Summary I Don't Know (Short Story)

“I Don’t Know”

By Selma Lady Diana

Ruth is European. Her parents were killed by war in Indonesia. A javanese family that just lossing their child adopted Ruth. So, Ruth lived in Hadiningrat’s family. The family was respectful  and popular enough in the village. Ruth realized who she is and started thinking. When she was thinking, the tragedy happened. Anti-white skin person in Indonesia was more fearful. Jatmiko, her beloved, was killed in the bridge she waited for him for along time. Her father also died by people who hated white eskin. Ruth was  forced to go back in Holland. There she did not know anything. She could not more be missing home. The culture was quite different. She tried hard to receive it. She also waited for the best time coming Indonesia. She wore kebaya among naked summer-people. She found a kind family, they helped Ruth come back to dance gambyong (get the happpiness) again. Finally, Ruth met her mother and married  with Jayden, her ex-brother. In short, culture does not bring you but it has you. 

I Don't Know (short story)

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“I Do not Know”

By :  Selma Lady Diana

I am Ruth, 19 years old. I have been sitting here for along time, since the butterfly started  dancing until it had gone to left me be myself . It is not a conscripted to do, I chosed that one. Okey, let me tell you the biggest secret, I can do all thing what I wanna do. Except, of course, if I wanna be God, I must be sunk in Nil’s River right now.

Here everything is started, listen. You do not know anything. Something firstly made me scared is why I had born like this. Brown hair, tan skin, chubby cheek, and blue eyes. They do not know what I am like, but I ever thought I was freak. People chased me, I have no idea at all to decide what they are looked. They are different or even I do. Wow. More, my parents are not resembling of me. Quite different.

“Ruth, why are your eyes like that? Your skin and, of course, you hair. Whats going on?” Sukarti, my classmate, asked me one day.

“I do not know Sue, I know I am different. Maybe I got an abnormality like Albino*. Haha. That is terrible.”

I know well that Sukarti will never believe my foolish answer. Yet I do not care, I lost my mind. My hair is fully dark chocolate. Blue eyeballs, white skin, and also tall body whereas my parents is like others; rather tall, tan skin, chocolate eyes, black hair and so on. Yes, completely correct, I am European. Despite my parents are not really mine, I love them much.

None of my friends act commonly, treating me special. Sometimes respect and the left over despise me. Both, they tickle and hurt. I never thought it caused I am European at all. Every girl got that experience. In short, I should not grumble. Or used to.

*congenital disorder characterized by complete or partial absence of pigment in skin, hair, eyes.

I have been loving this old bridge for a half of my life’s periods. The bridge is  so sexy. It hugs me tight. Hugs my life, my breath, and my soul. There comes grandious rainbow every tears I compose, everymorning. How can? That is not really important.

When I was 9, I did not know anything. I didnot realize who I am. I had a great life. Everything was fine except my self. My appearance, certainly. I begged my mom to bring me to the doctor since I know that different. Was I beautiful? Or the freakest one? Whatsoever.

My mother taught me how to dance Gambyong*. I did it well, my parents so proud of me. Usually, I danced at my home party, but sometimes in front of my dad’s friends when they visited us for our greeting. Thus, I supposed I was marvelous enough.