That MORNING the day looked wet. The rain fell heavily, like a waterfall poured from the sky. Vanya peeked out of her bedroom window with a sullen face. Annoyed. That day, Christmas Day, December 25th. And Vanya has plans to come to the studio. There is a feeling of nostalgia, as Christmas approaches, Vanyaga is busy with semester exams at school. Until he had time to go on leave. long. Up to three full weeks. During that time he suppressed his homesickness, trying to concentrate on school lessons. Yes, Vanyaga certainly doesn't want to disappoint Mami with values that shock Mami.
"Why do you have to go to Radio Ga Ga on Christmas Day like this?" Mami scolded when she saw her child restlessly wet while peeking out the window.
"Miss you, Mi."
"Does your studio not close on big days like this?" .
"That's exactly what it is, Mi. Vanya knows, the children will definitely not be there. During the holidays. And the programs broadcast on the radio today are mostly recordings from yesterday..."
"Then, what are you doing, are you going there?"
"I just miss Vanya. I miss the studio." .
"You just like weird things. No different from your father!" Mami grumbled as she put the ironed clothes into the wardrobe.
"Mommy, have you ever thought, that even on Christmas Day, Eid and other big holidays, the radio never stops broadcasting. Well, so that it doesn't stop broadcasting, there has to be an operator waiting. The one who controls and plays the recording cassettes. Poor thing, Mi. They are really lonely. While other people are busy, they just sit around in the studio waiting for broadcast equipment. In fact, Mi, their salaries aren't much. But they work and never have holidays. On the contrary, they are required to present special events. ...." .
"Who told you to?" Mami's comments were indifferent.
"Who told you to? That's a requirement of the profession. Mami herself was angry when the new year's event at the tipi wasn't special!" Vanya insisted.
"Yes, yes," her mother relented, "then, the story goes, you want to go to the studio to accompany the person on duty?"
"Yes, Vanyaga, let's broadcast. Even though it's not Vanya's job, as long as Vanya doesn't celebrate Christmas, what's wrong with cheering up people at Christmas? And at the same time send congratulations to your friends. Not bad, no need to buy Christmas stamps and cards."
"Such austerity also shows that you are like your father! You are equally stingy."
Vanya glared angrily. Yep, that's not just stingy like that! it's burning in my heart.
But Vanya stuck to her plan. Yesterday afternoon, Vanyaga managed to buy several Christmas pop cassettes from Tommy Page, Air Supply, and New Kids on the Block. Of course, Vanyaga didn't want to bother the radio discotheque staff providing the songs she needed.
Mami took Vanya to the front door. The rain is still heavy. Vanya was wearing a French-made "Sadhe" raincoat that she had just bought for thirty-five thousand. The model is coVanya, like a long jacket. Then use a big umbrella.
"Do you really want to broadcast?" asked Mami.
"What's wrong with Mummy?" Vanya was a bit annoyed.
"The thing is, on holidays like this, Dad works all the time and sleeps. Mom doesn't have any friends as sparring partners."
Vanya giggled
"Don't forget to listen to Radio Ga Ga, OK? Later Vanya will send Mami a song."
"Yes, Mami never forgets. Radio Fa Fa, right?"
Vanya walked slowly through the rain. Every shop he passed seemed to have a tiny pine tree decorated with twinkling lights. Several adults were still seen coming in and out of the shop with bright faces, carrying packages and walking hurriedly. The quiet morning atmosphere looked lively with twinkling lights.
The rain is getting heavier. In the midst of her heavy steps, Vanyaga opened the MODE magazine she was carrying. Occasionally, while looking ahead, he read the "Stars" column. Of course what you read is your horoscope: Virgo.
Vanya never believed in predictions like that. But for fun, that's fine.
"You have an adventurous spirit, Miss Virgo," it was written in the magazine, "but don't go on an adventure on a city bus just to avoid the conductor's fare bill, please!" ,
Hihihi, Vanyaga laughed in her heart.
"Fill this end-of-year holiday with useful activities, for example fixing the roof tiles at home, or washing your papa's car which hasn't been bathed in years, and get rid of your habit of keeping wet rain-worn socks under Mami's pillow. They smell, you know!"
Vanya nodded.
"And now is the time for you to think about what you have done over the past year. Don't forget, you will also be splashed with good fortune from someone you don't know at all..."
Splash! Vanya had just finished that sentence when suddenly a car passed by at high speed and splashed a puddle of water on her face.
