Keep Giving To All

Type of Writing: Short Story

Writing Genre: Fiction, Life

The Lead image by Unsplash

At that time the sun was shining very hot in Kulon Market, Sukowati Village. Jono, who had just moved a sack of rice into the pickup, wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead. Indeed, at that time the village was in the dry season, it had been more than a month that it had not rained to wet the earth.

"Kid, please pick up my groceries," said a woman who had just bought groceries at the Kulon market.

"Okay ma'am," answered Jono who was looking tired

Jono is indeed in the Kulon market every day to earn money, in the Kulon market he works as a porter, Jono gets paid when he helps other people to carry groceries. Jono is only 12 years old, but he doesn't go to school, because Jono comes from a poor family. Both of Jono's parents had died, so he was only cared for by his old and often sick grandfather. Therefore, Jono had to work hard to be able to buy food for his grandfather and also himself.

The clock shows 04.00 pm, today Jono has received a salary of 20 thousand rupiahs. The 12-year-old child is happy and grateful because tonight Jono and his grandfather can eat grilled fish and vegetables from their hard work at the Kulon market.

Jono went home on foot for 3 kilometers, but in the middle of the road, he stopped at a playing field. There he saw children his age playing soccer, some were playing hide and seek. Jono smiled seeing children his age playing and having fun with their friends, it seemed that Jono wanted to be like them, to be able to go to school and play without any burdens, but fate said otherwise, Jono had to keep working so he could eat.

The sun had just set, Jono came home with two packs of rice and a side dish of grilled fish that Jono had just bought when he walked home.

"Grandpa, tonight we eat grilled fish," said Jono while putting the food on the plate, "Alhamdulillah, today I got a lot of money," he said again

"Thank God, you take a shower first, after Shalat (pray) Maghrib we eat together," said his grandfather

"Okay grandpa," said Jono

After bathing and finishing shalat, Jono and his grandfather ate together, a delicious grilled tilapia they enjoyed with a plate of white rice and vegetables. Usually, Jono can only buy kale and boiled eggs, but tonight they are very grateful to be able to enjoy a side dish of fish.

Meow!

There was the sound of a cat from the front door, his grandfather told his grandson to give some of the fish to the cat.

"Jono, the cat seems hungry, please give some fish to the cat," said his grandfather

"Okay grandpa," said Jono while giving some of the fish to the cat

While enjoying the food, Jono's grandfather gave good advice to Jono

"Whatever you earn, don't forget to share with all creatures, because all living things have the right to eat," said his grandfather Jono.

The next morning, at 04.30 am, Jono woke up because he was about to pee. While walking to the toilet, Jono saw his grandfather who was Shalat Subuh (praying at dawn), but Jono did not pray. He was still sleepy and wanted to go back to sleep after urinating.

When Jono woke up again at 07.00 am, Jono saw his grandfather again who was praying in a prostrate position, in Jono's mind, how come his grandfather was doing sunnah prayers, but Jono still walked to the bathroom to wash his face. When he came out of the bathroom, his grandfather Jono's position did not move, his position remained in a state of prostration. Jono was a little suspicious until he noticed his grandfather who was praying.

After 3 minutes of seeing his grandfather who didn't move, Jono started to panic, he went to his grandfather and tried to wake him up. It turned out that Jono's grandfather had died since dawn, Jono cried sadly while hugging his grandfather's lifeless body, now Jono lives alone.

Before his grandfather died, Jono's goal was to work and earn money just to be able to care for and feed his grandfather, now Jono doesn't know what his purpose in life is anymore. Suddenly a cat sat in front of his door, it was a stray cat who had been given grilled fish by him. Jono was immediately reminded of his grandfather's advice and messages when he was still alive about sharing with all creatures.

Now Jono is back to his usual activities, working at the Kulon market to earn money, but the money he gets from his work is partly set aside to feed stray cats that do not have an employer. Even when he earned more money, some of the money he donated to beggars and the poor on the streets. Even though Jono lived as a poor child, he was still generous, not stingy, and willing to share.

Finished

Thank you for reading, Introducing, My name is Raden Kusumo. I am 16 years old, in December, I will be 17 years old. I come from Gunung Kidul district, Jogjakarta province, Indonesia. I am still in my final year of high school. Besides going to school, my activities are looking for grass for my father's livestock feed. I like writing short stories and poetry. Sometimes I write song lyrics requested by some bands in my village. Greetings from me.