Celebration Day for Tama

6. Understanding

Mrs. Teacher never saw someone who in his eyes seemed to bear grief so deeply.

"What is Mr. God's religion? Tama's question broke the silence.

Mrs. Teacher was angry in the heart, "Why do you want to know Mr. Goddhu's religion?"

"If I know his religion, I will know how he is buried."

Mrs. Teacher regreted that she had overthought about Tama. "Mr. Goddhu has no religion, but his message was, if he passed away, he wanted to be cremated and his ash was thrown into the north sea."

"Why people who love me die. Formerly grandma, now Mr. God."

But suddenly it was strange, Tama moved from hir seat.

"Mrs. Teacher ..." Tama said while wiping hir cheeks which were back in tears. "I'm going home."

"Wait a minute, Tama!"

"I won't be here again."

"Why, Tama?" Mrs. Teacher was very confused by Tama's behavior.

"I bring bad luck. I don't want Mrs. Teacher also dies."

Mrs. Teacher held Tama away by holding Tama's right arm and handed a handkerchief, "Please sit back. I will explain something." Mrs. Teacher made a sort of sound to clear his throat before starting to talk again,

"Tama ... when someone dies, nothing to do with you."

Immediately Tama responded, "Mrs. Teacher, I'm a sissy, don't you know that?" Sissy is a human who has two sexes in one body.

Mrs. Teacher already knew a lot about Tama from Mr. Goddhu's story. Tama was found in the garden behind the house when the baby was red, right on the day a long-held president was impeached. Tama was not crazy like people think. Hes was just quiet, because no one else was interested in talking with him. Hes kept clean hir body and hir clothes. Though Tama wore always male clothes (t-shirts and trousers) and hir hair was short enough, people on the market who saw hem for the first time often thought hes was a woman, because hir skin was delicate. But when they heard Tama's voice they were confused because it was a male voice.

Mrs. Teacher did not agree with Tama's statement, "I know you are different from most people, but you don't need to avoid me for a reason that doesn't make sense. Don't condone people's opinions about you. That's why you have to keep learning, so you really know all things that are on you. I will help you and I will be sad if you don't come here again. Do you know the meaning of sadness? "

Tama nodded and sobbed softly.

"So, you will come next week?"

"Yes, Mrs. Teacher."

"There is a new notebook from Mr. Goddhu and I lend you three books. Bring them back next week, okay." said Mrs. Teacher while inserting all the books into a cloth goody bag.

"Sure. Thank you, Mrs. Teacher. I'm leaving."

But Mrs. Teacher asked again, "Tama, if you sleep in the market at night, is there no one bother you?"

"The market persons said, a man came to me when I was sleeping. When he was about to touch me, he was immediately clawed at by cats on the market. Since then people have become more convinced that I am a cursed child, a descendant of Jinns, so I am protected by Jinns. The cats are also considered to be incarnation of Jinns. After that, no one disturbs me."

"Hmmm, superstition turns out to be useful," said Mrs. Teacher in the heart.

"Tama, there is your sentence in the notebook that makes me curious, how will you explain to me?"

"Which one, Mrs. Teacher?"

Mrs. Teacher said something,

"One is too small,

another is too narrow,

but I don't want to be limited."

"Those are my genitals."

Answered that, Mrs. Teacher's face turned red, embarrassed.

"The first two sentences are ridicule for me. I have two and the both arent like people's belonging. I won't be able to use it as I should, but my life doesn't end just because I don't use it. I will think of other things. "

Mrs. Teacher's eyes filled with tears, "You are very right. Thank you Tama for your answer. So, you can go home now. "

Tama also thanked Mrs. Teacher for her kindness and said goodbye. Hes boarded the bus to the market. On the bus, Tama's mind entered the past. Hes remembered the first time together with Mr. God:

"People call God and God doesn't come. Now I don't call on God, but God comes, "said Tama.

"You did call me in your sleep."

"Oh. Really? The market people said, God is Hearing. Apparently it's true." Tama beamed.

"Because you need a friend."

"Yes." Tama's face turned blushing.

"And a teacher, so you learn."

"Certainly." Tama couldn't hide hir happiness.

In the bus Tama seemed to smile remembering all that. Hes had changed his mind. At least before Mr. God left for ever, Tama had a chance to meet and learn from him.

Tama then reached into his bag. Hes took out the three books hes had borrowed. The first book was about animals, the second book was about plants and the third book was about a leader. The first and second books were knowledge books, the third book was a story book, the title is 'The Leader'. Tama smiled happily and was curious. Hes wanted to reach soon the market. Hes wanted to read the books there, accompanied by the four loyal cats.