Vanya screamed in surprise!
"Hey! Slow down!" Vanya screamed while cursing.
Then to MODE, "Thanks for the good fortune."
Vanya closed the magazine. And move quickly. Now puddles of water can be seen everywhere. And ankle-length floodwaters covered the sidewalk where Vanya walked.
After only a few steps, Vanyaga felt annoyed. And I'm curious again to finish my horoscope. He opened his slightly wet magazine, then returned to diligently reading, "There will be an unexpected surprise before your eyes. Maybe you can receive it as a very impressive Christmas and New Year gift..."
Byur! "Up..., wha..., ttolooooong! Plp! Plp!"
Suddenly Vanya's body disappeared into a gaping culvert in front of her, which was not visible because it was covered by the flood. Several people passing by were shocked to death to see a hand reaching out. Then in a rush to help, get Vanya out of the culvert. Almost all of Vanya's body was soaked from drowning. .
Vanya's teeth chattered with cold. The magazines and cassettes were washed away in the gutter.
Vanya sat in front of a shop kiosk, which was protected by the rain, surrounded by several adult men. It feels really cool!
"Ouch, city park officers! They've been criticized many times for closing the burrows when it rains, but they're still careless!" said a middle-aged man cursing, and took pity on seeing Vanya's soaking wet condition.
"You are cold?" said a father.
Questions that don't need to be answered! Vanya cursed silently.
Then several shop employees hurriedly prepared hot chocolate for Vanya.
Vanya immediately took a sip and said thank you.
"Poor thing, Christmas like this is a disaster," commented another person.
"Do you need a ride home? Where is your house?"
Vanya shook her head. "Thanks, I'm going to the radio studio. It's close by. Don't worry. I'll just change clothes there."
What crossed Vanya's mind at that time was to leave as quickly as possible from there. He can't stand it
"Need company?"
"No. Thanks."
And with heavy feelings Vanya said goodbye.
"Maybe this advice is old, son, but it still needs to be taken to heart," said a man whose hair had turned slightly gray, when Vanya was about to leave. "Don't make a habit of reading while walking."
Vanya just smiled wryly. Then he left with his heart cursing. He hoped that in the studio there would be Mbak Vera or someone who could lend him clothes. It feels really itchy after falling into a sewer.
Arriving in front of the studio door, it was quiet.
Vanya knocked.
No answer.
Ouch, I've got bad luck again! You could die of cold!
Vanya opened the unlocked door and peeked inside. Dark. The atmosphere is quiet. It's like there's no one. Ah, but that's impossible. So, who broadcasts broadcasts on radio?
With curiosity, Vanyaga stepped in. Drops of water wet the clean floor. Vanya took off her coat which felt heavy. So.
Toeeet! T eeeeet!!!! The sound of a trumpet suddenly sounded from all directions, making him jump in surprise. Asamalakata! His heart felt like it was breaking out.
Suddenly... byar! the lights are bright. And the faces of the announcers appeared from their hiding places, laughing out loud, "Hahahaha...."
"Hello, Vanyaga! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" they said in unison. "Eh, you don't do Christmas, do you? Just New Year!"
Vanya still didn't really realize it when one by one jumped from their hiding place and greeted him. Mbak Vera, Bernardus Hari, Ucup, Sebastian, Sandra, Mas Ray, Bowo, Rudi, and other broadcasters.
"Well, what have you been up to, Vanya? Why do you look soaking wet like this?" said Ucup in surprise.
"Yeah, let's make a new trend, okay?" said Sandra.
"Like a rat caught in a sewer!" said Bowo.
"You just got caught in the gutter!" Vanya grumbled.
"Caught in a sewer?" Ms. Vera stared.
"Yes, an impressive Christmas present, just as promised in the magazine!" Vanya cursed again.
Children don't understand.
"Come on, don't be so stunned. I'm cold, you know! Lend me a copy, bro!" said Vanya again.
"Wow, you're having fun like that, Vanya. Sexy!!' said Ucup. .
Vanya glared angrily. "You're sexy! I'm going to catch a cold you know!" Vanya screamed. He was upset, instead of being helped, he became a spectacle.
Ms. Vera hurriedly rescued Vanya into her study.
"Incidentally, Miss Vera keeps a number of shirts, jeans and underwear in the cupboard.
Hope it fits." .
Vanya took the saline and took a shower in the studio bathroom.
"Why are you here, Sis?" Vanya asked after showering.
