Sunday morning two days ago I saw it in the middle of the road veterans. From arakfifty meter and unobstructed glass window of the taxi, I can recognize it, Yoko goes very pelahan, like want to stop but help. Turning to the left with a remarkable slowmovement — such as intentionally slowed down, his eyes locked on a magnificent building of an era, the building that was once known as Societeit Concordia.
Good morning, I said — either if she was even aware of my presence. Air temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Yoko does not reciprocate with bowing deeply, he had long not to mention Japan man. His back still erect, the tip of her chin just a flinch at a glance. Both hands hidden behind thick corduroy jacket as if it were in the middle of a cold that does not tertanggungkan.
"I hope you don't think that building is the Indica Gallery," I call the names of historical places in his life, his first meeting with John in 1966, basement of a bookstore in the master Mason's Yard, London transformed their owners so the art gallery where the Yoko showcasing avant guard him that immediately attracted a lot of attention:Unfinished Painting.
Sunday morning eight years ago I separated from him in the middle of the summernyelekit. I still recognize it as her eyes have light even though Julia is different. He said very softly and carefully, "I have to go." Yet there is the celebration of the secondanniversary since we decided to live together in my apartment in Silicon Valley, since she moved from home rounder determination her mother in a small district outside San Francisco.
"What happened?" the question that is able to think. Julia shook his head, packed up his belongings, left me, bringing the newly initiated Stephan time toilet training and has already started to talk, at least it's been quite eloquent call me Daddy and call Julia Mommy. The biological father of her old lover, Stephan, contacted her again,sorry to have let it in uncertainty, claimed to still love her very much, and then promised to marry her and they will live happily until death separates.
"I am sorry, Ken." A hug, a kiss, a glance and seucap thanks for helping him get through hard times, it's the kudapat. There is no anger, even when Julia returned in front of the pintuku a few days later, I certainly hope he changes his mind and revise his words. It turns out he is just taking a hair straightener that left in the drawer, and preach his marriage will be carried out at least three more weeks.
"It's been a long time ...," a smiling Yoko amazed to hear her trip back from my mouth. Yes, nearly fifty years ago, potongku knowledgeably. If John was still alive, surelyyou will roll out a golden wedding anniversary, both parties might be in a bed witnessed by the entire population of the Earth, the bed-in for peace.
"At least we never dreamed of changing the world," Yoko laughter break, cheerfully.
"Then you agree this expression to can change the world, change yourself first?"
"Stupid," Yoko propping her chin with one finger, "no one man can change himself.That occurs is simply moving people approaching their authenticity. Each was only able to return to the State of origin. "
"You mean, we all were walking backwards?"
"You think we're making progress? Was doing the repairs? "
Yoko hides his hands again, closing the meeting his lips to as thin as a sheet of crepes without content. White walls Societeit Concordia building, the former ball room at the time of the ruling kompeni start reflecting the sunlight. The shadow of the tidegradually falls over the sidewalk ceramic tile.
Palo Alto instead of Surabaya, where rich people instead of just one or two. Each family a prosperous life and — although there are poor, too few in number. Terakhirku salary as specialist cyborg three billion a year if dirupiahkan. Re-working a dream job, even though I was at the first of a keterlanjuran that is naive. When the high school uniform shirt kupamerkan full face was streaked signatures, papa quipped, "what's so great about it? Son Shu ' Alim ndak need gitu-gitu, pass, immediately set out for America. " What is more important than making me papa pride of kekagumankuhim?
So Stanford University opened the gate, I began a new life as a student of immigrants with limited fit-allowance, a classic story that later attracted to stories told as motivation. In the years approaching the weight to the graduates, my brain is solidified, Miss papa, mama and House our shop on the street stage. Can't go home because the Embassy imposed a travel warning to Surabaya after there were reports of security threats at the hotel and a bank affiliated with Obama. I melt tired with the walk around, go to the class majoring in Humanities, there is no Julia. Asian wisdom became the center of attention, much of the work to the semiconductors. But I then casually get lost on the mimpimimpinya circuit and as complex as hisbrass. Julia survived with me for some time. Perhaps because I'm a good informant,answer all keingintahuannya about the lives of Chinese people in Indonesia. Pat the next hand that does not kusangka long pupusnya.
Yoko walked forward, closer to the most iconic buildings along this road, was oncea place of clubhouse sinyo-noni full-blooded Netherlands in Surabaya gather and dance-dansi. Almost a hundred years ago, architect G.C. Citroen by turning them intooil company offices, replacing the classical ornamentation with art deco elements, change the direction of the entrance so overshadow Kalimas and demolish the balcony on the second floor of the place meneer-mevrouw sit around joking. No more parties, people come there to work. Societeit Straat is no longer a District Association, those who dress up and come to attract attention shifts to Tunjungan SimpangscheStraat, or some time later. This way, until the name was changed so the way veterans, is a way for people Office.
