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What a Big Snake It Was...!Â
My sister and I had been at our paddy field in Sidompak since early morning. We had to leave our home as soon as we could so not to let the birds entering the field and eating the grains. There could be many, like tens or even hundreds of them. It was a must that the field being watched for about 11 hours during the day.
You see, since we live in tropical country, the sun usually starts to rise at around 6:30 in the morning or even earlier during the dry season. As for us in the village, since our neigborhood is next to the feet of Simarjarunjung Mountain, the sun rises right on top of the mountain, high above our village. Once it appears, the day is going to be started busily. Birds are singing, pets such as dogs waking up, and villagers do all kind of chores and morning preps.
It was during the corona pandemic. I was at 9th grade at that year. My sister and I didn't go to school. That day, mom and dad had to attend an Adat-event somewhere else. It was a must for them to be there according to our cultural rule and ethics. Our little brother joined our parents going to the event.
"Both of you", said mom the night before, "do take care our paddy field tomorrow all by yourself". Mom explained that they most likely were going to be home late in the evening. She couldn't tell us how long the event would be. It was not mom and dad who decided so. They simply had to be there, participating according to their cultural-role and obligation.
The next day, early in the morning, I started with lighting a fire in the kitchen. It was freaking cold, as it had always been. I warmed myself next to the fire for a while before cooking. Normally, in the morning, I did cook or washing our dirty clothes. Mom and I taked turn either cooking or washing clothes. If mom washed clothes, that meant, I was the one who cooked. If I washed clothes, that meant, mom was the one who cooked.
My sister and I took care of our lunch that we each put in container. We each had to take our own lunch, together with our water we would need during the day. The reason was to being responsible with our kitchen tools that we used and brought to the farm, making sure that those things were well taken care of. We each had our own bag, putting all kind of stuffs we needed during the day at the farm in it.
Soon, we were off on the road. The grasses and bushes along the road to the farm were still wet at such early hour. We then reached our farm after walking more than half an hour.
We put our bags inside the hut which was next to the rice field. We then checked if there were birds eating the grains. Yes, I noticed some of them were already there, at the corner part of the field. I soon run to that area, taking a handful of soil, compacting it on my hand, then throwing it at the birds.
Well, sure, the birds were startled and flying away, leaving the farm, perching on bushes around. They sure were perching not quite far, hoping that they were able to return at any time.