"We really want to celebrate Christmas and New Year together here. Because starting tomorrow we will all be busy with holidays until New Year. Then on the bus, Bowo said he saw you walking on the sidewalk towards here. That's all, let's make a surprise for you." You!"
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to gather here?"
"Just a sudden idea. Sis, I thought you were still stressed after the semester exams."
They gathered in the living room, which now looked lively. There is a decorated Christmas tree in the corner of the room, with twinkling lights and the words "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". Coincidentally, Bernardus Hari, Ucup, Sebastian, and several Radio Ga Ga employees actually celebrate Christmas. And to honor them, the children gathered together. Throwing a small party, while exchanging gifts Vanya stood in the corner, with wet hair combed back and a borrowed blue shirt. •
"We broadcast the atmosphere here directly to radio listeners. So those who want to say congratulations to their friends at home can just do it directly."
The event was lively. Sing together, play Christmas pop songs, and send congratulations. Occasionally the sound of the New Taon trumpet is blown in an inhumane way by Ucup, who likes to shock other people.
Vanya had forgotten about her "Christmas Present", and was cheerful again. And he didn't really notice that in the corner, he saw a gloomy Sebastian.
In fact, during the event, Bernardus Hari, the leader of the event that day, came up to Vanya who was busy chatting so that her voice could be heard the most on the radio.
"Yes, eye sight report, Sodarasodara! Right now Ucup is tackily getting sundry remarks from his colleagues. Hooray!" Vanya screamed into the microphone.
"Hush, Vanyaga!"
"En den, now Ucup is dancing like the crazy people in Unyil while carrying cakes and singing, 'Where is my son..., where is my son...'"
The atmosphere on the radio was made more lively by laughter.
"Hush, Vanyaga!"
"What is it?" Vanya felt disturbed by Hari's hand.
"I have good news and bad news for you. Which do you want to choose first?" said Bemardus Hari.
Vanya shut up. Thinking. "Good news!"
"Good news? Look, actually we are going to make a short play about Christmas that we want to perform together here, and you were asked to make a script. Do you want to?"
"Want to!" Vanya said enthusiastically. "Eh, but I don't usually write scripts about Christmas, right?"
"I don't really want a classic story like the ones in the books. Not about Santa Claus or Peter guarding the gates of heaven. Just a free story. About anything. The important thing is that it happens on Christmas day. OK?"
"Okay. So what's bad news for me?"
"The bad news," Hari smiled, "is that the manuscript has to be ready today. Because we will air it at one o'clock this afternoon!"
Vanya was surprised. "You crazy!"
Vanya and the children were kept in a soundproof room to concentrate on writing stories. Vanya rebelled, she didn't want to. But he was cruelly locked from the outside.
"Don't forget, Vanya. Today you can get Christmas THR, so if you're enthusiastic, make it!" shouted Sandra, who was in charge of distributing the honorarium.
Vanya cursed.
Then sit resentfully in front of the computer in the corner.
***
An hour later, there was a loud banging from the soundproof room.
"Eh, Vanyaga's angry again!" Bowo said.
"You ran out of oxygen, kid!" said Ucup. .
"Ah, perhaps the story is over!" Hari said.
"Why so fast?"
The door opened. Vanya's wrinkled face appeared.
"I'm finished!" said Vanya annoyed. "Let's gather here. Since it's sudden, I'll just make the points. Then you guys will improvise."
Everyone gather. Mas Ray and Mbak Vera are no exception.
"This story is divided into three acts. Hey, Ucup! Are you listening!" Vanya snapped fiercely.
Ucup, who was busy licking the cake on his fingers, was shocked.
"Yeah, Vanya!"
"Great." Vanya then sat on the table.
Children in front of him. Hehehe, when else, Vanya, can you boss like this. "Ucup has to listen intensely. Because the main role is Ucup and Sandra. So they are lovers!"
Ucup squealed with joy, Sandra was annoyed to death.
"The location is at the radio studio here," Vanya continued. "In the first act, the story is that a pair of lovers, Ucup and Sandra, are having a noisy fight. They mo
separated. Even though it's almost Christmas. Sandra cursed Ucup half to death, because he was caught cheating on a duck. Hihihi... Then Ucup said something like this, 'If you want to break up, I'll give you your gold and diamond ring back!' The story is that when they were still intimate, Sandra actually bought Ucup a diamond ring. But then Sandra held on to her pride. He grumbled back to Ucup, 'Hey, I don't need this stuff. If I say break up, then break up. There's no need to return all my stuff! Do you really think I broke up because of this? And Sandra threw the gold and diamond ring up, and it fell in the gutter. Then they parted ways.