"You're wrong," sangkalku, "the man of change." Yoko does not seem offended, stay calm, flat water on her face, "first I thought so, too." And then kenangan-kenangannya about John slid random, not how much he bit tahu-menahu about the glassy eye of round slender stones man who came the day before its inaugural exhibitions officially opened. Gallery owner just introduce the young man as a billionaire — whoknow interested in buying one of the works on display. "John is so ceriwis," cerocosnya. Ask messes and perceptible once trying to pull my heart. I do not care once he is a front man of the band famous se-United Kingdom Kingdom, a symbol of the triumph of a generation of young adults have worldwide adulation, flowers ....
"To be honest," kusergah, "from the beginning you have want it."
Yoko paused, high cheek bone is not menopengi terawang gaze, "Yes. But we were often at odds ... "
"How can you continue to love him?"
Smile Yoko expand instant, pure skin face white as milk, condensed without wrinkles. "Is there Not something that stays in your life?" Before me stands a woman passing by sewindu twinkle kasmaran Virgin kencur.
I have no purpose in life. As I recall, so far I have always been happy just because ithappens to be smart and fared well. The best pupil in the best schools, not excess veins but also not to a lack of money, rarely get sick, many connections, not even experiencing the heartbreak. On one date in campus cafetaria, Julia never menginterograsiku length, whether your little happy period, have harassed, tertarikkah you to sex,what do you think about the wedding, did you read the works of literature Yu Hua, what KKR after it — to return to your country — married HIGH SCHOOL girlfriend of yours or stay here and fell in love with a girl you just met?
"You're really a bad interviewer," thick lips kucium Citizenship without breathing, "falling in love can be planned?"
Even so, my goal is not to marry her. It never occurred to bring Julia to mama, papa,engkong, much less introduced him to Mak co. Bought an apartment two floors for her, taking over all of the financial burden, the favored soul, explains his babymom's achievement. The sacrifice may be, or simply boost impulsive, I dunno. Eachremember it I regret, wondering could the time played, not for the sake of money being wasted, but to be able to kupinang it in a romantic dinner in the restaurant Flea Street.
"So, why are you going home?" Yoko taking from behind his jacket block notes anda charcoal pencil, start sketching Societeit Concordia from the North. He had guessed I will take time to answer it. Mama call, papa stroke lightly, my youngest sister willmake the wedding, my cousin will give birth, friends school seangkatanku Fraterandesigned a massive reunion. For all the blessing I returned to Surabaya? Oh yes, actually the boss asked me to explore the market robots in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia of course. So there is no harm I drop in to the old folks home goods a week. Sounds of sin? What about email Julia coming suddenly? He berkabar'm need assistance, at least it took a pendapatku about his plans to develop the application of the family tree, a computer program that lets users trace their lineage to hundreds of children to rear. That way we can recognize our origins, if necessary browse thisreincarnation of who we are. Julia closes his letter with a rhetorical, "don't you think we need an alternative mechanism of pilgrimage, Ken? Not go to the tombs and pry the ancient sites, but with most technology today. "
The Juliakah pushed me back home? Because after all this time since his departure,the last sentence of the email it's like spores flying out and stuck to the walls of my brain, growing plants such as wild vines bersulur-sulur, until I guess there is no better option unless Dodge.
"You know what would pass shortly before you?" Yoko is constantly engrossed withthe drawing scale of the disobedient, "an electric tram."
"Electric trams ...." I've heard that for a long time, I say. The Government planned torevive the Surabaya more tram lines in the city. Asphalt and the green line will be dikeduk, rail crossing remains Oost Java Stoomtram Maatschappij which buried underneath it will be enabled again. "The face of the city will be back as the middle of the nineteenth century ...."
Yoko mengerling witty. "Still can't believe it, man was never able to change?"
"You forgot one thing, humans created technology," I defended myself, "that's the way humans alter himself."
Yoko throw face. The wind blows cold. A train with a locomotive resembling a crocodile's snout travels from the direction of the Red Bridge towards the South of the city of Surabaya, berlogokan BoyoRail, berpenumpang school children, man-man wearing suit, stylish women of the miniskirt, mothers cradling babies. For a moment I feltlike watching an old documentary updated colors. There is no smoke, it's not like asteam train in the colonial era, but a mass transporter supposedly environmentally friendly because the battery-operated with no emissions, favoring small people because the price is not more expensive karcisnya half of the price of a litre of petrol, thanks to subsidies. Tourists take pictures with their mobile phone camera that berpiksel high, while Board members traveling by car dinasnya glanced at the cynical, blown bubbles above his head said, "How can this city build a mode of transport that has many abandoned by the major cities of the world? "
Yoko could not say anything more, just to quickly arrest the results of sketnya into small paper balls seonggok and throwing them carelessly. Kupungut from the tip ofmy foot, kubuka carefully. The result is not the picture of construction precision, justrectangles, the long Windows that blur does it detail the architecture of the formerSocieteit Concordia building so now Pertamina, or the exterior of the Indica Gallerywhich has now even been no mark. Yoko makes a lot of scratches, streaks that childish but so vivid, as if calling out to be repaired here and there, ripening, external relationships, realized.
"I came home to something I had I put myself!" I said, finally. Steady. Firmly. For sure. When I lift the head, Yoko was already no longer in there. Societeit Straat has again deserted. Electric trams did not exist.
***
There are Yoko at the Societeit Straat
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