LOVE. And That's It

Scene 1
It was school report day. All parents must come and take their children's reports. Me? Mom was sick and I had no license to drive her to school. Dad's busy. Then the teacher got angry saying that, 'You lied!'. I told Dad. The next day he came and had 'a talk' with the teacher.

Scene 2
I came to school in the afternoon and saw all my friends were already in line, ready to get home. I went home crying. My Mom said, 'Did your teacher tell you to come in the morning?' 'No. I don't remember,' I said. 'Wipe those tears. I will ask your teacher tomorrow.' The next day, the teacher apologized for not telling me in person about the change of schedule after my Mom had 'a talk' with her.

Scene 3
On an afternoon, I found that my school skirt was torn. That was my one and only skirt (we were not able to afford more back then). It was 8 AM and I had got to go to school at 12. I told my Mom. Without saying another word, she began cutting a blue cloth into several pieces. And then sew it. She ironed the ready-made skirt and it's ready at 11.30 AM. No scolding, no anger. Just one big satisfied and relieved look. Probably because she saw my childish smile.

Scene 4
As a newborn who was pronounced dead 10 minutes before, I was put in the incubator. My Dad was able to see me only from a keyhole. He spent standing, walking back and forth in front of the door. God knows how many packs of cigarette he smoked. At a moment he peeked (perhaps for the tens of times), he didn't see me there. Freaking out, he rushed to see the nurse. I was, apparently, in a better condition and was moved to a 'normal' baby bed.

Scene 5
During our hard days, pay day for my Dad is the time to go hunting for my milk. When 10 cans were at home, the rest of the salary (Rp 1250 out of Rp 3500) was for my parents living cost.

Scene 6
Because of this accident, Mom is my hero.

Scene 7
What is so special about my life as a kid? One of them is my birthday parties.

Scene 8

Scene 9

Scene etc ....


Too many things they have done that make 'many' into 'countless'. The number keeps on going up, up and up every time there's worry, disappointment or sadness. And who else caused it? Moi, definitely. For that, I can never repay what they did (or what they didn't do), that's for sure. I have never heard any 'You owe us.' or 'Did you remember what we did when you were a child? Never forget that.' or anything remotely close.

To them there is no such thing as SACRIFICE FOR love. Just LOVE. And that's it.

Note: This is the 500th posting.