* TIMUN MAS *

For long time ago, there was a farmer couple staying in a small village at the edge of a big forest. They lived happily. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had any children yet. Every night the husband and the wife prayed to the Gods to be granted a child. But the years passed and their wish was not fulfilled. So one day the wife went to the forest to ask for the advise from the giant. He lived in the cave.

“What is it you want? Why do you come here?” asked the giant when he saw the woman. His big voice boomed through the stillness of the forest. Trembling, the woman came nearer and told the giant about her desire to have a child.

“If you really want a child, I think I can help you. But you must promise me one thing. If the child is a boy, you may keep him, if, however the child turns out to be a girl, you must give her to me when she is fifteen years old.” the giant said.

The woman wanted a child so much that she did not hesitate to accept this strange condition. Then the giant give the little parcel to the woman. “Take this seed home, plant it and take good care of it. When the fruit is ripe, pluck it and cut it open. Now go home and remember your promise.”

Then the couple planted the cucumber seed. Each day they took care the growing plant so carefully. Months later, a golden cucumber grew from the plant. The cucumber was getting heavier and bigger each day. When it was ripe, they picked it. Carefully, they cut out the cucumber and how surprise there were when they found a beautiful baby inside, with gleaming black hair, golden yellow skin and red lips. There were so happy. They named the baby Timun Mas or Golden Cucumber.

Years were passing by, Timun Mas had grown into a beautiful girl. Her parents were very proud of her. But the happiness turned to fear when her fifteenth birthday came. The giant returned to take Timun Mas away. The farmer tried to be calm.
“Just a moment, please. Timun Mas is playing. My wife will call her.” He said. The farmer came to the child. “My child take this magic objects with you.” As he was giving a little bag to Timun Mas. “This will help you from the giant. Throw them one by one over your shoulder. Ok now, my dear there is no time to lose.” He ordered, then Timun Mas ran away.
Meanwhile, the giant had been waiting for too long. He became inpatient. Somehow he knew that the couple had lied to him. So he destroyed their house and run for Timun Mas. Timun Mas had run all the way as fast as her legs could carry her. But she was not used to such exercise and soon grew tired. No wonder it was easy for the giant to caught up with her.

“Timun Mas, Timun Mas! Wait for me!” He shouted when he saw her in the distance.
When the giant was getting closer, Timun Mas remembered her mother’s words. She threw the needle over her shoulder. Instantly a dense wood of sharp thorns sprung up, encircling and stretching the giant. This held the giant for a little while but soon Timun Mas heard him calling again. She threw the pepper corns behind her. Immediately, they changed into a hundred sharp and slippery pieces of rocks and stones. They hampered the giant’s step, making him stumble and slip. Not long afterward, however, she heard again his voice calling for her.

Now she threw the lump of salt in his direction and in an instant a wide lake stretched out between her and her pursuer. This took him indeed a long enough for Timun Mas to reach safety. Now she had only the slice of fish paste left. If this last object failed to help her, she would fall into the giant’s clutches! With a prayer on her lips she flung the fish paste on the ground. Instantly the soil changed into a steaming swamp. Still the giant did not want to give up the chase. With a curse he plunged into the hot mud and… sank into it. The bubbling, boiling mud drew the heavy body deeper and deeper inside its depth, and finally Timun Mas dared to look behind her she could just see the waving hands disappearing into the swamp. So the giant died at last and she was free.

In her fear, however, she had not looked where she was running and she found that she had lost the way. Because she was tired, soon she fell fast sleep. On that same day, the crown prince of the country who was hunting in the forest found her. Then he took her to her mother’s house. Within one week the prince returned and formally asked her for her daughter’s hand in marriage and she gladly gave her consent.


NB: ni story yang membawa aku jadi juara 2 PORSENI antar MTs. se-KABUPATEN