Moon in Sari's Eyes

Sari sits in silent. Every night, she sees the dark sky alone and tries to find the moon and stars. She hopes it will be same with the moon and stars that she saw at the night when she was still live with her family. Unfortunately, she does not find its tonight. None of that seem to smile and present a glimmer for her.
Sari remembers all the moment in the past when she still had time to banter with crescent that smiled for her, or when the stars were hanging in the dark sky and dropped the beads of hope in her hand. Now, she can’t do the same acts again. There are no moon and stars that will see her smile here. Actually, she misses all of it, but she can’t do anything.
Some years ago, Sari’s family gathered in the small room in their house. Although it was made from bamboo matting, it was a bed of roses(1)for them. It was the living room that became a witness to uncertain beginning in Sari’s life. All eyes in the room simply stared at Sari. Without beat around the bush(2), a middle-aged man tried to convince Sari with her decision.
"I don’t prohibit, I will do whatever you want if that is for your happiness. But, are you serious, Sari?“ asked her father. Sari was silent for a moment. She was at sixes and sevens(3). She couldn’t say anything. In the other side, her mother, brother and sister were silent too. They were waiting Sari’s response.
"As long as you are happy, I agree with it!" her father added.
Sari still did not give answer. She wrestled with her own feelings. Suddenly, it was like there were many branches in her brain. It made her unable to concentrate. She thought about her family. However, she wanted the best for her family, and she thought that live in orphanage was the best solution to solve her family’s problems, especially in her family’s finances.
"I am serious, Dad! I want to learn!" she said softly. The tears fell down in her cheeks slowly. Sari’s parents could not do anything else.
The slamming of the door is surprising her. She stops to remember all the things in the past. For the umpteenth time, she awares that she will be in hot water(4) today. Her face will show the pains when she comes out from the chief’s room. And she knows it will be the same today. Actually, she is really bored with it. Hence, she is trying to ignore that slamming door and carrying on her activity to see the dark sky.
***
Sari is walking at orphanage’s yard. She is trying to find something that can help her to smile. She is looking at her surroundings. There is nobody there. Of course all of the orphans are enjoying their holiday now. They are gathering with their family and telling their experiences for a year. How pity Sari is because she can’t do the same thing. The chief of the orphanage where she stays usually gives her the punishments for the fools that never she do.
"I must be strong!" says that girl. The tears are falling on her cheeks. She is looking at her right hand that still bruise. It was beaten by the chief with a stick two days ago. Sometimes she is really confused why the chief does it to her. The chief had been chosen to manage all well. He should be wise, shouldn’t he? Why never he hear Sari’s statements? Suddenly, Sari remembers again with the moment some weeks ago.
"Sari, come here!" commanded a sturdy man who brought a stick in his right hand. He is the chief of the orphanage. He stood in the middle of orphans who were waiting for the show that will happen. Sari knew what the man did. She tried to avoid. With unsteady steps, Sari was forcing her legs to move ahead.
One man’s meat is another man’s poison(5). Sari knows that statement. That was the reason why she just kept silent when some of her friends giggled, imagined what would happen to her. Besides, one of the orphans was waving his hands and mobilized the masses to pay attention to the show was going to happen. The others immediately played a short drama, played a maid who expected mercy and forgiveness from his master. "Forgive me, Sir! Have mercy!" Their satire was followed by ripples of laughter. Only a handful of people shrink their foreheads. They worried about what will happen.
"Do you need some money for pay your books?" His voice was making all the people there surprised. Sari shook her head. Although her eyelids were getting wet, she tried to keep her tears. She did not want its feel down on his cheeks again.
“Don’t lie! I hate liar! You are the snake in the grass(6)!" the man said again as he pounded the table in front of him with a stick. Sari was silent. The man walked around Sari, and when he confronted with the back of Sari, he lifted his stick in Sari’s back lightly.
"Have mercy, Sir! I never do it. I never take Mona’s money! I am not rustler!"
"Shut up!" The man said loudly.
***
Sari is covering her face. The shadows of the incident continue to follow her everywhere she goes. She does not want any more to remember the incident. Since that problem, her life has changed. It is not her goal. She has stayed here for the better life, not to make the others get one’s monkey up(7). Honestly, she is still confused why chief accused her as the one who took Mona’s money. She never do it. Did Mona say it to the chief? Does the others orphans hate her? Until now, she does not find the answer. She says the truth, but the others call her a liar. She just becomes patient to hear the others call her an Ananias(8).
Although she tries to be a patient girl hardly, she is still not in good shape(9)again. The physical and psychological treatments hurt Sari at all the times. Pain and sorrow usually haunt her faithfully at her side. Even, she thinks that now she is in the hell. Her dream to get an education well is only imagination. Her expectation to relieve her family’s burden, her determination to give his parents a focus for the education of her sister, and her ideals to send her younger brother to collage are crashed by the shadow of uncertainty.
She is looking at the dark sky, seeking a hiding place where she can find the moon. She just wants to share her sadness with it.

***
"Thanks to God because He gave me chance to stay in that orphanage. His entire plan is really wonderful. If I never get these problems, maybe now I can’t stand here to share the stories for all of the audiences here,” Sari says proudly.
The audiences are applauding. They are really proud with Sari’s patience to face her problems. Even, some of them are sheding tears. Sari is going down from the pulpit confidently. She never think that she can speak in front of many people. She reaps the harvest now. She has successed to write her story and join at Children Conference. It is the amazing grace from God in her life. She is happy because she can be the one who fighting for children’s rights.
***

Sari is peeking from behind the bus’s window that would take her back to the new expectations. Moon decorates the night beautifully. It seems looking at her and smiles proudly. Sari showed a brown envelope that is in her hands to the moon. Yes, she gets scholarship for her education until she will obtain a bachelor's degree.
After a storm comes a calm(10). How lucky Sari is. Now, moon is coming back and smiling to her. It whispers to the stars around it to give gifts for Sari. The stars shine brightly to give happiness that there on her life. "Thank you, I will keep your shadow in my heart and mind, “Sari says.



Note:
1very comfortable (idiom)
2talk about subject without coming to the topic (idiom)
3She was in confusion (idiom)
4to be in trouble or difficulty (figures of speech)
5one person may like what another hates (proverb)
6person who is not to be trusted (idiom)
7to get angry (idiom)
8in good physical condition (idiom)
9a liar (figure of speech)
10There is inevitably calm after every storm; there must be something better after every piece of unpleasantness. (proverb)