rang, Ben was back from her reverie.
A text from Asiya, Ben’s best friend, “Assalamu’alaikum! Bennie my girl! let’s go to the A building! there is an Islamic study that will be held after Maghrib prayer. Make sure you bring the Riyadhus Shalihin book and the notes okie~~I’ll be waiting for you in front of your apartment! I’ll text you after I arrived. Need to finish my assignment first! Bye!”
As always, long and detailed.
‘‘Waalaikumsalam Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh. Okie, thanks Asiya!”, message sent.
“Better to finish my assignment too,” Ben said then picked her pen and opened the book and notes.
The afternoon breeze gently touched her face. Ben looked out the window and the sunlight slipped from the gap of the leaves. Yup, today was a good day!
END
I’ve not finished with my self-study but my head gave a sign for me to rest. So I decided to write, then ”Masa Kecilku” by Dian Pramana Putra, Payung Teduh, and Pusakata was playing. Then I decided to write everything that emerged in my head. So here it is!
Footnote:
1 Mang : short of Mamang/Amang (Uncle. Could be related by blood or polite way to address man older than you)
2 ”Terkenang… Masa-masa kecilku…“(Remembered. My childhood…)
Senangnya… Aku s’lalu dimanja… (I am happy… I always am spoiled…)
Apa yang kuminta. Selalu saja ada. (Everything I want. Always given to me…)
Dari mama. Dari papa. (From mommy. From daddy…)
Cium pipiku dulu.” (Give my cheek a kiss, please…)
The song is easy listening and cute ~~
Adinda 