"Short Story" | Flag

A city is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. For 7 days the townspeople waving red and white flags in front of their homes. A red-and-white pole collapsed on the sidewalk. A boy in a red-white uniform straightens the pole in its place. Gagah, the boy, stood up straight and saluted the flag fluttering in the wind.

An Avanza silver approaches and stops. From the left-back door, an old man came out, smiled and gazed in awe at Gagah. The old man approached Gagah who was standing still. The old man took a perfect attitude, then saluted the flag. Gagah turned.

"Grandpa who?" Asked Gagah.

The old man lowered his right hand, smiled at Gagah, then said, "Me?"

"Yes. Grandpa who? Why pay homage to a flag like me? "Said Gagah.

"Why do you salute the red and white flag?" The old man asked back.

"The pole fell. I re-enforce it. My grandfather said we should pay homage to the new red-and-white flag, "said Gagah.

The old man nodded.

"So did I do. I saw you straightening up a red and white flag pole that collapsed. I salute, as your grandfather said, "said the old man.

Gagah nodded.

"Grandpa where to go?" Asked Gagah.

"Visiting a friend."

"Where's your grandfather's best friend's house?"

"At the Hero's Mausoleum."

Gagah frowned.

"You mean grandpa?"

Lelaki tua tersenyum, merogoh kantung celana, lalu menyerahkan selembar uang seratus ribuan.

“Untukmu. Ini tidak seberapa. Terima kasih, kamu mau menghargai perjuangan kami. Terimalah,” kata lelaki tua, lalu masuk ke mobil. Mobil bergerak ke selatan, arah menuju Taman Makam Pahlawan.

Gagah pulang.

Sore, Gagah bertemu teman-teman di Madrasah Diniyah. Gagah bercerita tentang pengalamannya bertemu lelaki tua yang memberinya uang.

“Traktir kami, dong,” pinta seorang temannya.

“Tidak bisa. Uang itu sudah aku berikan pada ibuku. Ibuku memberikan uang itu ke pengurus masjid,” kata Gagah.

“Huuuuu...”

The next day, Gagah passed another way home from school. Her mother entrusted the stitches to be delivered to the customer's home. Arriving in front of the customer's house, Gagah saw red and white flag pole collapsed. Hulking up the pole again, then paying homage to the red and white flag fluttering in the wind.

The door of the house is open. A smiling mother came to see the arrival of Gagah. Bitterly handed over a black-and-pepper-covered seam. The mother gave two fifty thousand pieces of money.

"This one is for the stitches, this one is for you," said the mother.

"To me?" Asked Gagah.

The mother smiled, stroked the head Gagah.

"In the past, when I was your age, I often held up a red and white flag pole that collapsed, just like you did. I'm proud of you, son. Accept. This is not how. Thank you, you want to appreciate the services of the heroes, "said the mother.

Meanwhile, at the same time, elsewhere, several boys in white-and-red uniforms were pulling down red-and-white flagpoles on the sidewalk.

Every time they saw the car pass by, they hurried back up the columns and saluted the red and white flag at the end of the pole. Over and over again they do that, until they get bored.

"Lies loud!" One child exclaimed.

"Yes. No passenger cars down to give us money, "replied his friend.

"We'll go home!" Take the others.

"What about those columns?"

"Let it fall. Let us go home!"

A father came out the door of a house.

"Hey, what's your flagpole?" Barked the father.

The children ran scared.

"Do not run you!" Cried the father, then straightened the flag pole in front of his house. "The child's foundation today. Can not appreciate history! "

No friends who believe when Gagah told her he got money from a mother ordering stitches. Gagah not disappointed. He continued his habit of erecting a red and white flag pole that collapsed. Some give him money, food, notebooks, or just a thank you.

For 7 days, wherever Gagah stepped, the wind blew for a moment tore down the red-and-white flag. Gagah re-enforce it and honor it. During the anniversary of his town this year, Gagah was very happy.