Lahat ng Kabanata ng In the Name of the Sacred Tree: Kabanata 261 - Kabanata 270

PAPADOPOULOS continued, since the chaos in Slatyville, the plan to evict Key Phu Thich was never realized. It's just that life was getting more difficult because the status of residents who live on the outskirts of the Golden River was not recognized as residents of Surabaya.To work in offices, they were rejected because they didn't have identity cards. Even being a beggar, they were arrested by City Guard personnel. Even if they intended to do business, they didn't have the capital. Most of the residents worked as scavengers, including Papadopoulos and Aretha."We really felt the discrimination. We only eat one meal a day,” said Papadopoulos."Then there's this little boy," said Papadopoulos. "Periodically, he came to visit this slum area with a basket full of groceries.""The little boy handed out the groceries he brought to the residents here," said Papadopoulos. "It was not enough, but it was helpful for residents.""Residents asked who

"Hi, everyone," I said."We Saltyville residents support Vincent as a candidate for mayor of Surabaya," said Malique to Amelia, "isn't that so, Mr. Darmann, Jack?""Yes," said Mr. Darmann, “of course.""Moreover, Vincent supports youth movements," said Jack.Then I realized that most of the people who attended Vincent Limantoro's Mayor of Surabaya declaration came from Saltyville."Oh, yes," said Malique as if he remembered something. “Where are Ryg's other members? Big K, Cole and Santos?""I don't know," I replied, "maybe they're working."Then, we heard Vincent make a speech on the stage, mentioning that the role of young people was often identified with their strong idealism. Even so, these cadets were often seen as inexperienced, cognitively incomplete, and emotionally unsustainable.What was even sadder, said Vincent, is that the older generation seemed to have neglected the role of the youth. The problem was,

"Of course I'd be willing to be your sidekick," Kacey said."I believe so," I said."Tell me something else," Kacey asked."About what?" I asked."Your ideology?" Kacey said.I exhaled and started talking about youngsters.Indeed, young people are often identified with their strong ideals. Even so, these cadets are often seen as lacking in salt, not cognitively complete, and emotionally unstable.What is sadder is that the older generation seems to have put aside the role of the youth. You see, they see this young group as a collection of idealistic people who make unrealistic decisions.However, the seniors' justification is not entirely wrong and not entirely correct. As we all know, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno once revealed a popular quote, "Give me a thousand parents, I will surely uproot (Mount) Semeru from its roots. Give me ten youths, I will surely shake the world."If ten youths cou

THE sound of the music then slowly became silent. The hustle and bustle of the humans on the dance floor began to calm down. The visitors who throng the Bacchanalia distract themselves by drinking again.It was already midnight. Maybe it was the time for the Bacchanalia staff to rest. Usually, after the host DJ performance - at zero hours - it would be changed to a guest DJ. But, I did not know who the guest DJ would be.However, the absence of music had not made the atmosphere filled with adult men and women wither. It was like the atmosphere of an annual festival. Even though the long-awaited one had not yet appeared, the visitors were still waiting faithfully.I then got rid of my previous worry - a strange feeling amidst the excitement of a nightclub. Unlike usual, someone was watching me from somewhere. But I d not know for sure."Here, drink again!" asked Gabriella, then gave me a glass.Since there was no music playing, we did not have to sh

"You have a quite good voice. Why don’t you just go solo?" I asked while sipping the orange juice, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere to come back again.Gabriella then looked back at the mango swimming pool. She lifted her head, then looked in the sky for a moment before turning back to face me. She sighed, then shook her head."Thank you," Gabriella said softly. "But, I actually don't really like to be a celebrity.""It was my mother who wants me to be a singer, model or actress, or whatever," Gabriella admitted then leaned back.What! I was surprised to listen to Gabriella's confession. She just like Kacey. I then more opened my ears to pay attention to what else would she reveal? I did not know why, but I felt that Gabriella had just trusted me, so she dared to tell me sensitive things.Gabriella then admitted that singing or modeling was not her passion, moreover acting. She believed that it was her mother's wish to make her famous. I