Nomads

Isal asked again.

Isal: "Her cough is getting worse Ama, Isal heard her coughing from the front of the rent. Ama have you taken the medicine yet, Isal get some warm water."

 The mother answered.

Ama: "No need sal. How's school going, aren't you being naughty at school?"

Isal spontaneously replied and goes straight to the bathroom.

Isal: "No Ama, I'm fine today. Isal take a shower first Ama"

The mother replied.

Ama: "Yes, I'll cook sunny side up eggs for you. Ama take some wood from the back."

While Isal was bathing, he heard a loud coughing sound from behind the rented house. Isal was worried about his mother's health. After taking a shower and changing into school clothes. Isal goes straight to the kitchen to make sure his mother had taken her medicine.

Isal: "Ama, have you really taken the medicine? Isal heard a loud cough earlier while bathing."

His mother told that she was fine.

Ama: "I have sal, you don't need to worry."

The mother answered the question while holding back a cough. But this time she couldn't stop coughing. She coughed loudly without stopping while covering her mouth. Isal panicked and immediately took his mother to the kitchen bench. Then Isal got some warm water to relieve the mother's cough.

Isal: "Oh my gosh Ama, Ama's cough is getting worse, it looks like Ama hasn't taken the medicine, drink this warm water first Ama, Isal get the medicine first."

Isal took his mother's medicine in the room, but when Isal saw the contents of the medicine box. It turned out that the mother's medicine had run out. Isal immediately headed back to the kitchen and the mother's cough still hadn't stopped even though she had given warm water. Isal told the mother that her medicine ran out.

Isal: "Ama, your medicine has run out since when? The contents of the medicine box have nothing left."

The mother answered while holding back a cough.

Ama: "Actually, my medicine ran out last week, but I didn't want to worry you Isal. Ama's income is not enough to buy medicine or treatment for this month and the months ahead. And there's no money or news from your brother"

Isal replies.

Isal: "Oh my gosh ama, don't lie to Isal ma. Isal can also help replace Ama to work."

The mother grabbed Isal's shoulder and replied.

Ama: "Amam doesn't want to trouble you Sal, but Ama is no longer working at the factory. Today is Ama's last day of work because Ama's condition disturbs the work environment. Ama is no longer strong. And our motorcycle has been pawned to pay for last month's medical bills and rent."

Isal was confused and wondered what he should do to solve this problem. He wanted to replace his mother as a laborer. But Isal's age was not enough to meet the criteria. Isal had just turned 18 years old and his mother did not allow Isal to become a laborer. The mother immediately advised Isal to go to Tangerang  to work with his brother. The mother then informed Adjie that later his brother would go to the city to help him find medical expenses. Initially Isal did not want to go to the city because he wanted to accompany and care for his mother. 

Isal also wanted to find work in the city. But his mother told him that jobs in Lampung were very rare and only for adults who had complete documents and high academics. Isal was worried that if he left his mother, there would be no one to take care of her. Her mother insisted that she would be fine. She would set up a small shop from the leftover funds from mortgaging her motorcycle and last paycheck. Then Isal's uncle who lived in the rented house next door would also help take care of his mother. Isal resigned himself and accepted his mother's request.

Night fell. Isal was sitting in front of the courtyard, thinking about what he should do later. He had to decide on a school and Isal had not seen his brother for a long time. The last time he saw his brother was when he goes to Tangerang to look for work. His brother is also married, but has no children. His brother always talked to his mother on his cell phone only when he wanted to give her money from his work. While still living in Lampung, Adjie was known as a son who obeyed his mother in Isal's eyes.