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Selasa, 21 Mei 2013
Jantur and Menur
Folklore from East Java
“Menur! Where are you? Iím hungry!
Give me some food!” said Jantur.
“Be patient Jantur Iím still cooking, the food is not ready yet. Why donít you help me mop the floor? Father and mother will be home soon,” said Menur.
“Arrrgggh! What took you so long?
I’m hungry, you are so slow!” said Janur.
And he said bad words to Menur. Menur was very sad. She cried. When their parents went home, Menur told them about Janturís bad behavior. Her father then advised him. However, Jantur did not want to listen to him. He ignored him, and it was getting worse.
Jantur asked his parents and his sister to leave the house. They were very sad. They never thought that Jantur would ask them to leave the house.
After his parents and his sister left he house, Jantur lived alone. At fi rst he felt very happy because no one disturbed him. He could do anything he wanted. He even spent his parents’ money for bad things. When all the money was gone, he sold his parents animals, cows, goats, cocks and hens.
Meanwhile, Menur and her parents lived in another place. When they left home, they did not bring anything.
Because they worked very hard, they could build a new home and they had new animals.
They were rich.
How about Jantur? Soon all his parents’ wealth was gone. Jantur was lazy, he did not want to work. He wanted to have much money in an easy way. So he sold the last wealth, it was the house.
After Jantur sold the house, again, he spent the money foolishly. It was not surprising that Jantur became poor again.
He did not have any money and he did not have a house. His body was very thin. He suffered skin disease, his skin was full of black dots.
Jantur did not have a way to go, he just walked and walked. Finally, he arrived at his parents’ house.
Menur was in front of the house sweeping the fl oor. At fi rst, they did not recognize each other. Menur thought that Jantur was a beggar.
“Are you hungry? Here, I have some food,” said Menur.
Jantur was happy. He was so hungry that he did not recognize his sister. However Menur knew him.
“Jantur? Is that you brother? Father, mother, Jantur is here!!” screamed Menur.
“Jantur my sonÖ what happened to you?” said his mother.
Jantur was surprised. “Mother, is that really you? Father, mother, and Menur! Please forgive me. I was punished by God.
I suffer an illness, I’m poor, and I don’t have a house to live. I have done bad things to you all. I promise I will be good,” promised Jantur.
The family now reunited. They have already forgiven Jantur and amazingly Jantur was cured. And as he promised, Jantur became a very good man. ***
