An Open Book

Celengan             Denting koin-koin dalam brankas kasir bagaikan musik di telingaku. Aku harus merayakan hari ini, kataku dalam hati. Bukan karena pekerjaan pertamaku dengan ijazah yang kuperoleh setelah kuliah empat tahun, melainkan karena hari ini aku dapat menjalankan rencanaku. Bayangkan saja, dalam waktu 2 minggu, aku telah mempelajari situasi dan mendapatkan hasil. I’m smart, aren’t I? No, I’m very smart .             Tidak ada yang tahu kecuali aku, dan celenganku. Tuhan? Ah, yang begini urusan kecil. Celengan ini sudah menemaniku sejak aku merantau  untuk kuliah. Namun, karena kehidupan mahasiswa tidak memungkinkan bagiku untuk menabung, maka celengan pemberian kakekku ini masih sekedar pajangan di atas meja belajarku. Celengan ini tidak begitu istimewa dalam penampilannya. Hanya saja karena ini buah karya kakek, aku tetap menyimpannya sebagai kenangan akan dia ...

Across Five Aprils . Irene Hunt. New York: Berkley Jam Books, January 2002. 212 pp. This book is another touching historical fiction. A nine-year-old boy, Jethro Creighton, has experienced the hardship of pioneer life. Most of his time, he helps his parents on the field in southern Illinois. The Civil War that broke in 1861 made him be a man too soon his age. His three brothers and one cousin should assign and that left him, his sister, Jenny, his sister-in-law, Nancy's family, mother and father. His parents had suffered much since the death of their other daughter Mary. Now, their son are also taken from them to serve the country. One of their son betrayed and assigned for the enemy of the Union soldier, that really broke the heart of the family. For four years, Jeth learned from his experience to overcome the war happening not only out there but also in his heart. His crave for knowledge and love for his family, made him able to pass the hard times. Even the President, Abraha...