Hello, we meet again. For a novel from the same pen name "Saree", this time it comes with the boys' favorite sports. that is football But in this matter It's very sad. Because of the author himself Written with tears in some parts, let me tell you, readers, you should miss it. For "Plastic Balls"

Chapter 1: The same place where I used to be happy.

At a time when the sun was shining directly on our heads, a 25-year-old young man named Imran appeared in a very good-looking and elegant gown. Stepping up to a small house But if I'm being honest, I have to use the word A small hut at the end of the garden would be better.

Imran slowly opened the door and looked inside the house. before slowly stepping foot into the house

Imran "Assalamu Alikum"

Imran stopped in the middle of the house. He looked around. Seeing all the spider webs, the cabinet almost turned white. Because it was full of dust, Imran walked closer to the cabinet to open it and take a look. I saw his clothes when he was a kid. and his brother's clothes Amran, who was 5 years older than him, opened a drawer.

Upon seeing a torn textbook, Imran smiled. Even though my eyes were filled with thoughts of something I couldn't explain.

Imran thought to himself. “Everything is still in the same place. Why do we really miss the time when we were so young? That time we had the most smiles was when everything was full of fun. and full of love.” He smiled again.

Imran walked slowly through the house, walking towards the toys he used to have fun playing with his older brother, 18 years ago, when he saw them. He also couldn't help but laugh at the ball he made himself from scraps of paper and attached it to his student's shoelaces.

Imran: “Is this still here? Hahaha. Brother Amran. I really miss you.”

Imran thought to himself again. “Why don't we behave nicely with this older brother of ours? When we were young, we shouldn't have invited him to fight with him even though we He is the one who protects us. Take care of your stubborn younger brother. Like us all the time.”

Imran was shocked when he saw something he didn't think was still there. It was a plastic ball that was only half intact. The other part doesn't know where it is.

Manly tears began to flow from eyes that were filled with sadness and longing.

Imran: “Dad, I miss you so much.”

Chapter 2: Going back to childhood

In front of the gardener's house at the end of the village, two boys were having fun playing together, both bringing various tools and materials. including newsprint, notebooks, shoelaces, or even Textbook They mixed them together until they became small soccer balls that were made of paper that had been folded together tightly. And another layer of punches with brown school shoelaces.

Imran: "Ranron says if we put plastic bags in the dormitory, another layer will be waterproof."

Amran “Brother, you are very smart. Please go into the house and take two or three.”

Imran: “Oh, my sister has expressed her opinion. I went to go pick it up. I'm tired."

Amran: "Okay, wait just a moment, I'll come back."

Amran walked up to the house. The place in the house wasn't very big. He walked to a corner of the house where there were pots and pans, probably the kitchen of this house, and picked up two plastic bags.

As for his younger brother, Imran sat and waited for his older brother to come. To begin completing the final steps of football.

Imran: "Did you get it, P'Ran?"

Amran: “Okay, here it is.”

Imran: “Yay, let's start finishing it. Ron wants to play football.”

Amran: “Alright....”

Then they both started making the final steps of the ball until it was finished.

Amran “The ball is ready. Wait, are you ready yet?”

Imran: "Ready"

The two children were having fun kicking balls made from scraps of paper. Sweat covered their bodies. But the joy shown on the faces of both of them was still knowing that even though the sun was hot, the dust from the ground was floating all over the area where they were playing football. Both Imran and Amran Still happy

Ali, a 35-year-old father, returned home after entering the garden. In gardening clothes that looked dirty and full of branches and grass, the two sons, who were still playing football happily, smiled with happiness but were shocked to see that Imran's textbooks were torn. Until there was nothing left of the textbook that I had just bought for my child this time from a smile. started to get angry

So I bent down and picked up that book. and immediately walked to the two children who were playing football

Imran: “Yay, Dad's back home. Dad, let's play football.”

Amran: “That's right, we're still missing a goalkeeper, Dad.”

Ali picked up her youngest son's textbook. It had been torn until there was no trace of the new textbook left.

Ali: “Imran, why are your textbooks torn like this? This book, I remember, is a new book that I just bought for you.”

