Bogel's Principle<\/p>\n
By Sartono Kusumaningrat<\/p>\n
Moon beams peeped through the cracks between the rickety
\nwooden planks forming the walls of Bogel's house, while the
\nstructure's corrugated iron roof reflected the silvery light
\nfalling on it. As beautiful as the moon was, it could not take
\naway the gloom that had enveloped Bogel from the time he was born
\nuntil he had gotten married and had a son of his own.<\/p>\n
\"Dad, can I go on to senior high school after completing
\njunior high?\" Bogel's son asked one night, putting into his mouth
\nthe last spoonful of rice and a small chunk of salted fish.<\/p>\n
\"You'd better not continue your studies. Times are very
\ndifficult now. You should consider yourself lucky to be able to
\ncomplete junior high school, Wang!\"<\/p>\n
\"Doesn't that mean I won't be a rich man, Dad? Doesn't it also
\nmean that I'll remain an ignoramus and will surely inherit a life
\nof poverty, Dad?\"<\/p>\n
\"Don't pretend to be all-knowing! Never regret your hard luck!
\nWere I asked to make a choice now, I would certainly not opt for
\nliving a poor life. Don't blame your parents, Wang. Don't blame
\nyour ancestors! Remember, one's fortune may change as swiftly as
\nthe wind blows.\"<\/p>\n
\"Will my junior high school diploma be a good enough passport
\nfor a better future, Dad?<\/p>\n
\"Come on, Gowang. We must be resigned to our fate, whatever it
\nis. What else do you want? Of course its not pleasant to lead a
\npoor life. However, we can't just run away or escape from the
\ngrip of our fate. Obviously we must face all this courageously.
\nThere are several ways open to us. We may employ any of them as
\nlong as they are religiously and legally right,\" Bogel's wife
\nchimed in, while collecting the dirty tin plates.<\/p>\n
\"It's boring to hear all these comforting words, Mom.\"<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not you are bored, you are destined to lead this
\nkind of life. Remember, Gowang, your father is only a pedicab
\ndriver. And your mom is only a casual worker. What else do you
\nwant? What else do you hope to get? Never dream of reaching
\nanything too high in the sky!\"<\/p>\n
Three days later Bogel came home without his pedicab.<\/p>\n
\"The pedicab, well, where is it?\" asked Rukem, Bogel's wife.<\/p>\n
\"I rented it.\"<\/p>\n
\"You rented it?\"<\/p>\n
\"Yes.\"<\/p>\n
\"Then how will you earn money?\"<\/p>\n
\"Keep cool, Kem. You see, I brought home more money today than
\nusual.\"<\/p>\n
\"Well?\"<\/p>\n
Ruken was surprised. Her mouth was agape.<\/p>\n
\"Don't open your mouth that way! It's shameful! It's as if you
\nhad never seen money! I've brought home about Rp 10,000 today.\"<\/p>\n
Rukem was still open-mouthed, seemingly disbelieving what she
\nhad seen or heard. As a pedicab driver, Bogel had never taken
\nhome more than Rp 5,000. \"How could he have brought home Rp
\n10,000 today? He hasn't even worked as a pedicab driver today,\"
\nshe wondered.<\/p>\n
\"What did you do to get so much money, Pak?\"<\/p>\n
\"You don't need to know about it now. When the time comes,
\nI'll let you know.\"<\/p>\n
\"You have a job, don't you?\"<\/p>\n
\"Come on, of course I do. I couldn't have done something
\nimaginary, could I?\"<\/p>\n
\"A legal job, I mean?\"<\/p>\n
\"Obviously legal.\"<\/p>\n
That day, Bogel and his family ate a much better meal than
\nusual. Usually they ate only rice and just some side dishes. But
\nthat day they had dishes, which in their opinion, were quite
\nexpensive. An omelette made of one egg mixed with three spoonfuls
\nof flour was their appetizer. A bowl of cabbage soup without
\nbroth or pieces of meat was a highlight of the meal.<\/p>\n
They gained a stronger spirit to live, at least then. Before,
\nthe sound of their aluminum spoons clanking against the tin
\nplates was heart-rending, but that day these same sounds became
\nsoft and melodious.<\/p>\n
In the following days, the family found themselves in this
\nsituation on a more or less routine basis. Rukem and Gowang
\nenjoyed greater happiness. Since the day he rented his pedicab,
\nBogel's skin and hair started to look slightly different, though.
