Chapter 2 Super Mom Chapter 2

"It's okay, Ms. Marni, let Ms. Mira spend a little, but she pays immediately. Instead of spending a lot, I'll go into debt first. I'll end up with no money for more shopping," Mang Adi said defensively.

"Yes, thank you Mang. Ladies, if you'll excuse me, I'll go home first, because I want to cook soon," I said goodbye to everyone, who were still faithfully crowding around Mang Adi's cart.

"Yes, please," said the ladies, with the exception of Mrs. Ratmi and Marni, who did not answer me.

I immediately turned around from where the ladies were gathering, who were shopping for vegetables. In fact, I had actually cooked fried rice and eggs for my family's breakfast. I'm used to getting up early to serve my husband and children.

So when I went shopping for vegetables, breakfast was already ready. I deliberately spoke like that. So that I could escape the gossip of Marni and Bu Ratmi. However, I had only taken two steps. Marni spoke again, in a louder voice. Perhaps, the goal was for me to hear her.

"Alah, you want to cook spinach vegetables and fry tofu and just act busy! Like you want to cook meat rendang, which takes a long time," she said.

"Yes, Marni you are right. Mira is not only a stingy person, she's also very busy, even though all she does is cook. She's an unemployed wife, and all she can do is cook malnourished food and clean the rented house." My mother-in-law replied to Marni's words, with a tone that was so insulting to me.

Actually, I really wanted to turn around and go back to where Marni and my in-laws were hanging out. I wanted to reply to their words, which were so demeaning to me. I wanted to get back at the two of them, who were getting more and more outrageous.

But I decided against it, because I didn't want to cause a scene just because I was carried away by my emotions. Because I don't think there will be any benefit for me, if I serve their words with emotion. It was better for me to go home and cook immediately, and clean up the rented house. So that I can finish my work at home quickly, after which I can resume my hobby of writing novels online.

I'm used to writing every day after my work is done and my kids have gone to school. I have been writing for more than five years, starting from channeling my hobby and now it has become a regular job writing on online writing and reading platforms.

*****

Before returning home, I stopped by Mrs. Ami's shop first. I went back to shop for things I hadn't bought yet. I'm used to buying groceries at the stall, because Bu Ami's stall sells various basic needs, except for vegetables.

"Mom, buy ten kilos of rice and two liters of cooking oil. And the laundry soap too, ma'am," I said.

I told my shopping list to Mrs. Ami, who was the owner of the stall.

"Is that enough shopping, Mira? Can't you buy bath soap and toothpaste too?" asked Mrs. Ami. Mrs. Ami is the owner of the grocery store near my rent.

"There's still some, ma'am," I said.

"Oh, that's it. So, a total of one hundred and thirty-five thousand, Mir." Mrs. Ami handed me my groceries, while mentioning the total.

"Oh, here, Mom, the money!" I gave her the money, amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand rupiah.

"Ok, thank you, Mira. Here's your change," said Mrs. Ami, handing me fifteen thousand rupiah in change.

"Yes, ma'am. Mira, please excuse me. Assalamualaikum," I said goodbye.

"Waalaikumsalam," Mrs. Ami replied.

I quickly left Bu Ami's shop, which was only twenty meters away from my rented house. I usually shop for my basic needs, such as rice and other necessities for bathing, at Bu Ami's shop.

I always bought rice and other necessities once a week, except for vegetables, which I bought every day. One week, I used to buy five kilos of rice, for four family members. Deliberately, I am now buying ten kilos of rice, while there is more sustenance, so that it can be used for the next two weeks.

"Assalamualaikum," I said, opening the door to my rented house.

"Waalaikumsalam. Dek, you just got back from shopping, huh? What took you so long?" my husband asked, after he answered my greeting.

I opened the door to my rented house, carrying my groceries. As it turned out, Mas Romi was shining his shoes, which he used to pull public transportation. He put his shoes away, as well as his polish brush. Then he stood up and helped me carry the rice over my head.

"Yes, Mas. Have you and the children had breakfast?" I asked.

"They have, Dek. In fact, they are changing into their uniforms right now." Mas Romi answered my question.

"Thank goodness, then. Mas, please bring the rice to the kitchen!" I asked Mas Romi to help me carry the rice to the kitchen.

"Yes, ready, dear wife," said Mas Romi, who was following me from behind.

I immediately put all my groceries away in their usual place. After I finished, I went back to work, which I hadn't had time to do before. Because I was too late to go shopping, to Mang Adi's usual hangout. Because, if I came late, I might miss out on the shopping. Because Mang Adi had already left to go around to other places.

"Dek, Mas is leaving first. I'm going to look for a piece of diamond for you and our child," Mas Romi said, while telling a joke.

"Yes, Mah, we also want to go to school with Papa." My two children also said goodbye to go to school with their father.

"Yes, all of you be careful! May Allah always provide abundant sustenance for our family and intelligence for our children." I chanted a prayer for my family.

Not forgetting, I kissed the cheeks of the three of them. I also kissed the back of my husband's hand, and my son kissed the back of my hand reverently. My first son is in junior high school, he is in third grade. Meanwhile, my second child is only in the second grade of elementary school and their ages are about seven years apart.

After saying goodbye, the three of them left the house and boarded my husband's angkot, which he always took home. Although the angkot is not ours, he always takes it home after he has paid a deposit to the owner.

The owner of this angkot is a kind-hearted person. He allowed his employees to take home their hand-held angkot. I escorted the three of them to the porch of the house. After the car in which my three heroes were riding disappeared from sight. I immediately went back into the house to finish my work.

"Mir, Mira, open the door," Mrs. Ratmi's voice called my name.

"Yes, ma'am, just a moment," I replied, as I was typing a story on the screen of my old-school cellphone.

"Hurry up! What are you doing, so slow? You must be playing with your cell phone!" Mrs. Ratmi, shouted, like someone who was collecting a debt.