ONCE upon a time, there was a village in Indragiri Hilir, Riau. There lived a widow named Mak Minah. She had three children, two sons, and a daughter.
Her son's names were Utuh and Ucin. And her youngest child’s name was Diang. Everyday Mak Minah always went to the jungle to collect some fire woods. She sold the woods in the market and used the money for their daily needs. She always worked alone. Her three children were lazy and only liked to play. They never helped her.
It was already late in the evening. Mak Minah did not feel well. After selling the woods in the market, she wanted to go to bed immediately.
However dinner was not ready yet. So she asked her three children to help her.
"Utuh, Ucin, and Diang... please help me prepare the dinner", asked Mak Minah.
Those three children ignored their mother and continued playing in the front yard. Mak Minah then forced herself to prepare the dinner.
When it was ready, she called her children to have dinner. This time they listened to Mak Minah. Sadly after they finished eating, the children did not help their mother clean the dishes. Instead, they played again. Mak Minah cried. She was so sad. It was not the first time her children did not help her and ignored her. She was so sick that she went to bed immediately.
In the morning, Mak Minah went to the riverside. There was a magical stone called Batangkup Stone. The stone had magical power. It could open and close its body like a sea shell. The stone could also talk to humans.
"Batangkup Stone, please help me. I cannot hold the pains anymore. I'm so sick and my children did not want to help me. They always ignored me."
"Please swallow my body", asked Mak Minah.
"Well, if that's what you want.. get inside. I will open my body now. "
Batangkup Stone then opened its body. Mak Minah later went inside. Her long hair was still outside of the stone. In the meantime, Utuh, Ucin, and Diang woke up and felt hungry. Breakfast was not ready so they were looking for their mother. The children went here and there to find their mother. Finally they were in front of the Batangkup Stone. They saw their mother's hair. They knew their mother was inside Batangkup Stone's body.
"Please open your body. Let my mother go outside," scream Diang.
"No, I won't! You are not good children. You always ignored your mother and never helped her", said Batangkup Stone.
"But we need her now", said Utuh.
"Yes, you need her now because you are hungry. You only listed to her when you want to eat. But you never help her. You will never see your mother again!" said Batangkup Stone.
Those three children were crying very loud. They knew they were wrong. But it was too late to regret. They would never see their mother again. ***
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| Indragiri Hilir, Riau |
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