Arung Loves Birds
ARUNG loves various types of birds regardless of the beauty of sound and color. For him, beauty appears in the bird itself without having to be attached to anything, including sound and color. As for birds, he did not believe that beauty was absolute. Beauty is free, while the sound and color of the feathers are tied.
If he is fixated on the beauty of sound and color, then he will not raise sparrows. Everyone admits that the sparrow is only good in the name. Similar to the name of the son of the village head in their village; Pipit Sartika. About the sound, the sparrows only win noisily. Especially when they are in a group, they float in the air like little birds that are crushed by a tornado. If they saw the plump grains of rice, they would swoop down like an eagle about to grab a chick. That is where its beauty lies. The sparrows are like colossal dancers who have harmony in motion. Without warning the body dashed to the same point.
Not even a stone magpie with a beautiful voice. They are not agile, only sound beautiful. Maybe that's how God shows His power. Beautiful birds are not given agility. And agile birds are not given beauty. Like a small pumpkin, a tree is given large fruit, and a large banyan tree is given small fruit.
Although he has often heard the stone magpie with beautiful voices, actually Arung has never seen the bird. He only knows that the stone magpie also has various and attractive colors. Average body size, round head, legs rather long, beak pointed and slender, with wings rather wide. "Anyway, the stone magpie is very beautiful. The price is also expensive because it is rare, ”said Wan Panyang.
"What is rare?" Arung gaze confused.
"That rare ..." Wan Panyang thought. Confused about how to explain the rare definition to a child who has only been in primary school for a week. In addition, he was also confused because he could not make a definition. Even though it's only been a week, Arung has already eaten school. Unlike him, who never went to school at all. But no matter what, a child is still a child.
"Rare, yes rare. Not everyone can catch it. Must have special skills. "
Whitewater nodded. "Then, can Bang Wan catch him?"
Wan Panyang nodded quickly. This little bird has already fallen into his trap. “Later, Bang Wan will show you how to set the trap. Stone magpies make nests in tree branches that are not too high. "
"When do we set the trap?" look at Arung with sparkling eyes. Within Wan Panyang's eyes, which stood towering over him, it was as if he could see the long stone magpie tail, its colorful wings, and its thin legs like Wan Panyang's. The other children must be envious because none of them keeps stone magpies. Even Teungku Haji Muhammad Hamid, who raises many birds, does not have a stone magpie. If Haji Muhammad asks to buy it, what should he give it?
Arung's plan to have a stone magpie comes closer to reality when Wan Panyang invites him to set a trap. According to Wan Panyang, he saw a nest shaped like a cup made of dry twigs in the village forest. "The size is not too big but not small either. The location is not in a tall tree. So it is indeed a nest of stone magpies, ”said Wan Panyang.
"When are we there?"
"Right now. But never tell anyone. Stone magpies are expensive. Later people in the contest set a trap. You have to promise ... "
"I promise!"
They departed quietly by way of detours that were narrow and seldom traveled. In fact, if you go through the road on the edge of the rice fields, it will be faster to get to the village forest. But it's harvest season now. Many people passed by. Wan Panyang said that no one should know that they found the stone magpie nest. "Will be troublesome!"
Arung believes. He really likes various types of birds. But now he felt he preferred the stone magpie which he did not yet have. He felt that the stone magpie would become his favorite pet, perhaps the most admired by his friends, even Haji Muhammad. If Mr. Haji wants to buy, is it given?
They arrived at the village forest which was no longer as dense as it used to be. Many tall trees have been cut down. The trunk is used for building houses, while the branches are used for firewood. Many residents reused firewood after kerosene was scarce. In fact, the villagers have almost left firewood after buying a stove, either using kerosene or gas. At that time there were only five or seven family heads left who were still using firewood. But that number is now increasing again, a sign that society is moving backward away from welfare.
Sunlight freely penetrated through the leaves and fell on the bushes. Only in a few places free from sunlight makes the coolness even more pronounced in that place. And that's where Wan Panyang lay down with the dried leaves as a base. Kedondong tree pieces as big as an adult's calf are used as pillows. Then the young man pulled down his pants.
Arung watched in surprise. "Where's the bird?"
"Wait a minute. Now you please do this…. ” says Wan Panyang.
Moving his hands back and forth quickly in front of the groin. The entire trousers are down below the knees.
Arung looked at him sheepishly. Didn't understand why Wan Panyang ordered him to do that. Adults often act weird, thought Arung as he did what Wan Panyang asked him to do. He just wanted to finish the task as soon as possible and get the stone magpie soon.[]