Amran looked at his brother in confusion. and spoke to his younger brother suspiciously

Amran: "Ron, why did you say it wasn't used anymore?"

Imran: “Well, Ron doesn't know. That it was Ron's textbook, Ron asked P'Ran if it was his or not. I said it wasn't.”

Amran: "Well, it's not yours."

Ali: "How long are we going to whisper to each other? What's up? Imran, why are you tearing up?"

Imran: “Make it into this soccer ball, Dad. Dad, don't hit me. I don't know-"

Amran: “Father, I was the one who let you pick up this book. Because I saw that the book was thick and would probably make a big ball.”

Ali: “Good, it's good that you accepted it, Amran, follow your father.”

Imran turned to speak to his brother. “Brother Ran, why are you doing this?”

Amran: “Come on, don't think too much. You and my father's rod are already friends. I got hit by my dad until I got used to it. Haha."

Imran: "Are you going to laugh again?"

Amran hugged his younger brother's neck, "Let's go, let's go see my friend."

Imran: "The rod, my friend."

Amran smiled at his younger brother. The two laughed happily.

Ali “will laugh again. Come here, Amran, just come here.”

Amran: "Yes, I'm here."

Amran crossed his arms over his chest. Because I know that this time Father will be really angry.

Ali: “This time, Dad will remind you that textbooks are very important. It is knowledge and should not be taken lightly. And this time dad will hit you 5 times more than last time.'

Imran: "Oh, Dad, in total it's 10 times."

Ali “Yes”

Amran turned to look at his brother. Then he smiled with no fear of the rod and the punishment began. The sound of the stick hitting the 12-year-old's skin was so loud that Amran's own mouth turned pale as he couldn't stand the pain of the rod and the strength of his hand that came with his father's rhythm.

Chapter 3 Plastic Balls

Several days later Ali came home with a plastic ball. Their faces are still smiling non-stop because if the two children saw what he had bought for them today, it was a plastic ball. We will definitely be very happy.

Ali: “Amran, where is Imran?”

Ali called out to the wide yard in front of the house and the two children ran out from behind the house.

Imran and Amran “Right here, Dad.......”

Imran: "It's here."

Ali hid a plastic ball behind his back so his children wouldn't see it and looked at Imran's hand. A ball holder made from scraps of cardboard, plastic and a punch, and a layer of brown shoelaces.

Ali: “Today, Dad, I won't let my children play football with this scrap of paper. I saw it and it made my eyes uncomfortable.”

Amran “Are you still angry at the two of us?”

Ali "No"

Imran: “Then why?”

Ali “Because.................. Dad bought me a real ball, here it is..”

Imran and Amran “Yayyyyyyyyyyy”

Amran: “Thank you, Father.”

The two children hurriedly received the soccer ball. Then immediately ran straight to the front yard of the house. As for the ball made from scraps of paper, He threw it into the grass next to the house without paying attention to it at all. because of plastic balls It's more interesting.

Chapter 4 Plastic Balls causing a lack of unity

Being a father also has to be a chef who prepares food for the children. The smell of the food was so fragrant that the young chef had to breathe in the deliciousness before the meal was cooked and ready to eat.

But it wasn't until the food was finished and it was time for Ali. I heard a sound from outside the house. It was the sound of Imran shouting and crying, so Ali rushed to check on the children, worried.

When they reached the grass, they saw Imran sitting on the sidelines crying. Meanwhile, older brother Amran is having fun playing with a plastic ball.

Ali: "Amran, what's wrong with you? Why aren't you taking care of me?"

Amran: "Well, you're going to play with the ball alone and won't let me play."

Ali: “But I saw you play alone, Amran.”

Imran: "I'm going to play alone." Imran shouted even harder.

Amran looked at his younger brother and looked dissatisfied.

Ali: “Come on, let's quit playing football. Dad's almost finished cooking. Let's go up and eat some fish first. Then come down and play again.”

Imran “But Brother Amran He will take it to play alone.”

Amran: “Who exactly wants to play alone?”

Ali “Amran, give me this ball.”

Amran passed the ball to his father. But he turned his head and looked at his younger brother angrily.

Ali: “Today, father won't let both of your children play football. Dad will pick up the ball himself for one day and then come play again tomorrow.”

But a burning smell that didn't seem to be at odds with Ali's and the children's noses hit Ali and the children. Ali's sense of smell immediately activated.

Ali “Chicken soup!!!”

Ali rushed to the kitchen. At this moment, a cloud of smoke filled the entire kitchen, followed by the two troublesome children. Ali looked at the two children with dissatisfaction and finished dealing with the situation in front of him.

Chapter 5: Half a Ball

When their father allowed them to play football again, the two boys didn't hesitate, picked up the ball and ran to play on the front lawn again.

Amran: “Today, let's take turns playing goalkeeper.”

Imran: "So what should I do, Brother Ran?"

Amran: "Let's go out first."

Imran: "Alright."

Two young men, Amran uses a fist that is considered a stone, while Imran uses a bird, losing to his older brother and having to become a goalkeeper first.

Imran: "Can you be first? I want to be the one who kicks first.”

Amran: “No, you have to play by the rules. You can't change anything now. If you can't kick the ball, You can come and continue kicking, okay?"

“Fine,” Imran replied sadly and very dissatisfied.

No matter how many times it was played, Amran kept kicking the plastic ball into the goal. Until now, Imran looked very displeased and finally sat down there, annoyed that his brother still wouldn't kick the ball. Come out the door.

Imran "not playing anymore"

Amran: “Why not, hurry up and play football.”

Imran: “No!!!”

Amran: "Let's take the baby."

Amran kicked the ball straight into the goal. which was where his younger brother was still sitting confused. But in the end Imran He succeeded in catching the ball. Then immediately run away to play somewhere else.

Amran: "What are you doing? Bring this, Imran."

Imran: “No!!”

Amran ran after Nong and snatched the ball from Nong. Then he pushed his younger brother until he fell to the ground. As for the father, he came back from work and saw this situation. He acted dissatisfied that his two sons always had to fight over plastic balls.

Imran "Imran Amran"

The two children stopped fighting. Then he turned towards his father who was walking towards the couple. Ready to stand straight and bow your head.

Ali: “Imran, give the ball to dad.”

Imran handed the ball to his father. Father himself walked to the front of the house. Take out the knife used to cut branches. The two children saw this and were afraid of what their father would do with the ball. So he hurriedly ran to his father.

Amran “Father, what are you going to do?”

Ali: “When you have only one child, two children still quarrel like this. I need to make two children.”

Imran “Father!!!.”

Ali decided to cut a plastic ball in half. Then he sent it to Amran on one side and to Imran on the other side. The two children looked puzzled at the incident.

Ali: “This time the children will have different children.”

Imran: “So how will we play this time, Dad....”

Ali: “This one, the two children have to figure it out on their own. How to play together because when there was only one child The children still quarrel. Still can't play for fun.”

Chapter 6: Planning your child's future

At the time when the moon shines brightest in the sky, both Amran and Imran are hugging each other under the same blanket at night. Ali looked at the children with a smile. Because even though during the day there were arguments and arguments that caused headaches, during sleep it was a time when we saw the image of the two children hugging each other and sleeping warmly.

Ali is thinking about his future because Amran, his eldest son, has graduated from Grade 6 this semester.

Ali “will send Amran to study at a pondok. Or should I send it to general school?”

Ali could only look at the sleeping children and thought to herself. Regarding the future of the eldest and youngest sons

Ali thought to himself, “Or... I'll try consulting with Father tomorrow. in order to get good advice as well.”

{The next morning}

Ali went to his uncle's house in the morning after the two children left for school exams before the school break.

Ali “Assalamu alaikum pa, pa, pa.”

Khun Pu, "Waaliyakumussalam Ali? Is there something wrong?"

Ali: “Yes, I would like to come and give you some advice. It's about Amran."

Khun Pu: “Why?”

Ali “It's this week. Amran has graduated. I think I'll send him to study at a pond. What do you think?”

Khun Pu: “Good. As for general studies. I gave it to the little one and said it was good.”

Ali: “It's not just because I want to send Amran to study at a pondok. I thought I'd send it because I want to try to separate these two people for a little longer. Every day they keep fighting each other. If Amran

The eldest brother learned about religion. Come back so I can teach my little brother.”

Khun Pu: "It's good that when Amran grows up, he'll be able to teach the younger ones, in case he might be the village's Ustas in the future."

Ali: "Yes?"

Ali looked at his father with delight. Ton has planned the future of his children well. The eldest studied religion while the youngest Studying in the general stream

{A week later The week that Amran had to be sent to study at a pondok}

Ali and Khun Pu stood waiting for their son in front of the house. Because today is the first day that we have to send our eldest child to study at a pondok school.

Ali “Amran, have you finished packing your clothes?”

Amran: “Finished, Father.”

Ali: "Hurry up, I'll catch the minibus."

Imran: "P'Ran, I want to go with you."

Amran: “No, you have to stay with your father. If you're alone with your father, you'll be lonely."

Imran held up the only part of his plastic ball and handed it to his older brother who was going to study at a pondok. and had to leave himself alone at home to play

Imran: "I'm keeping this for fun in case I get lonely."

Amran laughed, “Hahaha, how can I play with only half like this? But anyway, I'll take it with me and the other half. Take good care of it. Let's go home and let's play and tell each other again."

Imran: “Yes.”

Amran carried a bag filled with some clothes and stood up, holding a half-sized plastic soccer ball in his hand. Then the two children walked to the front of the house where their father was waiting.

Ali: “Why did you take the ball with you, Amran?”

Amran looked at his little brother's face, "Little brother, let me carry it with you, Dad. Hahaha."

Ali: “Oh, Imran, I'm going to wait for you at Grandpa's house. I'm just going to send you off alone."

Imran: "Why, Dad? I want to go too. I want to send P'Ran off too."

Ali: “Listen to your father, Imran.”

Imran: “Yes, father, then I can take you to the road in front of your house.”

A minibus stopped directly in front of the road. and the eldest son walked up to the minibus. Amran waved goodbye to his younger brother and Pu who were also standing on the side of the road waving goodbye.

The songthaew hurriedly ran along the route and came to the intersection in front. A herd of dozens of cows was passing by. Suddenly, a minibus crashed into a tree on the side of the road with full force.

Image of a minibus, the driver in the driver's seat passed out with blood all over his face and smoke spread all over the front of the car. As for Amran His youngest son died behind the passenger seat, still clutching a plastic ball that his brother had handed him. Ali's body lay horribly on the pavement, covered in blood.

Chapter 7: Half a Soccer Ball

{Return to the original point}

In his hand, Imran still held a half-filled plastic ball. Imran slowly opened his eyes after thinking about the past.

Khun Pu, “Is Imran in the house?”

As soon as Imran heard Mr. Pu's voice, Those who called from the front of the house also responded immediately.

Imran: "Yes, Pu. Ron lives in this house."

Khun Pu came up to the house. and walked to Imran

Khun Pu, “Do you still miss your father and brother if you come up to this house and feel sad? Don't come up because in fact Farewell to our father and brother It's a return. To the true Creator of us.”

Imran: “I just regret the days when I was successful. But there is no one who plans my life. The person who took care of me during this precious time, Khun Pu.”

Imran turned to look at Khun Pu. Still looking around the house

Imran “But Ron, I have to thank Khun Pu very much. who looked after Ron Send Ron to study until he graduates with a bachelor's degree. This time, Ron promises that Ron will take care of Khun Pu himself. We won't be in trouble, Khun Pu."

Imran finished speaking and looked at the plastic ball. Still thinking about some things he hadn't done with his brother yet. that was promised in childhood

Imran thought to himself, “I believe that many people are like this. We often miss those who have passed away. Just like me, I miss my father, I miss my older brother, especially the promise that my older brother will come back to play football again. But there probably won't be that opportunity for me again.

I want to tell everyone that as long as That the person you love is still beside you Please do good to him. It's best to listen to him. Because if one day they leave this world You will no longer be entitled to those happiness.”

************************************************** ************finish************************************* *************