'In the second half, in the middle of the night, it turned out that Sandra was anxious thinking about her diamond ring which had been thrown away. It's a shame, he said. He couldn't sleep on Christmas Eve. Then in the middle of the night, without anyone else knowing, Sandra quietly returned to the studio. Looked for the diamond ring that had been thrown in the gutter. Be very careful, afraid of being discovered by other broadcasters' friends. But at the scene where the diamond gold ring was thrown away, Sandra met Ucup, who also had the same intention. Both of them felt heavy, then hurried home. Hihihi...
"In the third act, the next morning, an orphan child, played appropriately by Bowo (yes, he doesn't need any more appreciation, because in reality that's how it is!) appears to be walking listlessly. He is sad and has been crying for three hours straight. Because he couldn't buy a Christmas present for his mother, who was a poor worker. There wasn't even a Christmas tree in his house, let alone cakes and bread. His two-year-old sister also didn't have a single piece of nice clothes. He looked down. And at that moment, His eyes fell on a sparkling object in the gutter. He hurriedly picked it up, and it turned out to be the diamond ring that Sandra had thrown away. The child screamed in surprise, and said praise to God. Finally, Ucup and Sandra's breakup brought blessings to other people on Christmas. How, that's good, isn't it? story?"
The children agree. Especially those who didn't get a role. They immediately told Ucup, Sandra and Bowo to practice hard!
***
In the afternoon, when the impromptu play finished broadcasting brilliantly, Vanyaga was called by Sandra to receive Christmas THR.
At that moment, Vanyaga realized that Sebastian had been looking gloomy.
"You don't know about him, do you?" Sandra, who knows a lot, commented. Vanya doesn't know yet, because Sebastian is the new kid on radio. He is a former DJ.
"His parents used to be very rich. But then they fell into poverty. They fell like a bird falling from its nest. All the things in the house were gone. The car that used to be four cars, a tipi, a refrigerator, basically everything. His only assets are his house in Pondok Indah. That has also been made into bank. That's why Sebastian has to work hard right now. Because he really loves his sweet little sister. And because he's new here, he hasn't gotten a THR like you. He's sad, because he can't buy a Christmas gift for his little sister. "
Vanya signed the receipt quickly. Yes, he remembered Sebastian. Previously, he was one of Vanya's fans, and once accompanied Vanya to look for school diktats at the Senen Project during the fasting month. At that time Sebastian was still rich. Still have the Peugeot 405.
Vanya turned to the children who were starting to go home. Some shouted to each other: "Merry Christmas", some laughed. Everyone has a cheerful face. Understandably, you're on holiday. Vanya immediately followed Sebastian who was walking alone.
"Hello, Bass."
"Uh, Vanyaga. Hello," Sebastian answered wearily.
"What ride to go home, Bas?"
"Uh..., take the bus," Bas answered awkwardly.
"Together, okay? I'll go for a walk."
Bas nodded. Then they both stood still at the bus stop.
"Bas, do you still remember, when you were fasting when you accompanied me to look for diktats in Senen?" said Vanya, breaking the silence. .
"Yes, at that time I wasn't an announcer yet. I was still your fan."
Vanya smiled. .
"Well, now I'm the one who wants to accompany you."
Bas looked at Vanya in surprise. "Where? I don't want to go anywhere."
"You have to buy a Christmas present for your sister!"
Bass shook his head. "No, Vanya. I..."
"Ah, come on. I got this money from the radio. I think you need it more than me." Vanya handed over the envelope she had just received from Sandra.
Bass was shocked. "Ah, Vanyaga! I can't accept this..."
"Why not, Bas? This is a Christmas gift from me to you. I'm sincere."
"But, Vanya..."
"Can't I give you a Christmas present, Bas?"
Bas stood up in a confused manner. He didn't expect it at all.
"Sorry, Bas, I didn't mean anything. I'm sincere." Vanya held Bas's hand while moving the envelope. Bas looked moved. His eyes were wet.
"But why, Vanya?"
"Bass, I've only ever been amazed by you. When you took me to Senen all day in the heat of the day, you didn't eat or drink at all. You respected me for fasting. Can't I respect you back now?"
Bas can't say anything. He just looked at Vanya with a million feelings of gratitude.
"Merry Christmas, Bass."
Bas's tears fell.
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