\nHis skin turned darker and more ashen than before, while his hair
\nchanged to a reddish color.<\/p>\n
\"Since I am your wife, I would like to know what kind of job
\nyou have now, Pak. How is it you can now earn much more than
\nbefore,\" Rukem said one day, no longer able to keep her curiosity
\nin check about her husband's job.<\/p>\n
\"Come on. Please don't push me. When the time comes, you'll
\nhave an answer. The point is, I haven't done anything illegal,
\nperiod!\"<\/p>\n
Bogel's reply made Rukem and Gowang all the more curious about
\nhis job. Bogel, however, never let on any more than what he had
\njust told them.<\/p>\n
One day, Rukem and Gowang became restless when Bogel had yet
\nto return home before seven in the evening. Suddenly, there was a
\nknock on the door.<\/p>\n
\"Is this Mr. Bogel's house?\" a question caught Rukem as soon
\nas she opened the door.<\/p>\n
\"Who are you, sir? Oh, sorry, please come in.\"<\/p>\n
\"I'm from the police office, ma'am,\" the man who had knocked
\nanswered. He and a colleague were wearing uniforms.<\/p>\n
Both of them took a seat after being invited in. Rukem's heart
\nbeat fast and so did Gowang's. Was Bogel in trouble with the law?
\nAh, hopefully it wasn't so.<\/p>\n
\"What's wrong with my husband, sir?\" asked Rukem, trembling.<\/p>\n
\"Sorry, ma'am. Keep yourself calm. Don't be afraid. Mr. Bogel
\nis all right. We are here to let you know that Mr. Bogel has had
\na minor accident. He's in the hospital.\"<\/p>\n
\"Oh! How is he now, sir? How did all this happen?\" said Rukem
\nfalteringly. She trembled while trying to suppress her anxiety.<\/p>\n
\"Sorry, ma'am. We don't know how the accident occurred. We had
\na report that an accident took place at a crossroads. Mr. Bogel
\nwas the victim of a hit-and-run accident. We're trying to find
\nthe perpetrator. Hopefully everything will be plain sailing.\"<\/p>\n
\"My God ... how's your father, Wang?\" Rukem said, sobbing and
\nhugging her son.<\/p>\n
\"If you wish to see Mr. Bogel, we'll take you to the
\nhospital.\"<\/p>\n
The two police officers took Rukem and Gowang to the hospital
\nin a police car.<\/p>\n
\"How did this happen?\" said Rukem, trying hard to suppress her
\ntears as soon as she saw her husband.<\/p>\n
\"I myself have no idea what happened. It was all so sudden. I
\ndon't know how I got here. And suddenly you and Gowang are here,
\ntoo.\"<\/p>\n
The next day, when Gowang and Rukem visited Bogel, they saw
\nthat someone else was in the room. The man introduced himself as
\nsoon as he saw Gowang and Rukem enter.<\/p>\n
\"My apologies, ma'am. I am the person who hit this gentleman.
\nI was about to speed through the intersection just as the traffic
\nlight turned red. Suddenly, this gentleman raised his hands as if
\nto ask me for something. I couldn't keep my car under control, so
\nit hit him slightly. I ran away because I was afraid of being
\nbeaten by the mob. I give you my word that I will pay for the
\nhospital fee.\"<\/p>\n
\"So ... so ... you, Dad?\" asked Gowang, apparently gripped by
\nsurprise.<\/p>\n
\"Yes. Now you know the answer, Wang, Kem,\" said Bogel weakly.<\/p>\n
\"So you are a beggar, Dad?\" Gowang asked again, trying to
\nconvince himself and dispel his realization.<\/p>\n
\"Yes!\"<\/p>\n
\"Are you going to continue begging after you get out of the
\nhospital, Dad?\"<\/p>\n
\"Yes! Remember, Wang, you can earn more from begging than from
\ndriving a pedicab. You don't need to be ashamed. People involved
\nin swindles and corruption never feel ashamed, so why feel
\nashamed about begging on the road?\"<\/p>\n
\"But, Dad?\"<\/p>\n
\"In times of great trouble you must not be ashamed of doing
\nanything as long as it is legal. We have to find a way to live,
\ndon't we, Wang?\"<\/p>\n
Gowang and Rukem could only stand there speechless after
\nhearing Bogel's explanation.<\/p>\n
The writer is a literature graduate of Gadjah Mada University and
\nhas been writing since 1984. His works of fiction and nonfiction
\nhave been featured in several local and national publications. He
\nworks in a private company in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Translated by Lie Hua.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogels-principle-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }